Mr Hoot

For a couple of months now a bird has been calling from the bush at the back of our house.  For a while I had no idea what it was, all I had seen was a tiny bird high up in the tree tops.  Last week I had a suspicion that I knew what it was but couldn’t confirm it without a sighting.
Then today I had a short walk in the forest to take a photo for my 365 day project and when I returned there was a tiny bird on the birdbath.  By the time I had realised it was there it had flown up into the trees.  I managed to glimpse a flash of yellow and then luckily got a reasonable clear shot with the camera.  My suspicions were confirmed when I checked my field guides; it was a Spotted Pardalote (Pardalotus punctatus).  They are extremely small and very pretty birds.

Yesterday another ‘lifer’ was added to my birdlist.  A juvenile Red-capped Robin (Petroica goodenovii) visited us, sitting just about a metre outside the back garden fence.  Again not a rare bird but one to add to my list.  Was a cute little thing too.

For the last couple of days a Common (feral) Pigeon (Columbia livia) has been coming to our garden.  Not too much unusual about that.  Trouble is that he is on his own and feeling, how can I say this – somewhat frisky.  With no one of his own kind around, he has been bowing and cooing to the Crested Pigeons (Ocyphaps lophotes) and the Common Bronzewings (Phaps chalcoptera). Of course neither of these other two species will have anything to do with him.

But he still keeps on trying…

We have finally got the internet on here in our country home.  We have settled in and are loving the country life.  Everything is peaceful; the forest out the back is a never-ending source of delight.  Just watching the trees is entertainment in itself – the changes of light and shade on the foliage and trunks of the gums is beautiful.
Life is slower here, people don’t walk so fast as in the city, no rushing hither and thither.  When we see more than four cars at an intersection we think it’s a traffic jam!  People smile and say “g’day” and most of the staff in cafés and shops are friendly and helpful.
I am enjoying retirement. I go for walks in the forest or around the town taking photographs. I also do the housework and cook dinner for MrsHoot who’s at work Monday – Friday. And now that I have the internet back, I can really get stuck into my ornithological studies.

We love Bendigo!