The largest Eagle

Don’t Hold Your Breath’s Bird of the Week XI

This week let’s have a look at the Wedged-tailed Eagle, Aquila audax, the largest Eagle in Australia and the third largest Eagle in the world by wind span and length. Their wing span is 210 centimeters and up to 284 centimeters and their length is 95.5 centimeters.
Adding up all the statistics, the Wedged-tailed Eagle comes in at seventh largest as they don’t weigh as much as other worlds Eagles, with a weight between 2 to 5.8 kilograms.

Wedged-tailed Eagles have that characteristic long, wedge-shaped tail and are found all over Australia, from sea level to alpine regions in the mountains, but they prefer wooded and forested land and open country, generally avoiding rainforest and coastal heaths.

I found this Wedged-tailed Eagle scouting my road looking for a snack.

Wedge-tailed Eagles may hunt singly, in pairs or in larger groups. Working together, a group of eagles can attack and kill animals as large as adult kangaroos. This explains the scientific name of the Wedge-tailed Eagle which means ‘bold eagle’. Under ideal conditions, an eagle can lift about 50% of its body weight.

They are monogamous and pair for life. Wedge-tailed Eagle nests are usually built in the tallest trees, which makes it very important to retain healthy mature forests Australia-wide. Nests are re-used and added to over many years, and can reach 2 metres in diameter and 4 metres deep and weighing about 400 kg are known.

Wedge-tailed Eagles eat mostly carrion (roadkills and other carcasses are readily eaten), however they do include live prey in their diet

A Red-necked Wallaby killed by a vehicle and feasted on by a Wedgie.

They may be the largest fiercest bird but dare to venture too close to a Magpies nest and they get a good chasing away.

References:
https://australian.museum/learn/animals/birds/wedge-tailed-eagle/
https://echidnawalkabout.com.au/5-amazing-facts-wedge-tailed-eagle/

Being bold

Today’s bloganuary prompt: What does it mean to live boldly?

Here is some small birds living boldly. What do you think?

The Wedge-tailed Eagle is the largest Eagle in Australia and the third largest in the world, with a wing span of just under 210cm or seven feet.

Smaller birds aren’t impressed when a Wedge-tailed Eagle invade their space and will swoop and dive.

Even if the Wedge-tailed Eagle has found it’s lunch, there’s no peaceful place to eat.

In Australia Pied Magpies are well know for their territorial swooping of anything from small dogs, people and even Wedge-tailed Eagles

In the wild

The Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #150: Let’s Get Wild

Not sure where to go with this prompt so let’s get wild, The names are in the tags

Those who know me will know whats coming next

Are you ready?

It’s just the next block or two

Drama

Debbie’s One Word Sunday: Drama

Where is the
drama?
is it
in the flowers?

Is it
in the air?
always a drama
somewhere

Perhaps a drama
on a post
drama
trivial to most

Not just
the birds
where a drama
resides

Oh the drama
where would we
be
without a drama

Realm

Ragtag Daily Prompt Sunday: Realm

 

On winds so high
circling
floating
surveying
his realm.

190828_blog_challenge_quote_looking_up_wedged-tailed_eagle3
Watching with eyes keen
soaring
seeing
surveying
his realm.

170920_blog challenge_letter E_wedged tail eagle_soaring

Descending on powerful wings
diving
swooping
finding
his prey.

wedged tailed eagle07_named_ramornie_aug 2016

Devouring his meal
ripping
tearing
eating
for survival.

wedged-tailed eagle_wallaby_eating_named_dilkoon4_march 2019

Again into the sky
circling
soaring
surveying
his realm.

In the sky

Debbie from Travel With Intent quotation inspired image: Looking Upward

  “I try to avoid looking forward or backward, and try to keep looking upward.”
Charlotte Bronte

Up there
in the sky
Can you see?
So high
soaring on
invisible currents

190828_blog_challenge_quote_looking_up_wedged-tailed_eagle1

He is there
look again
Can you see?
Hunting
can he
see us?

190828_blog_challenge_quote_looking_up_wedged-tailed_eagle2

Majestic
almost gone
glad you saw
Wings spread
so happy
you looked upwards.

190828_blog_challenge_quote_looking_up_wedged-tailed_eagle3

 

 

This is July 2019

Welcome to This is July 2019.

What a month it has been. Over the month the lack of rain has started to bite again. There was 10mls of rain at the start of the month and since then it has been quite warm during the day. Some days have been in the low 20’s while the nights have been in single figures. The warm days are not that unusual for my winter but the constant sunny days are. There has been rain on the coast, yesterday (1 August) there was 20mls of rain while some sporadic rain clouds drifted overhead here. My dam I use to water the garden around the house is very low. I have to decide what part of the garden I’ll give water to to try and keep plants alive. I am loathe to use the dam’s water because it is so dry and I may need that water in case a bush fire springs up nearby. There has been a few fires but they have been a fair way from here. I am glad I don’t have any animals or crops to look after as it is depressing enough as it is.

July was Becky’s #JulySquares so all of those plus others I have used in other photo challenges aren’t in here but I thought I would use the photo that had the most comments and likes as the header.

Enough of that. This has been a bit of a cropper month for photos though so I do suggest that you get a drink, perhaps a snack, settle back and scroll along.

Hey ho let’s go……………

I spent a few days down the coast visiting my mate whose wife is quite unwell. It is a lovely place and the ferry that goes across the bay is so cute. The size of the other boats docked at the marina make the ferry look so small.
ferry_marina_boats_nelson_bay_july 2019
We found a secondhand shop on the way home. We didn’t buy as their prices were a bit over the top. The glassware was well displayed.glass_coloured_vase_nabiac_july 2019
Don’t look at this too long as you will probably see it move.wind_chime_nabiac_july 2019
In Lismore, a nearby town, they have a train in a park that the kids love, OK I have been on it once or twice. I was getting photos of the park and I really liked the tunnel photo.tunnel_train_heritage_park_lismore_july 2019
My bestie found a Wanderer Butterfly caught in a spiders web in the garden. After removing the web, the butterfly sat on her hand for ages before flying off.wanderer_butterfly_saved_hand_caniaba_july 2019
I wonder if this is the same Wanderer Butterfly?wanderer_butterfly_grass_caniaba_july 2019
While away down the coast, we did a bit of exploring the surrounding area. I found these flowers on a most unusual plant in the sand dunes.flower_dune_plant_harbour_beach_july 2019
Isn’t this flower and it’s hairy plant lovely? I think it is called Herb Robert.flower_herb_robert_caniaba_july 2019
My Billbergia Nutans are floweringflower_bromiliad_billbergia_nutans_home_jackadgery_july 2019
I found this flowering native shrub while out on my place cutting firewood.flower_native_wide_gully_home_jackadgery_july 2019
The Magpies found a warm place in the sun. They were warbling away as we walked down the street to where we were staying.magpies_wall_sun_nelson_bay_july 2019
Pied Currawongs are a sign of Winter as they come down from the mountains when the weather get cold up there. This one seems to be taken with the house and the verandah.pied_currawong_verandah_ball_home_jackadgery_july 2019
The Willie Wagtails at my besties like riding around on the cows next door. I think they may be collecting nesting materials from the cows.willie_wagtail_cow_farm_caniaba_july 2019
The Cattle Egrets love riding around on the cows too.egret)cattle_standing_cow_farm_caniaba_july 2019
Back at home, the King Parrots are still hanging around despite the dry conditions.king_parrot_male_garden_home_jackadgery_july 2019
The females are quite different compared to the males.king_parrot_female_garden_home_jackadgery_july 2019
Among the garden bushes, a little Striated Thornbill was hunting for insects.striated_thornbill_caniaba_july 2019
The Scarlet Honeyeaters are always around the garden. It is lucky I have some Eucalypts flowering so there is a food source for these wonderful little birds.scarlet_honeyeater_home_jackadgery_july 2019

There seems to be lots of small birds around at the moment. The Double-barred Finches were happy to hop around the grass eating grass seeds.
double_barred_finch_caniaba_july 2019
A new bird for me, a Black-faced Woodswallow at my besties placeblack_faced_woodswallow_garden_caniaba_july 2019
Some of my grevilleas are bravely trying to flower despite the lack of water. The wonderful bird attracting Honey Gem which usually has an abundance of flowers has a few straggly flowers that the Lewins Honeyeaters have found.grevillea_lewins_honeyeater_garden_home_jackadgery_july 2019
Yes, I am looking at you Satin Bower Bird. Taken while sitting in my office through the door. The camera is always on the desk.satin_bowerbird_male_looking_garden_home_jackadgery_july 2019
The female Satin Bower Bird was also curious to see what I was going.bowerbird_female_verandah_home_jackadgery_july 2019
While down in the lower part of my place there is a wide grassed gully which I drive along to find suitable fallen timber for firewood. Often when I arrive there is a flurry of activity from White-winged Choughs or these birds, Grey-crowned Babblers. A small group walk along the gully flicking over leaves, bark and small rocks to find insects to eat. They have a constant chatter as they do and there is one bird who is the lookout who will let everyone know that danger lurks. As I approached, they flew into the trees so I just sat and waited until they resumed normal business.grey_crowned_babblers_three_home_jackadgery_july 2019
Here you can see their grey crowngrey_crowned_babbler_gully_home_jackadgery_july 2019
If the piece of wood is too hard to kick over, you have to get down and get your beak in to get your snack.grey_crowned_babbler_digging_gully_home_jackadgery_july 2019
Back at home, the White-throated Honeyeaters love this little hanging pot which I fill with water for the birds. If I am outside and the pot is empty, one of these birds will sit near me and let me know.white_chinned_honeyeater2_hanging_pot_july 2019
I love the olive colour on their back and wings.white_chinned_honeyeater_hanging_pot_july 2019
The Yellow-faced Honeyeaters also come to drink and bathe here.yellow_faced_honeyeater_hanging_pot_july 2019
After a bust day at the grevilleas, a Lewins Honeyeater enjoys a drink and a dunk.lewins_honeyeater_hanging_pot_july 2019
“Hello….is anyone using this bird bath?”
A White-throated Treecreeper looks over the edge of the bowl. This is a replacement for my wonderful terracotta bird bath which doesn’t attract as many visitors as the terracotta one.white_throated_treecreeper_bird_bath_home_jackadgery_july 2019
The Welcome Swallows are starting to nest at my besties under the verandah as they have for years.welcome_swallow_caniaba_july 2019
Busy collecting nesting material, it’s time to line the mud nest with feathers, probably from the Cattle Egrets on the farm next door.welcome_swallow_feather_nest_caniaba_july 2019
The Willie Wagtails are nesting too. Unfortunately the next day after I took this photo the whole nest was gone. We looked around the garden, under and nearby, but there wasn’t even a sign of the nest. The Wagtails were distraught in the morning. willie_wagtail_nest_build_caniaba_july 2019
Time to look up and see who has been flying over head. This is a collection of the Raptors. A White-bellied Sea Eagle was cruising around Harbour Beach at Port Stephens.sea_eagle_flying_port_stephens_july 2019
The Black Kite is a regular at the Lismore Waste Facility. We go there usually on a Saturday as their Revolve Shop has some great bargains from items recovered from the waste collections.  black_kite_flying_lismore_tip_july 2019
A very brave Magpie was making sure the Wedged-tailed Eagle wasn’t hanging around near their nests. It harassed the Eagle until it flew higher than the magpie could. wedged_tailed_eagle_magpie_flying_caniaba_july 2019
I love seeing the Wedged-tailed Eagles soar overhead.wedged_tailed_eagle_flying_caniaba_july 2019

No I wasn’t in the Sahara. At Harbour Beach the sand dunes are enormous and there is a Camel ride operator. We were there late in the afternoon and this was the last tour of the day coming back in.
camels_sand_dunes_harbour_beach_july 2019
Well the sun is on the way down so I better say see ya.sunset_red_caniaba_july 2019
On the road from my place to the river the setting sun gave the road a redder hue than the normal red gravel on the roads surface.sunset_jackadgery_purgatory_creek_road_named_july 2019
I had to get a close up as the sun started to disappear behind the mountainssunset_close_jackadgery_purgatory_creek_road_named_july 2019

Well that’s all from me for July. I hate to end on a sad note but Chicken, the last of my chooks, died last month. Chicken came to me from my friend who lived down the road, the same one who gave my the beautiful Iris. When he had to go into care, he asked me to look after his chooks and Chicken is the last one. She was quite old and had been ill for a while and I used to take her with me when I went to my besties and also to my daughters. Since the start of the cold weather at night, I would pop her into her travelling crate and she would sit inside with me near the fire.

chicken_home_jackadgery_june 2019

Also linked with Su’s Changing Seasons