Monday 4 December 2023

The Bird and the Sea

We stopped at the rest area on the way to Scottdale in the north east coast of Tasmania, Australia on our drive.  A visitor arrived and perched itself on the car mirror, it was very friendly and obviously looking for food which we didn't have.  My husband put the window down and we thought it was going to come into the car so we snapped a photo and put the window up.  

*The bird is a Black Currawong which is a large crow-like bird (although related to the Butcher birds), around 50cm (20 in) long on average, with yellow irises, a heavy bill, and black plumage with white wing patches and tail tips.

The Black Currawong is endemic to Tasmania, but widespread.  
We have two currawongs in Tasmania, the endemic Black, and a sub-species of the Gray, which ironically, in Tasmania is so dark as to appear black.* The text was copied from [ here ]
The photos were taken with my phone.



Of course being by the sea as in Bridport a photo of Bass Strait was insured along with the remains of the old jetty.

58 comments:

  1. What beautiful photos of this Black Currawong.
    A crow-like species that does not occur in Europe.
    I enjoyed it.
    Greetings Irma

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    1. That's good you enjoyed it Irma as I know you love taking photos of birds and indeed love birds too.

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  2. Such a pretty bird and the Bass Strait is very beautiful.

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    1. Yes Angie, it's fine looking bird. Bass Strait if always lovely to see.

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  3. Che bello questo uccello e poi per niente pauroso

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  4. What an interesting and pretty visitor. Bass Strait looks like a nice place to visit.

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    1. Bass Strait is always lovely Bill goes across the Island at the top of it.
      Nice bird.

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  5. A handsome bird with a powerful looking beak. Maybe it uses the beak to forage under stones and rocks.

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    1. It is a strong beak Rosemary. They berry seed, insects, grubs so hence the strong long beak.

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  6. We have the pied currawongs. I love their call.

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  7. The Black Currawong looks pretty daring to me.

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    1. Oh it was rather, it looked to come into the car via the window several times.

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  8. Great photographs of the Black Currawong.

    All the best Jan

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  9. Nice photos, not a bird I am familiar with but a lovely looking bird

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  10. He is a very friendly, curious currawong, isn't he? Great photos!

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    1. Yes it was very friendly, several times we thought it was going to come in the car when the window was down. That long beak worried me.

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  11. Wonderful shots of the Currawong. Very handsome bird.

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  12. The same thing has happened to us. While inside the car and with its windows closed, a small bird called a sparrow approached (around here it is common on the coast of Mar del Plata). I still can't understand how he realized we were eating some cookies.

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    1. Animals just know we are eating especially if they are a bit hungry.

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    2. The smell! Birds can smell bread crumbs on the ground from across a busy road :)

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    3. Tasmania Devils can smell other dead animals from miles away - nature is magic Hels.

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  13. I have never heard of a Black Currawong before, a striking bird with those yellow eyes. Glad you rolled your window up, that beak looks sharp and I am sure he would have made off with any food available. The sea photo is great too. Happy week to you Margaret!

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    1. Thank you Denise. I think I would have nearly freaked out if the bird got inside the car but then we would have opened all door hoping it would fly or hop out without any damage to itself.

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  14. Es un bello pájaro y la última foto me enamoró. Te mando un beso.

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    1. Thank you. It's a lovely area down Bridport way especially looking over Bass Strait and the old jetty ruins.

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  15. Unas imagenes magnificas. Captadas en el instante preciso.

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    1. Thank you, and yes I was lucky to be there and click away at the right moment.

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  16. The black currawong need only glare at other birds with his fixed stare, or wave that harsh beak of his, and they will get right out of his way.

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  17. They are exciting photos. I like the way the bird seems to be checking you out.

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    1. Checking us out to see if we had food and wanting to come inside the car John.

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  18. We have currawongs up this way, too. They visit me often. :)

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    1. You probably have the Pied Currawong up your way Lee, and how nice you have them visit you.

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  19. Thank you for showing us a precious endemic bird.
    Aren't they afraid of human beings?

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    1. Normally they are afraid of us humans but this one wasn't!

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  20. Just from its bright expression I would say it's a clever bird. Crows often are.

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  21. What a lovely and beautiful bird! Great photos.
    I see that the Black Currawongs are very friendly.
    It's impossible to not love the animals!!!

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    1. Thank you.
      That particular one was friendly. We loved it sitting there as we watched it's antics.

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  22. Las fotos te quedaron preciosas Margaret. Besos.

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    1. Thank you Teresam, I was happy with the photos from my phone.

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  23. hope the man had found food somewhere close
    the bird is magnificent and what trick to make grip on you side mirror :) nice shot

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  24. Beautiful bird, a fantastic visitor.
    The photos are excellent.

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