Thread: Teakdoor Twitchers Society

A pair of masked lapwings were kicking off with their shrieking call and beady eye when I stepped a bit close to their nest today

Loops, what is this goose-steeping birb called?




I don't mean this particular one, I already know that, his name is Steve. I mean the species.

Originally Posted by PlanK

I mean the species.

I'll go for Magpie-larkGrallina cyanoleuca

Originally Posted by PlanK

Loops, what is this goose-steeping birb called?

I think Praggers could be on the money here^


I saw another Magpie imposter breed on my rounds today. These are Magpie-Geese

And a flock of Pea-hens crossing the road

^They are not to be messed with PK


Unusually prominent blue coverts on these Kookaburras that were having a right ld laugh at each other in the old gum tree

Dinner?

Thairath 31 December 2023
Bird was found in a weakened state, Lan Krabue District, Kamphaeng Phet Province; unconfirmed could be a Himalayan black vulture. Being fed two meals of pork per day and will be released when it has recovered and is able to fly naturally.

^Awesome looking bird!


On the 15th day of Christmas my true love sent to me a brown cuckoo-dove in a green berry tree

Amazing long tail on these doves when you see them in flight


Butcher birds are back every day now after keeping a wide berth for a week during the blackout generator racket

South-Sudanese 2022 World-Cup Vuvuzela-blowing champion blew in on the wind after keeping a wide berth for 14 months

After his meal my birdy puffs up his feathers and rests on one leg (one of his legs and also one of my legs) and gazes at me with love and slowly falls into a snooze

Originally Posted by Looper

After his meal my birdy puffs up his feathers and rests on one leg (one of his legs and also one of my legs) and gazes at me with love

What gender does it identify as, Looper?

^I don't even know how you check on our feathered friends...

His pronouns are they/them/their as far as I am concerned!

A flock of Spangled Drongos were dancing among the trees all day. Hard to get a pic when they are in flight.

There was an Australian racehorse which was named Drongo after the bird species. The racehorse was woefully unsuccessful, which is where the antipodean pejorative word Drongo comes from.

Originally Posted by Looper

A pair of masked lapwings were kicking off with their shrieking call and beady eye when I stepped a bit close to their nest today

Wow, these are really pretty and unique birds.. really enjoying this thread, Looper. HNY back to you!
I try greening people, but I think this function is dead for me, as it never works.

Originally Posted by Looper

After his meal my birdy puffs up his feathers and rests on one leg (one of his legs and also one of my legs) and gazes at me with love and slowly falls into a snooze

So close up and pretty, obviously not afraid of people.

Originally Posted by prawnograph

Thairath 31 December 2023
Bird was found in a weakened state, Lan Krabue District, Kamphaeng Phet Province; unconfirmed could be a Himalayan black vulture. Being fed two meals of pork per day and will be released when it has recovered and is able to fly naturally

Wow, so massive! Cool stuff Prawnograph!

A male White-headed Pigeon alighted in the tree today and announced its presence with its unusual deep loud 'ooooom' call.

Butcher birds called in to meet and greet Signorina Singapore who arrived this arvo in her VW Tiguan R-Line, which is some kind of sporty spec.

I was given the keys and allowed to drive it along the driveway for a giggle.

She even very kindly stopped halfway down the M1 on the way and cleared all of my junk out of my semi-abandoned Jaag and even figured out how to get the plates off it so I don't need to travel halfway to Brisbane on public transport and do it all myself.

The mechanics gave a quote for repair which is at the tipping point of sending her to the knackers. Very sad after 15 years faithful service.



The birds were happy to try a new leg perch.

Signorina brought a smorgasbord of food with her including a sizeable tub of home-made Beef Rendang and some psychedelic macaroons.

But we settled for another round of my tingly Tandoori and I will knock the Rendang off by myself over a couple of nights.

Cutting the grass and butcher birds followed me round on Sunday hoovering up the bugs

4 pelicans crossed my path on Monday on the way to the dentist on the bicycle

The boys were on half rations on Tuesday so they would hang about until Signorina Singapore arrived.

They were not happy about this and one of them let it be known by grabbing the hairs on my shin in his beak and pulling as hard as he could to try and elicit more hot dog treats. Cheeky bugger.

They eventually settled in for the long haul second course with an intermission snooze.

And were mighty happy to see Signorina.

I even scored a little treat of my own fresh from the Brisbane bakery.

I could not coax Miss South Sudan off the sofa and out onto the balcony for some fresh air this arvo when the birds rocked up

So instead the mountain had to come to Mohammed

A feathery friendship was offered

And an enduring bond was forged with the boys coming back for a second sitting in the evening

^ Lovely bird, Looper.

That magpie thing looks nice as well!

Do you mind mentioning to Miss South Sudan that I have 40 chickens. I think she would like them.

^I will tell her when she next visits Mendip.

I offered to pay for 64% of her new tyre which was an affordable gesture on the economical Toyota Yaris

A 175/65R15 comes in at $78 including fitting

So she was off over the horizon today to look for a tyre shop and get her emergency wheel removed

^ A round 50 Bucks... a good price.

^I just don't have it in my heart to see a lady limp away on an emergency wheel

The age of chivalry will not die on my watch!

I noticed a sizeable chip out of the sidewall front right of Signorina Singapore's VW SUV (not caused by me I might add as it was there on the 1st day).

But at $500+ a pop for these 255/40R20 tyres I think my chivalry may have kerbed itself on its limits.

Taking that photo of the tyre specs also reveals a separate sidewall split. Could be expensive, but lucky QLD does not require an annual roadworthy like NSW. One of the reasons I was able to keep my ancient creaking Jaguar on the road for so long before putting her to the sword.

That's dangerous. She's not a long way off disks and probably pads too.