Showing posts with label Asian Koel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Asian Koel. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Willie doesn't give fig for Koel comfort


Too handsome to deserve being called common, male Asian (formerly Common) Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus) hunches attractively in Tyto today as it takes a break from feeding Sandpaper Figs to female. 




First time I've caught up with two Koels in noisy partnership and in tree low enough to encourage long waits trying to get clear pictures (with limited luck). The dense foliage of the young fig tree was no help.



Nor was the Willie Wagtail throwing itself on the female Koel's back to drive the bird away from its territory. Only the female Koel drew the angry chattering and physical attention. Koels parasitise larger birds, but Willies don't care for cuckoos. 

Monitor with right-of-way not spotted right away

Who gives way on footbridge, Yellow-spotted Monitor or unspotted bird watcher? Naturally, dinkum locals have right-of-way. I step aside, Spo...