Arrived at my dads place on thursday for 10 days of catching up and maybe a little birding
It didn't take long to get an opportunity for a few quick shots, the Lapwings are nesting on his front lawn.
They were very calm with me up close taking photos but when my dad came out they went birko.
Then dad came out
On friday i went out early while dad slept in (he is getting old
) and managed a few different birds.
Even managed to get a Koala
This morning got up a little earlier wanting to get even more birds, and started well while having my cuppa on the back deck.
Then it was off to look for some good spots, first stop was Lake Cathie and got some Crested Terns.
Then they all took off so i looked up and just above me was the reason
Then it was off a little further down the road to Bonny hills to see what i could get. Plenty of the little ones feeding.
And an Olive backed Oriole
I saw a lot of what i thought were NH Honeyeaters, glad i took some pics, they turned out to be White cheeked Honeyeaters
Then i took a quick walk down to the beach and straight away spotted 2 Brahminy Kites on the rocks.
I tried to sneak up on them but they flew off.
Then it was time to go back to have a feed. After i thought i would go for a walk around the rainforest and got another new one, Noisy Pitta. It was so dark in there i had the camera on ISO6400, SS1/15 and handheld so there is a bit of camera shake, but good for a tick
5 more days before i have to head back home so fingers crossed i get a few more new ones
Oh I'm green - you're doing two of my favourite things at the same time, catching up with family and finding feathered friends. Fantastic Shorty. I especially love the capture of the Lapwings reaction at your poor dad,
. Not a bad collection with half your time left there. Have fun with family and birding!
West Coast Tasmania
Superb photography; "super shots"!
Great Work Shorty. Looking forward to seeing more new ones...
Enjoy the rest of the time with your Dad/family!
Curtis
Great range of shots there Shorty. Love the commentary as well,makes it come alive.
Thanks, Annie, Curtis and Rick. It sure is great that dad likes to tag along with me during the day, we get to talk and i get the birds
Got another new one this morning, Eastern Reef Egret.
Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/
Nice ones, Shorty. A lovely story, too, with lots of affection for your Dad in it. I'm feeling rather glowy myself at the moment as Ms Woko & I have just had a visit for our son & his family whom we don't see all that often as they lead the hectic life in Melbourne. They remarked on how relaxing it was to sit under our verandah looking at the native vegetation & watching the birds come in to the bird baths. Ms Woko & I do that most days!
Thanks, Woko. Good to here about your son's visit. It is a shame that people get all caught up in their work and don't take enough time out to sit back and smell the rose's, so to speak.
I was very lucky growing up, we spent most weekends and holidays out in the bush fishing and hiking and generally enjoying nature and all it's glory. I still spend as much time to do this as life permits, i try to not let work get in the way too much.
Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/
Wow Shorty .... they are superb shots...... and that one of the Plover when you dad came out is stunning!!! Aren't they just ferocious parents???!! It must be because your dad is always there and he has memories of him that he can't get past .......
Such a variety of different birds and even a Noisy Pitta after all those coastal birds..... must be a great spot to go birding .
I am curious though ...why did you post these in General and not under photos? Not a criticism just curious that's all
Enjoy your time with your father , look forward to more stunning shots
Cheers
Birdie
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Thanks, Birdie. Having a great time with dad and the birding is good to
Yep the area is great for birding and i have only touched the surface so far, so many more places to look at around here.
The reason for putting it in the general section for me is, it is an account of my trip and not about showing a couple of shots that i am proud of.
I think the "best photo" section is for random shots that we are happy with to show. Also i will be adding to this thread and if it was in b photos i would be continually bumping my post to the top.
I have usually used this section for my trip reports.
I put some pics in the interesting sightings section before (jerra wetlands), raptors mating i thought was an interesting sighting so i thought it fit the bill
Any way more to come
Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/
Hi Shorty, makes sense. I have started a thread with shots from Easter and put it in B photos but I think your idea is better.
Will do that in the future for an ongoing thread, ie trip reports.
Cheers
Today i thought i would venture around by walking only.
Just a couple of hundred metres from my dads is a reserve ( there are many around).
Well, what a great spot, i didn't get many good shots due to heavy shade and the sun being in a bad spot most of the time, but i did get 3 new birds, Figbird, Spangled Drongo and Regent Bowerbird
I saw the male Regent (how good looking is he) but only managed a crappy shot of the female.
Up to 8 new ones so far
Here are a couple of the better ones i got today.
.
Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/
Sounds like a great idea Rick and Shorty ..... yes to add a story and add to it is a really nice idea without taking over the best photos thread. The internet is full of hit and run posts and they get a it tedious after a while.... so it is nice to have a trip story to follow
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Apropos your post #7, shorty, I've just finished reading Richard Louv's "Last Child in the Woods" which explores that issue thoroughly. The implications for the future of the natural environment are most profound.
Yes Woko, people talk about being time poor these days, but in reality it is just a matter of priorities much of the time.... they race their kids around on hectic schedules to tutors, music lessons, sports of every different kind and gyms..... but how often do they make a point of going somewhere to just sit still and observe the world around them? If we don't show them how to interact with it and how important it all is then they are never going to be able to fit it in and get off their game screens
Sunshine Coast Queensland
I have just read an overview of his book, not only do i agree with his sentiments but i also try to encourage my friends and even strangers to instill these traits to their children.
Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/
Well what a day it was today.
I went out looking for what ever i could find and ended up at Wash house beach, all i can sat is WOW what a great spot for Raptors.
Within 10 minutes i watched 4 Osprey, 2 Juvi Sea Eagles, 1 Brahminy Kite and on the way back to the car a Black-shouldered Kite
Time of day was bad for photos but here is a selection.
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How about it?
Ok
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Then just a short drive into Dunbogan there was an Osprey on a pole
Just down the road a bit i get to Lake Cathie and what do i see, a Whistling Kite
So even with one possible new bird (will post in ID) i was happy as a pig in sh*t
Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/
Well that would have made anyone's day!! I love the Port MacQuarie area and this only makes me want to go back there more .
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Magic collection of shots there Shorty,I'm green with envy
Rapt with your raptors, Shorty.
Birdie, the concept "time poor" is, in my opinion, totally ridiculous. Nobody is time poor or time rich. Everybody has precisely 24 hours per day. As you imply, it depends on what we choose to do with those 24 hours per day. To use such a term takes responsibility away from people for leading less hectic lives.
Shorty again, following the Easter visit from our Melbournian son & his family our granddaughter now desperately wants to come & stay with her grandparents in their "Nature House". Showing her a few honeyeaters feeding from flowers, Silveryeyes bathing, a lizard lounging, native grasses regenerating, mosses spreading & trees dropping bark has had a profound impact on her. Never before has she seen the like. And reports back from her parents indicate she's passing on the story of her Easter Nature experiences to her fellow pupils at school. So spending time with kids in the natural environment can have profound impacts. Getting kids outside is so important for them to become aware that there is a natural environment out there beyond the iPad.
Shorty - seems like you are having a good time in Port Macquarie; you did not mention the white-headed Pigeon that you have in post #11, the northern beach at Camden Head was where I got some great Australasian Gannet fishing pics; have you checked to see if the Brolga are in the paddock atr the corner of Hastings River Dr and Willow crescent on the western side?
Peter
Most impressed with your photos Shorty.
Thanks, everyone for your comments.
Woko, that is great news. Not only will you get to see your granddaughter more but you have planted a healthy seed of thought into the young generation. I think most kids when shown what amazing things are right in front of them, they get excited about it.
Peter, i already had the Pigeon ticked from my last Tuross trip. But it was a long distance crappy pic.
No Brolga there, it is very dry there so probably found a better spot.
I tried to get some shots of the Gannet on impact on the southern side, but only managed the turn before the dive.
Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/
No new ones today but had a lovely session with a Striated Heron, ended up backing the lens to 350mm for a few shots
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Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/
They are fantastic .... and so sharp and cose to a subject that I never get near... how on earth did you manage to get that close shorty?
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Thanks, Birdie. I spotted him across an inlet and then two guys came out on a sand bar about halfway across and he stayed there, so off came the shoes and i started to cross the inlet (about knee deep) and just got closer and closer. One of the fishermen asked me if it was my pet
he could not believe how close i got as well. Why it let me get so close i have no idea, but i am glad he did
Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/
Incredibly superb Shorty , I think we are all sitting her with our mouths drooling at all these delightful birds you are capturing . Such clarity in the flight photos and that heron OMG what a cutie
Kerry - Perth, Western Australia.
I guess sometimes you just get lucky like that , but you have to be able to catch the moment .... I'd probably drop the lens with excitement
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Wow wow, drooling indeed! Started off brilliantly, and just kept getting brillianter-er
Yeah ok, not a word, but don't even have any that make sense to express how much I've enjoyed this trip thread of yours. Sounds and looks like it left you recharged and refreshed, brilliant.
West Coast Tasmania
Thanks, guys ( i mean Gals )
It has been a great trip but only one day to go 
I will be putting in the hard yards tomorrow
Not refreshed at all, Annie. I will be looking forward to a break when i get home
Ahhh who am i kidding, i will probably spend all day sunday birding in Canberra
Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/
Well, it was my last day today and only got a short session before the weather rolled in.
But i got one more new one giving me a total of 10 for the trip.
Came across a bird i didn't know (thanks BBW for the ID) a Double-banded Plover.
Took quite a few shots to make sure i could get ID.
Then i was time to get back to organize myself for the trip home tomorrow, so i thanked the bird for the shots and told him i was going home tomorrow.
He then wiped a little tear from his eye.
I said to him, are you sad that i am going?
He gave me a look
No, Shorty. That damm shutter going off is keeping me awake
Well time to go home a get back to work so i can start saving and planning my next trip.
Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/
Ha ha ... lovely commentary and a delightful little Plover ....... you will be sad to leave such a lovely place and your family too.
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Lovely Plover shots,what a beautiful bird.
So lovely, I have really enjoyed seeing all your beautiful photos and hearing about your trip
Thankyou so much for sharing this Shorty, hope you had a safe trip home
Thanks, everyone for your kind comments.
Thanks, Elsie. I have had a safe trip but have had a very hectic time since arriving home, so sorry for the late response.Glad you enjoyed my trip log
Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/
Some quality photographs and a great read!
Samford Valley Qld.