Migration and decidulation in Carwoola

Early April is the time of the most noticeable migration through Canberra, when large (sometimes very large) flocks of honeyeaters pass through.  Our place tends to be off the main route, but I have been noticing a few small flocks come by.  Such was the case this morning - at least until a very large (for the species, at least 50 birds) flock of Silvereyes called in.

A first call in was the birdbath.

 They then hopped across the drive and checked out the aphid situation on our dahlias.

 Obviously something edible in there!

 Back to the bird bath with a blow-in Superb Fariry=wren also.

 Some wrens were wet, others dry!

 A Brown Thornbill joined the fun

 Also present in this flock, at least in so far as there were a lot of birds around for a short while were 2 Varied Sitella (first in the garden this year); White-eared and Yellow-faced Honeyeaters; 2 White-throated Treecreepers, several Striated Pardalotes and Striated Thornbills.

The background to all of this was an outbreak of decidulation in our exotic trees.  A Pistachio.

 The Pn Oaks have gone very red.  Here is a close up ...

 .. and a longer shot.

 the traditional red leave is of course the Maple.  This is a small, Japanese variety.

 The larger variety is just starting to change.

 A Prunus is well decidulated, to the extent of having lost most of its nice red leaves.

 Down at the Creek the willows are starting to change.

 The leaf drifts are not yet deep.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch I am cleaning up after an pruning frenzy a few days ago.  This chipper is a great little machine, as long as one gets the material at the 50% dried stage.