Lakeside Bungalow Day 2

First sighting next morning was this pair of pee-wees (magpie larks) soaking up the peaceful ealry morning rays on some branches beside the pond. Other early morning pond activity saw a pair of pacific black ducks serenly moored mid-pond, a peaceful dove being true to its name on the pond isthmus and a pair of australian wood ducks surveying the pond from the safety of the sunny lawn.

(Remember, clicking on a photo will offer a larger and more detailed view of the photos).

Heading off for a wander around the grounds, the first glorious view was offered by a magpie showing off its black and white splendour perched on a dead branch in full sun - quite the setting for its contrasts.

Next, moving from full sun to shade was a spangled drongo. The photo in full sun showing the shiny dark plumage and striking red eye amid the grey branches and various green leaves. The photo in shade highlighting the distinctive forked tail and a parted beak mid-call. The ubiquitous gum tree perch and clear blue sky a feature of the environment.

Next the iconic laughing kookaburra. The ones around here tend to be skittish and so clear enough though distant in their environment - the distance makes their link to the much smaller kingfishers that much more obvious!

A rarer icon next with this crimson rosella unusually in the "open". The two trees in which it alighted offer alternate contrasts with less and more foliage appearing to highlight the spectacular rich plummage of our parrots once again.

Walking back up along the southern edge of the vineyard some more familiar birds were sighted. A grey butcherbird huddled in silkyoak foliage, superb fairy wrens flitting and chirping their way through the undergrowth and an adult blue-faced honeyeater keeping an eye on a fledgling as it bleated from a nearby branch.

Back to the bungalow and another pair of pacific black ducks were meandering around the pond and a (unusually) lone red-browed finch was cleaning up among the bushes beside the pond and bungalow. Ah, the variety served up when we notice.

Another visit to The Croft (October)

We decided to treat ourselves to another short stay at the Croft. We were there back in March (this link is the first of three posts from then). Different time of year. Still great to enjoy the location and the birds ...

This first photo is a brown honeyeater taking a shower in the rain - always fascinates me that the "drops" are picked up in the photo. The birds generally seem so unaffected 😊. So a wet arrival this time. The second photo is included to show the dark foreboding sky that hung around most of the day - here providing a stunning backdrop to a crow in the tree during a brief break to overhead allowing some sun to shine through. Nature in all her wonder!

Good to see the spangled drongo still around. 

This was a solitary appearence on this visit - not spoiled by a close encounter like our first visit. Nonetheless, that forked tail, shiny black coat and beady red eye is clear to see.

Could not resist sharing these two photos of a brown honeyeater - I marvel at how it is so delicately balanced right on the tip of the bird of paradise flower while still managing to offer a full frontal glare at the photographer. The second photo is the same bird on a lower flower and offering a nice clear full profile to appreciate their size and light "touch".

Pesky as they are, they have quite the striking palette. This common myna was about to take flight.

I decided to include quite a few photos below of some red-browed finches. Each day a small flock would descend to graze on the grass around some shrubs before moving off for fresh seed. The selection chosen below attempts to provide a sense of the "flock" down to an individual bird. Lovely creatures these, and the olive back feathers are a subtle contrast to the soft grey breastfeathers and the bright red brow and beak. Again, the grass scene offers a strong sense of how tiny these birds are and how well they blend in. Their movement & chirping most generally draw your attention first.

Another brown honeyeater, this time venturing into a bush right beside our verandah and thus offering a great view of it checking the photographer out again!

This next pair of photos feature the bird of paradise flowers again, but this time being enjoyed by the larger, more colourful (and agressive) blue-faced honeyeater. The first photo shows an acrobatic effort to reach the nectar, while the second one is a more traditional pose demonstrating, despite the larger size, the bird is still very light as it poses in profile right on the end of a flower. Amazing how the blue face is strikingly similar to the blue spike of the flower 😁.

The next two photos show-off the lush spring foliage of a liquid amber providing a wonderful refuge for a pair (and then just one) of little corellas. The pastel colours around the eyes provide such a wonderfully subtle variation to the white plummage.

This is a young spotted dove - the distinctive white spots on the black neck feathers are not yet developed. The sign is about the ground beyond the gate, clearly not the gate rail and the pine in the paddock beyond offers a nice symmetrical, contrasting background.

This very healthy turkey will be in good shape by the time Xmas has arrived (or perhaps it will not survive Thanksgiving?). We could hear it "gobbling" away regularly on the farm next door.

The final two to be shared from this visit are a peaceful dove grazing among the debris in a muddy patch in the paddock behind the property and a willy wagtail swinging in the breeze while ensuring the photographer is aware he is being watched.

Beach and Bush 2 (June)

 Continuing the June theme ... same locations, different days ...

We begin again around Shaws Bay.

First up is a little pied cormorant perched on some driftwood overhanging the shallow reed beds of the bay. Initially showing off the bird ability to swivel their head, the second zoomed back out for a sleeker profile in a wider environmental context.

Next up is a nice clear shot of a pair of pied oystercatchers who have alighted on a sand bar, with each looking in opposite directions. Their red eyes, beaks and legs are captured well in the afternoon light. The bird in the foreground has it's head clearly reflected in the still shallows. 

The next four photos I have labelled. I like that each offers a good view in the low tide environment of the stealth and hunting techniques of four different wading birds. The white faced heron is also showing some breeding plummage.

A stalking egret

Even the australian white ibis looks pristine here

Pied oystercatcher prowling the oysters

White-faced heron stalking the crevices

Just checking in on the young masked lapwings (as promised) ... here you see 3 silouetted against the afternoon sun. Growing for sure, and wandering more widely from the parents.

Back down the Hind Trail in Broadwater National Park Again, I have labelled the photos with the bird names. While some old favourites, once again I was rewwarded with a new sighting - this time one of the cuckoos ...

Noisy friarbird - a moment of silence between calls

White-cheeked honeyeater savouring banksia nectar

White-cheeked honeyeater looking for more banksias

Fan-tailed cuckoo perusing the landscape

Fan-tailed cuckoo admiring the view

Spangled drongo on the paperbark branch

Noisy friarbird living up to it's name

Young white-cheeked honeyeater preening