Another newly identified bird species in the valley, the Bassian Thrush, (Zoothera lunulata). I’ve seen these little scrub birds flitting about the undergrowth before but never long enough to identify them properly or get a shot. They are usually very shy and wary, very hard to spot and disappear as soon as the sense me.
I spotted this one only about 5-6 feet ahead on the path blending in with the forest floor litter and finally managed to snap off only a few quick shots before it scattered.
I had trouble identifying this one and first posted in a Tasmanian Bird Facebook group who ID’d it for me, though I’m not 100% convinced, though perhaps it is a juvenile or other sex. It looks quite different to the Bassian Thrush (464A) depicted in my Bird Guide (below) and more like the Song Thrush (466), though neither of these birds are indicated to be present in Tasmania.
However, a neighbour tells me the Bassian in the Tasmanian Birds book by Dave Watts, which states it’s an “uncommon resident” – and where to see: Fern Tree (just up the road), Weilangta Forest, Melalueca.
Here’s another shot of a Green Rosella, caught again raiding my ferns.
Thanks for flying by 😀
TasView 
Look at those perfect little feathers. For a “few quick shots” you’ve done great 😉.
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Thanks, I forgot to mention these were taken with the 14-150mm mounted on the OM-1. I have C1 (custom mode on the top dial) set up for quick access to the camera being fully set up for birds 🙂
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Great photos! Maybe this beautiful, uncommon little bird was in Tasmania on holiday. 🙂
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Ha ha! It picked a great place 😀 Watching them, I get the impression the don’t fly much but rather mostly hop about, though the can fly, though I haven’t watched them for very long, they soon disappear.
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What a beautiful bird! I love its little feathers with such great colors, nice find, Tone!
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Lovely colours and shape on each feather I hadn’t had the chance to notice previously, they blend in very well to the background colours!
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I’m sure it does blend in nicely, and a very attractive bird.
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Thrushes are not bold with their colours, but their song can be very lovely to hear. I’ve never seen one of these Bassian thrushes, but we have the Swainson’s thrush that has a pretty song. Great pictures, Tone.
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Thanks Anneli, I’ve likely unknowingly been listening to them on walks for years without realising it was these! Theres another elusive small bird that is quick in low branches that I keep trying to spot too which makes a lovely sound too.
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Nice spotting and shots. It certainly blends in.
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Indeed, they’re almost impossible to see further away in the shadows where they usually stay. I’m not sure if it was the snow that helped me get lucky 🙂
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Beautiful birds! Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you, my pleasure to finally capture a pic of them 😀
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Bravo!
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The Rosella looks much easier to spot than the Thrush. Great photos!
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Thanks Sandra, In many situations, the rosella can blend in surprisingly well with such bright colours! I often don’t see them until they fly off, I’m lucky they like my manferns 😀
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Hello Tone, it appears to be a younger bird so your identification may be spot on. And according to Wikipedia (if we can believe it) the Bassian Trush does exist in Tasmania. Anyway they are great shots.
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