That’s all I’ve got for now. Hope you are all having a wonderful spring migration, and as always,
Happy Birding!
Keeli Marvel

The Frogmouth Hop

Tawny Frogmouth (Podargus strigoides)

by Jesse Lee

Our family recently had the opportunity to do a little bit of birding in Australia, and the species at the top of our list was the Tawny Frogmouth. Though common, frogmouths are known to be masters of disguise, and are notorious for being difficult to locate, even when you know exactly where to find one.

by Kaisa Lee

by Kaisa Lee

With a little research, along with help from a newly found friend (a local volunteer I connected with on birdingpal.org), I was overly optimistic concerning our chances.

Our birding pal kindly informed us that there were a pair of frogmouths that live in Centennial Park near the central business district in downtown Sydney. The park is made up of nearly 500 acres of beautiful gardens, ponds, and groves; a birding hotspot filled with cockatoos, splendid fairywrens, and hopefully, tawny frogmouths.

She even went as far as providing us with a map with an annotation marking the exact stand of trees where they were likely to be found. With this information, locating the frogmouth, I thought, should be easy peasy.

The Tawny Frogmouth rocketed to the top of my target list of Australia after I learned about their cryptic plumage and deadpan mimicry. During the day, the nightjar like birds will perch unflinchingly, blending in with nearby tree bark which makes them nearly invisible, even in broad daylight. The frogmouth will sit with its head thrust upwards at an acute angle using its very large, broad beak to lead the viewer to believe that they are merely looking at an old broken tree branch.

Thanks to our detailed map, I knew exactly where the birds should be found. However, locating a frogmouth turned out to be a bigger challenge than we had expected. No matter how hard our intrepid army of birders (my wife and 3 boys) looked, we could not track one down. Feeling desperate, knowing that this was our last day in Australia, I decided to phone a friend. Our birding pal came to the rescue, and relayed that she was only a few minutes away from the park and would be happy to join the search party (even though she had spent the entire previous day with us).

Upon arrival, she shared that it can be helpful to peruse through the trees at different angles. We traversed slightly to the right, and then to the left, then, suddenly there it was in frogmouth fashion, perched motionless with its beak pointed in the air, perfectly blended in with its surroundings.

Sometimes all it takes is some advice from a good friend, and a slight change in perspective.

Apart from the ever-present threat of snakes, birds of prey, and nest thieving rodents, frogmouths are facing new challenges from human activity and pets. Many are killed on rural roads, while attempting to feed on insects illuminated by car headlights. They also often fall victim to house cats, due to their lackadaisical return to perch after catching a meal. Insecticides and rodent poisons are also taking a toll on frogmouths when the birds feed on tainted prey.

Tawny Frogmouths are often mistaken for owls due to their mottled patterns, large heads, and forward-facing eyes. However, owls have strong legs and powerful talons which they use to capture their prey. Frogmouths, in comparison, have weak feet, and prefer to catch prey with their wide, forward facing beaks, typically pouncing from trees or elevated perches to the ground. Frogmouths feed mainly on nocturnal insects like moths, spiders and worms along with an occasional rodent or frog when the opportunity arises. Occasionally, they will catch moths or other insects in flight.

If you just happen to find yourself in the land down under, I would recommend meeting up with a local friend in a nearby park to do the frogmouth hop. Find a stand of eucalyptus trees, take two steps to the left, followed by three steps to the right, and you may get lucky enough to spot a masquerading phantom frogmouth down by the Sydney Opera House.

  
Sources:
http://www.birdsinbackyards.net
https://www.bushheritage.org.au
https://www.wikipedia.org/

by Steve Van Winkle

by Steve Van Winkle

Cliff and I went to the cemetery afterwards and saw a barn owl.

Thank you all for attending.  [There were 19 birders in the group]

Lyle

Our next stop was the Goshen Ocean and it did not disappoint! There were Black-necked Stilts, Avocets, Long-billed Curlews, Wilson's Phalarope, Gadwall and Mallards.

Blue Grosbeak      

"Goshen Ocean"
 

Then we checked out the fields to the North spotting a SHORT-EARED OWL!!! Not everyone saw it :( but quite a few did as it flew into the sage.
 

Yellow-breasted Chat    

Burrowing Owl    

Gray Flycatcher     

Juniper Titmouse      

Red-necked Phalarope