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Lichenostomus flavescens
This is a Yellow-tinted Honeyeater egg. It is a lightly speckled pink egg. As I didn't want to touch it and I didn't have a measuring device on me, a guess at the length would be approximately 20-25mm (0.79-0.98 inches). At the largest circumference approximately 40-70mm (1.57-2.76 inches) and smallest approximately 20-40mm (0.79-1.57 inches). Here is the link to the only picture of a Yellow-tinted Honeyeater egg I could find on the internet: http://collections.australianmuseum.net.... The bird itself is small with an overall yellowish colour, including face and throat though a paler yellow, with obvious black curved line and adjacent yellow patch at the neck. The wings and back are grey with yellow on the wing. Under parts yellowish with light pale grey streaking on the breast. Beak black. Tail is grey, edged with yellow. See this spotting for a view of the bird: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/182...
The nest is cup shaped, attached to and suspended from the leaves and a small branch. In a tall plant in the front yard in Derby.
This is the same tree I found a nest in last year (see this spotting for last year: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/182... ). Only this time there is an egg in it! I had noticed two of these little birds flying in and out of this plant and figured there had to be a nest. It was only this morning that I actually found the nest - all I saw was the bottom of it through the leaves. So I launched an investigation and this is what I came up with :) Though the bird did fly off, I definitely saw an adult (probably the female) back on the nest (see pic 2). Pic 3 shows the outside of the nest and, where and how it is attached to the leaves. Reference: The Michael Morcombe eGuide to Australian Birds, Mobile App. Further reading: http://www.australianbushbirds.info/infl...
9 Comments
@Daniele: You're most welcome! I love being able to share and document whatever information I can find out :)
@Ava: I'm with you! I'm really hoping she has better luck next year!!! I have been wondering about building some type of wind shelter or some type of branch support to help keep the nest attached. Guess there's time to think about it now - which is sad though. If you or anyone has any ideas please let me know!!!
Thanks for your thorough documentation Liana.
That's so sad. I hope next year she nests with you again and her egg is viable and they both withstand the weather.
I just want to share an update on this little Yellow-tinted Honeyeater nest: Due to big winds the last few days this little nest has been abandoned as it was hanging from only one side, not on the two leaves. This would have made it too difficult for the adult to sit in this nest without tipping out. The egg is still in the nest but I would think it is no longer viable. This is the same as what happened last year except I found that little nest blown onto the ground.
Thank you Ava! I love being able to share as much info as possible. My aim is to document as much as possible while I'm still living here. But there is quite a diverse range of flora and fauna to contend with :D
Lovely spotting; pictures and notes both!
Cheers Hema!!!
That is so cute and such an awesome nest!!