The mangroves at Crab Creek have provide a few good birds over the months we have been carrying out the Constant effort Site there. One morning having seen only the one Kimberley Flycatcher at Entrance Point an adult and a juvenile turned up in the netting area and were instantly attracted to the tape by the net once turned on !
Kimberley Flycatcher a beautifully subtle adult showing the olive grey mantle, restricted white in the outer web of the outer tail feathers. The bird was very worn and going through post breeding moult.
The Brown Honeyeater by its name is quite dull but they are beginning to attain breeding plumage and this lovely male has a silvery grey head and black gape line and spot behind the eye. Can you see its tongue? feathery at the tip to get the nectar from flowers.
Flowering Grey Mangrove Avicennia marina provides a good feed for honeyeaters and Yellow white eye and the insects attracted will keep the flycatchers, gerygone and fantails happy !
During December the Tree Martin roost in the mangroves increased to an estimate of 200,000 birds an incredible sight and many hundred Barn Swallow were involved too. This was too good an opportunity to miss and so we tried tape luring, but windy conditions really didn't help and we could have caught more in the van than in the nets !
Martins around the van
Tree Martin showing the pale off white rump.
Tree martin and adult showing the streaked throat and in need of moulting out its flight feathers !
a juvenile Tree Martin in active moult, presumable to return to breeding grounds in goo condition.
A by-catch while waiting for the martins to come in were a few brilliantly coloured Rainbow bee eater. This fresh juvenile was a real treat to be able to handle. It has no long central tail spike which adults have even if very worn.
Rainbow Bee eater
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