Birding

Tawny Frogmouth family at Cygnet Park-Broome

March 8, 2020 by Clare M 2 Comments

One of the joys of walking a neighbour’s dog is that you get to see the changes around the local parks on a daily basis. I have been watching the birds feeding on the nectar of the native trees and dropping in for water. A Little Friarbird currently has it in for me and swoops as I walk by one particular tree each day. Undoubtedly it has young nearby. I am ready for it now! Each day I walk around Cygnet Park I observe the Great Bowerbirds flying back and forth to their bower. The bower has received additional display items recently, because they are constantly thieving from houses and gardens in the area.

There has been a family of Tawny Frogmouths at our local supermarket car-park in other years. A few trees have been removed and I have not seen them this year so far. However, the pair of Tawny Frogmouths that often reside at Cygnet Park now have a juvenile with them. Another treat on my daily dog walk!

The header photo shows all three Tawny Frogmouths cuddled together around 8am on Thursday this week. They are in the middle of the photo! Cuddling together for warmth really does not make sense when it is 32c/90f and 70% humidity! From the photo below you can maybe now see the birds in the header photo. It was all thanks to one little dog needing to relieve himself on the tree trunk that I looked up and saw them! I took the dog home and returned with my camera.

Tawny Frogmouths

Moving closer and zooming in I got a few better photos of the Tawny Frogmouth plumage.

Tawny Frogmouths

The Tawny Frogmouth on the right became aware of me and one eye was on me followed by two eyes!

Tawny Frogmouths

I left the family of Tawny Frogmouths to sleep during the day and they will be out after dark feeding. They remain in the same tree, but not always cuddled so close!

Written by Clare M
Clare and her husband, Grant, have lived permanently in Broome, Western Australia since 1999 after living in various outback locations around Western Australia and Darwin. She has lived in the Middle East and the United States and traveled extensively in Europe. She monitors Pied Oystercatchers breeding along a 23km stretch of Broome's coastline by bicycle and on foot. She chooses not to participate in social media, but rather wander off into the bush for peace and tranquility. Thankfully she can write posts in advance and get away from technology!