While busily engaged photographing the Dusky Woodswallows in the Peter Murrell reserve recently, I noticed out of the corner of my eye, another bird in the same tree. It was fairly non descipt with the naked eye, but in a lull in the action, I pointed the camera at it. I was surprised to see it was a Horsfield's Bronze Cuckoo. I managed to get a couple of shots off before it took flight, leaving me to curse about not noticing it earlier and allowing me to get better shots. Generally speaking I've been aware of the presence of Bronze Cuckoos by their call, which is mainly given in Spring and early Summer. Horsfield's seems to prefer drier areas than the Shining and I have regularly caught them while banding, in fairly dense acacia. At Seven Mile Beach, around the airport, I have regularly found them during the Winter in this habitat. Both Bronze Cuckoos are mainly Summer migrants to TasmaniaMonday, January 30, 2006
A Horsfield's Bronze.
While busily engaged photographing the Dusky Woodswallows in the Peter Murrell reserve recently, I noticed out of the corner of my eye, another bird in the same tree. It was fairly non descipt with the naked eye, but in a lull in the action, I pointed the camera at it. I was surprised to see it was a Horsfield's Bronze Cuckoo. I managed to get a couple of shots off before it took flight, leaving me to curse about not noticing it earlier and allowing me to get better shots. Generally speaking I've been aware of the presence of Bronze Cuckoos by their call, which is mainly given in Spring and early Summer. Horsfield's seems to prefer drier areas than the Shining and I have regularly caught them while banding, in fairly dense acacia. At Seven Mile Beach, around the airport, I have regularly found them during the Winter in this habitat. Both Bronze Cuckoos are mainly Summer migrants to Tasmania
Congratulations on the Horsefield's, Alan. We OFTEN hear, and failry often see, Shining Bronze Cuckoos, but our experiance is that the Hoorsefild's are pretty uncommon to rare in Tassie. Not sure whether that's been others people's experience. In fact, the only Horsefield's we've seen in three years were on our recent trip to King Island, so well done with the shots!
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteFirstly I like the site, I would like to comment and participate more, however I am not sure about how to do this.
Can I post pictures in a comment?
Do I have to login to comment?
Horsfields Brionze Cuckoo, nice shots, I haver to check out the Peter Murrel reserve for myself. I have only seen one H.B.Cuckoo at Boltons beach, Nth of Triabunna. It was a juvenile so it didn't have the fully developed plumage.
Anyway,
Thanks for making a site like this, Hopefully I will be more involved in this in future
Cheers,
Felix Wilson
Hi Felix, thanks for your comments. If you would like to send me an e-mail -- tassiebirds@iinet.net.au I will tell you how to get more involved. Look forward to hearing from you. Alan Fletcher.
ReplyDelete