On a whim

Back to now ... today (24/8/20) ... it was a lovely clear day devoid of the strong (westerly & southerly) winds of the last couple of weeks. My mum had been taken up the coast by my sister for a treatment on her eyes and I thought this afternoon I would drop over and see if my dad wanted to head out for but of a bird watch. As I was heading off, my dear wife asked me to get some more timber for the fire from our supplier, and so off I set. I picked dad up & decided to pick the wood up on the way back ... fortuitous as it turned out ... either that, of dad is a talisman I need to take bird-watching much more 😉.

It was mid-afternoon and I wanted to see if I could see the white-bellied sea eagle glide past at Broadwater Beach lookout. Well, we had excellent fortune, even before we reached our objective, and then even more when we did get there!

Just before Broadwater bridge, approaching from the Bagotville direction I spotted a big bird up one of the riverside pine trees. I was almost past it and quickly braked causing dad some alarm about "why", turned around and here is what was there.

Osprey with a sizable mullet dinner

Just around the bend and barely two riverside trees later was an even (literally) bigger surprise. Not with dinner, but certainly on the lookout and enjoying the rustle of the afternoon breeze.

White-bellied sea eagle on the riverside perch

Just after this and as we were about to cross the bridge (and so no easy place to screech to a halt) a brahminy kite was circling and so in the space of about 300m we had seen the big three of the fishing birds of prey. Quite the start to my afternoon birdwatching whim. 

Just as we arrived at the lookout, this next fellow was circling gracefully. I quickly pulled up and parked rather badly as there were already two other cars parked, but I did not want t miss this opportunity. As you see, my haste was worth the effort as the sea eagle took some time out to keep an eye on my haste! Clearly captures the "white-bellied" portion of the name. Ah, quite the treat!

White-bellied sea eagle in full glide

AS I was taking some more snaps of the bird above as it circled and glided very near the lookout, dad caught my attention tapping the glass of the car window and pointing to the south. Another one had been circling even lower! Just as I was turning and re-focusing, the bird pulled it's wings back and dipped down behind the trees (dipped rather than dived or swooped as it might if it had been over water) and out of sight. Damn 😟 ... but go have a look because the dive had NOT taken it over the ocean at all. I peered through some of the heath bushes and could just make out the distinct white head in the distance. Alas, it was not possible to get a shot in frame given the thickness of the foliage. Fortunately, I wandered up the road a bit and was rewarded with a clearer view of this magnificent bird perched ever so proudly clutching a dead branch giving itself an uninterrupted 180 degree over the breaking surf - quite the kingdom. So, not just one white-bellied sea eagle today, but three! 

White-bellied sea eagle surveying it's kingdom

And finally, on our way back on the first riverside pine over the bridge showing off how flexible their field of vision is, this mature osprey was casting it's eyes westward and allowing the head dress to be ruffled. 

Osprey swiveling westward.

Ah, such a really enjoyable whim! Somethings need to be shared asap 😋.

Ending 2017 in Adelaide

 A visit to Adelaide to see the (kids) & grandkids prior to Xmas presented the final set of 2017 bird photos to share. I stayed with a team mate from my rugby days and he has a neat garden befitting someone who has a garden maintenance business. So these are a few shots captured during my stay that feature the variety of birds attracted to his suburban backyard.

Continuing the theme of the striking colours offered by black birds is the first image of the common blackbird. The yellow beak and ring around the eye are delightful.

Yes, the birdbath! A ubiquitous garden feature and in this place, a definate attraction. This first one is a sparrow that has enjoyed a solitary bath and looks rather forlorn after a good shaking. Soon after, the new holland honeyeaters appeared ... first one, then two ... then, well, you can see LOTS and I managed to snap a shot when something in the trees to their right had clearly aught their attention!

Here I found a sparrow in a more natural setting, perched high in the foliage and similarly a silvereye, though among bare branches more than the heavier foliage.

These next two are wonderful shots of the new holland honeyeater savouring the delights of a white agapanthus flower head. The first one highlighting another example of the lightness and acrobatic ability as they leverage their environment; the second undoubtedly highlighting just how their lightness prevents them interfering with the fragility of their environment. The contrast with our harsh built environment is stark.

And finally, despite the previous note of our harsh built environment, the beauty and serene pose of the spotted turtle dove manages to make that harshness look like it has an important role to play!

And so ends a sharing of examples of the wonderful breadth of birds I was privileged to sight and photograph across 2017. It should not be a surprise that I was looking forward t more of the same for 2018 and the years beyond.

Along country lanes & local gardens

 As the warmer weather warms it is good to be able to explore down country lanes just to see what is there. Of course, there is often "lots" there but my interest is birds ... heading towards Lennox Head and off the main road there is lane which serves macadamia and cane farms (and no doubt various other less obvious farming activity). After a short time there is a drainage ditch that mostly runs parallel to the lane and serves to host a range of trees and later on heads off back up into a much larger (but inaccessible) swampy area. The good thing, generally, about exploring lanes like these is you can go nice and slow with the windows down and look and listen because of the lack of local traffic - still need to be careful because every now and again you might encounter a cane truck or tractor heading your way!

First up I noticed perched high above the drain this wonderful specimen of a grey goshawk. As always, they keep a keen eye on all things moving as they repose on their throne. It is always a treat to sight birds of prey, and even more so when they are not so "obvious" and sitting out in the open. Ones like this always provide a sense of me being watched and only the bird only being "seen" if it chooses 😊. Always a privilege!

From perched above and looking down over the drain I next came across this plumed whistling-duck cruising along on the drain. Very content and showing off the distinctive plumage very well, especially highlighting the "plumed" part of the name.

In contrast to the camouflaged sighting of the grey goshawk above, these next two pictures highlight my point about the "ease" of spotting when they are exposed on our built environment, in this instance, a young (as the young like to do, having a bit to say!) and then more mature black-shouldered kite at different points along the power lines. These guys are a sight when they hover over potential prey before diving ... but that is for another post another day (did not happen this day).

And finally along this country lane and again well down in the more clogged area of the drain was this egret ... could not resist the rich setting for the shot to show how even what we consider weeds and "rubbish" and so often see being sprayed (poisoned to clear) means that a fertile hunting ground for something is likely being disrupted it not destroyed.

These next few were kind of down a different country lane, but this time in a far more nature friendly boardwalk nearing Byron. Just end up there while meandering around. This first one is a figbird feasting on some berries. Love the way they are so acrobatically able to enjoy their feast!

And here is as clear a shot of the oh so elusive (to me) eastern whipbird.  Quite distinctive when you see them, actually almost as distinctive as there whip sound. Of course, this also highlights how their camouflage is so effective in the branches (as on the ground).

A pacific black duck out of water - on the edge of the boardwalk just before dropping back into the pond.

Here a very young brush turkey already foraging as they do. Once born (hatched), they are on their own ... survival of the fittest at its most base level. Not difficult to hear in a forest when they are active because of the active raking with their claws.

A pale-yellow robin in a very common pose on a vine peeking curiously. The white feathers around the beak and the yellow legs distinguish it from the very similar eastern yellow robin.

The very common and lovely singing Lewin's honeyeater is the final  offering from this part of the journey before the rest of my time took me ever closer to home. Again, the camouflage is readily highlighted, but often their wonderful singing is the give away (along with their natural curiosity).

Here we have a grand brahminy kite perched on the other side of Emigrant Creek. So while in the branches, it is relatively easily spotted because of the width of the Creek at this spot. Quite the treat to see one perched in such an accessible spot for a photo 😊.

These next two offer a majestic pair of black swans  followed by a wider angle showing the expanse of the water world they were enjoying along with many of their flock & other species. 

The next three are from flowering gums in my parents' front yard. The flowering gums accentuate and complement the always striking plumage of the cheeky rainbow lorikeet in the first two; the third offering a head shot of a brown honeyeater appearing to emerge from the flower itself!

This next shot was one of a series I was out taking so I had shots to complete a photobook I had in mind which I ultimately titled "Beach Things". I managed a series of shots of this silver gull scavenging the remnants of a quite large whiting. It was fun watching it lay around with the skeleton (seemingly trying to figure out if it was going to offer much resistance!). 

The next tow are good clear photos of a dollar bird. I love the lustre of the black/blue wings and chest that contrast quite sharply with the orange beak and very black eyes. Anotehr excellent example of what appears to be a "black" bird but which is rather more chameleon in reality.

And my final three for this journey are the laughing kookaburra and a couple of figbirds (one mature and the other very young), each in a garden environment. 

A little pond and a big pond (revisited).

Into the second last month of 2017 and first up some memories of a visit to the (retention) pond on the university grounds for a picnic and an explore with two of the grand children. Sometimes more variety than others on offer at this site, but seldom nothing to take your interest. Some things seem irrefutable ... if there is water you will find tortises, and you will find a variety of water birds. Only things that seem to change is the colour of the water, the type of water and the variety of water birds (I could also add the variety of other water inhabitants attracting the birds as well but they tend to be more challenging to spot). And a waterway has a way of offering you a place to feel very peaceful.

First I offer two contemplations 😊 ... a grandson closely contemplating (concentrating even) a watching egret wading at the edge of the pond. It is a peaceful setting when you can capture such an image - even the surface is calm!

The second contemplation ... well, needs no explanation at all really ... not a bird (actually, on higher branches there was a magpie lark on the mud nest that had been shared in an earlier post) ... still, quite the perch.

And just for a lovely splash of colour by the pond to show that the flora can be just as attractive ... and me experimenting with depth of field to try and leverage some of the camera's capabilities!

Yes, yes, back to the birds ... it is a bird gallery afterall.

The next three offer some photogenic Australian wood ducks. Unusually they were very content and not disturbed by our presence. This allowed a couple of very clear close-ups offering excellent views of the different and distinctive plumage of the male and female. The first one of the male with the velvety brown head and silky grey and black wings; the second of a pair of females and the third a close-up of a female with the more understated and lined head and mottled feathers. No wonder they cruise so gracefully.

Next we have a blackbird I expect to see more often by the sea ... but here it was. A little black cormorant. The striking blue eyes are not quite as prominent as they can be, but evident if you look closely. I love the way the "black" birds often have plumage that is quite chameleon. Notice in the first two photos how the head is more a dark brown before the shoulder and wing feathers turn darker; then the way the wing "scales" provide contrasting shades of the black and iridescence. Very handsome really and very steady just perching or sun-drying. Contrast these with the third photo (same cormorant, different perch) and you be forgiven for describing the plumage as dull brown! And of course, more of nature sharing ... the Eurasian coot in the top left and the very mossy tortoise clinging to the log below right of the perch.

How could I let a post about a pond pass without a close-up of the humble tortoise. Surely a model for us all to just relax, gather some vitamin D and take out time to savour our surroundings 😉.

From the university pond, and a revisit to the Lismore Lake to see what might be there as the weather warms up ... a couple of treats for me with new finds. Yes the "big pond" referred to in the post title is Lismore Lake.

First up a red-kneed dotterel ... first just one, then a pair.

Then a flock of aptly named (look closely and you will see the patch just behind their eyes) pink-eared ducks, the second in the sequence highlighting one marooned on its island and scoping the landscape.

Next a "mean" peek caught from amidst the denser foliage at the Lake edge of a purple swamphen ... I love the contrasting colours but the heavy bill merging with the "helmet" are quite imposing and speak to a tough existence in its environment?

And finally, back down near the entrance to the REALLY big pond (the Pacific Ocean) we have the darter relaxing and sunning itself dry. Quite the wingspan and paddles. You can see by the repose of the neck why it is sometimes called the snakebird!