Bush Stone Curlew
No night in the Redlands is complete without the evening marathon of the Bush Stone Curlew. Halting only to deliver gloriously macabre symphonies at regular intervals, this road runner loves to do laps of the neighbourhood with his family in tow.
Garden gnome by day, athlete by night, there is just something mysteriously soulful about these nocturnal native stalwarts.
Grey Butcherbird
Meet ‘Kel – Purveyor of Fine Meats’. A doe-eyed little warbler with courage in spades, enabling him to catch the first worm.
But don’t let his dewy gaze transfix you – he is a mighty warrior that connives for his feast.
Cockatiel
A small Australian parrot with a battler attitude, these little champs have become a favourite pet for many a household. With rouged cheeks and a jaunty crest, they may be small in stature but have all the swagger of a cockatoo!
Red-capped plover - mudding for his supper
No Australian wetlands are complete without a young, male red-capped plover learning the ropes of home economics while his tribe hover nearby. Feeding on molluscs and small crustaceans that are revealed at low tide, these compact little shorebirds are thankfully in stable numbers all across our coastlines.
Red-capped plover - mollusc hunting
This young lady sidesteps her reflection with grace as she stalks for tidbits, using the characteristic 'stop-run-peck' method. A common coastal visitor that seeks out any shallow waters for grazing, the red-capped plover is likely nesting on a quiet shoreline near you. Paler in colour than her male counterparts, and paler still being a juvenile, this tiny dancer might be less showy but it allows her to forage with ease.
Red-capped plover - one-legged in the wind
A long shadow and stem-like single leg belies the fluffy loveliness of the adult male red-capped plover. Positioned in the afternoon sun, this fellow nestles into his plumage to stay warm against the wind as he digests his fossicked feast. His chestnut cap and charcoal collar keep him cosy all year long.