March can be a tough month for birdwatchers. The exciting noises of the whistlers and various cuckoos are largely gone from our bush. When you stop to focus, the March flies quickly circle, and often all you find is another yellow wing (New Holland Honeyeater) in your binoculars. And down at the beach and swamps, the migratory shorebirds have decided to move on to northern parts.
On the other hand, March is a good time to practise your recognition of juvenile birds. In addition, sometimes when you focus the binoculars at Coogoorah you find that long tail belongs to an Emu-wren and not a Superb Fairy Wren or at Distillery Creek that bird-helicopter is a Rufous Fantail and not a Grey Fantail.
Emu-wren
Rufous Fantail
And up high in the sky (and too fast for photography) that speeding missile is a White-throated Needletail and not a Welcome Swallow.
James Orton
Photos: Katie Pahlow