On this day, I was walking, deep in thought, when a harsh call snapped me back to reality. I had come face to face with a bird that I thought was a cormorant. I’m not sure which of us was most surprised. I’m so glad I had my camera with me, so I could photograph the … Continue reading Surprising a Drying Darter
Tag: birds of australia
I found a Striated Thornbill in the Fernery
If it had not been for the persistent, urgent chirping, I would not have noticed the Striated Thornbill in our fernery today. It seemed to be giving an alarm call, as if I were intruding into its territory. The longer I watched it, the more exaggerated the flitting from one place to another appeared to … Continue reading I found a Striated Thornbill in the Fernery
Common Bronzewing Pigeons Return
A pair of Common Bronzewing Pigeons have started to turn up to the bird feeder each day. Toward the end of Winter last year, we had a pair of bronzewings turn up occasionally, so perhaps it is the same two birds? This time, they’re not just showing up once or twice a day. I come … Continue reading Common Bronzewing Pigeons Return
Kookaburra in Winter Sun
Finally, after many frustrating attempts, I have a good photograph of a kookaburra! This one was sitting in the cool afternoon sun. Last night our temperature approached zero degrees Celsius, and it was already very cool when I took this shot.
Scarlet Robin
It’s been a while since I’ve posted a photo of a bird to be added to the Species List. Yesterday I saw two species I had not noticed here before, but I only managed to capture photographs of the Scarlet Robin. The second sighting was a group of small birds which were probably Red-Browed Finch, … Continue reading Scarlet Robin
An Assortment of Cormorants
We have cormorants drop in to fish in the dam every now and again. Mostly, they come on their own, but sometimes they bring a friend or two. In the months leading up to Christmas, I was much more drawn to the herons, ducks, and more exotic species of bird, paying little attention to the … Continue reading An Assortment of Cormorants
White-Eared Honeyeater
Yesterday, you caught a glimpse of the White-Eared Honeyeater in My Morning Walk and I promised you more photos today. Here they are! We’ve been catching glimpses of this species ever since we moved in, but they are fast, and tend to spend their time in denser trees. This makes them hard to photograph. On … Continue reading White-Eared Honeyeater
Spotted Pardalote
Our cats were running up and down the back yard today, in the cat enclosure, making enthusiastic noises about something fluttering just under the netting. It turned out to be this beautiful Spotted Pardalote, which had found its way into the cat enclosure through the holes in the lattice fence. Don’t worry, no damage was … Continue reading Spotted Pardalote
Crackle Crackle…. Plop!
Crackle crackle… plop! Crackle crackle…. plop! This is the sound I heard around me this morning on my walk. It is a still day, and I have heard the same sound on other still days. Having investigated the noise about a month ago, I recognise it immediately and smile to myself. This is the sound … Continue reading Crackle Crackle…. Plop!
Breeding Australasian Grebes?
In my last post about the Australasian Grebes, I left you trying to spot two white fluffy bottoms hidden among the reeds. This time, I managed to get better photos – as it turns out, inadvertently. I was actually trying to photograph the small birds in the eucalypts and acacias surrounding the dam. As soon … Continue reading Breeding Australasian Grebes?
One Magpie v. More than Twenty Ducks
This is a sight I have often seen, but never before with camera in hand! Finally, I have captured it to share with you. A pair of magpies lives in a tree near the house, spending much of the day on the lawn leading down to the dam. One of these magpies is particularly territorial, … Continue reading One Magpie v. More than Twenty Ducks
Return of the Australian Wood Duck!
After what seems like a long absence, we are beginning to see Australian Wood Duck again. The family of thirteen has not returned as a group – maybe because the ducklings are making their own way in the world. Or perhaps (horrendous thought) because of duck season. Maybe some of the ducks have found new … Continue reading Return of the Australian Wood Duck!
Australasian Grebe
One morning, a fast-moving ripple on the dam attracted my attention. Getting out the binoculars, I could see a small water bird madly swimming back and forth, as though its life depended on racing from one spot to another. Every now and again it would dive beneath the surface, then swim madly off in another … Continue reading Australasian Grebe
Playing around with Cockatoos
While I much prefer to photograph birds in their natural habitat, providing a little bit of bird seed does offer a fantastic chance to get some close-up shots of the Sulphur Crested Cockatoos. I wanted to convey the playful nature of Cockatoos, but also show their beauty. To other birds, in this case a couple … Continue reading Playing around with Cockatoos
Immature Golden Whistler? Identify this bird if you can!
On a calm day last week, many small birds were calling from the treetops, and I could identify where they were sitting from the rustling noises they made when they moved. I took many photos of one small bird which was hopping around the trunk of a tree at the point where the bark peeled … Continue reading Immature Golden Whistler? Identify this bird if you can!
The Colour of Long-Billed Corella
Every single day we have a large flock of Long-Billed Corella fly South over our land shortly after Sunrise, and return Northward just before Sunset. We don’t know where they come from, or where they go to each day. It is one of nature’s mysteries. Rarely do they land here. If they do, it is … Continue reading The Colour of Long-Billed Corella
Silhouette – Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoo
On the still evening I photographed the White=Browed Scrubwren, I also saw the Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoos for myself. Mostly they were in among the leaves, high in the treetops and hidden from the camera. As I neared the end of my walk, and the sun had almost set, this solitary bird presented me with a … Continue reading Silhouette – Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoo
Pair of Pacific Black Ducks
In mid-February we had a solitary Pacific Black Duck swimming around in the dam. This was the only time we’d sighted one until this morning. When I got up there were two Sulphur Crested Cockatoos, three Crimson Rosellas and two Pacific Black Duck searching for food in the grass near the house. Just after I … Continue reading Pair of Pacific Black Ducks
White-Browed Scrubwren
We’ve recently returned to standard time after being on ‘Daylight Saving’ Summer time, so twilight sets in much earlier. I often go walking twice a day – once in the morning, and once at around 5pm. Over Summer, this meant that it was too early to spot mammals, and many birds were off feeding. It … Continue reading White-Browed Scrubwren
Breakfast
I find it interesting to watch birds drink from the dam, as this is when they seem to be most vulnerable. They appear to stop and look around before they bend their heads to the water. These cockatoos were drinking just after sunrise. There was much milling around and one bird drank at a time, … Continue reading Breakfast
Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoos
We’ve known for a while that we should get Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoos in our area, but until this week, we haven’t seen any. Earlier in the week, on one of my walks I had spotted some black birds which seemed to be making ‘hyena-style’ laughing noises, but I couldn’t get close enough to see what … Continue reading Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoos
Pacific Black Duck
Mid afternoon we noticed a different species of duck in the dam. It turned out to be a Pacific Black Duck – actually brown in colour. This species is pretty common around most of Australia, but as far as we know it is the first time it has visited us. We were pleased to see … Continue reading Pacific Black Duck
Blackwing Currawong: race Melanoptera
Just before midday, I collected the mail and walked toward the dam to see if any birds were active. Nothing moved. A gentle breeze rustled through the trees, then ceased. All was still. Except I could still hear bark clattering high up in the tree. Looking toward the sound, I noticed the black head of … Continue reading Blackwing Currawong: race Melanoptera
Australian Magpie – Race Hypoleuca
Magpies are so much a part of an Australian landscape, both in the city and in rural areas, that it is easy to look past them to more exotic species of birds. It would be very remiss of me to leave them out of my species list. I have always loved magpies. Their carolling voices … Continue reading Australian Magpie – Race Hypoleuca
Fifteen Acres 