Winter close to home

 So, settled into my (2020) AL/LSL stint and have been focused on catching up on a lot of recreational reading. This is my usual way to ease into feeling like it is OK to take it easy and not be worried I "should be doing something" 😊. I have just started heading out again to take some photographs and that reminded to make sure I keep on top of catching this blog up ... so here I am ... back to the winter months of 2017.

Eclectic because the trips seem to be fewer in winter months (at least in 2017). Perhaps I was subconsciously yearning for a bit of a break given the intensity of my relatively recent conversion to birding? However such things are relative and while dedicated "days" may have been infrequent, the camera was mostly handy and so quite a range of birds and locations were covered. Turns out my search for winter photos to share fell into 3 broad geographical areas, so 

• this post will cover sightings close to home (Victoria Park, Wollongbar and that "other" home Uni); 
• the next post will cover a productive excursion to Lismore Lake; and 
• the third post in the winter compilation will cover "around" Ballina.

Enjoy some new finds and more of some favourites ...

These first two were noticed during a walk around Victoria Park Nature Reserve. A real treat when you manage to do the whole (short) boardwalk loop without anyone else being on location. The silence and sounds are something to behold. These guys are way up in the treetops and identified by their frequent droppings while they are feeding. The second little fella, an eastern yellow robin was peeking out around a trunk showing off their agility.

Topknot pidgeon

Eastern yellow robin

Next two were treats on-campus out my window. Not everyday we get to be so up close and personal with a mum & joey and the treat was too good NOT to share because it is not a bird 😆. The second one is a bird ... a wonga pidgeon grazing on the hill side, also out my window. 

Swamp wallaby & joey

Wonga pidgeon

This handsome white-headed pidgeon is quite prolific and easy to see on powerlines after any shower of rain or even during the rain. This was out the front of our home. I love the proud chest , the crinkled feathers on the back of the neck and the red eyes. Quite something (and very different look) in the sunshine.

White-headed pidgeon

This is again stretching the idea of a "bird" ... but the sunflower in full bloom is always a sight to behold and the bees were loving it this day out at Eltham.

Sunflower(s) and bees

The remaining photos in this compilation were all taken at various points around Lismore campus. The black kites on two different days when they were scouring the football fields. I wanted to show off three quite different perspectives with these photos - as always with birds of prey it is a wonderful privilege to be able to share space and get so close to admire them. 

Black kite

Black kite on ground

Black kite about to launch

Once again, a rare treat that is NOT a bird, but it IS in a tree 😃 and like the wallaby with the joey, far too special not to share with you. Healthy and big!

Big healthy koala

Striated pardolote

Yellow-tailed black cockatoo

Black-shouldered kite

Magpie lark on mud nest

Richard's pipit

Rainbow lorikeet