I suppose that one advantage of walking the same area frequently, is that you may notice small nuances of bird behaviour or numbers. My almost daily walk, takes me past adjoining gardens, past tree lined ovals and includes a small headland reserve, which includes a rocky shore. Yesterday, which was a little warmer than of late, I saw quite an increase in birds that infrequently are seen on this walk. They included several Eastern Spinebills, Grey Fantails, Yellow-throated Honeyeaters and a few Scarlet Robins. I alluded to it being a little warmer than of late, earlier, and I can only suppose that this may have caused the very welcome increase. 
Well I'd almost wrapped this posting up and I was just checking on the images, when I realised that the image of the robin could be a female Pink Robin. It could account for it's behaviour, which was far more skulking than I would expect of a Scarlet (and quite alone). Unfortunately, it was photographed in deep shade, which confuses the colouring. Pink Robin do roam during the Winter, but would be a first record for this area. Any suggestions w
ould be welcome. I'll add another angle image.
I think you may well be right, Alan. Not all Scarlet Robin Females have a red wash to their breast, but most that we see do, and the bird you have pictured doesn't. Also, the wing bar is more the coour of the pink, unless the shadow is really playing tricks. Also, the light patch above the beak should be larger and more obvious for a Scarlet. I think you can add Pink Robins to your walk list!
ReplyDeleteThanks John,my 'investigation' seems to agree with that. I did have the advantage of both hearing and seeing the bird.My feeling was that there was something about the way it was acting that was not quite right for a 'Scarlet'. Didn't realise how 'nervous' I could get about making a public diagnosis! The light scrub on Bellerive 2nd Bluff isn't exactly my idea of Pink Robin habitat.
ReplyDeleteIt wouldn't be the first place I'd look for one, either, but I do recall someone reporting a Pink Robin in an unusual place somewhere recently - sadly, the details escape my recollection (maybe early onset of dementia??)
ReplyDeleteHi John, I did catch one while banding sometime ago on the edge of the Meehan Range, in unlikely habitat during Winter. I suspect that females/brown birds regularly roam, but like me, we would assume them to be Scarlet Robins. I had the "benefit" of a photo on this occasion.
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