A Bird in the Hand vs Two in the Bush

 

It is Aussie bird count week. The goal is to for as many people as possible to complete 20 minute bird checks wherever/whenever they can to help obtain a better perspective on local birdlife. At this writing, over 5.5 million birds have been counted nationwide. When the fires came through here a few years ago, much of the bird life disappeared. We are happy to say it has been a good week for seeing birds in the bush! The best counts have been with our binoculars vs the camera so we actually have fewer images than normal. I love this one of the little spinebill. To me, these little honeyeaters resemble hummingbirds. They have a similar (but less intense) flight pattern and make a similar buzzing noise because of it. The long beak seems as good at snatching birds as it is at getting nectar. 

We have been trying to get to different parts of the farm at different times of the day to see what we can find. We have identified a "new to us" honeyeater - the white-naped variety

and found a lot more satin bowerbirds are around this year- fruit stealers, that they are!

They are not terribly melodious, speaking more in hisses and scerenches than in song 

Have a listen - go at lesat 45 seconds in 

I have been busy netting the peach and cherry trees to ensure we get to eat some of the fruit, as well as feeding the birds

The pears and apples still have some blossoms, so waiting on the pollinators to have a chance before they get netted. 

The sheep are not happy with us. At least not the 5 ewes and 8 lambs in the paddock below the house.  The sheep shed is being upgraded to something tall enough for Dubya and humans. Meantime, their old shed (which did fit sheep) is no longer quite the same.

Original shed with sheep:

While Scott's brother, Justin, was here, we put him to work helpimng Scott take down the old structure and put in new (big) poles. Justin did complain a bit about this farm stay being misrepresented!

This is the onsite inspection team making sure the work was of good quality

And the sheep seemed to think it should still work as a shed

Scott made it nicer for them and put on a tarp but that just seems to have frightened them. A little alfalfa did calm fears temporarily.

Once the alfalfa was gone, they left again, even though it started raining. I think they are holding out for a beer tent of their own

(Not our cow; she belongs to the folks who own most of the land along our road. Since she is having trouble moving, they brought the shade to her.)

We just had a minor thunderstom and Dubya seems to have stayed in his paddock. He left one day and ran up the creek to our neighbors back yard. He now has a dog tag/air tag just in case. We also closed the big gates to the property, hoping to keep him local if he does decide to jump the fence again. 

We are hanging in there. I have been trying to extend my run distance and Scott is working on cross training and hoping to get his bike and Dubya out on a more regular basis. The Cobargo pool has re-opened and we now have annual passes so also trying to add that in. Fills up more of the day, but yes, we are retired! 

Life on the farm is good and keeps us busy. Sleep gets harder as you get old and somedays you just need a nap -- or at least time to recover from the previous evenings adventure. I think this guy may have celebrated a bit too hard after the detailed shed inspection!

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Sweet dreams!