Springing through to October

This post offers some firsts as well as some regulars and also some real treats that have become almost so "regular" they no longer seem "treats". What do I mean? Well, I have found that taking time is the key. Also it is amazing how much things change within the same location throughout the year and so, return visits often throw wonderful insights and unexpected delights your way. When I manage to capture one of these, the "treat" seems original and not at all diminished as something all too common. 

As an excellent starter, here is Pacific baza that was perched on a branch overhanging our driveway! I had grown accustomed to seeing a pair on various powerlines on the Bruxner Highway but nearly always in a spot not possible to pull over for a photo 😕. So to notice one in our driveway, and even a perch that allowed a view from the front verandah so that you are almost at eye level ... well, by any measure, THAT is a treat. See for your self! Quite the creature. Striking yellow eye and barred chest with the crest feathers as well. 

Pacific baza visiting our garden

Then, another morning enjoying a quiet time sitting on the front verandah I had the pleasure of enjoying watching and photographing a magpie drinking from, and bathing in our bird bath. As a bigger bird, far less scatty than the smaller ones and far more comfortable "posing"! This one was also caught staring .. not that it was bothered 😐! The treat here was managing to get a photo with the full stare at me, almost in defiance that I would dare ...

Posing magpie in full stare!

Now, this next treat was during a walk through a favourite haunt - Victoria Park. Not at all unusual to see and hear the pale yellow robin. However, my treat this day was locating one on a nest! This first image captures the delicate and intricate construction and I think conveys a some sense of the camouflage. I used the word "locate". Really, "noticed" might have been more appropriate. And even after a loop on the boardwalk, and "knowing" it was there, it was a struggle to locate it again!! So it was safe (from me at least). I included the second image because that was the partner robin I did also notice flitting towards and away from the nest, so helped me locate it too. If you look carefully you can see a bee (or some kind of similar bug) it has caught and in this instance, about to head back to share with the partner on the nest. I'm sure by now, the "treat" here is self-evident. ENJOY.

Here is a very co-operative Lewin's honeyeater. 

I know have previously posted about the ability of the much maligned "bin-chicken" to actually look quite the statuesque creature in the right setting ... here is a good example. The form, the feathers, the curves, the balance ... if only they always maintained that pose (silly human observation of course ... I know they need to eat!).

The next couple of photos feature the pied oyster catcher in two different settings. The first strutting along the wet sand at the edge of the waves on the open beach in search of morsels. The second in a the more sheltered rocks of the Ballina wall, but actually having a go at catching an oyster it had loosened from one of the rocks 😊. Quite the striking bird with the red beak, eyes and legs contrasting the black and white feathers.

Next I have two photos of another quite striking bird with its smooth grey wings and head, contrasting with its back face (and as you can see in the second photos, it deep completely black eyes - this shot also shows off the exceptional symmetry of the wing feathers from the rear perspective). I see the black-faced cuckoo shrike often, but it is very flighty and so it has been elusive to me for photographing. These are a couple of rare (for me) nice clear shots. The first in a paddock on the rusty barbed wire, the second unusually up close in a tree fork in a Shaws Bay picnic area.

I thought I would include this next shot of Shaws Bay looking east towards the river entrance and coast so you have a vision of a favourite birding spot I often visit. Not only do we have the pavement along the wall, but also the paved walkway on the left that now allows a full circumnavigation of the Bay. Still fascinates me how many excellent photos I have been able to take in this environment and how many people busily walk by and never pause to have a look at what you are so focused on ... guess we all have different destinations 😔.

As if to show off opportunities on either side of the wall shown above, here are two common bird I spot in this location. The first two of the darter. One having a scratch of that wonderfully flexible neck; the second offering an illustration of that flexibility ... I always find the flexibility quite unnerving and rather intimidating, like it is about to launch at you! This is the river side of the wall.

The next two show the white-faced heron on the Bay side of the wall. The first one with the neck extended in wading mode, but not quite fully extended in strike mode; the second one in the hunched position belying the neck even exists ... here it is easy to recognise the relationship to the striated and nenkeen night herons!

Also common along the wall (and in many other environments around here) is the willy wagtail with their distinctive white breast and white eyebrow. Always seem to be having fun!

Near home, well, just out of Alsontville you can find Tosha Falls. A little hidden gem of an environment. And a most interesting place to get to and give directions to ... just go to the sewerage works  and follow the fence line 😁 ... really? Yep, and there you find this ... and a sample of the bird life follows.

Figbird

On our way out this day, we noticed a couple of white-bellied sea eagles circling and then descend onto a perch that seemed to be directly along the path you walk to the falls ... sure enough ... there they were (another treat to get this photo, even if the afternoon light was not so favourable). And, after a step too far (close!) they alighted, but fortunately they also look fantastic in flight!

Then, along the path was a small flock of very playful red-browed finches. This series of shots not only show their vibrant colours clearly illustrating the name, but also just how light they are as they perch to forage among the farmer's friends. 

And finally, on the walk back, on the bare branches beside the path was a pair of red-backed fairy wrens basking in the fading warmth of the late afternoon rays

 And so, we are ready for another summer to begin.