Sydney residents

2005 August 10
by David J. Ringer

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — Since I needed to leave for the airport late this afternoon, I decided not to venture far today. I returned to the Royal Botanic Gardens, this time with my camera. Here are a few of the birds who make their home in Sydney.

buff-banded-rail-gallirallus-philippensis

I was surprised by two Buff-banded Rails that darted across the path in front of me and then foraged calmly in the mulch as I watched. This individual is plain gray on the lower breast, lacking the cinnamon-colored band the other bird sported.

flying-foxes

Flying foxes dangled from the trees like bizarre living fruits.

australian-white-ibis-threskiornis-molucca

A glamorous ibis.

noisy-miner-manorina-melanocephala

This Noisy Miner was too busy feeding to pose.

magpie-lark-grallina-cyanoleuca

The head pattern identifies this Magpie-lark as a female. She is neither a magpie nor a lark but belongs in a family comprised of only two species. The other lives along mountain streams on New Guinea.

sulphur-crested-cockatoos-cacatua-galerita

Sulphur-crested Cockatoos feed in flocks on the grass. I captured these birds just as they took flight.

australian-magpie-gymnorhina-tibicen

A fountain near the Botanic Gardens entrance doubled as a classy bathtub for a pair of Australasian Magpies.

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  1. A city pied
  2. Winter residents arrive
  3. Birding from the windows
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