Another great start Dev, weel done on your 100. I admire your ability to consistantly post great photos, something I am working on. Being "up north" you range of potentials is great, so I would like to see as many as you can find. Thanks again for sharing your exepriences.
You have so many fantastic shots there Dev, I love the variety. I just went back through your O'Reillys pics again, that Australian Logrunner is so beautiful. I have never seen one, just gorgeous. The Powerful Owl is fantastic too - another I've never seen. And a great bunch of shorebirds from Bribie Island - you have such beautiful places around you.
It's been a while again. I have photographed some birds, I just lost motivation to process the photos. Here are some I took at a place called Hardings Paddock just outside of Ipswich. There had been reports of a Quail-thrush there so I went with a mate to see if we could find it. Got some nice pohotos of other birds as well.
109. Spotted Pardalote - Its been a few years since I've seen one of these so I was very pleased with this shot
110. Spotted Quail-thrush (No Factsheet) - This was a lifer for me and the last of the 3 Quail-thrushes I needed to photograph. Not a great shot but we think there were a breeding pair their as both the male and female had food in their beaks every time we saw them.
111. Jacky Winter - A member of the Robin family these were not shy at all
112. Varied Sittella - We have the White headed subspecies up here race leucocephala
113. Speckled Warbler - Another bird I had not seen for a few years. It was funny I was telling my mate and another guy that the area we were in looked like Warbler territory. Then no more than a minute later there were 3 of them in a bush. Love it when you say something and then the bird proves you right.
114. Peaceful Doves
115. Fan-tailed Cuckoo
I also have a replacement shot of my Striated Pardalote (12)
Oh, fantastic shots! The Spotted Pardalote is stunning - perhaps Australia's most beautiful bird? And you've got a great shot here. The quail-thrushes must have been exciting - I've never seen them. And you Jacky Winter shot made me smile - such a characteristic photo, I love it. For an objectively plain bird, they are exceptionally cute, and you've caught their attitude well here.
Nice set of birds, Dev, nothing wrong with any of those shots. I agree with Alex, the Spotted Pardalote is a beauty. Don't be discouraged, I love your photgraphy which is always so good. As for your birds, still envious.
Might we expect a White Wagtail from Stradbroke Island? That would be a mega bird for the Big Challenge!
Stunning photos Dev! The Jacky Winter is one of my favourites, maybe it's those big eyes. They are not around my place all year, they seem to turn up around April each year. Perhaps they bring me the Winter weather.
It looks like you may have a double up on the Crested Pigeon at #39 and #101?
Stunning photos Dev! The Jacky Winter is one of my favourites, maybe it's those big eyes. They are not around my place all year, they seem to turn up around April each year. Perhaps they bring me the Winter weather.
It looks like you may have a double up on the Crested Pigeon at #39 and #101?
Thanks Karen and yes, sorry. Good pick up. I'll get that replaced
Ok so the Crested Pigeon that I put for #101 should have been a replacement shot for #39 so for 101. I'll put down Olive-backed Oriole - An EBC shot that I hope to replace. Thanks Karen for pointing that out
Thanks Alex, your comments made me smile. I have been very dishartened by my photography of late so thank you for your kind words.
Ah, your photographs are great. I've admired so many over the years, you consistently take good photographs, and sometimes take really exceptional ones. I think we are sometimes our own worst critics, and if you are constantly trying to get better, then sometimes you can go through patches of dissatisfaction. And even if the photography isn't working sometimes, its a pretty good excuse to get out and really focus on what we are seeing in the wild :-) I love your photographs, please keep posting them :-)
A few from the other weekend at Dohles Rocks. Pronounced (Doll/ees) and Mount Samson on Monday. Not a lot of different species so I have added a couple of photos for some, just to fill it up a bit
116. Striped Honeyeater - There were lots of these around. A pair came low to check me out
117. Mistletoebird - My favourite shot of the day. So darn cute
118. Glossy Black-cockatoo - (Mt Samson) These were very special as I haven't photographed these for a few years. I heard them when I was Kayaking the other weekend so when my birding trip on Monday was a total Bust (Not a single photo taken), I decided to visit the area where they were the last time I photographed them. Sure enough, there they were feeding in the Casurinas.
And for good measure a couple of upgrades of 103. Red-capped plover
Oh wow, what a great set of shots! Your mistletoebird portrait is amazing, I'm jealous, I've always only had fleeting glimpses of them moving fast. Your Red-cap Plover shots are lovely too, I do like photographing shorebirds. Sometimes they are frustrating, other times if you are low and still they will walk right into the frame :-) I've never seen Striped Honeyeaters, that would be a treat - but Karen is going to show me Glossy Blacks soon...
Wow, Dev, stunning set of shots. That Mistletoebird is brilliant, so much definition with perfect lighting to show the colours. I also love the Glossy BC and that Red-capped Plover, again superb lighting and wonderful definition. Some magic happening that day. Well done!
Thanks guys that Mistetoebird was extremely coorperative and very curious little fella allowing me to get very close for some shots. The Glossy is one I haven't looked for for a couple of years. I have been back a couple of times to see if I can improve my shots but they haven't been there.
Here are a few I have taken recently. Some good, others, well, not so much.
Firstly I went to Kedron Brook Wetlands in search of the pair of Black-necked Storks that had been seen there, but I dipped on them. Such is birding. I did get some others though.
119. Silvereye - An EBC but couldn't get a decent shot on the day. Hope to upgrade
120. Mangrove Gerygone - I don't normally like to have birds smack bang in the middle but I like how he was peering out of this hole in the mangroves. Also the second is a Juvenile with the yellow around the eye still
121. Chestnut Teal - This pair were soaking up the morning sun
I have added a couple of the other "non birdy" locals I saw as well.
I was starting to walk through the long grass towards the water and I happened to notice Mr or Mrs RBB catching some morning light. Quite a healthy specimin. I took a couple of snaps and decided walking in the long grass was not a wise move.
The next lot were from a local patch in Dayboro about 20 mins from my place.
122. Shining Bronze-cuckoo - Man these were everywhere. Would have been a family group of about 5 or 6. I've only ever seen them individually but these guys hung out in a group.
123. Varied Triller - Not a great shot but these guys didn't want to come out from behind the needles
About 5 mins down the road to another spot in Dayboro. Looking for the Azure Kingfisher and whatever else we could find. Again I dipped on the assure but managed to spend a good few hours with these few.
124. Spectacled Monarch - I didn't know which photo to use so I posted both.
125. Golden Whistler - There were 3 males and one female - which was a bit odd. She was very popular and they were in a bit of a territorial dispute with each other but also very curious of us as well. Not shy at all landing so close so many times, but very rarely on a branch that didn't have something in the way or in the background.
A couple of upgrades
Olive backed Oriole (101)
Brown Thornbill (60) - There were about half a dozen of these little guys flitting about. Again very hard to get in the open and only stay on a banch for 1 second if we were lucky
Pied Stilt (95) - Anyone who has gotten too close to Stilts know how they cirle the area barking. I thought this showed it well
Chestnut-breatsed Mannikin (92) - Not the best perch, but still cute
Great shots there Dev, I'd be happy with most of your EBCs. Also like your extra non bird shot, the RBB and I presume a Ladybird of some sort. Not much with spider ID - thinking some sort of Orb Weaver, maybe golden? That Whistler is also a great shot.
Lovely set of photos, Dev. The Spectacled Monarch is a beauty but you have a fantastic shot of the Brown Thornbill as well. I also like the Mangrove Gerygone. Not too keen on snakes and that looks like a big RBB.
So over Easter I went to Kennilworth with my mum, dad, brother and his girlfriend just for a night as the weather was aweful. Something we've been doing since I was a kid. A friend has 150 acres on the Merry River so noone else ther but us. I took my camera as there are lots of birds up there. It rained most of the time I was there but here are some I managed to get then to add to my list. Took me a while to process these for some reason.
126. Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo - Just as we were coming to the turnoff to the road the property was on, my brother pointed them out. I quickly grabbed my camera and fired away. They were fairly high up and the weather was aweful but I like this shot.
127. Rufous Shrike-thrush (No factsheet - Formally - Little Shrike-thrush) I could not believe my eyes when this guy landed on the branch I was hoping for. It had been thick in the scrub and I said to myself, there would be a great spot for it to land . . . and then it did! I should have bought a lotto ticket as that rarely happens.
128. Leaden Flycatcher - This male was flitting about the tree tops, while he did come down enough for this shot, he was not as obliging as the RST
129. Forest Kingfisher - Can't believe I don't have any kingfishers except a Kookaburra until now. This one was set up on the gate. I took a few shots and then told my mum but by the time she got there it was gone. A funny littly story. Later on that day, in between heavy showers, I saw somthing on the fence a little distance away that was a similar colour. I shouted out to my mum, "he's back" she ran over, then I grabbed my camera to take another shot in the distance and it turns out it was only a blue peg. Not very embarrasing at all. Shows my long distance vision is not what it used to be.
130. White-throated Gerygone - This was another one of those I can't believe it just landed there moments. 2 in one day. Definitely should have bought a lotto ticket.
131. White-throated Honeyeater - (No Factsheet for this one either) - Lots of these guys high in the trees. I always have trouble distinguishing between the White-throated & White-naped Honeyeaters. I thought White-naped at first but then I listened to their call and it wasn't them. I played the White-throated call and bingo, we have a winner. I did manage to see white above their eye instead of the red as well but I couldn't remember which had which. The call nailed it for me though.
Love the photos Dev. I've never see a Little/Rufous Shrike-thrush, it has gone into the count as a Little Shrike-thrush as that's what it was in the WLAB list when I set up our spreadsheet.
And ha ha, I love your blue peg bird story! I've done that with branches before, but generally on my own so less embarrassment :-).
Thanks Karen & Dale. Karen I also did the same thing at the dump one time on a windy day. I saw something floating in the sky and was trying to work out what bird it was. When I locked into it with my camera, it was a plastic bag. My father in law has never let me live that down. Every time he sees me he says seen any plastic bags lately (meaning birds)
Had a great trip out to Oakey a few weekends ago with some unexpected surprises.
132. White-winged Fairy-wren - This guy was not shy at all. At one point I said man I wish he would land on the cactus. next minute... boom there he was on a cactus. A few shots of his just cause he's adorable
133. Red-rumped Parrots (Male & female) EBC shot but will take it for now
134. Cockatiel - Lots of thes guys there feeding on the various seeds and crops
135. Nankeen Kestrel - At one stage there was a brown Goshawk (No usable photos) that a number of Kestrels were swooping
136. Black-shouldered Kite - This is a younger one and still had a bit of a rufous colllar (Can't see it in this photo)
137. White-winged Chough - This was a very unexpected surprise as this was a lifer for me! They were haning out with some Apostlebirds. They were in a big family group making a lot if racket. Love their calls
138. Zebra Finch - Again a lot of these out their feeding on grass seeds
139. Black Falcon - Another unexpected surprise. Unfortunatly not a great shot but I'll take it
140. Fairy Gerygone - (No factsheet) On our way back from Oakey we stopped into a place near Ipswich where this guy had been reported which is way south of their usual range. It was another lifer, so very happy with that!
A replacement shot for my Golden-headed Cisticola (93)
A bonus non bird phots. Some moon pics from the Lunar Ecplipse Before & during (First time with that sort of photography so happy with the result.)
Wow, Dev... not sure where to start... a great set of birds and photos and I love the moon shots. I suppose my favourite would be the White-winged Fairy-wren as I know they are so difficult to photograph well... and that one is a stunner. There is something about the intense colour or sheen that make pictures hard to get just right. Yoou nailed it and the cactus is so good as a roost.
Oooo some lovely shots Dev. And your ninja-mind-control thing on the birds is working, love how you are getting them to land on the right perches for you :-) Although I suspect you might have covered that cactus with bird-lime t o get so many birds there lol
The WWFW shots are amazing, just beautiful, also zebras, chough etc. Moon shots are amazing too - after getting a couple of fair hand-held shots I went and bought a tripod, so I can now learn a different type of photography too :-)
Oooo some lovely shots Dev. And your ninja-mind-control thing on the birds is working, love how you are getting them to land on the right perches for you :-) Although I suspect you might have covered that cactus with bird-lime t o get so many birds there lol
Thanks Alex. Lol There is so much cactus growing by the roadside that it is not hard. The Finches were even nesting in it. Actually at one point we were walking down the road try to get the finches to go to the other side where the better light was but they just kept going further and further down the road. So we crossed over quickly got in front of them and came back up the road. Then they flew over the road to the cacti. There were quite a lot of finches. The WWFW was just fluke as I had photographed him on the fence. I turned around to talk to my mate and when I turned back he was on the cactus. Very happy :)
Thanks for the wonderful encouraging comments guys.
Here's one I forgot when I was out getting the Fairy Gerygone.
141. Scarlet Honeyeater - Lots of these around at the moment but high in the trees so a significant crop
142. Grey Butcherbird. One from my yard near my birdbath
A mate of mine went to Mt Pleasant (Qld) about 45 mins from my place and sent me photos of a bord I have been trying to get for a few years not. Naturally I went there straight away. Not only did I managed to photogrpah it but got some other beautiful replacement shots as well.
143. Crested Shrike-tit - Lifer!! So happy to get decent veiws of this beautiful bird.
144. Striated Thornbill - A lot of these guys there. I have not seen one of these for years so it was lovely to see so many.
Got reports of another bird I have not seen for some years literally 4 mins from my place. So that lunch time I went and managed to get some good photos. I went back the next morning and managed to get even better photos
145. White-eared Monarch (No factsheet) - One of the most obliging WE Monarchs I have seen. Was not shy at all, sometimes landing just inches from us.
Wonderful set of birds, Dev. Great bokeh (broken insomnia... love that autocorrect!) in many of the photos. Congrats on the Crested Shrike-tit, a reward for your efforts. Love that Pardalote and the White-eared Monarch. Well done, getting Thornbill without intervening twigs!
Just wow. So many wonderful birds and fabulous photos Dev! I thought the Golden Whistler was my favourite until I saw the WWFW on the cactus, then the White Eared Monarch... just gorgeous.
Oh some fabulous shots Dev - that Monarch is gorgeous, and congrats on the Crested Shrike-tit lifer (you me and Sue all got lucky this year!) but the Spotted Pardalote is my favourite, what a lovely shot. I think it might be my favourite small AU bird.
Beautiful Dev, for a moment I thought the White-chinned was a Strong-billed (Tas endemic I am struggling to find), but realised the white chin is the hint! Strong-billed has a black patch on it's chin.
Last weekend I was lucky enough to see not 1 but 2 Black-necked Storks hanging out at one of the common birding spots. I had not had decent images of these birds so was happy to get these pics.
147. Black-necked Stork - Even managed one photo with another Aussie Icon
148. Restless Flycatcher
149. Intermediate Egret - No Factsheet for this one
Great set of shots, Dev. Love the Golden Plover starting to colour up for the long trip but four Beach Stone-curlews is awesome.
Another great start Dev, weel done on your 100. I admire your ability to consistantly post great photos, something I am working on. Being "up north" you range of potentials is great, so I would like to see as many as you can find. Thanks again for sharing your exepriences.
Dale Huonville, Tasmania
Can't get enough of the shorebirds, really great shots all round of those, well done!
You have so many fantastic shots there Dev, I love the variety. I just went back through your O'Reillys pics again, that Australian Logrunner is so beautiful. I have never seen one, just gorgeous. The Powerful Owl is fantastic too - another I've never seen. And a great bunch of shorebirds from Bribie Island - you have such beautiful places around you.
It's been a while again. I have photographed some birds, I just lost motivation to process the photos. Here are some I took at a place called Hardings Paddock just outside of Ipswich. There had been reports of a Quail-thrush there so I went with a mate to see if we could find it. Got some nice pohotos of other birds as well.
109. Spotted Pardalote - Its been a few years since I've seen one of these so I was very pleased with this shot
110. Spotted Quail-thrush (No Factsheet) - This was a lifer for me and the last of the 3 Quail-thrushes I needed to photograph. Not a great shot but we think there were a breeding pair their as both the male and female had food in their beaks every time we saw them.
111. Jacky Winter - A member of the Robin family these were not shy at all
112. Varied Sittella - We have the White headed subspecies up here race leucocephala
113. Speckled Warbler - Another bird I had not seen for a few years. It was funny I was telling my mate and another guy that the area we were in looked like Warbler territory. Then no more than a minute later there were 3 of them in a bush. Love it when you say something and then the bird proves you right.
114. Peaceful Doves
115. Fan-tailed Cuckoo
I also have a replacement shot of my Striated Pardalote (12)
Replacement shot 12. Striated Pardalote
Oh, fantastic shots! The Spotted Pardalote is stunning - perhaps Australia's most beautiful bird? And you've got a great shot here. The quail-thrushes must have been exciting - I've never seen them. And you Jacky Winter shot made me smile - such a characteristic photo, I love it. For an objectively plain bird, they are exceptionally cute, and you've caught their attitude well here.
Thanks Alex, your comments made me smile. I have been very dishartened by my photography of late so thank you for your kind words.
Nice set of birds, Dev, nothing wrong with any of those shots. I agree with Alex, the Spotted Pardalote is a beauty. Don't be discouraged, I love your photgraphy which is always so good. As for your birds, still envious.
Might we expect a White Wagtail from Stradbroke Island? That would be a mega bird for the Big Challenge!
Lol Sue, no I'm not that much of a Twitcher
Lol Sue, no I'm not that much of a Twitcher
Neither am I, Dev. I have passed on a few opportunities without regret. It is about enjoying yourself and nature for me. Stay safe
Oh wow, simply stunning I also love the Spotted Pardolote, but they are all gorgeous.
Dale Huonville, Tasmania
Stunning photos Dev! The Jacky Winter is one of my favourites, maybe it's those big eyes. They are not around my place all year, they seem to turn up around April each year. Perhaps they bring me the Winter weather.
It looks like you may have a double up on the Crested Pigeon at #39 and #101?
Thanks Karen and yes, sorry. Good pick up. I'll get that replaced
Ok so the Crested Pigeon that I put for #101 should have been a replacement shot for #39 so for 101. I'll put down Olive-backed Oriole - An EBC shot that I hope to replace. Thanks Karen for pointing that out
Ah, your photographs are great. I've admired so many over the years, you consistently take good photographs, and sometimes take really exceptional ones. I think we are sometimes our own worst critics, and if you are constantly trying to get better, then sometimes you can go through patches of dissatisfaction. And even if the photography isn't working sometimes, its a pretty good excuse to get out and really focus on what we are seeing in the wild :-) I love your photographs, please keep posting them :-)
Nice set of photos Dev. Hard to pick a favourite, but that Spotted Pardalote is stunning. Love looking at your photos.
Thanks again guys. I love reading your comments.
A few from the other weekend at Dohles Rocks. Pronounced (Doll/ees) and Mount Samson on Monday. Not a lot of different species so I have added a couple of photos for some, just to fill it up a bit
116. Striped Honeyeater - There were lots of these around. A pair came low to check me out
117. Mistletoebird - My favourite shot of the day. So darn cute
118. Glossy Black-cockatoo - (Mt Samson) These were very special as I haven't photographed these for a few years. I heard them when I was Kayaking the other weekend so when my birding trip on Monday was a total Bust (Not a single photo taken), I decided to visit the area where they were the last time I photographed them. Sure enough, there they were feeding in the Casurinas.
And for good measure a couple of upgrades of 103. Red-capped plover
Oh wow, what a great set of shots! Your mistletoebird portrait is amazing, I'm jealous, I've always only had fleeting glimpses of them moving fast. Your Red-cap Plover shots are lovely too, I do like photographing shorebirds. Sometimes they are frustrating, other times if you are low and still they will walk right into the frame :-) I've never seen Striped Honeyeaters, that would be a treat - but Karen is going to show me Glossy Blacks soon...
Great set of photos Dev. I do hope we see the Glossy's down here in Vic again this year.
My goodness Dev, these are wonderful. It's been a while since I checked in and these do not disappoint.
Have to agree, that Mistletoe Bird is fabulous. Such a cutie! But your Jacky Winter gives it a run for its money.
Oh wow beautiful photos Dev! And the first Glossy Black for the comp this year. I'm hoping to see them at home soon :-)
Wow, Dev, stunning set of shots. That Mistletoebird is brilliant, so much definition with perfect lighting to show the colours. I also love the Glossy BC and that Red-capped Plover, again superb lighting and wonderful definition. Some magic happening that day. Well done!
Thanks guys that Mistetoebird was extremely coorperative and very curious little fella allowing me to get very close for some shots. The Glossy is one I haven't looked for for a couple of years. I have been back a couple of times to see if I can improve my shots but they haven't been there.
Here are a few I have taken recently. Some good, others, well, not so much.
Firstly I went to Kedron Brook Wetlands in search of the pair of Black-necked Storks that had been seen there, but I dipped on them. Such is birding. I did get some others though.
119. Silvereye - An EBC but couldn't get a decent shot on the day. Hope to upgrade
120. Mangrove Gerygone - I don't normally like to have birds smack bang in the middle but I like how he was peering out of this hole in the mangroves. Also the second is a Juvenile with the yellow around the eye still
121. Chestnut Teal - This pair were soaking up the morning sun
I have added a couple of the other "non birdy" locals I saw as well.
I was starting to walk through the long grass towards the water and I happened to notice Mr or Mrs RBB catching some morning light. Quite a healthy specimin. I took a couple of snaps and decided walking in the long grass was not a wise move.
The next lot were from a local patch in Dayboro about 20 mins from my place.
122. Shining Bronze-cuckoo - Man these were everywhere. Would have been a family group of about 5 or 6. I've only ever seen them individually but these guys hung out in a group.
123. Varied Triller - Not a great shot but these guys didn't want to come out from behind the needles
About 5 mins down the road to another spot in Dayboro. Looking for the Azure Kingfisher and whatever else we could find. Again I dipped on the assure but managed to spend a good few hours with these few.
124. Spectacled Monarch - I didn't know which photo to use so I posted both.
125. Golden Whistler - There were 3 males and one female - which was a bit odd. She was very popular and they were in a bit of a territorial dispute with each other but also very curious of us as well. Not shy at all landing so close so many times, but very rarely on a branch that didn't have something in the way or in the background.
A couple of upgrades
Olive backed Oriole (101)
Brown Thornbill (60) - There were about half a dozen of these little guys flitting about. Again very hard to get in the open and only stay on a banch for 1 second if we were lucky
Pied Stilt (95) - Anyone who has gotten too close to Stilts know how they cirle the area barking. I thought this showed it well
Chestnut-breatsed Mannikin (92) - Not the best perch, but still cute
Great shots there Dev, I'd be happy with most of your EBCs. Also like your extra non bird shot, the RBB and I presume a Ladybird of some sort. Not much with spider ID - thinking some sort of Orb Weaver, maybe golden?
That Whistler is also a great shot.
Dale Huonville, Tasmania
Lovely set of photos, Dev. The Spectacled Monarch is a beauty but you have a fantastic shot of the Brown Thornbill as well. I also like the Mangrove Gerygone. Not too keen on snakes and that looks like a big RBB.
What a great set of photos, Dev! Love the non-birding photos and also the Spectacled Monarch.
So over Easter I went to Kennilworth with my mum, dad, brother and his girlfriend just for a night as the weather was aweful. Something we've been doing since I was a kid. A friend has 150 acres on the Merry River so noone else ther but us. I took my camera as there are lots of birds up there. It rained most of the time I was there but here are some I managed to get then to add to my list. Took me a while to process these for some reason.
126. Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo - Just as we were coming to the turnoff to the road the property was on, my brother pointed them out. I quickly grabbed my camera and fired away. They were fairly high up and the weather was aweful but I like this shot.
127. Rufous Shrike-thrush (No factsheet - Formally - Little Shrike-thrush) I could not believe my eyes when this guy landed on the branch I was hoping for. It had been thick in the scrub and I said to myself, there would be a great spot for it to land . . . and then it did! I should have bought a lotto ticket as that rarely happens.
128. Leaden Flycatcher - This male was flitting about the tree tops, while he did come down enough for this shot, he was not as obliging as the RST
129. Forest Kingfisher - Can't believe I don't have any kingfishers except a Kookaburra until now. This one was set up on the gate. I took a few shots and then told my mum but by the time she got there it was gone. A funny littly story. Later on that day, in between heavy showers, I saw somthing on the fence a little distance away that was a similar colour. I shouted out to my mum, "he's back" she ran over, then I grabbed my camera to take another shot in the distance and it turns out it was only a blue peg. Not very embarrasing at all. Shows my long distance vision is not what it used to be.
130. White-throated Gerygone - This was another one of those I can't believe it just landed there moments. 2 in one day. Definitely should have bought a lotto ticket.
131. White-throated Honeyeater - (No Factsheet for this one either) - Lots of these guys high in the trees. I always have trouble distinguishing between the White-throated & White-naped Honeyeaters. I thought White-naped at first but then I listened to their call and it wasn't them. I played the White-throated call and bingo, we have a winner. I did manage to see white above their eye instead of the red as well but I couldn't remember which had which. The call nailed it for me though.
Some more nice photos there Dev. Like the fan tail on the YTB cockatoo, and the Kingfisher is just georgeous.
Dale Huonville, Tasmania
Love the photos Dev. I've never see a Little/Rufous Shrike-thrush, it has gone into the count as a Little Shrike-thrush as that's what it was in the WLAB list when I set up our spreadsheet.
And ha ha, I love your blue peg bird story! I've done that with branches before, but generally on my own so less embarrassment :-).
Thanks Karen & Dale. Karen I also did the same thing at the dump one time on a windy day. I saw something floating in the sky and was trying to work out what bird it was. When I locked into it with my camera, it was a plastic bag. My father in law has never let me live that down. Every time he sees me he says seen any plastic bags lately (meaning birds)
Had a great trip out to Oakey a few weekends ago with some unexpected surprises.
132. White-winged Fairy-wren - This guy was not shy at all. At one point I said man I wish he would land on the cactus. next minute... boom there he was on a cactus. A few shots of his just cause he's adorable
133. Red-rumped Parrots (Male & female) EBC shot but will take it for now
134. Cockatiel - Lots of thes guys there feeding on the various seeds and crops
135. Nankeen Kestrel - At one stage there was a brown Goshawk (No usable photos) that a number of Kestrels were swooping
136. Black-shouldered Kite - This is a younger one and still had a bit of a rufous colllar (Can't see it in this photo)
137. White-winged Chough - This was a very unexpected surprise as this was a lifer for me! They were haning out with some Apostlebirds. They were in a big family group making a lot if racket. Love their calls
138. Zebra Finch - Again a lot of these out their feeding on grass seeds
139. Black Falcon - Another unexpected surprise. Unfortunatly not a great shot but I'll take it
140. Fairy Gerygone - (No factsheet) On our way back from Oakey we stopped into a place near Ipswich where this guy had been reported which is way south of their usual range. It was another lifer, so very happy with that!
A replacement shot for my Golden-headed Cisticola (93)
A bonus non bird phots. Some moon pics from the Lunar Ecplipse Before & during (First time with that sort of photography so happy with the result.)
Wow Dev, think your photos just keep getting better. Love the White-winged Fairy-wren, the Cockatiel and Zebra Finch, but I really like them all.
The moon shots are awsome - missed it here in Tasmania, was at work and too busy to look!
Dale Huonville, Tasmania
Wow Dev, just a tad jealous here of your trips! :)
Firstly that Forest Kingfisher amazing! Secondly that White-winged Fairywren, amazing! Thirdly the Zebra Finch, amazing too!
Love your moon shots too! Was pretty impressive to see!
Wow, Dev... not sure where to start... a great set of birds and photos and I love the moon shots. I suppose my favourite would be the White-winged Fairy-wren as I know they are so difficult to photograph well... and that one is a stunner. There is something about the intense colour or sheen that make pictures hard to get just right. Yoou nailed it and the cactus is so good as a roost.
Oooo some lovely shots Dev. And your ninja-mind-control thing on the birds is working, love how you are getting them to land on the right perches for you :-) Although I suspect you might have covered that cactus with bird-lime t o get so many birds there lol
The WWFW shots are amazing, just beautiful, also zebras, chough etc. Moon shots are amazing too - after getting a couple of fair hand-held shots I went and bought a tripod, so I can now learn a different type of photography too :-)
Thanks Alex. Lol There is so much cactus growing by the roadside that it is not hard. The Finches were even nesting in it. Actually at one point we were walking down the road try to get the finches to go to the other side where the better light was but they just kept going further and further down the road. So we crossed over quickly got in front of them and came back up the road. Then they flew over the road to the cacti. There were quite a lot of finches. The WWFW was just fluke as I had photographed him on the fence. I turned around to talk to my mate and when I turned back he was on the cactus. Very happy :)
Thanks for the wonderful encouraging comments guys.
Here's one I forgot when I was out getting the Fairy Gerygone.
141. Scarlet Honeyeater - Lots of these around at the moment but high in the trees so a significant crop
142. Grey Butcherbird. One from my yard near my birdbath
A mate of mine went to Mt Pleasant (Qld) about 45 mins from my place and sent me photos of a bord I have been trying to get for a few years not. Naturally I went there straight away. Not only did I managed to photogrpah it but got some other beautiful replacement shots as well.
143. Crested Shrike-tit - Lifer!! So happy to get decent veiws of this beautiful bird.
144. Striated Thornbill - A lot of these guys there. I have not seen one of these for years so it was lovely to see so many.
Got reports of another bird I have not seen for some years literally 4 mins from my place. So that lunch time I went and managed to get some good photos. I went back the next morning and managed to get even better photos
145. White-eared Monarch (No factsheet) - One of the most obliging WE Monarchs I have seen. Was not shy at all, sometimes landing just inches from us.
Brown Thornbill Replacement (60)
Grey Fantail Replacement (79)
Spotted Pardalote Replacement (109)
Love the quaility anbd detal Dev. Amazing photos of some very small birds. Thanks.
Dale Huonville, Tasmania
Wonderful set of birds, Dev. Great bokeh (broken insomnia... love that autocorrect!) in many of the photos. Congrats on the Crested Shrike-tit, a reward for your efforts. Love that Pardalote and the White-eared Monarch. Well done, getting Thornbill without intervening twigs!
Just wow. So many wonderful birds and fabulous photos Dev! I thought the Golden Whistler was my favourite until I saw the WWFW on the cactus, then the White Eared Monarch... just gorgeous.
Oh some fabulous shots Dev - that Monarch is gorgeous, and congrats on the Crested Shrike-tit lifer (you me and Sue all got lucky this year!) but the Spotted Pardalote is my favourite, what a lovely shot. I think it might be my favourite small AU bird.
Fantastic pics Dev, I love the little birds on the cactus shots, but they are all amazing. Moon looks great too!
Another great set of photos Dev!
Hope you got a laugh from my earlier comment ... really need to check the autocorrect before posting!
I did get a good laugh thanks Sue and you bringing it up again gave me another so thanks again haha
Thanks again for the wonderful comments guys and yes Sue photography helps to break insomnia lol
Not much in the way of new birds but some upgrades to some beautiful Honeyeaters.
146. Yellow-faced Honeyeater - Taken in my yard during my lunch break
A couple of Upgrades all taken in my yard the other day during lunch
Scarlet Honeyeater (141)
White-throated Honeyeater (131)
Lewins Honeyeater (4)
Beautiful Dev, for a moment I thought the White-chinned was a Strong-billed (Tas endemic I am struggling to find), but realised the white chin is the hint! Strong-billed has a black patch on it's chin.
Dale Huonville, Tasmania
Gorgeous photos Dev.
A couple more from the weekend.
Last weekend I was lucky enough to see not 1 but 2 Black-necked Storks hanging out at one of the common birding spots. I had not had decent images of these birds so was happy to get these pics.
147. Black-necked Stork - Even managed one photo with another Aussie Icon
148. Restless Flycatcher
149. Intermediate Egret - No Factsheet for this one
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