Now, that's a torch!

Podargus strigoides

We were visited by this fellow as we sat around the fire.  Nick got out the spotlight, so we could see our visitor more clearly - and we heard our neighbours exclaim:  "Now, that's a torch!"

There is Tawny Frogmouth information here where you can also download a sound file of it's call.

Earlier in the year we had a Tawny Frogmouth WIRES guest staying with us.  Unfortunately in the Sydney/Central Coast areas, the birds get a parasite in their brains/spinal cord and their central nervous system becomes compromised.