Attracting Bowerbirds Australias Most Beautiful Rainforest Bird Tim Siggs 2026-09-24 | Attracting Bowerbirds Australias Most Beautiful Rainforest Bird
AUSTRALIA DOCUMENTARY 4K / TASMANIA Birds and Wildlife / Tasmania Island of Birds. #DiscoverTasmania Tim Siggs 2023-05-19 | #TassieStyle,#DiscoverTasmania,#tasmania,#endemicspecies,#wilderness ,#tasmanianwildernessA Documentary on the beautiful birds and wildlife of Tasmania’s wilderness areas.Includes rare footage of the endemic Scrubtit and many other species of the Apple isle.This short documentary documents our recent trip to Tasmania. My ambition was to find and film as many bird and mammal species as possible and our time here did not disappoint.My original intention was to make a short film about the charismatic and endemic Scrubtit but as the timeline developed, I decided to add a splash of other species into the documentary. Our journey takes us through pristine habitats, searching for the incredibly diverse birds and Mammals of Tasmania. The forests are delightful and present as a storybook with Tree ferns and moss covered logs.Tasmania is also home to a number of endemic bird species that cannot be found anywhere else on earth.Eventually, our 3 week adventure will be documented in a 3 part series covering an impressive array of species and of course the wonderful habitats that they live.Please comment and let me know what you think.Footage shot on Nikon Z6 / 200-500 F5.6Species List:COMMON WOMBAT 'Vombatus ursinus'.ECHIDNA 'Tachyglossus aculeatus'.TASMANIAN PADEMELON 'Thylogale billardierii' 'EASTERN QUOLL' 'Dasyurus viverrinus'.'TASMANIAN DEVIL' 'Sarcophilus harrisii' 'PLATYPUS' 'Ornithorhynchus anatinus' 'TASMANIAN NATIVEHEN' 'Tribonyx mortierii' 'YELLOW-TAILED BLACK COCKATOO' 'Zanda funerea'.'TAWNY- CROWNED HONEYEATER' 'Gliciphila melanops'.'GREEN ROSELLA' 'Platycercus caledonicus' 'SWIFT PARROT' 'Lathamus discolor' 'SILVEREYE' 'Zosterops lateralis'.'PINK ROBIN' 'Petroica rodinogaster' 'SCARLET ROBIN' 'Petroica boodang' 'FLAME ROBIN' 'Petroica phoenicea'.'SUPERB FAIRYWREN' 'Malurus cyaneus' 'WHITE-FRONTED CHAT' 'Epthianura albifrons' 'TASMANIAN SCRUBWREN' 'Sericornis humilis''BROWN THORNBILL' 'Acanthiza pusilla' 'TASMANIAN THORNBILL' 'Acanthiza ewingii' 'SCRUBTIT' 'Acanthornis magna'. 'PINK ROBIN' 'Petroica rodinogaster' 'OLIVE WHISTLER' 'Pachycephala olivacea' 'YELLOW WATTLEBIRD' 'Anthochaera paradoxa' 'BLACK CURRAWONG' 'Strepera fuliginosa' 'BEAUTIFUL FIRETAIL' 'Stagonopleura bella' 'SILVEREYE' 'Zosterops lateralis' 'CRESCENT HONEYEATER' 'Phylidonyris pyrrhopterus'.'YELLOW -THROATED HONEYEATER' 'Nesoptilotis flavicollis'.'BLACK- HEADED HONEYEATER' 'Melithreptus affinis''STRONG -BILLED HONEYEATER' 'Melithreptus validirostris'
Rainbow Bee-eater. A short study watching a family preening and eating in the morning light. 4K. Tim Siggs 2023-03-19 | The Rainbow Bee-eater is one of approximately 30 species of Bee-eater worldwide, although the taxonomy is not fully settled. They are a stunning family of Passerines ( song/ perching species ) and the Rainbow Bee-eater is no exception. They can be observed, skillfully hawking for bees and other insects, before alighting on a branch to digest their prey. The stinger is removed from bees before they are eaten and in the case of larger insects, they may be bashed repeatedly on a branch in order for the prey to be digested.The males are separated from the females by the longer tail streamer. Mature birds are much brighter and appear different colours ( ie blue or green ) as the light reflects on the iridescent plumage. This species can be seen right across the Australian continent and they do undertake large seasonal movements as they seek out suitable feeding and breeding territories.Breeding often takes place in small, loose colonies. A nesting tunnel is excavated in a sandy bank, where 3-5 white eggs are laid, occasionally more.In this video, one can observe some juveniles which are yet to develop the brighter adult plumage. It is remarkable to think that birds of only a few weeks of age, have developed the skill to hawk for tiny insects as this takes incredible precision and skill.I think the setting is stunning as the water provides a beautiful backdrop.What do you think?More of my productions here: youtube.com/c/TimsiggsThis from Birdlife Australia:A striking, colourful bird, the Rainbow Bee-eater is medium sized, with a long slim curved bill and a long tail with distinctive tail-streamers. It has a golden crown and a red eye set in a wide black stripe from the base of the bill to the ears, which is edged with a thin blue line. The throat is orange-yellow, with a broad black band separating it from a green breast. The upperparts are green, with the flight feathers coppery and black tipped. The underwings are bright orange, with a black edge. The lower abdomen is blue. The tail is black, including the long tail streamers, with a blue tinge. Females have shorter, thicker tail streamers than males, but are otherwise similar. Young birds are duller and greener, lacking the black band on the chest and the long tail streamers.
Shorebird Spectacular. A celebration of Shorebirds as they gather for a long Northbound Migration. Tim Siggs 2023-03-06 | A short Video showcasing our spectacular shorebirds as they moult into their breeding colours. They are about to head off on a long journey that, in some cases exceeds 13,000 KLM, non stop. The annual return journey of many species is 25,000 kLMS. The route is known as the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. This film shows Bar-tailed Gotwits, Great Knots, Whimbrel's and Far-Eastern Curlews all gathering at high tide. I have filmed much of these sequences in 120FPS, showing the plumage and movements in intimate detail.The following extract is from the Queensland's governments 'Wetland Info site'. Migratory shorebirds of the East Asian—Australasian Flyway breed in parts of northeast Asia (eastern Siberia and China), to as far west as the Taymyr Peninsula in the far north of Russia and as far east as Alaska (e.g. some bar-tailed godwits). Most of these birds migrate southward before the onset of winter, with the destination for many being the warmer feeding habitats of Australia.After spending the summer in the south, the first leg of the northward migration from Australia for waterbirds can be a very long flight of more than 6,000 km to reach a staging site in the flyway, such as the mudflats around the Yellow Sea in China and Korea. The Yellow Sea region of the flyway is especially important as birds need to spend time here feeding to regain weight lost in consuming body fat that powered the first leg of their journey north from Australia, and to prepare for arrival at their breeding grounds.Birds of most species travel 20,000 km to the northern hemisphere and back to Australia each year. The epic journeys of bar-tailed godwits across the Pacific Ocean to the east coast of Australia and New Zealand from Alaska include nonstop flights of up to 13,000 km.
AUSTRALIAS KOOKABURRAS. Largest Kingfishers in the world. Tim Siggs 2023-02-12 | Australia is home to 2 of the world’s 5 Kookaburras. The Laughing Kookaburra is a well know and reasonably common species that is famous for its raucous calls, which could be considered to be similar to human laughter.They have adapted well to human environments and can be seen in suburban parks. Furthermore, they can become quite tame and in some cases, will feed from the hand.They are hole nesters and nest in larger holes of gums trees but also large arboreal termite mounds, where they raise between 2-3 young.They hold breeding territories and are assisted in raising their offspring by other ‘lower-ranked Kookaburras’This species is the largest Kingfisher species in the world. There are 10 species of Kingfisher in Australia.The Blue-winged Kingfisher is slightly smaller and inhabits Northern and Western Australia. Their call is a less pleasant guttural call. They are easily separated where the ranges overlap as the Blue-Winged species has a pale plainer head and also has much more blue in the wing and tail. Both species will prey on Lizards, invertebrates and even small birds. Neither species are generally associated with Water but on occasions do take prey items from the water’s surface, such as frogs.
AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. SEARCHING FOR THE LETTER WINGED KITE IN QUEENSLANDS REMOTE OUTBACK.TIM SIGGS ABM. Tim Siggs 2023-01-29 | The letter-winged Kite (Elanus scriptus)#Letterwingedkite#australianbirds #raptors #raptor #elanus The Letter-winged Kite is an iconic Australian Raptor that lives in remote desert areas.There is so much that is unique about this bird and it’s status is almost mythical among birders. The fact that they hunt nocturnally is in itself fascinating and they are reliant on the Long-haired Rat population as their main diet. This desert species (Rattus villosissimus ) have a ‘boom-bust cycle and in the boom years, the Kites breed in loose colonies, often along dry creek beds. Following these successful years, the rat population often crashes and leaves the Kites searching for food. Unfortunately, many Kites starve to death and their numbers plummet. Feral cats are also a big threat to their survival as they predate on the eggs and nestlings. Some colonies have been wiped out by these introduced predators.My own personal quest to find and film this species has spanned 2 decades. It’s a long way out to the deserts and the conditions have been poor on my first few visits. Ironically, there were a pair only 1.5 hours from Brisbane in the late 90’s but I had the desire to see these birds in their Outback environment and passed on this opportunity.After all, it was the only Australian Raptor I had not filmed. Back then, there was no internet where information is shared and the best thing we had was general localities from trip reports. Conditions change rapidly out there and by the time one could get to the location, the birds may have moved on.This short documentary represents my 4th attempt to find them and I am grateful to Laurie Ross ( Tracks Birding and Photography Tours ) for putting me in the right area. The outback is unthinkably vast and it’s a big advantage to know approximately where to look. I do hope to find a colony one day and to learn more about this special bird.The beauty of any venture 'Out west' is that one invariably finds a range of not only birds but all kinds of Fauna including some wonderful Reptiles.
PAINTED BUTTONQUAIL behaviour feeding and calling, Narawntapu NP, Tasmania. Australian Bird Media. Tim Siggs 2022-10-11 | The Painted Buttonquail is a widespread species across mainland ( southern, Eastern and Western ) Australia and parts of Tasmania. The female in the video is larger and brighter than the male. Buttonquail are unusual in the bird world as the male takes on all parenting duties and rears the chicks. This species likes leafy under-story in dry and moist woodlands, also venturing into open grassland. They will often go undetected due to their shy nature. This species, in common with other Buttonquail feed by creating 'platelet's as they search for food. This is achieved by the bird spinning on alternate legs to expose food items such as small grubs and insects.This method can be seen in my video. Whilst I have been blessed to observe this species many times, this encounter was somewhat more intimate than usual. While we were camped at the beautiful Narawntupu National Park in Tasmania, we could hear the Buttonquail calling around us. We were later treated to 2 different individuals calling early and late in the day and I was delighted to take the opportunity to film both the calling and feeding methods at close range. Unfortunately, despite some efforts with the audio, the calls are not as clear as I would like them to be.This description from Birdlife Australia. The female is the larger and more colored of these small, plump, well-camouflaged ground-dwellers. The overall coloration is grey, with large white spots on the breast which fade to off-white around the legs and vent. The face has small black-edged white spots with a white eye-brow. The wings and back of the female are mostly chestnut, with white spots and black, white-edged bars on the wing. The male is similar but the chestnut color is replaced with buff. Please support my channel by subscribing and turning on notifications.
BIRDING ON THE SUNSHINE COAST HEADLANDS. A lazy day filming (4K) our residents on the headlands. Tim Siggs 2022-08-21 | I have watched the birdlife on the Sunshine Headlands for around 30 years and in that time, the human population may have quadrupled. The birds are still there but the number have reduced and some species have disappeared completely, possibly due to so much disturbance.This short film includes footage of Eastern Reef Egrets, Sooty Oystercatchers and Eastern Ospreys.Each species has it's niche way of hunting and this is a joy to watch.I hope you enjoy it and please turn on your notifications if you would like to support my channel
AUSTRALIAN RINGNECK IN THE OUTBACK. 4K Footage of this beautiful Parrot feeding and drinking. Tim Siggs 2022-08-07 | The Australian Ringneck is a widespread species of Parrot, found in the drier regions across the continent. There are four sub species. I have shown the Barnardi Sub sp here. The Males are somewhat brighter than the females.This species tends to congregate in pairs and small family parties.I filmed these particular clips in Western Queensland, Australia, 2022. Australia certainly is the Land of Parrots.This from Birdlife:The Australian Ringneck is a large parrot, differing in size and plumage in different regions. There are four subspecies, in two main groups. All are mostly green, with an obvious yellow band on the hind-neck. Members of the Mallee group have a mainly green head and neck. The Mallee Ringneck, subspecies barnardi, has a more varied green and blue body, with more yellow underneath and a red frontal band. The Cloncurry subspecies macgillivrayi has much more yellow and pale turquoise around the face. The Port Lincoln group all have dark hoods and are mainly green. The Twenty Eight Parrot, subspecies semitorquatus, has a red frontal band and is all green underneath. The Port Lincoln Parrot, subspecies zonarius, is green and yellow underneath. All subspecies hybridise widely. They are quiet when feeding, but when disturbed fly off with loud alarm calls. Their flight is swift and undulating. This species is also known as the Mallee, Port Lincoln, Banded or Cloncurry Ringneck, Twenty Eight Parrot or Buln Buln.
GREEN ROSELLA Beautiful 4K Footage of the stunning Tasmanian Endemic Parrot. Australian Bird Media. Tim Siggs 2022-07-31 | The Green Rosella is a stunning Parrot that is endemic to Tasmania. I filmed these on our trip to the Apple isle in 2021, along with around 70 other species. I will make a documentary when I get a chance.Thankfully, these Parrots are thriving and we encountered them daily across the beautiful state.This from Birdlife: The Green Rosella is Australia's largest rosella. It is a medium-sized parrot with a broad tail. The upperparts are dark, mottled green and black, in contrast with the yellow head, neck and underbody. When flying the bright yellow body is very obvious. There are distinct blue cheek patches, a red band across the forehead, and blue shoulder patches. Females are slightly duller, while juveniles are mainly green. Their flight is strong and swift with only slight undulations. Also called the Tasmanian Rosella, or Yellow-bellied, Mountain or Green Parrot.
ENDANGERED SWIFT PARROTS. Short Film documenting these stunning Parrots. Filmed Tasmania 2020. ABM. Tim Siggs 2022-07-24 | These clips are a sequences from a Film on Tasmanian Birds that we will be be producing at Australian Bird Media. The film will showcase Tasmania's Birdlife ( and other wildlife ) at their best.Swift parrots are not only stunning but very rare. This species has been in decline for many years. They spend their Summers in Tasmania where they breed, and fly to the mainland in Winter. Their decline is probably due to habitat destruction but also predation of chicks from the introduced Sugar Glider. Their main diet is nectar, but also psyllids and lerps. These little beauties are rapid flyers and their call can be heard from some distance. This from Birdlife Australia:The Swift Parrot is a slim, medium-sized parrot with a streamlined shape in flight, angular pointed wings and a long pointed purple-red tail. The body is mostly bright green, with a dark blue patch on the crown. The forehead to throat is crimson and there is a crimson patch at the bend of the wing. The female is slightly duller, with a creamy underwing bar. In flight, the bright green body, dark flight feathers and scarlet underwing coverts are spectacular. They are noisy, active and showy, with a very fast, direct flight.
Australian King Parrot in full glory. Nikon z9 Short film.Australian Bird Media. #Parrot #Kingparrot Tim Siggs 2022-07-19 | The King Parrot is a common but beautiful species of Parrot. These clips are all of the Male. They can become very acclimatised to people, especially when there is free food on offer.They also have a very distinctive call, often given in flight.This from Birds Australia.Male Australian King-Parrots are the only Australian parrots with a completely red head. Females are similar to males except that they have a completely green head and breast. Both sexes have a red belly and a green back, with green wings and a long green tail. King parrots are normally encountered in pairs or family groups.Music by Lesfm.
Nikon Z9 4k 100FPS .Rendered at 25% speed. Brown Falcon Preening in the afternoon light.#shorts Tim Siggs 2022-06-16 | #shorts
Beautiful Kingfishers in 4K #shorts Tim Siggs 2022-06-07 | A celebration of a few of Australia's beautiful Kingfishers #shorts
AUSTRALIAN PARROTS WILD AND BEAUTIFUL IN 4K 1 -10. An intimate look at 10 of our beautiful Parrots. Tim Siggs 2022-05-22 | #Parrots #Australian parrots #4kParrots#Queensland's Parrots #beautiful Parrots #worldparrotdayAustralia is blessed with some of the word's most beautiful Parrots. From Cockatoos to the little Bourkes Parrots, in this short film we see them in their wild environments. I have filmed over 50 species and hope to continue this series, showcasing the Parrots of Australia. The distances between locations are often 1000's of KLM and the vast interior seems to have a unlimited horizon.This Video showcases some of the highlights of my travels throughout these amazing places.Tim Siggs. Australian Bird Media.
Birds and Wildlife of Queenslands North. The Wet Tropics. Filmed in 2014. Tim Siggs. ABM. Tim Siggs 2022-02-27 | This is a production that up until now, I have never published. It is part 1 of 2, covering the Rainforests of Far North Queensland. Due to it's age, the editing is a little rough compared to current standards and the audio is basic but I hope this does not detract from the viewers experience. I have visited this region several times and it is always high on the list when it comes to bird densities and numbers of species. From the giant Cassowary to the diminutive Fig-parrots, the forests are home to a stunning range of species. Many of the birds are limited to a specific altitude, eg, Low ( down to sea level ) or some can only be observed in higher altitude forests.Your comments are always welcome. as it supports my channel.Tim Siggs Australian Bird Media.
AUSTRALIAN BIRDSONG PART 2. A celebration of the songs and calls of the Australian Bush. #birdsong Tim Siggs 2022-02-14 | We are incredibly blessed in Australia to have so many birds that produce such a wide variety of calls, songs and sometimes just cool sounds. This video is about the forest dwellers and it showcases some of the beauties that I have managed to capture while they do what they so best.Part 2 covers some of the forest species, following on from part 1 that covered birds of open country.Birdsong is something that has been poetically written about for centuries and for good reason. Apart from an incredibly interesting subject from a scientific point of view, it is food for the soul. A walk in the Rainforest never fails to lift one's spirits.It has taken me years to collate my library and I hope you enjoy these amazing sounds.Please subscribe and turn on your notifications to support my channel.#birdsong#australianbirdsong#birdcalls#birdsounds#rainforestsounds#nikonz6
AUSTRALIAN BIRDSONG PART 1 . A celebration of the songs, calls and sounds of Australian Birds. Tim Siggs 2022-01-24 | This is a short production showcasing the wonder of some of the strange and wonderful songs, calls and sounds of Australian birds. The sounds are wide and varied and this film shows birds from both coastal and remote outback regions. I have traveled many thousands of Kilometres to achieve these sequences. Enjoy.
Australian Birds. Birding in South West Queensland / Queensland Gulf 2013. Australian Bird Media Tim Siggs 2021-12-30 | This is an old Video ( unpublished ) that I made in 2014, so the quality of the production is not up to today's standard. The Audio and sound / editing are also a little rough. However, it does showcase some wonderful species and the beautiful environments that they live. I have re-visited these areas in 2020 and will make a more up to date film at some stage. Enjoy.
Bell Miner ( Bellbird ). A documentary about these fascinating little birds. Australian Bird Media Tim Siggs 2021-12-26 | The Bell Miner, locally known as Bellbirds, is a fairly common bird of open forest and also the edges of Rain forest in Eastern Queensland, New South wales and Victoria. The Bell-like sounds literally fill the forest.Bell miners live in large, complex, social groups. Within each group, there are subgroups consisting of several breeding pairs. The non breeders help in providing food for the young in all the nests within the subgroup, even though they are not always closely related to them.As I explain in this short film, they are a very dominant species and use a dive bombing method of setting up an exclusive territory. Some species are able to co-exist. They do this in order to protect their territory from other insect-eating birds that would eat the lerps on which they feed. Whenever the local forests die back, due to increased lerp psyllid infestations, bell miners undergo a population boom.They are closely related to the common and much maligned Noisy Miner which are also from the Honey-eater complex.
Ducks of Queensland. A guide to the Ducks of Queensland. Tim Siggs. Australian Bird Media. Tim Siggs 2021-11-28 | This is part 1 of a 4 part series on the Ducks of Queensland. A short film to show the key features of our beautiful Ducks. We show the key identification features of each species along with varying techniques of feeding for each species.
Red-browed Finch in the Wild. Beautiful Australian Finches, feeding, bathing and preening. Tim Siggs 2021-09-04 | The Red-browed Finch is a common but beautiful species of Australian Finch. I filmed these over a 12 month period near my home in South-east Queensland.The Red-browed Finch can be recognised by its bright red eyebrow, rump and beak, on an otherwise green and grey bird. On closer inspection, the upper mandible has a slate grey top. Upper parts are olive green with grey underneath. Breeding birds have a lovely golden shoulder patch. Both sexes are similar in appearance. They can be observed in pairs or small flocks, which feed on the grass. They will fly into dense undergrowth, showing their red rumps, when disturbed by a passer-by. These little beauties may breed several times a year in good conditions.There favoured habitats include edges of rainforest.Tim Siggs. Australian Bird Media.
Azure Kingfisher (Ceyx azureus ) up close in the Queensland Rainforest. Tim Siggs 2021-07-26 | I was sitting quietly next to our Rain forest creek, when this little guy landed very close. The Azure Kingfisher is a stunning resident in our Queensland forests. It could be argued that this is Australia's most beautiful Kingfisher. The plumage is stunning with a blue-purple mantle and orange breast and belly.The bill is disproportionately long. They are a true Aquatic Kingfisher, that mainly dive for small fish as opposed to many Australian Kingfishers that hunt over dry land, such as the Red-backed and Sacred Kingfisher.Most observations of this species are very brief as the birds dart past at great speed. Their hunting method is to sit in the shadows on favored perches where they plummet into the water to catch tiny fish with their dagger like bill.The Male is very similar to the female but slightly brighter in plumage.This species excavates it's own hole, usually in the river bank. There is a 'turn around' at the end of the burrow where, the white eggs are laid.Once, the eggs are incubated, the parents have to tirelessly feed the young and it has been recorded that up to 50 fish are supplied per day.Thankfully, this species remains a relatively common site on Queensland's rivers, dams and small creeks.I filmed these guys in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.
Lewins Rail. Australian Bird Media. Filming the rarely seen Lewins Rail and its amazing calls. Tim Siggs 2021-04-25 | The Lewin's Rail is a very secretive bird that is heard much more often than seen. This film is my account of filming this interesting species and documenting it's unusual calls. I spent a week in my hide hoping to film a bird that I had only previously glimpsed.For many years, I had only seen this secretive bird for a few seconds at a time.The observer, normally can only hope of seeing this species dashing from one area of cover to another. However, this film records my game of 'hide and seek' with this elusive species.
The story of the Buff-sided Robin. Australian Bird Media. Tim Siggs 2021-04-06 | Probably one of my Favorite Australian Birds, the Buff-sided Robin has it all. This is the story of a beautiful bird that also has loads of charisma. I filmed these sequences in the Gulf of Carpentaria ( North Queensland). The closest relative is the White-browed Robin, however, the ranges do not overlap. Much of the details of this species are described in the Video.
Quest to Find and Film the Hooded Parrot in the Northern Territory, Australia. Australian Bird Media Tim Siggs 2021-03-20 | This is a short film about my quest to Find and Film the Hooded Parrot. I undertook a trip to the Northern parts of Australia in 2019. The first part took in the Kimberley region, looking for Black Grasswren with Laurie Ross of Tracks Birding. I will make a video about this excellent trip later.The second part took in the Top End region of the Northern Territory. This is a truly stunning area with much to offer the visiting birder. One of my main targets was the stunning Hooded Parrot which has a very limited range in the Northern Territory. I was delighted to find and film this species,along with many other special birds.A description of this species below:The hooded parrot is a medium-sized parrot, up to 26 cm long, weighing 50 to 60 g. The male has a black head, bluish-grey beak, dark-brown irises, and its wings have a yellow patch. Its upper-parts are brown, its lower parts are turquoise blue, its back is brown, the tail is olive green tipped pale blue, and its legs are pink-grey. The female is a dull-green parrot with a grey-brown head and pink undertail coverts. Juveniles are similar to the female.
EMU AND OTHER WILDLIFE FILMED IN AUSTRALIAS OUTBACK. Tim Siggs 2021-03-07 | The Emu is an iconic Australian Bird and along with the Kangaroo, it features on Australia's coat of arms. These sequences are taken from several Outback trips that I have undertaken over the past decade.The Outback is a vast place and one can drive for hours and see very little wildlife. However, these big birds are hard to miss and are always interesting to watch.Description from Birdlife below :The Emu is Australia's tallest native bird, reaching between 1.6 m and 1.9 m when standing erect. Adult Emus are covered with shaggy grey-brown feathers except for the neck and head, which are largely naked and bluish-black. The wings are greatly reduced, but the legs are long and powerful. Each foot has three forward-facing toes and no hind toe. I began birdwatching when I was 12 and progressed to bird photography and then to bird Video for the past 15 years.Originally from the UK, I find birding in Australia exciting and engaging. I have now travelled around Australia twice but mainly film birds in Queensland.Many of the bird clips are taken from hides or blinds that I construct from bush materials, saving the need to carry a hide to a location.Knowing bird calls and song is a big part of finding each species and naturally, knowing the habitat requirements helps also.
40 Minutes of Wild Rainforest sounds in Queensland. Ambient, relaxing bird songs in Australia. Tim Siggs 2021-02-28 | I am fortunate enough to live with the Rainforest all around me. I love to soak up the Rainforest sounds, especially when I am filming the birds. Friends have encouraged me to upload the ambient sounds as I already have a collection for my Rainforest Series of Birds to be published soon.youtube.com/watch?v=xXqWsZs-WrsI have uploaded some frames from my Rainforest Film. The birds on the screen are just some examples of the resident species and are not necessarily in time with the audio.The forest is a beautiful place where so much life, much of which is hidden lives. The sounds change with the seasons as new birds arrive in Spring from PNG. There are the dominant species who cannot be ignored such as the Eastern Whipbird youtube.com/watch?v=Bf9GVLuFo1Y and also the golden Whistler youtube.com/watch?v=x1vaBTw9e7U but there are also lots of subtle sounds in the background.I hope you enjoy. I love to have this playing in the background at home. I began birdwatching when I was 12 and progressed to bird photography and then to bird Video for the past 15 years.Originally from the UK, I find birding in Australia exciting and engaging. I have now travelled around Australia twice but mainly film birds in Queensland.Many of the bird clips are taken from hides or blinds that I construct from bush materials, saving the need to carry a hide to a location.Knowing bird calls and song is a big part of finding each species and naturally, knowing the habitat requirements helps also.
Australian Birds. Pied Stilts ( formerly Black-necked Stilt ) feeding on their long pink legs. Tim Siggs 2021-02-21 | The Pied Stilt is a beautiful wading bird that is widespread in Australia. They are closely related to the Black-necked Stilt ( North and South America ), Black-winged Stilt ( Africa, India and Europe), White-backed Stilt ( South America ) and the Critically endangered Black Stilt of New Zealand.They are smart birds with their Black and white plumage and long, pink legs.These elegant birds can be found in small groups but may also collect in large numbers outside of the breeding season. The Stilts feed in fresh and brackish water where their diet includes aquatic insects and larvae. They can migrate large distances to find suitable feeding grounds and to nest, at times, in Outback Australia where they survive extremely harsh conditions. Their call is a 'yep yep', similar to a yapping dog.I filmed these sequences from a hide, locally on the Sunshine Coast, in South east Queensland.Description from Birdlife below :The Pied Stilt is a large black and white wader with long orange-red legs and a straight black bill. It has black on the back of the neck, a white collar and a red iris. Both sexes are similar, and the plumage does not change during the year. I began birdwatching when I was 12 and progressed to bird photography and then to bird Video for the past 15 years.Originally from the UK, I find birding in Australia exciting and engaging. I have now travelled around Australia twice but mainly film birds in Queensland.Many of the bird clips are taken from hides or blinds that I construct from bush materials, saving the need to carry a hide to a location.Knowing bird calls and song is a big part of finding each species and naturally, knowing the habitat requirements helps also.
Australian Birds. Sooty Oystercatcher, Feeding, Preening and Bathing.Queensland, Australia. Tim Siggs 2021-02-14 | The Sooty Oystercatcher ( (Haematopus fuliginosus Haematopodidae ) can be seen foraging on rocky headlands on the beaches of Western, Eastern and parts of Southern Australia. This species also inhabits inlets and mudflats but the more widespread Pied Oystercatcher tends to be seen here more commonly.I spent a couple of hours with this small group on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland as the tide receded. They are a very attractive species with an unusual combination of colour, namely black plumage, a red bill and pink feet.I posted another video of this species here:youtube.com/watch?v=oh1Q5L4RECgThey spend their day, feeding, preening and bathing, before retiring to a safe location to roost. Unfortunately, they do get disturbed by beach goers,often with free roaming dogs.General description from Birdlife Australia below :The Sooty Oystercatcher is a striking black shorebird with a long red bill, red eye and pink legs. Young birds are duller and browner. It is often seen with the similar Pied Oystercatcher and is only found in coastal areas. I began birdwatching when I was 12 and progressed to bird photography and then to bird Video for the past 15 years.Originally from the UK, I find birding in Australia exciting and engaging. I have now travelled around Australia twice but mainly film birds in Queensland.Many of the bird clips are taken from hides or blinds that I construct from bush materials, saving the need to carry a hide to a location.Knowing bird calls and song is a big part of finding each species and naturally, knowing the habitat requirements helps also.
Australian Birds. Beach Stone - curlew, ( Beach Thick-knee). Feeding, Drinking and Preening. Tim Siggs 2021-02-07 | The Beach Stone - Curlew is a large Shorebird that weighs up to 1KG. They are a striking species to watch as they hunt for crabs on the falling tide. This species is one of two members of the Stone-curlew family represented in Australia, the other being the Bush Stone-curlew. youtube.com/watch?v=BnxdeW6JyqkIt's distribution is across Northern Australia down the Eastern Coast and into Northern New South Whales.I am fortunate enough to have several pairs of these fantastic birds within a short drive of where I live in South East Queensland but they are very vulnerable to human disturbance. However, if one sits quietly for a while, this species will return to it's feeding routine and practically ignore the observer.They can be observed, feeding, drinking and preening on the falling tide.I have posted another video of this species back in 2016.youtube.com/watch?v=c665zJ17q2QGeneral description from Birdlife Australia below : The Beach Stone-Curlew is a very large thick-set wader. Adults have a large head, massive uptilted bill, hunched profile, stout legs and thick 'knees' (actually ankles). The upper body is predominately grey-brown with distinctive black and white patterning on the face, shoulder and secondary wings. The throat and breast are a paler grey-brown, the belly is white and the wings are white with some black on the tips. The large bill is yellow at the base and black at the tip. Beach Stone-Curlews have a large yellow eye and a broad black eye patch, with white bands above and below it. Also known as the Beach Thick-knee. Tim Siggs. Australian Bird Media. I began birdwatching when I was 12 and progressed to bird photography and then to bird Video for the past 15 years.Originally from the UK, I find birding in Australia exciting and engaging. I have now travelled around Australia twice but mainly film birds in Queensland.Many of the bird clips are taken from hides or blinds that I construct from bush materials, saving the need to carry a hide to a location.Knowing bird calls and song is a big part of finding each species and naturally, knowing the habitat requirements helps also.
Australian Birds. Double-barred Finch in the wild. Drinking and Preening. Australian Bird Media. Tim Siggs 2021-01-29 | The Double-barred Finch (Taeniopygia bichenovii ) is a widespread finch that is found in the Kimberley region through to west of the Gulf of Carpentaria (the western race annulosa), and then from Cape York down the east coast to south-eastern Victoria (the eastern race, bichenovii).There are two sub species.They are found in dry scrubland, woodland and grasslands but never far from water. I have also seen them on the edge of wet forest and even Rainforest. This video was made in areas of Queensland including the Sunshine Coast, and the Gulf country, near Lawn Hill national park. They can be found, feeding, drinking and preening in small family groups.Description from Birdlife Australia.The Double-barred Finch is one of the long-tailed grass-finches and is notable for its 'owl-faced' features, having a white face bordered black. It is grey-brown, with white underparts banded black above and below the chest, giving the species its name. The wings are black, spotted white, the tail is black and the bill and legs are blueish-grey. Juveniles are dulller, with indistinct chest bars. I began birdwatching when I was 12 and progressed to bird photography and then to bird Video for the past 15 years.Originally from the UK, I find birding in Australia exciting and engaging. I have now travelled around Australia twice but mainly film birds in Queensland.Many of the bird clips are taken from hides or blinds that I construct from bush materials, saving the need to carry a hide to a location.Knowing bird calls and song is a big part of finding each species and naturally, knowing the habitat requirements helps also.
Australian Birds. Red-capped Robin. Male singing and in full breeding plumage. Nikon Z6 Tim Siggs 2021-01-17 | The Red-capped Robin ( Petroica goodenovii ) is a widespread Passerine ( songbird ) in dryer regions of Australia. They are mostly sedentary but if conditions are dry, this species will move to areas with a more abundant food source. Likewise, they will nest following suitable conditions, ideally with good amounts of rain.The female is much more subdued in colour ( see my other youtube video of this species nesting )youtube.com/watch?v=c5ejqdAv_dQTheir hunting technique is to perch, mainly low down and then make repeated sorties to the ground, hunting insects and grubs. The call from the male carries surprisingly far in the scrub. The making of this video was very challenging due to high winds, meaning that the audio had to be engineered extensively.General description from Birdlife Australia below. The male Red-capped Robin is black above and white below with a distinctive scarlet-red cap, white shoulders, and a red breast that contrasts strongly with a black throat. The black wing is barred white and the tail is black with white edges. Females are quite different in appearance: grey-brown above and off-white below, with a reddish cap, brown-black wings barred buff to white, and some have faint red on the breast. Young birds are similar to females but are streaked white above, have an pale buff wing bar and their breast and sides are streaked or mottled dark-brown. I began birdwatching when I was 12 and progressed to bird photography and then to bird Video for the past 15 years.Originally from the UK, I find birding in Australia exciting and engaging. I have now travelled around Australia twice but mainly film birds in Queensland.Many of the bird clips are taken from hides or blinds that I construct from bush materials, saving the need to carry a hide to a location.Knowing bird calls and song is a big part of finding each species and naturally, knowing the habitat requirements helps also.
Australian Birds. Spotted Bowerbird Attending Bower Queensland.Australian Bird Media. Nikon Z6 Tim Siggs 2021-01-07 | The Spotted Bowerbird is one of 10 Australian Bowerbirds including the Catbirds. It has a large distribution across much of dryer Queensland and New South Wales.This species builds a display bower to attract females for courting and mating. Many hours are spent at the bower decorating and painting in order to achieve the best Bower in the region. This is often accompanied by much hissing and squeeking, along with a form of dance where the males exposes his beautiful Lilac nape.Successful males with mate with as many females as possible and they, in turn will raise the offspring independently. I filmed this pair attending the Bower in Cloncurry, North Queensland.Description from Birdlife Australia.Meduim-sized birds with bold rich-buff spots on a pale brown mantle/wings/rump. Both sexes have a erectile pink crest on their nape and an ash-grey patch on their lower nape. Their flight is swift, direct and undulating, with powerful wing-beats of their upswept wing-tips with well-defined ‘fingers’; the wings close briefly at the apex of each undulation and open with each dip. They remain close to the canopy when flying above the vegetation. Males often call and display on the ground as well as in branches. I began birdwatching when I was 12 and progressed to bird photography and then to bird Video for the past 15 years.Originally from the UK, I find birding in Australia exciting and engaging. I have now travelled around Australia twice but mainly film birds in Queensland.Many of the bird clips are taken from hides or blinds that I construct from bush materials, saving the need to carry a hide to a location.Knowing bird calls and song is a big part of finding each species and naturally, knowing the habitat requirements helps also.
Australian Birds. Crimson Chat Breeding in Queensland. Australian Bird Media.Nikon Z6 Tim Siggs 2021-01-01 | The Crimson Chat is a stunning songbird that inhabits vast drier areas of the Australian continent. They are one of five Australian Chat species.When conditions are suitable ( usually after good rains ) this species seems to arrive from nowhere in massive numbers. They clearly have an ability to read the conditions.This ensures that enough food is available to raise the next generation. In general, they like to inhabit open areas with low saltbush, where they hunt insects and grubs.In this Video, both the Male ( bright red ) and female are bringing food into the nest which is well hidden in a small scrub on the ground. I positioned the camera a little way from the nest to ensure the well being of the young chats.The desert is a harsh place and as you can see, the wind makes for challenging filming, along with the heat which at times reaches 49 degrees Celsius. This pair were filmed in far Western Queensland near Birdsville.Description from Birdlife.The Crimson Chat is a small bird with a short decurved (downward curving) bill. Adult males are dark brown above, with a brilliant red crown, breast and rump, a black mask around the eye and white throat. Adult females and juveniles are much paler, brown above, with a white throat and pinkish below. Chats, unlike most small birds, walk rather than hop, and are most often seen on or near the ground. I began birdwatching when I was 12 and progressed to bird photography and then to bird Video for the past 15 years.Originally from the UK, I find birding in Australia exciting and engaging. I have now travelled around Australia twice but mainly film birds in Queensland.Many of the bird clips are taken from hides or blinds that I construct from bush materials, saving the need to carry a hide to a location.Knowing bird calls and song is a big part of finding each species and naturally, knowing the habitat requirements helps also.
Australian Birds.Bush Stone-curlew. Parents and chicks. Australian Bird Media. Tim Siggs 2020-12-27 | The Bush Stone-curlew ( ( Burhinus grallarius ) is a member of the dikkops or thick-knee complex. There are 9 recognised species worldwide. They have very long legs and a habit of freezing when approached, making them an easy subject to film. They can adopt a threatening posture, flaring their wings and hissing when protecting their young. I filmed this local pair recently and I am pleased to say that they have successfully raised two broods this year with a total of four chicks.This species is mainly nocturnal and they are known for their eerie calls which sound like a 'wailing' at night. Their ability to hunt insects at night is aided by their large eyes.They are quite common in tropical Queensland and the Northern Territory but uncommon further south. This species, along with other terrestrial species, gets predated by Cats, Foxes and Wild dogs. Description below is from Birdlife.The Bush Stone-curlew, or Bush Thick-knee, is a large, slim, mainly nocturnal, ground-dwelling bird. It is mostly grey-brown above, streaked with black and rufous. It is whitish below with clear, vertical black streaks. The bill is small and black, and the eye is large and yellow, with a prominent white eyebrow. Both sexes are similar. I began birdwatching when I was 12 and progressed to bird photography and then to bird Video for the past 15 years.Originally from the UK, I find birding in Australia exciting and engaging. I have now travelled around Australia twice but mainly film birds in Queensland.Many of the bird clips are taken from hides or blinds that I construct from bush materials, saving the need to carry a hide to a location.Knowing bird calls and song is a big part of finding each species and naturally, knowing the habitat requirements helps also.
Australian Birds. Glossy Black Cockatoo family calling and feeding. .Australian Bird Media Tim Siggs 2020-12-22 | Glossy Black Cockatoo. ( Calyptorhynchus lathami )I promised to upload some more Video of these beauties. This time, capturing the vocalisations between the group. The call is fitting for such a gentle bird and when I hear them fly past, I always rush out to see if they have landed. They are mostly encountered in small family groups but I have seen flocks of 8 or 9.Description from Birdlife below. The Glossy Black-Cockatoo is the smallest of the five black-cockatoos. It has a brown-black head, neck and underparts, with red or orange-red tail panels and an otherwise dull black body. The crest is small and inconspicuous and the bill is broad and bulbous. Adult females have extensive yellow patches on the head and neck and the tail panels tend to be more orange-red with black bars, but may become less barred and more red with age. Some adult males have a few yellow feathers on the head and the males' tail panels tend to be bright red. Young birds resemble adult males but have yellow spotted or streaked breasts, bellies and flanks, with some yellow spots on cheeks and sides of head. Glossy Black-Cockatoos are strongly associated with casuarina stands in wet forests. I began birdwatching when I was 12 and progressed to bird photography and then to bird Video for the past 15 years.Originally from the UK, I find birding in Australia exciting and engaging. I have now travelled around Australia twice but mainly film birds in Queensland.Many of the bird clips are taken from hides or blinds that I construct from bush materials, saving the need to carry a hide to a location.Knowing bird calls and song is a big part of finding each species and naturally, knowing the habitat requirements helps also.
Australian Birds. Diamond Dove feeding and drinking in the wild. Australian Bird Media / Nikon Z6 Tim Siggs 2020-12-20 | The Diamond Dove (Geopelia cuneata) is a common inhabitant of vast areas of semi-arid and arid Australia. Their call, as shown on the Video, is a gentle call that gives lovely background ambiance to outback Australia.I filmed these in the Gulf of Carpentaria and also Far Western Queensland.General description.The Diamond Dove is the smallest Australian Dove, with a distinctive red eye-ring, blue-grey head and breast. The back and wings are smoky brown with fine white spots on the wings. In flight, there is a distinctive chestnut wing panel. The female is browner. It is also known as Little Dove or Red-eyed Dove. I began birdwatching when I was 12 and progressed to bird photography and then to bird Video for the past 15 years.Originally from the UK, I find birding in Australia exciting and engaging. I have now travelled around Australia twice but mainly film birds in Queensland.Many of the bird clips are taken from hides or blinds that I construct from bush materials, saving the need to carry a hide to a location.Knowing bird calls and song is a big part of finding each species and naturally, knowing the habitat requirements helps also.
Australian Bird Media. Glossy Black Cockatoo family group feeding. Australian Bird Media/ Nikon Z6 Tim Siggs 2020-12-14 | I was Privileged to encounter a family of Glossy Back Cockatoos ((Calyptorhynchus lathami ) Quietly feeding over several hours. They are so beautiful and gentle by nature and allow the observer to watch for long periods as long as one stays still.For a while now, I have wondered why they were called Glossy Blacks but as you can see from the Video, they do have a gloss to their feathers. I think an alternative name could be Sooty Black.As with all Black Cockatoos, this species lives a long time, which makes the assessments of viable population numbers more tricky to assess. The South Australia Population is listed as endangered. This Queensland population is Vulnerable. The main threat to this beautiful bird is habitat destruction.I will post a second Video soon showcasing their Vocalisations. Description from Birdlife below. The Glossy Black-Cockatoo is the smallest of the five black-cockatoos. It has a brown-black head, neck and underparts, with red or orange-red tail panels and an otherwise dull black body. The crest is small and inconspicuous and the bill is broad and bulbous. Adult females have extensive yellow patches on the head and neck and the tail panels tend to be more orange-red with black bars, but may become less barred and more red with age. Some adult males have a few yellow feathers on the head and the males' tail panels tend to be bright red. Young birds resemble adult males but have yellow spotted or streaked breasts, bellies and flanks, with some yellow spots on cheeks and sides of head. Glossy Black-Cockatoos are strongly associated with casuarina stands in wet forests. I began birdwatching when I was 12 and progressed to bird photography and then to bird Video for the past 15 years.Originally from the UK, I find birding in Australia exciting and engaging. I have now travelled around Australia twice but mainly film birds in Queensland.Many of the bird clips are taken from hides or blinds that I construct from bush materials, saving the need to carry a hide to a location.Knowing bird calls and song is a big part of finding each species and naturally, knowing the habitat requirements helps also.
Red Winged Parrot (Aprosmictus erythropterus ) Australian Bird Media / Nikon Z6 Tim Siggs 2020-11-18 | The Red Winged Parrot is a fairly common Parrot of sub Coastal Australia. It is closely related to the King Parrot with which it occasionally cross breeds. The Male in this video is strongly marked compared to the more subtle markings of the female. This species is quite common the Northern parts of Australia and their presence is often given away by their contact call which could be described as 'Chink Chink'. Their flight is swift and the action has been described a a 'rowing action' similar to the King Parrot. They form small family groups often made up of a pair and their offspring.This species can often be observed feeding on roadside grasses and trees. I filmed this individual In the Queensland Gulf. General description.The Red-winged Parrot is a medium-sized, stout parrot and is the only mainly green parrot with large red shoulder patches. The male is bright lime green with a black back and deep blue rump. The tail is green with a yellow tip. The bill and eye are red and the legs are grey. The female is similar, but with a smaller wing patch and dark green back and a paler rump. Red-winged Parrots are usually seen in pairs or flocks. Their flight is distinctive, with deep, full strokes and a light and airy quality, pausing on each stroke. I began birdwatching when I was 12 and progressed to bird photography and then to bird Video for the past 15 years.Originally from the UK, I find birding in Australia exciting and engaging. I have now travelled around Australia twice but mainly film birds in Queensland.Many of the bird clips are taken from hides or blinds that I construct from bush materials, saving the need to carry a hide to a location.Knowing bird calls and song is a big part of finding each species and naturally, knowing the habitat requirements helps also.
Bourkes Parrot ( Neopsephotus bourkii ) ABVC Tim Siggs. Australian Bird Media / Nikon Z6 Tim Siggs 2020-10-25 | The Bourkes Parrot has a wide distribution in drier parts of the Australian Continent. I filmed these birds in Western Queensland. They can be observed feeding on roadsides and also perched in dead trees, often along dry creek beds. The observer is often drawn to their attention by their dry contact call.The pastel colours are subtle but beautiful. The males have more bold markings including blue along the flanks and above the bill.General Description Bourke's Parrot is a small parrot which is mostly grey-brown above and pinkish below. It has a prominent area of white around the eyes, giving a spectacled appearance. The male has a blue forehead band, with blue also on the bend of the wing, and a paler shade of blue on the flanks, side of rump and under the tail. The female Bourke's Parrot is similar, but duller. I began birdwatching when I was 12 and progressed to bird photography and then to bird Video for the past 15 years.Originally from the UK, I find birding in Australia exciting and engaging. I have now travelled around Australia twice but mainly film birds in Queensland.Many of the bird clips are taken from hides or blinds that I construct from bush materials, saving the need to carry a hide to a location.Knowing bird calls and song is a big part of finding each species and naturally, knowing the habitat requirements helps also.
Birds of South East Queensland Rainforest. Episode 1.Chapter1. Tim Siggs 2020-10-22 | First 5 Minutes of my Rainforest documentary. Total for all three Episodes is 90 Minutes.Birds of South East Queensland Rainforest & Wet Sclerophyll Episode One. It is with a mixture of excitement and relief that I can say the Rainforest Documentary is finished, at least Episode One is’ over the line’.There will be three Episodes and I will be commencing production on parts 2 and 3 later in the year. It has been two years in the making as I have continually upgraded the footage, natural and bird audio, along with the story and narration. This Episode touches on elements such as Bird song, Breeding cycle, Jiz and also a little of ‘my own story’ which I have titled ‘off with the birds’.The 4 Chapters that form Episode 1 will be released over the coming weeks in addition to the trailer and my story which represents my journey as a film maker.My ambition for the series is for it to be accessible to birders and general nature enthusiasts alike. Part two and three will cover 55 Rainforest species that inhabit the forest in ‘layers’. Ie Terrestrial, Mid strata, Canopy and Fringe dwellers. Each species is documented in intimate detail.The film is a celebration of the birds and the special places that are so close to home. Note. The complete series will eventually be available on my new Webpage which is currently being developed as a digital download.
Promo for Birds of South East Queenslands Rainforests Documentary. Currently in Production. Tim Siggs 2020-08-16 | Birds of South East Queensland / Rainforest & Wet Sclerophyll. This is a Three Part Series forming 90 minutes of stunning footage of our birds and their environments.A digital celebration of the wonderful birds found in South East Queensland’s Forests. The documentary has been years in the making. From the stunning Bowerbirds, Pitta’s and Parrots to the tiny songbirds. Episode one Includes, Introduction, Identification, Songs and Calls and Breeding.Episode Two and Three will be a Field Guide covering each of the 55 species in intimate detail in the form of a Video Field Guide. Watch out for Episode 2 & 3 currently in production. The whole series will be available as a digital download., ensuring the best possible viewing experience. It is recommended to be viewed on a big screen to fully immerse oneself in the magical sights and sounds of the forest. My new AUSTRALIAN BIRD MEDIA Webpage is coming soon.COMPLETE SERIES ( 3 Episodes 90 mins ) $50 or EARLY BIRD PRICE of $35.00 for pre-orders. PLEASE REGISTER INTEREST OR TO PRE-ORDER COMPLETE SERIES EMAIL timsiggs@gmail.com
Lewins Rail (Lewinia pectoralis). Australian Bird Media . Tim Siggs ABVC/ Nikon Z6 Tim Siggs 2020-03-22 | The Lewins Rail has a narrow distribution down the Eastern seaboard of Australia and also in Tasmania. They are generally uncommon and very secretive. These Rails prefer thick vegetation, often in tall grass, usually near water. There also seems to be a preference for Lantana weed. They are very vocal but tend to be retiring by nature. If they do break cover, their movements are very erratic, unlike their cousins, the Banded Rail.General descriptionLewin's rail is also known as the water rail, Lewin's water rail, Lewin's grind rail, slate-breasted rail, slate-breasted water rail, pectoral rail, pectoral water rail, short-toed rail and short-toed water rail. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.I filmed these on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. Tim Siggs. ABVC.
Painted Buttonquail ( Turnix varius )Australian Bird Media Video Clip 1/1/ Nikon Z6 Tim Siggs 2020-02-10 | The Painted Button Quail is a widespread species that inhabits woodland and grasslands. They tend to like exposed, rocky ground, often with fallen sticks and leaf litter. Their feeding technique is fascinating as they search for grubs and insects by creating 'platelets'. These bare 'saucer' shapes are made by their feet as they rock 'back and forth', leaving clusters of bare patches. They are also sexually dimorphic, with the female's ( in Video) plumage being more colourful. The male, also takes on the bulk of parental duties.The female is the larger and more coloured of these small, plump, well-camoflaged ground-dwellers. The overall colouration is grey, with large white spots on the breast which fade to off-white around the legs and vent. The face has small black-edged white spots with a white eye-brow. The wings and back of the female are mostly chestnut, with white spots and black, white-edged bars on the wing. The male is similar but the chestnut colur is replaced with buff.I was pleased to film this individual as they can be quite retiring by nature. Tim Siggs. ABVC.
Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra )Australian Bird Media / Nikon Z6 Tim Siggs 2020-02-02 | The Eurasian Coot is a widespread species that has successfully colonised mainland Australia. They can be found in just about any freshwater habitat that is deep enough to support their diving method of feeding. They tend to feed on various aquatic plants. The Coots build a floating raft nest constructed of vegetation. Although a common species, one can appreciated that they are quite handsome, especially in good light which shows their blood red eyes. The Eurasian Coot, with its sooty-black plumage and gleaming white bill and frontal shield covering its forehead, is a familiar bird across Europe and Asia as well as Australia. It is often seen running across the water’s surface or swimming in huge flocks on large wetlands, but they equally often occur on small ponds. They require submerged aquatic vegetation or mats of floating waterweed, among which they forage, diving below the surface for up to 20 seconds, or plucking the stems of emergent shoots.I filmed this pair on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland.
Plumbed Whistling Duck. ( Dendrocygna eytoni) Australian Bird Media / Nikon Z6 Tim Siggs 2020-01-29 | The plumbed Whistling Duck is one of three Whistling Duck species to call Australia home, the others being the 'Wandering' and more recently, the 'Spotted' has spread it's range from PNG. In my opinion, they are the most striking. This species often moves around and grazes through the night when one can hear them calling overhead. The Plumed Whistling-Duck has a honey-coloured head and neck, and a cinnamon-coloured breast covered with fine, chocolate-brown barring, which extends onto its flanks. Also on the bird’s flanks are a collection of prominent nougat-coloured plumes with chocolate-brown edges. I filmed these on a small, local dam where they were not bothered by my presence.
Oriental Cuckoo filmed in Australia (Cuculus optatus) Australian Bird Media. Nikon Z6 Tim Siggs 2019-12-23 | The Oriental Cuckoo is an uncommon non-breeding Migrant to Eastern Australia in the Southern Summer. They arrive in variable numbers each year from their breeding grounds as far North as Russia and even Finland. This species is extremely similar to the Common ( European ) Cuckoo and also the Himalayan Cuckoo. They are mostly silent in Australia, although I have heard this species give a subdued shreak when taking off. This year has been a good year for them in my area of Queensland.It has a large breeding range in northern Eurasia. It breeds across much of Russia west to the Komi Republic with occasional records as far west as Saint Petersburg. It also breeds in northern Kazakhstan, Mongolia, northern China, Korea and Japan.The exact extent of its wintering range is uncertain due to its secretive habits and the difficulty of separating it from the Himalayan cuckoo and other similar species. It is believed to include the Malay Peninsula, Indonesia, the Philippines, New Guinea, western Micronesia, the Solomon Islands and northern and eastern Australia with occasional birds reaching New Zealand. It has occurred as a vagrant in Ukraine, Israel and Alaska.
Noisy Pitta ( Pitta Vesicolour )Australian Bird Media HD Video Clip 1/1 Tim Siggs 2019-11-12 | The Noisy Pitta is the most Widespread of the the Australasian Pittas and it's range is from the tip of Cape York down to Southern New South Wales. They are attitudinal Migrants, meaning they move to higher altitudes in Summer to breed. Noisy Pittas are known as the 'Jewel of the forest' due to their array of colours. They can be heard hopping through the forest and feed mainly on the floor. Their food includes worms and grubs but also Rain forest Snails. Their call, which has been described as 'walk to work' is most often heard when breeding but also at dawn and dusk throughout the year. This species, chosen for my ABVC logo, has become a special bird for me over the years and indeed it was a task to choose a few clips from my extensive library of this species. I am also blessed to have them as a garden bird in the winter. Tim Siggs. ABVC.
Rainbow Pitta (Pitta iris) Australian Bird Media/ Nikon Z6 Tim Siggs 2019-09-16 | The Rainbow Pitta is a stunning resident of Forests of the Northern territory and the Northern Kimberley regions of Western Australia. They are mainly a terrestrial species that inhabit dense undergrowth but also fly to the canopy to call, maintaining their territory. As my video shows, they can blend in remarkably when seen from behind but when seen well, the contrasting plumage of Black, Green, Chestnut and Red makes them a delight to observe. This species becomes vocal around September, when they establish there territories. Their nest is usually build in the buttress roots of a tree around October or November depending on conditions. I had the pleasure of filming these around Darwin on a recent trip. Tim Siggs. ABVC.
Papuan Pitta (Erythropitta macklotii) Australian Bird Media. HD Video Clip clip1/1 Tim Siggs 2019-09-05 | The Papuan Pitta had recently been split from the Red-bellied Pitta complex. This species migrates from PNG around November each year to reach the Northern areas of Cape York Peninsular. They build a nest on the ground, often in the buttress roots of a tree.They are a stunning bird when seen closely. To achieve, this close encounter, I built a small hide and had to spend many hours in extremely humid conditions. The bonus was to get the bird calling. I filmed these sequences in January 2019. In hindsight, I wish I had purchased my full frame Camera as this camera did struggle with the low light conditions. Tim Siggs. ABVC.
