Back in Nangara Reserve yesterday, I dipped
again on getting the quintessential Rufous Fantail shot. I did get some nice
views through the binoculars and managed one distant shot with heaps of blown
out highlights! Nice to know they are still in residence and haven’t headed
north yet – if indeed they do – so I just have to be persistent.
While chasing the fantails I also had some
encounters with a Black-faced Monarch. This flycatcher too should be heading
north soon.
After stalking the fantails and monarch I
took advantage of a comfortable log to sit down for a bit. I seem to stumble
more frequently these days if there are logs and holes hidden in the
undergrowth. As often is the case,
letting the birds come to you can be a worthwhile strategy – well, that’s what
I call sitting down for awhile anyway.
Brown Thornbills, Blue Wrens, Grey
Fantails, Eastern Yellow Robins, etc all flitted by to say hello and then a
small plain bird hopped into view. I mentally ticked a White-browed Scrubwren
at first but then its behavior sent a signal that things were not quite right.
This bird acted similarly to a treecreeper and spent much of its feeding time
winkling out prey from under the bark of trees.
I got the bins focused quickly and
discovered a rather long bill, complete lack of any evidence of a white brow,
and no ‘window’ in the wing. The pale face and dark eye were further indicators
that this was no White-browed Scrubwren.
Resisting the urge to ID the bird straight
away I got off a few hurried shots and headed for the field guide back in the
ute. I think it might be a Large-billed Scrubwren.
A first for me and the literature tells me
this bird is just about at the southern end of its range but that it is
sedentary, so I’m hopeful of coming across it again for some better views.
Gouldiae
