I first got tipped off that one of my favourite birds was in our backyard by Matt's subtle exclamation,"Holy crap! Look at that bright green bird!" 😂 Ah, my love, the hint is in the description - that would be the Green Catbird, you know that one that sounds like a cat being strangled first thing in the morning?
I tend to hear them 'meowing' in my neighbour's yard around 7ish and by the time they make it across to ours, it's usually a much more attractive 'tink'ing kind of sound.
But sadly for me, they usually only spend a minute or two before heading across the road to the bush and all the yummy rainforest-y type fruits. But yesterday and today we've had a couple fly in and well, hang around for a little and I tried to chase one in particular this afternoon as it was digging through the dirt.
These birds are actually part of the bowerbird family - and they've got that unique bowerbird eye colouration. Regent Bowerbirds have a yellow eye and the Satin Bowerbirds, purple and these guys have a red eye which when the light hits at just the right angle is a really clear, bright red. So after getting a couple of shots in the dark (they do like to hang around amongst the foliage) I had pretty much given up for the day and mentioned to my trusty assistant it was time to go inside (read: my dog, Cameron) and popped the lens cap back on the camera.
Just as I was turning around I heard a really loud thump onto the fence as one of the birds landed hard and started to scoot its way along the top only stopping, and turning, as a beam of sun broke through not only the overcast sky but through all the branches and lit up the eye just as I had hoped. Thanks for your cooperation Green Catbird. You're welcome to meow in our yard as early as you like!
Green Catbird
Northern Illawarra
