Forgotten days (Feb)

Just when you think you have it all under control and cataloguing up to date 😒 ... I noticed during my latest back-up a break in sequence of file numbers (bloody auditors!). Turned out to be a couple of days from February that I had not copied over from my camera memory disk. Some rather memorable shots too, especially an unusual up close and personal encounter with a striated heron.

These were taken over a couple of different days just after our return from Mount Barney. 

First up a couple of alternate angles of a soaring white-bellied sea eagle hunting from on high. Even from a distance they are majestic and effortless gliding across the vacant blue sky.

Back on terra firma this little corella was showing its dexterity while enjoying a nut in a casuarina pine.

This next set shows the many different flexes of a darter as it sunned itself drying off on a boulder down by the swirling river. Quite the statuesque pose while taking in a 360 degree view of its environment! The set shows the value of a decent zoom, even how it can dramatically alter context.

While resting on a bench in Meldrum Park after a walk along the river and back along Norton Street, we were about to head back to the car and I ventured right to the edge for a glance across the creek.I startled this striated heron who had been wading directly under where I stood to peer across the creek. Fortunately it only flew a short distance along the creek towards to coast and there was some orange barrier webbing I was able to use as a partial hide and take advantage of being rather close. The light was favourable too. 

As with some earlier posts showing several poses for this bird, it is fascinating to note the range of extended and contracted neck positions and crouches it has in its repetoire. At times looking so "sad" and others very alert and strong. The very clear eyes remind of smaller versions of such clarity in the eyes of an osprey, so no doubt they are also effective in locating their prey. 

Always been something of a favourite, so a close encounter like this was terrific 😉.

And finally from these forgotten February images is this wihite-headed pigeon perched on the upper branches showing off its meaty white breasts and red eye.