Wednesday 7 May 2014

Noisy Pitta - Pitta versicolor

Now there is a personal reason I am posting this bird today.  I was on holiday with my daughter and her family and we were staying in a cabin in a wooded area of Queensland.  My grand daughter, Annika, who was only 3 years old at the time, came rushing along one of the paths, very excitedly to find me and tell me she had seen a bird she had never seen before at home.  On the way, I asked her what it was like.  She replied “It has the colours of a Rainbow Bee Eater and behaving a bit like a Willy Wagtail”!!    We turned the corner and the bird was just rushing into the underground, hence the ‘not so good shot’!  However, afterwards when I thought about her description of this bird, she was spot on.  How amazing is that.  I have never seen this bird again.



Noisy Pitta - Pitta versicolor - 18–20 cm

Tropical and subtropical rainforests, monsoon and dense eucalyptus forests. Forages in leaf litter of forest floor; large snails commonly taken, these broken using a rock as anvil. Shy, usually silent except in breeding season, when calls almost incessantly. Has loud, far-carrying, double noted, mellow whistles, ‘quarreek-quarrik’, commonly described as ‘walk-to-work’; calls from ground and from high in forest canopy. Also an occasional single, harsh, mournful ‘kieow’ although we didn't hear any noise from it. 


Breeding

Oct.–Jan. in S; in far N breeds through the later months of the wet season, Jan.–Apr. 
The Noisy Pitta defends a territory in rainforest or, in far N, monsoon forest. The nest is bulky, large for the size of the bird, and incorporates quite big sticks as well as dead leaves, bark and moss. It also has a debris-surrounded side entrance that is approached across a rough ramp of sticks and debris. The resulting appearance is almost indistinguishable from the natural accumulation of sticks and litter found between the buttresses of rainforest trees. 
Clutch 3–4. Incubation is by both sexes and probably takes some 16–18 days.


This is a shot I took of Annika and Danniel in the rain forest when he was 8 years old at the time however he was not as interested in birds as Annika.  He is more of any action and technical man!


I will leave you with a shot of my daughter Judith and Jon her lovely husband.  I just have to tell you that although their home is in Australia, they moved for 2 years in February to Malawi, Africa and I will be going out there to visit them at the end of my summer and am also visiting a nursing friend in Johannesburg.

Now how exciting is that!

As most of you know I am on holidays and I up loaded one shot last night when I arrived at my accommodation for you to see where I was staying last night.  Below is the view I had while having dinner and am now writing this post for you.  Isn't it magnificent.  It is nearly 7.00am here and when I publish this post I am going to walk along that beach.  The sun is out this morning and then I am going to head to Donegal for 1 night before going onto Tory Island, the most remote island in Ireland! 



I am sorry as I am travelling I will not be able to comment on any of your posts  although if I have internet next place, I may have the opportunity to read some.  Have a lovely day/evening.

 I am linking this post with WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY.

Thank you for visiting.

Many thanks for any comment you on Facebook, google+ and on any of my posts on my blog.

25 comments:

  1. enjoy your travels Margaret; looking like a lovely location. Loved the Pitta!!

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  2. Enjoy your exciting trips - which I am sure you will.
    I love your baby bird-watchers knowledge and experience too.

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  3. Margaret, lovely shot of your daughter and family..Cool looking bird! I have always wanted to go to Africa, very exciting trip. Enjoy!

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  4. I loved your story and see you are quite an influence on this darling little girl!

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  5. beautiful family and very smart little granddaughter. :)

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  6. Very cute little colorful place.

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  7. Have a wonderful time on your travels Margaret! Take lots more beautiful photos to share with us!

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  8. It is exciting to see a new bird and a bonus to get any picture,even if it is not perfect. Have a wonderful time on your holiday.

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  9. A great family you have, and you're going on holiday, again. I love your post each day, great.

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  10. How sweet that your granddaughter knows so much about birds and shares your enthusiasm!! Beautiful family there. :)

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  11. The beach looks great. Have a wonderful holiday, Margaret!

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  12. Great photo of the Noisy Pitta. I have only seen one once and that was a brief view before it hurried back into dense vegetation. It was in the bush on the Inskip Peninsular.
    Your holiday photo of the sea and beach is beautiful. I hope your holiday continues to be enjoyable and that you get lots of great photos to share with us all.

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  13. What clever little grand daughter you have! Great bird too!
    Wish you a happy traveling on Irland!
    Thanks for your sweet comment on my WBW!
    Greetings Pia

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  14. Your granddaughter is gong to be a birdwatcher just like you! It must have been you who gave her such an excitement for birds and nature. Amazing that you got such a good shot of this bird, after reading your story. Your family is really gorgeous!!

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  15. It looks wonderful, love the photo's of your family and the bird. Have a safe and happy holliday.

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  16. I love the story about your granddaughter! I have managed to instill a love of birds in all three of my grandchildren. We enjoy watching them, looking them up in our bird book and then writing down what date we see them.

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  17. I admire your granddaughter's astuteness... what an enjoyment and awareness of nature she has :D)
    Thank you kindly for visiting my blog Margaret - when travelling, time is precious so doubly appreciate it.
    Loved seeing the Noisy Pitta too, as well as your other photos. Also, in your sidebar, those two special moments photos - definitely special! Cheerio and enjoy your travels :D)

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  18. Wonderful story. My grandson also started birding with me at the age of two and loves birds.

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  19. Smart little girl! Beautiful family.

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  20. a lovely bird and a great family. :)

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  21. Nice post - catch them early, have them forever!

    I remember walking in a park near Kakadu with a group of school students - the sign said that there were Rainbow Pittas, which I laughingly dismissed, until one walked across the path! It was a good day, that some of the student did not let me forget!

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  22. What a find. Any Pitta is a good find. You got some good enough images too, so job well done. Great when you have 3 year olds finding mega rarities such as this. Cracking post.

    PS I have a Pitta due out in a post soon......

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  23. Future birder of the world! Nice job!

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  24. What a fabulous find. a truly beautiful bird! Seen on Wild Bird Wednesday

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