One of the commoner #parrots on Australia's SE coast.. the Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus) #BirdingAustralia #BirdingMelbourne #BirdingVictoria #lorikeets

Hi Dan. That is so cute. Babies are babies, no matter how large they get. What a patient, pretty parent! 😊 #birds #BirdingAustralia #BirdingMelbourne #BirdingVictoria #magpies

A fledgling Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) demanding to be fed. Sound on. 😄 #BirdingAustralia #BirdingMelbourne #BirdingVictoria #magpies

Brown Thornbill (Acanthiza pusilla) .. one of the commoner LBJs in the coastal forests of SE Australia #BirdingAustralia #BirdingMelbourne #BirdingVictoria #thornbills

Pied Currawong (Strepera graculina). It's hard for me not to think of the Currawongs as a small crow or a giant grackle, but they are not related to the corvids or icterids. More closely related to woodswallows and butcherbirds. #BirdingAustralia #BirdingMelbourne #currawongs #BirdingVictoria

Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans) at the nest hole in a huge eucalyptus. #BirdingAustralia #BirdingVictoria #BirdingMelbourne #parrots #rosellas

Another image of Eastern Spinebill (Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris) at Dandenong Ranges National Park. One of the smallest in the honeyeater clan. #BirdingAustralia #BirdingMelbourne #BirdingVictoria #spinebills #honeyeaters

Wet eucalyptus forest in Dandenong Ranges National Park east of Melbourne. Great birding spot. During my trip, it was the only place I was able to find and observe Superb Lyrebirds and King Parrots. #BirdingAustralia #BirdingMelbourne #BirdingVictoria

Australian White Ibis (Threskiornis molucca). How nice to have something like this as a trash bird. 😀 #BirdingAustralia #BirdingMelbourne #BirdingVictoria #ibises #waders

Another denizen of the scrubby, coastal heathland ... White-fronted Chat (Epthianura albifrons) #BirdingAustralia #BirdingMelbourne #BirdingVictoria #chats

One of the commoner Aussie #ducks .. the Gray Teal (Anas gracilis). Unlike most teal species, the male and female have identical plumage. #BirdingAustralia #waterfowl #BirdingMelbourne #BirdingVictoria

This Black Kite was flying in formation with the pelicans. No doubt taking advantage of the upwash vortex created by those huge pelican wings. 😄 #BirdingAustralia #BirdingMelbourne #BirdingVictoria #pelicans #kites

Black Swans may be feared on Wall Street, but they are a welcome sight in Australia. Almost every decent sized patch of water has these. #BirdingAustralia #swans #waterfowl #BirdingVictoria

Another portrait of Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus). A huge bird, but I don't think it is the largest of the world's eight pelican species. That honour belongs to the Dalmatian Pelican. #BirdingAustralia #BirdingVictoria #BirdingMelbourne #pelicans

This Brolga pair at the Western Treatment Plant SW of Melbourne had a chick. Or I guess it's called a colt. 😃 #BirdingAustralia #BirdingVictoria #cranes

A magnificent crane... the Brolga (Grus rubicunda). It's not really migratory but like so many Australian birds, it's a bit nomadic, moving to where the water and food conditions are most favourable. #BirdingAustralia #BirdingVictoria #BirdingMelbourne #cranes

White-plumed Honeyeater (Ptilotula penicillata) #BirdingAustralia #BirdingVictoria #BirdingMelbourne #honeyeaters

Speaking of common birds... here's one of my fav. The Superb Fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus). In SE Oz, it is all over the place. If you're out birding or hiking, it's impossible not to see several of these beauties. 😀👍 #BirdingAustralia #BirdingVictoria #BirdingMelbourne #fairywrens

The commonest cormorant in Europe is also one of the commonest in Australia ... the Great Cormorant (Phalacocorax carbo). It should be singing 🎵 Round, round, get around, I get around... 😀 #BirdingAustralia #BirdingVictoria #BirdingMelbourne #cormorants

Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos) #BirdingAustralia #BirdingVictoria #cormorants #BirdingMelbourne

Another cool cockatoo from Australia.. the Long-billed Corella (Cacatua tenuirostris). The cutthroat parrot. #BirdingAustralia #BirdingVictoria #BirdingMelbourne #parrots #cockatoos

A pair of Little Corellas (Cacatua sanguinea). #BirdingAustralia #BirdingVictoria #BirdingMelbourne #parrots #cockatoos

Close up of today's Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua). I wasn't that close to the bird but an 800 mm lens and some cropping helped with this portrait. #BirdingAustralia #BirdingVictoria #BirdingMelbourne #owls #birdsofprey

Finally managed to find a Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua), roosting during the day in the 'burbs NE of Melbourne. Australia's largest owl. #BirdingAustralia #BirdingVictoria #BirdingMelbourne #owls #birdsofprey

A baby Australasian Swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus) trying to figure out what to do with those gigantic feet. I think they hatch with fully grown adult feet and the rest of the body has to grow into the feet. 😂 #BirdingAustralia #BirdingMelbourne #BirdingVictoria #swamphens #moorhens

Eastern Spinebill (Ancanthorhyncus tenuirostris) #BirdingAustralia #BirdingMelbourne #BirdingVictoria #Spinebills

Magpie Lark (Grallina cyanoleuca) #BirdingAustralia #BirdingMelbourne #BirdingVictoria #larks

One of the commonest #shorebirds at the Western Treatment Plant ... Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata). #WaderWednesday #sandpipers #waders #BirdingAustralia #BirdingMelbourne #BirdingVictoria

Another one for #WaderWednesday Black-fronted Dotterel (Thinornis melanops) at the Western Treatment Plant #BirdingMelbourne #BirdingAustralia #BirdingVictoria #shorebirds #plovers #waders

It's Wednesday morning in Australia. That means another #WaderWednesday is upon us. Here is a Red-kneed Dotterel (Erythrogonys cinctus) at the Western Treatment Plant SW of Melbourne. #BirdingMelbourne #BirdingAustralia #BirdingVictoria #plovers #shorebirds #waders