Oz-some Birding Part III - Birds of Forests, Shrubs, Thickets, and Open Fields, Third of Three

On our last birding day in Australia, we were glad to have availed the services of a very talented bird guide, Andrew Patrick, of Zest for Birds. Thanks to him we were able to see birds that we would have never seen on our own efforts.

Foremost of these was the Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua). True to its name it is a gigantic bird and lucky for us, the time we saw it, it had its prey in its talons - an Australian Possum.

Andrew also showed us the Tawny Frogmouth but unfortunately it was a bit high up a tree and was so well camouflaged that we did not get that good of a picture.

can you see it?

Another setback was that we had bad weather that day. It drizzled and sometimes even rained occasionally thereby making photographing birds a real challenge. Still we were thankful despite the so-so images we got.

Three more Honeyeaters were added to our list:

The White-plumed (Lichenostomus penicillatus)

and the Lewin's Honeyeater (Meliphaga lewinii)

Also know as the Crimson Honeyeater, the Scarlet Myzomela is its "official" name (Myzomela sanguinolenta)

Two kinds of Thornbills were also seen:

Yellow-rumped (Acanthiza chrysorrhoa)

and Yellow Thornbill (Acanthiza nana)

The Bell Miners (Manorina melanophyrs) were plenty and noisy but very seldom stays put.

In the same area as the Bell Miners, was an Eastern Whipbird (Psophodes olivaceus) that kept calling as well.

The Black-faced Cuckooshrike (Coracina novaehollandiae) preferred the higher branches.

Too bad we only saw the drab female Satin Bowerbird (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus).

We were looking for the Azure Kingfisher, but we only had glimpses of it. On the other hand, the unexpected Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus) was more cooperative.

Finally, as we were about to leave the area, a Wonga Pigeon (Leucosarcia melanoleuca) casually walked by.