Mt Faber, Marina East 1-14Jun08

Danny at Mt Faber on 1Jun Sun

Went by the nest today, glad to spot the fledging, no longer in the nest but outside of it, perched about 8 ft to the right and well hidden, preening but not flapping its wings yet. Looks like a dark morph juv. from pale morph adults.

Along came 4 noisy tanimbar corella in flight (spectacular sight) over the nest (the fledging was making alarm calls) and landed on a causarina tree. Before long, a bigger more vocal sulphur-crested cockatoo came by and the five took off and performed a spectacular nosiy flypast. This time the fledging alarm call was answered and led me to local the adult which was perched low on a tree further away - once again one of the parent was always around. There are two or three tall causarina trees beside the sloping road to the left at the end of Henderson Waves (Mt Faber end) - it's easier to local the adult from this spot. Well, quite a lot of birds hang around this spot (laced woody, RT drongo, wc laughingthrush...).

Danny at Mt Faber on 8Jun Sun

Went over last Sunday, the fledging left the nest and probably at the lower branches beyond viewing range but the juvenile's calls were clear and regular - it responded to my call; probably next stage of development wherby the adult would try to coax it to fly and leave the current birth zone. Another interesting sighting was an immature white rump shama on the slope off lamp post 24 - great to know they are breeding on Mt Faber.

KH at Marina East and Mt Faber on 14Jun Sat

Just to update that JS and I did not see the Horsfield's Cuckoos at Marina East. Only saw a Plaintive Cuckoo and 3 Little Bronze-cuckoos (2 adult, 1 juv). There were also a Slaty-breasted Rail, munias, weavers and other grassland birds. There was also a Little Tern flying over the golf course.

Late morning, went to Mt Faber with JS to check out the CHE and the chick was still hanging around to the right of the nest as noted by Danny earlier. Meet Ah Huey and her friend, Thomas. Ah Huey also spotted the CHE nest about a month ago. She mentioned that both parents were pale morph (did not see them on today). We also spotted a dark morph CHE soaring in the vicinity. A termite nest was bustling with activity and strange noise. It was down the staircase after lamppost 24. Hopefully it'll spawn soon.

Photos below taken by JS.

Changeable Hawk-eagle chick looking at us, resting its leg, and looking into the sky

White-crested Laughingthrush