21 May 2014

Tawny Frogmouth

 ..it's 6.20 a.m. looking over the Wallamba River at Tuncurry, N.S.W.

and not far away, forty minutes later, up in this tree on left, were sighted a pair of....

 Tawny Frogmouths



Birds in Backyards Fact Sheet on the Tawny Frogmouth is here (also, hear its call)

Later addition:  According to this fact sheet, the Tawny Frogmouth are often confused with owls, but are actually more closely related to the nightjars.


42 comments:

Joyful said...

Beautiful!

Rohrerbot said...

Strange looking birds....a cross between an owl and a nightjar! And I would not be able to spot them. They blend right in!

Hootin Anni said...

Unbelievably well camouflaged. I probably would have walked right by them. Well done.

TexWisGirl said...

what an awesome sighting! loved the water view, too!

DeniseinVA said...

Another splendid looking bird and fantastic photos. They have great camouflage don't they? Thank you Carole, I am always enamored with your Australian birds.

betty-NZ said...

What a delightful find! They are amazing-looking birds that I have never heard about. Thanks for sharing.

Sue (this n that) said...

Totally love how they are camouflaged. Great shots :D)

David M. Gascoigne, said...

I saw a Tawny Frogmouth at the Australian National Botanical Gardens in Canberra. I consider it my single most rewarding sighting of my trip.

Carletta said...

Such unique creatures. Wonderful share Carole! I find it amazing that you were able to spot them. You really had to know what to look for. They seem to be hiding in plain sight. :)

Karen said...

What a terrific find! They are so well camouflaged, I would never have seen them!

Montanagirl said...

Nicely done - they sure do blend in!

John @ Beans and I on the Loose said...

And I thought I was going to see pictures of a frog. Goes to show how much I know about birds.

Russell Jenkins said...

Very well found and photographed. Wonderful birds.

Irma said...

Beautiful pictures of these very well camouflaged birds.
Very well photographed, Carole.
Greetings Irma

Karen said...

It's amazing how well they blend into the tree, and stay so still.

i stora drag said...

Nicely photographed, Carole!
I think they are very special those birds, looks a bit like tiny owls!
We don't have them here in Sweden, as far as I know.
Thanks for your comment! /Pia

Waldameise Andrea said...

Das sind ganz wundervolle Fotos. Diese besondere Stimmung am Abend liebe ich sehr. Sie kommt in deinen Bildern sehr gut rüber. Aber die zwei Eulen machen mir grad besonders viel Freude. Wie die Farben eins gehen mit dem Hintergrund, fantastisch.

Stewart M said...

Splendid pictures - we get these birds around our house sometimes, draw by the moths around the street lights.

cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

Seraphinas Phantasie said...

Amazing pictures of this very special birds. First I saw just the tree. After a while I saw the two birds. Gorgeous !
Best regards, Synöve

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

Fantastic find. I am sure I might have missed seeing it. Fabulous shots of them

Gumer Paz said...

Beautiful photograph of sunrise, and owls! lucky you!
A kiss from Spain, Carole.

Helma said...

Truly a magnificent view over the river.
The Tawny Frogmouths however, I had never heard!? I've just searched on google and what a cute critters :-)))

Deanna said...

Oh my, how fortunate for you that you were able to spot these, they blend in so well with the bark of the trees. Nice captures!!

Wally Jones said...

Splendid photographs, Carole! Don't they have wonderful camouflage?

Thanks for the informative link for their full description.

Their calls sound like my best effort at singing. :)

Ida said...

Wow! Considering how well they blend into the tree it's amazing your spotted them at all. What a unique and unusual looking bird.
Also the 6:20 am scene is lovely.

Gail Dixon said...

Oh my, Carole! These are beautiful images. I have never heard of that owl before. I was expecting to see frogs! :)

Brian King said...

These are such cool birds! I always like seeing photos of them.

Phil Slade said...

Such amazing birds Carole. Enjoy your break and come back with lots of pictures for us.

Unknown said...

Interesting birds! They must be very difficult to spot.

theconstantwalker said...

Wonderful birds to see... and they blend in to their background so well it's well done you for spotting them.

Rambling Woods said...

It does look like an owl and I appreciate the fact sheet that I read.. Thank you for linking into Nature Notes... Michelle

Laura said...

Your Tawny Frogmouth birds are beautiful! Your photos are amazing!!! Thanks!
hugs, Laura

eileeninmd said...

They are amazing bird, great photos and sighting!

maryaustria said...

These are amazing birds. And so well comouflaged! Wonderful photos!

Elizabeth Edwards said...

i really enjoy the 1st shot. gorgeous view. i have been away on a camping adventure. & now just getting back to replying & talking to you guys again. hope you are well. ( ;

Sharon Wagner said...

That is some serious blending in!

Linda said...

So well camouflaged!

Thomas Lee/Lee Lip Pang said...

Very well camouflaged bird

Dzjiedzjee said...

A very beautiful series!! ;-)

Hope you'll have a great weekend!
http://dzjiedzjee.blogspot.com

carol l mckenna said...

Love that bird and gorgeous and textural photography ~ wonderful work ~

artmusedog and carol (A Creative Harbor)

Roy Norris said...

Superb images Carole, I am amazed you could find them, they are so well camouflaged.{:))

Liz said...

That's one bird I'd love to come across. I find them fascinating.