Bass Coast Post
  • Home
    • Recent articles
  • News
    • Point of view
    • View from the chamber
  • Writers
    • Anne Davie
    • Anne Heath Mennell
    • Bob Middleton
    • Carolyn Landon
    • Catherine Watson
    • Christine Grayden
    • Dick Wettenhall
    • Ed Thexton
    • Etsuko Yasunaga
    • Frank Coldebella
    • Gayle Marien
    • Geoff Ellis
    • Gill Heal
    • Harry Freeman
    • Ian Burns
    • Joan Woods
    • John Coldebella
    • Jordan Crugnale
    • Julie Statkus
    • Kit Sleeman
    • Laura Brearley >
      • Coastal Connections
    • Lauren Burns
    • Liane Arno
    • Linda Cuttriss
    • Linda Gordon
    • Lisa Schonberg
    • Liz Low
    • Marian Quigley
    • Mark Robertson
    • Mary Whelan
    • Meryl Brown Tobin
    • Michael Whelan
    • Mikhaela Barlow
    • Miriam Strickland
    • Natasha Williams-Novak
    • Neil Daly
    • Patsy Hunt
    • Pauline Wilkinson
    • Phil Wright
    • Sally McNiece
    • Terri Allen
    • Tim Shannon
    • Zoe Geyer
  • Features
    • Features 2022
  • Arts
  • Local history
  • Environment
  • Bass Coast Prize
  • A cook's journal
  • Community
    • Diary
    • Courses
    • Groups
  • Contact us

Surprise visitor

7/2/2015

0 Comments

 
PictureWhite-headed pigeon. Photo: Glen Fergus
By Nola Thorpe

I HAVE started 2015 with a new bird app (The Michael Morecombe eguide to Australian Birds) for my phone so I am filling in my year's lists with fresh enthusiasm. I have lists for The Rifle Range, Campell Street Bush, Baxter's Wetland, the cemetery, Tank Hill, Screw Creek and home.

My longest list so far is at home and you never know what might turn up next.

For instance, last Friday I just happened to glance into the back yard and spotted a very unusual bird sitting quietly on a garden stake  At first I thought it looked like a common pigeon that happened to be passing through but on closer inspection decided it was something I hadn't seen before.

Out came my phone and its app and a couple of reliable bird books (Simpson & Day and Pizzey). I found my visitor was a white-headed pigeon. This bird is normally found along the eastern coast as far down as East Gippsland but I think the continous east wind we have been experiencing probably made it overshoot its normal territory.

Being able to observe it very closely for a good half hour, I was able to see some of its  identifiable markings quite easily. For instance, bill red with paler tip and glossy iridescent markings on the back.

After it had rested for about half an hour, it went on its way.

I was indeed fortunate to be at home when it dropped by.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.