Thanks Woko. I was hoping it was and I know why they are called Catbirds now.
How is this for a couple of hours this morning, Wompoo Fruit-Dove, White-browed scrubwren, Catbird, Regent Bowerbird (I kid you not and have really crap photographs to prove it), Satin Bowerbird and when I went back to the car-park guess who is hanging upside down, dangling in front of me as I started packing up....an Eastern Spinebill!
All firsts for me and all photographed (not all that well some of them).
It actually sounded more like a cat than a baby in my opinion which is why I said that I understood why they were called Catbirds.
You wouldn't believe what happened at the time. I heard them screeching away somewhere in the canopy above me but couldn't see them although I could tell they were close. I spent about ten minutes walking about looking up for them when all of a sudden two of them flew onto a fairly high branch in the clear.
I straight away started to focus on the birds and began to take photographs. About thirty seconds into this out of the corner of my eye a black and yellow flash flew past me and I heard it land close by. When I looked I saw my first Regents Bowerbird in the undergrowth about two metres away from me in full view! What a choice!
The Regents was in very dark undergrowth and would need flash or a very high ISO to capture it and I knew I had little time to make a decision, "Regents Bowerbird in the shade or a Catbird in full view but high up".
I chose bowerbird as I had already taken some of the Catbirds and wound the ISO up to 3200 and started to focus on the bird but when I did I discovered I was too close and couldn't focus!! Aaargggh!! I picked up the camera and tripod and took a couple of steps back fully expecting the bird to take off on me. It did move but was still in view and I started to take some photo's. After about half a dozen or so shots, I viewed them quickly to see how they looked and was devastated to find they were all grossly underexposed almost totally black. By now I was cursing aloud and wound the ISO up further to 10000 and started to take some more photographs as the bird disappeared into the undergrowth and out of sight.
I still have some more to process but here's one of the results.
Ah, Wompoo... one of Australia's most majestic birds! LJ
It was fast asleep above me when I first spotted it, basically just a silhouette. I waited for better light but as soon as it clocked me it took off. Managed this one as it awoke.
Green Catbird, Reflex.
Thanks Woko. I was hoping it was and I know why they are called Catbirds now.
How is this for a couple of hours this morning, Wompoo Fruit-Dove, White-browed scrubwren, Catbird, Regent Bowerbird (I kid you not and have really crap photographs to prove it), Satin Bowerbird and when I went back to the car-park guess who is hanging upside down, dangling in front of me as I started packing up....an Eastern Spinebill!
All firsts for me and all photographed (not all that well some of them).
Samford Valley Qld.
Good find Reflex - great photo.
Im not an expert, so can only say its not a Satin BB.
Good pics
Clearly before my next SEQ weekend I must get in touch to get a list of the good spots.
Did the Green Catbird make its usual sound? (sounds like a baby crying and once heard ever forgotten)
Peter
Ah, Wompoo... one of Australia's most majestic birds! LJ
It actually sounded more like a cat than a baby in my opinion which is why I said that I understood why they were called Catbirds.
You wouldn't believe what happened at the time. I heard them screeching away somewhere in the canopy above me but couldn't see them although I could tell they were close. I spent about ten minutes walking about looking up for them when all of a sudden two of them flew onto a fairly high branch in the clear.
I straight away started to focus on the birds and began to take photographs. About thirty seconds into this out of the corner of my eye a black and yellow flash flew past me and I heard it land close by. When I looked I saw my first Regents Bowerbird in the undergrowth about two metres away from me in full view! What a choice!
The Regents was in very dark undergrowth and would need flash or a very high ISO to capture it and I knew I had little time to make a decision, "Regents Bowerbird in the shade or a Catbird in full view but high up".
I chose bowerbird as I had already taken some of the Catbirds and wound the ISO up to 3200 and started to focus on the bird but when I did I discovered I was too close and couldn't focus!! Aaargggh!! I picked up the camera and tripod and took a couple of steps back fully expecting the bird to take off on me. It did move but was still in view and I started to take some photo's. After about half a dozen or so shots, I viewed them quickly to see how they looked and was devastated to find they were all grossly underexposed almost totally black. By now I was cursing aloud and wound the ISO up further to 10000 and started to take some more photographs as the bird disappeared into the undergrowth and out of sight.
I still have some more to process but here's one of the results.
Samford Valley Qld.
It was fast asleep above me when I first spotted it, basically just a silhouette. I waited for better light but as soon as it clocked me it took off. Managed this one as it awoke.
Samford Valley Qld.
Your getting some beautiful colorful birds Reflex.
I like your regent bowerbird (!), very striking with a mysterious quality to the bird.
I'm envious of all these birds Reflex!
I don't have a decent shot of any of them & I'm yet to see a Wompoo in the wild.
Well done, even if not your best work, still nice shots.
I may have to go up there this weekend.