Joe Morlan

Little Black Cormorant (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris) 26 December 2025. Botanic Garden, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. A small all dark cormorant. Similar Indian Cormorant has a longer, thinner bill. The rudimentary crest and bronze sheen to the back feathers are features of breeding plumage. Eye described as green, but looks blue to me. Sometimes called "Little Black Shag" in New Zealand.

Little Black Cormorant (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris)
26 December 2025. Botanic Garden, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

A small all dark cormorant. The rudimentary crest and bronze sheen to the back feathers are features of breeding plumage.

#Birds

Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca) 26 December 2025. Botanic Garden, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. Male on left, female right. Females have a white throat and forehead. They are neither larks, nor magpies, but a type of Monarch (Monarchidae). They build a cup-shaped mud nest high in the trees. Formerly placed in the now obsolete Mudnest Builder family (Grallinidae). This is the larger nominate race found in Southern Australia. Sometimes called Mudlark.

Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca)
26 December 2025. Botanic Garden, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

Male. Females have a white throat and forehead. They are neither larks, nor magpies, but a type of Monarch (Monarchidae). They build a cup-shaped mud nest high in the trees.

#birds

Eastern Short-necked Turtle (Emydura macquarii) 26 December 2025. Botanic Garden, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. Despite the somewhat long neck, this one has a neck shorter than half its shell length. Two other fresh water turtles (Long-necked and Broad-shelled) with longer necks are found in South Australia. This one was introduced into the Adelaide area but occurs naturally at nearby Cooper Creek and Murray River. Often called "Macquarie River Turtle" named after its type locality.

Eastern Short-necked Turtle (Emydura macquarii)
26 December 2025. Botanic Garden, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

Despite the somewhat long neck, this one has a neck shorter than half its shell length.

#Wildlife
#Nature
#Reptiles
#Turtles

Maned Duck (Chenonetta jubata) 26 December 2025. Botanic Garden, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. Our field guides call this species the "Australian Wood Duck" but most other authorities use "Maned Duck." An adult male (left) with narrow "mane" down the middle of his nape. Females (right) are duller with faint facial stripes. They remind me of small geese. In fact they are sometimes called "Maned Geese." However genetic studies found they are more closely related to Shelducks than they are to geese. They are in their own genus endemic to Australia.

Maned Duck (Chenonetta jubata) 26 December 2025. Botanic Garden, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. Our field guides call this species the "Australian Wood Duck" but most other authorities use "Maned Duck." An adult male (left) with narrow "mane" down the middle of his nape. Females (right) are duller with faint facial stripes. They remind me of small geese. In fact they are sometimes called "Maned Geese." However genetic studies found they are more closely related to Shelducks than they are to geese. They are in their own genus endemic to Australia.

Maned Duck (Chenonetta jubata)
26 December 2025. Botanic Garden, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

Our field guides call this species the "Australian Wood Duck" but most other authorities use "Maned Duck." An adult male (left) with narrow "mane" down the middle of his nape.

#Birds

Pacific Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus amabilis) 23 February 2026. San Pedro Creek, Pacifica, California, USA. Found this gem under a doormat on our deck. I have seen this snake only once before in California. When first exposed, it curled the tip of its tail like a corkscrew to display bright red on its underside. Otherwise, this is a shy, poorly known, mostly nocturnal species. Currently considered a single widespread North American snake, this is the subspecies "D. p. amabilis" endemic to California's central coast from Sonoma to Monterey counties. However taxonomy is in flux and a recent genetic study found several distinct lineages in California which may be recognizable as separate species. (Fontanella et al. 2021).

Pacific Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus amabilis)
23 February 2026. San Pedro Creek, Pacifica, California, USA.

Found this gem under a doormat on our deck. When first exposed, it curled the tip of its tail like a corkscrew to display bright red on its underside.

#Nature
#Wildlife
#Reptiles

Gray Teal (Anas gracilis) 26 December 2025. Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. Males and females are identical. Similar to the darker female Chestnut Teal. Best distinguished by Gray Teal's pale whitish throat and face. Formerly lumped with Sunda and Andaman Teal. Often spelled "Grey Teal" or Australian Grey Teal.

Gray Teal (Anas gracilis)
26 December 2025. Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

Males and females are identical. Similar to the darker female Chestnut Teal. Best distinguished by Gray Teal's pale whitish throat and face. Formerly lumped with Sunda and Andaman Teal.

#Birds

Hardhead (Aythya australis) 26 December 2025. Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. The only true diving duck in Australia, sometimes called the White-eyed Duck. This is a male. Females are duller and have dark eyes. The name "Hardhead" reportedly derives from taxidermist complaints.

Hardhead (Aythya australis)
26 December 2025. Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

The only true diving duck in Australia, sometimes called the White-eyed Duck. This is a male. Females are duller and have dark eyes. The name "Hardhead" reportedly derives from taxidermist complaints.

#Birds

Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa) 03 January 2026. Eden, New South Wales, Australia. Known in New Zealand as the Grey Duck where they hybridize extensively with introduced Mallards. But in Australia the number of hybrids appears to be minimal. Distinguished from female Mallard by strong facial stripes and dark bill. Nominate race, formerly lumped with the Spot-billed Duck.

Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa)
03 January 2026. Eden, New South Wales, Australia.

Known in New Zealand as the Grey Duck where they hybridize extensively with introduced Mallards. But in Australia the number of hybrids appears to be minimal.

#Birds

Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) 16 January 2026. Oracle Pond, Redwood City, California, USA. An adult male. They are uncommon visitors to California from breeding grounds in Alaska and Western Canada. In comparison with the more familiar Common Goldeneye, male Barrow's has a steeper forehead, smaller bill, a tear-drop shaped white crescent between the bill and eye and more dark on the scapulars with white spots surrounded by black forming a "piano key" pattern. Even though breeding populations are widely separated, no geographic variation has been found.

Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica)
16 January 2026. Oracle Pond, Redwood City, California, USA.

An adult male. They are uncommon visitors to California from breeding grounds in Alaska and Western Canada.

#Birds

Sooty Oystercatcher (Haematopus fuliginosus) 30 December 2025. Nubeena, Tasmania, Australia. This rock loving species is similar to several other all dark oystercatchers found throughout the world. This one is more stocky with thicker legs and longer tail. Note red eyering characteristic of nominate subspecies. They are replaced by another race with yellow eye-rings in Northern Australia. Oystercatchers use their sharp outsized bills like a knife to shuck oysters and other bivalves.

Sooty Oystercatcher (Haematopus fuliginosus)
30 December 2025. Nubeena, Tasmania, Australia.

This rock loving species is similar to several other all dark oystercatchers found throughout the world. This one is more stocky with thicker legs and longer tail.

#Birds

Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
16 January 2026. Oracle Pond, Foster City, California, USA.

This is a returning bird for another winter. Now an adult male, strikingly black and white, with a longer head tassel, Still a rarity in California.

#Birds

Green Rosella (Platycercus caledonicus) 30 December 2025. White Beach, Tasmania, Australia. An immature. Adults have more yellow below. A Tasmanian endemic. Rosellas are famous for having color variations which may confer resistance to "beak and feather disease virus." They have been cited as an example of the "Red Queen hypothesis" based on "Alice in Wonderland" where the Red Queen advises Alice she needs to keep running in order to stay in one place. In this case an evolutionary arms race causes the host to escape from a virus while the virus evolves to improve success infecting the host. Thus both keep evolving to maintain the same equilibrium.

Green Rosella (Platycercus caledonicus)
30 December 2025. White Beach, Tasmania, Australia
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An immature. Adults have more yellow below. A Tasmanian endemic. Lifer!

Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax) 30 December 2025. White Beach, Tasmania, Australia. An adult. Immatures are paler. This is the Tasmanian race "A. a. fleayi" listed as endangered. Threats include human disturbance, habitat loss, and persecution. This majestic eagle is slightly larger and browner than the nominate race on the mainland. Nearly endemic to Australia with a small population in southern New Guinea, they are the largest raptor in Australia with females being larger than males.

Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax)
30 December 2025. White Beach, Tasmania, Australia.

An adult. Immatures are paler. This is the Tasmanian race "A. a. fleayi" listed as endangered. Threats include human disturbance, habitat loss, and persecution.

#Birds

Yellow Wattlebird (Anthochaera paradoxa) 30 December 2025. White Beach, Tasmania, Australia. Lifer! A large member of the Honeyeater family, Meliphagidae. Note the yellow flaps of skin (wattles) on the face and yellow belly of this adult. Endemic to Tasmania where it occurs in a variety of semi-open habitats. Said to be the largest of the Honeyeaters, but MacGregor's Bird-of-Paradise has been reclassified as a Honeyeater recently and is marginally larger.

Yellow Wattlebird (Anthochaera paradoxa)
30 December 2025. White Beach, Tasmania, Australia.

Lifer! A large member of the Honeyeater family, Meliphagidae. Note the yellow flaps of skin (wattles) on the face and yellow belly of this adult. Endemic to Tasmania.

#Birds

Chestnut Teal (Anas castanea) 30 December 2025. White Beach, Tasmania, Australia. Adult male and female. They are endemic to Australia where they are fairly common and widespread in fresh water lakes and impoundments. Male's head is iridescent green, but often looks black depending on the light angle. Presumably nominate. A poorly differentiated subspecies is found in SW Australia. It differs in genetics and distribution, but phenotypic differences are subtle at best and hardly worthy of recognition. Sometimes placed in the genus "Nettion" or "Mareca"

Chestnut Teal (Anas castanea)
30 December 2025. White Beach, Tasmania, Australia.

Adult male and female. They are endemic to Australia where they are fairly common and widespread in fresh water lakes and impoundments. Male's head is iridescent green.

#Birds

Gray Shrikethrush (Colluricincla harmonica) 30 December 2025. Port Arthur Lavender Farm, Tasmania, Australia. Neither a Shrike nor a Thrush, but a member of the Whistler family, noted for its hauntingly beautiful song. The subspecies "C. h. strigata" is confined to Tasmania and nearby islands and is sometimes called "Tasmanian Grey Shrikethrush." It has been treated as a separate species in the past. It differs from mainland populations in having a unique long dagger-like bill, white belly and more blended lores. Sometimes hyphenated "Shrike-Thrush."

Gray Shrikethrush (Colluricincla harmonica)
30 December 2025. Port Arthur Lavender Farm, Tasmania, Australia.

Neither a Shrike nor a Thrush, but a member of the Whistler family, noted for its hauntingly beautiful song.

#Birds

Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra) 30 December 2025. Port Arthur Lavender Farm, Tasmania, Australia. Sometimes called Common Coot. They resemble the American Coot but lack the dark red callous on their frontal shield. Also they have no dark ring on their bill tip, lack white undertail coverts and have their frontal shield pinched by pointed wedges of dark feathers. Like the American Coot the Eurasian Coot has a breeding strategy that includes conspecific brood parasitism (egg dumping). Females have large clutches but early hatched chicks have higher survival. Thus female Coots improve their reproductive success by laying the later part of their clutch in the nests of others. Four subspecies are recognized. This is the smaller "australis" with grayer bill and legs.

Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra)
30 December 2025. Port Arthur Lavender Farm, Tasmania, Australia.

They resemble the American Coot but lack the dark red callous on their frontal shield. Also they have no dark ring on their bill tip.

Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus) 30 December 2025. Eaglehawk Neck, Tasmania, Australia A fairly recent but increasing colonizer to southern Australia with the first breeding confirmed in 1958. Note the light eye. A molting adult of the nominate race found in South America, Antarctica and New Zealand. In New Zealand they go under the name "Southern Black-backed Gull." In South Africa the race "L. d. vetula" has a darker eye, more angular head, and shorter bill, sometimes split as a separate species "Cape Gull."

Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus)
30 December 2025. Eaglehawk Neck, Tasmania, Australia

A fairly recent but increasing colonizer to southern Australia with the first breeding confirmed in 1958. A molting adult of the nominate race found in South America, Antarctica and New Zealand.

#Birds

Cape Barren Goose (Cereopsis novaehollandiae) 30 December 2025. Taranna, Tasmania, Australia. A rather rare and unique terrestrial goose in its own genus. Note the extensive waxy greenish cere covering most of the bill with a hole for the nostrils. Locally distributed in southern Australia and adjacent islands. Its population is reportedly stable or increasing slightly after major declines in the last century. Sometimes treated as monotypic but most authors recognize two races of which this is nominate. Birds in Southwestern Australia (Recherche Archipelago) said to be larger with more white on the crown.

Cape Barren Goose (Cereopsis novaehollandiae)
30 December 2025. Taranna, Tasmania, Australia.

A rather rare and unique terrestrial goose in its own genus. Note the extensive waxy greenish cere covering most of the bill with a hole for the nostrils.

#Birds

Brush Bronzewing (Phaps elegans) 29 December 2025. Adventure Bay, Tasmania, Australia. Male showing chestnut forehead and colorful iridescent wing panel. Females are duller. Endemic to southern Australia. Shy, they like to stay hidden in dense vegetation. Nominate race here is smaller and darker than in Western Australia. Lifer.

Brush Bronzewing (Phaps elegans)
29 December 2025. Adventure Bay, Tasmania, Australia.

Male showing chestnut forehead and colorful iridescent wing panel. Females are duller. Endemic to southern Australia. Shy, they like to stay hidden in dense vegetation.

#Birds

Pied Oystercatcher (Haematopus longirostris) 29 December 2025. Adventure Bay, Tasmania, Australia. Formerly lumped with similar Eurasian Oystercatcher from which it differs in having white back confined to the rump and lower back. White wing-stripe restricted to the secondaries not extending to the outer wing. Sometimes called the Australian Pied Oystercatcher. Oystercatchers are in their own family, the Haematopodidae which means blood-footed. Their diet is bivalves which they open with their bright red knife-like bills.

Pied Oystercatcher (Haematopus longirostris) 29 December 2025. Adventure Bay, Tasmania, Australia. Formerly lumped with similar Eurasian Oystercatcher from which it differs in having white back confined to the rump and lower back. White wing-stripe restricted to the secondaries not extending to the outer wing. Sometimes called the Australian Pied Oystercatcher. Oystercatchers are in their own family, the Haematopodidae which means blood-footed. Their diet is bivalves which they open with their bright red knife-like bills.

Pied Oystercatcher (Haematopus longirostris)
29 December 2025. Adventure Bay, Tasmania, Australia.

Formerly lumped with similar Eurasian Oystercatcher from which it differs in having white back confined to the rump and lower back.

#Birds

Tasmanian Nativehen (Tribonyx mortierii)
29 December 2025. Adventure Bay, Tasmania, Australia.

Lifer Tasmanian endemic. Sometimes considered an agricultural pest but remains fairly common locally. Unlike other Swamphens, they are flightless.

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Swift Parrot (Lathamus discolor) 29 December 2025. Adventure Bay, Tasmania, Australia. Life bird. Locals call them "Swifties" not to be confused with fans of Taylor Swift. They breed locally in Tasmania but most migrate to the adjacent mainland. Critically endangered with only around 300–500 now remaining. Threats include habitat loss from uncontrolled logging and introduction of Sugar Gliders which prey on females on their nests. Extinction is predicted within the next decade unless serious measures are taken to control logging.

Swift Parrot (Lathamus discolor)
29 December 2025. Adventure Bay, Tasmania, Australia.

Locals call them "Swifties". They breed locally in Tasmania but most migrate to the adjacent mainland. Critically endangered with only around 300–500 now remaining.

#Birds

Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans) 29 December 2025. Inala, South Bruny, Tasmania, Australia. Note finely streaked pale throat. Large nominate race breeds in Tasmania but migrates as far north as New Guinea. Tail looks deeply forked in this photo because the feathers are clumped on each side. All rectrices are actually about the same length and in flight the tail looks mostly square. Formerly in the genus "Hirundo."

Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans)
29 December 2025. Inala, South Bruny, Tasmania, Australia.

Note finely streaked pale throat. Large nominate race breeds in Tasmania but migrates as far north as New Guinea.

#Birds

Striated Pardalote (Pardalotus striatus) 29 December 2025. Inala, South Bruny, Tasmania, Australia. Usually pronounced "PAAR-duh-lowt." Another unique Australian family the Pardalotidae consists of four species. Striated Pardalote is widespread and highly variable. Nominate race in Tasmania has yellow, not red tips to their wing coverts. They are little bundles of energy.

Striated Pardalote (Pardalotus striatus)
29 December 2025. Inala, South Bruny, Tasmania, Australia.

Usually pronounced "PAAR-duh-lowt." Another unique Australian family the Pardalotidae consists of four species. Striated Pardalote is widespread and highly variable.

#Birds

Yellow-rumped Thornbill (Acanthiza chrysorrhoa) 29 December 2025. Inala, South Bruny, Tasmania, Australia. It reminded me of a Palm Warbler foraging on the ground. They are known for building "false" cup-shaped nests on top of their real domed nests, but the function of these false nests is uncertain. Thornbills are warbler-like members in their own family Acanthizidae. This is the isolated Tasmanian race "A. c. leachi", the largest and darkest subspecies.

Yellow-rumped Thornbill (Acanthiza chrysorrhoa) 29 December 2025. Inala, South Bruny, Tasmania, Australia. It reminded me of a Palm Warbler foraging on the ground. They are known for building "false" cup-shaped nests on top of their real domed nests, but the function of these false nests is uncertain. Thornbills are warbler-like members in their own family Acanthizidae. This is the isolated Tasmanian race "A. c. leachi", the largest and darkest subspecies.

Yellow-rumped Thornbill (Acanthiza chrysorrhoa)
29 December 2025. Inala, South Bruny, Tasmania, Australia.

It reminded me of a Palm Warbler foraging on the ground. They are known for building "false" cup-shaped nests on top of their real domed nests.

#Birds

Dusky Woodswallow (Artamus cyanopterus) 29 December 2025. Inala, South Bruny, Tasmania, Australia. They forage aerially but are unrelated to swallows. Their thick, heavy bill reveals they are actually modified Butcherbirds (family Artamidae). The narrow white outer primaries indicates the nominate race. Another subspecies in Western Australia has more white in the wing and tail. Widespread and fairly common but a lifer for us.

Dusky Woodswallow (Artamus cyanopterus) 29 December 2025. Inala, South Bruny, Tasmania, Australia. They forage aerially but are unrelated to swallows. Their thick, heavy bill reveals they are actually modified Butcherbirds (family Artamidae). The narrow white outer primaries indicates the nominate race. Another subspecies in Western Australia has more white in the wing and tail. Widespread and fairly common but a lifer for us.

Dusky Woodswallow (Artamus cyanopterus)
29 December 2025. Inala, South Bruny, Tasmania, Australia.

They forage aerially but are unrelated to swallows. Their thick, heavy bill reveals they are actually modified Butcherbirds (family Artamidae).

#Birds

Scarlet Robin (Petroica boodangi) 29 December 2025. Inala, South Bruny, Tasmania, Australia. Australasian Robins are in their own family (Petroicidae) unrelated to other "robins" around the world. This is a female less flashy than the male. Formerly lumped with similar Norfolk Robin under the scientific name (P. multicolor). A lifer for us!

Scarlet Robin (Petroica boodangi) 29 December 2025. Inala, South Bruny, Tasmania, Australia. Australasian Robins are in their own family (Petroicidae) unrelated to other "robins" around the world. This is a male, with contrasting red and black and less white in its tail than mainland birds. Presumably of the East Tasmanian race "P. b. leggi" with longer bill and legs. Formerly lumped with similar Norfolk Robin under the scientific name (P. multicolor). A lifer for us!

Scarlet Robin (Petroica boodangi)
29 December 2025. Inala, South Bruny, Tasmania, Australia.

Australasian Robins are in their own family (Petroicidae) unrelated to other "robins" around the world. A lifer for us!

#Birds

New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae) 29 December 2025. Inala, South Bruny, Tasmania, Australia. A spectacular honeyeater, common in flowering trees often in noisy flocks. They are active and jumpy, but this one cooperated long enough for a photo. Endemic to Southern Australia and adjacent islands. Of the three members in its genus, New Holland is unique in having white malar bristles and neck plumes, giving it a bearded appearance. The name "New Holland" comes from an old name for Australia. In fact this honeyeater was one of the first bird species to be described from Australia in 1790. This is the Tasmanian race "P. n. canescens" with long white malar plume, sparce white beard feathers, and heavier black breast streaking.

New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae) 29 December 2025. Inala, South Bruny, Tasmania, Australia. A spectacular honeyeater, common in flowering trees often in noisy flocks. They are active and jumpy, but this one cooperated long enough for a photo. Endemic to Southern Australia and adjacent islands. Of the three members in its genus, New Holland is unique in having white malar bristles and neck plumes, giving it a bearded appearance. The name "New Holland" comes from an old name for Australia. In fact this honeyeater was one of the first bird species to be described from Australia in 1790. This is the Tasmanian race "P. n. canescens" with long white malar plume, sparce white beard feathers, and heavier black breast streaking.

New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae) 29 December 2025. Inala, South Bruny, Tasmania, Australia. A spectacular honeyeater, common in flowering trees often in noisy flocks. They are active and jumpy, but this one cooperated long enough for a photo. Endemic to Southern Australia and adjacent islands. Of the three members in its genus, New Holland is unique in having white malar bristles and neck plumes, giving it a bearded appearance. The name "New Holland" comes from an old name for Australia. In fact this honeyeater was one of the first bird species to be described from Australia in 1790. This is the Tasmanian race "P. n. canescens" with long white malar plume, sparce white beard feathers, and heavier black breast streaking.

New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae)
29 December 2025. Inala, South Bruny, Tasmania, Australia.

A spectacular honeyeater, common in flowering trees often in noisy flocks. They are active and jumpy, but this one cooperated long enough for a photo.

#Birds

Short-beaked Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) 29 December 2025. Lunawanna, Bruny Island, Tasmania Australia. The highlight of our visit for me. Its head was buried in a roadside anthill for a rather long time, but eventually it looked up and walked towards us revealing its peculiar snout and tiny eyes. They forage like an anteater, having no teeth but extracting ants and termites with their long extensile tongue. They are apparently immune to the bite of the notorious Jack Jumper Ants. Echidnas are one of two groups of egg laying mammals (Monotremes}, the other being the Platypus. After the egg hatches, the baby, called a "puggle", moves into its mothers pouch. Adults have numerous protective quills like a porcupine and can roll themselves into a ball like a hedgehog. This is the smaller Tasmanian race "T. a. setosus" originally described as a separate species, "Tasmanian Short-beaked Echidna."

Short-beaked Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) 29 December 2025. Lunawanna, Bruny Island, Tasmania Australia. The highlight of our visit for me. Its head was buried in a roadside anthill for a rather long time, but eventually it looked up and walked towards us revealing its peculiar snout and tiny eyes. They forage like an anteater, having no teeth but extracting ants and termites with their long extensile tongue. They are apparently immune to the bite of the notorious Jack Jumper Ants. Echidnas are one of two groups of egg laying mammals (Monotremes}, the other being the Platypus. After the egg hatches, the baby, called a "puggle", moves into its mothers pouch. Adults have numerous protective quills like a porcupine and can roll themselves into a ball like a hedgehog. This is the smaller Tasmanian race "T. a. setosus" originally described as a separate species, "Tasmanian Short-beaked Echidna."

Short-beaked Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus)
29 December 2025. Lunawanna, Bruny Island, Tasmania Australia.

Its head was buried in a roadside anthill for a rather long time, but eventually it looked up and walked towards us revealing its peculiar snout and tiny eyes.

#Wildlife
#Tasmania