Did some local walks today, and pretty happy with what I found. Love it when you find birds that you aren't expecting!
At the Aspect Wetlands (Just off Cardinia Rd & Bridge Rd) saw 2 juv Australasian Darters which was neat, and a family of Black Swans.
112. Black Swan
113. Australasian Darter
and a better photo of a Purple Swamphen. (79)
Then at Edenbrook Wetlands, I saw 2 Royal Spoonbills (88) (first time I have seen them there, so was rather excited to see them, so of course some replacement photos)
114. Little Black Cormorant
Then this afternoon I went for a walk at the Beaconsfield Flora and Fauna Reserve, and there were alot of Bell Miners.
115. Bell Miner
And I have included a replacement for Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo (44), since we are lucky to get some near us at this time of the year.
Then went to see if the Blue-winged Parrots were at The Gurdies Nature reserve, but unfortunately not. But have got some replacement shots of the Scarlet Robin.
Went fishing today, (out from Yaringa Harbour) only caught one fish but was happy and glad that I took my camera. Got a lifer! A young White-bellied Sea-Eagle. Have also attached a replacement Pacific Gull (85).
At the present time we have a lot of Rainbow Lorikeets around our neighbourhood, so have posted a couple of shots, been trying to get a good inflight shot, but might need to have some more patience.
122. Rainbow Lorikeet
Then the other morning I went for dawn walk at Deep Creek Reserve, and it was great to see two Black-Shouldered Kites, do see at least one frequently. Also saw a couple of Golden-headed Cisticola but not the best shot of that either unfortunately.
123. Black-shouldered Kite
124. Golden-headed Cisticola
Then today in Melbourne, got my pick of Feral Pigeons in there.
Love the Kites and the Lorikeets. Going to have to take your word about the GHC as I can't really make anything out. I think we refer to feral pigeons as Rock Doves
Gee Abby, you are really setting the pace! Some fantastic birds, love the wedgie silhoette, but those Leaden Flycatcher shots are my favourite - brilliant :-)
At Deep Creek Reserve in Pakenham, I saw a juv Brown Goshawk do a fly over.
126. Brown Goshawk
Yesterday we went down to Mushroom Reef Marine Sanctuary (on the Mornington Penn.) Unfortunately the weather wasn't great, but still managed to see a few birds and add a couple more to the list.
127. Sooty Oystercatcher
128. Great Cormorant (heavily cropped unforunately)
Went with Danika today to Alfred Nicholas Memorial Gardens to see the Rose Robin people have been seeing and we struck it lucky! Not the best photos but had a great time. (Trying this via my phone tonight, hope it works OK)
Thanks guys. have just got home from a little roadtrip with my family. Didn't do a whole lot of birding this trip, but did manage to get a couple to add to the list. Quick question, does the different subspecies under the Crimson Rosella count or is it just one for it? Saw the yellow race in Mildura. Will hopefully get them uploaded tomorrow.
Just counting at species level according to our rules ... so only one of the Crimson Rosellas will count despite looking so very different. You can count a different type of Rosella like an Eastern Rosella.
Over Easter hubby, son and myself camped by the Murray river near Mildura, then went for a couple of nights at Renmark which I managed to get a little walk out at Cooltong C.P, which I got a lifer out there a Chestnut Thornbill, then from there we went to Robe for a couple of nights and got to see another lifer a pair of Hooded Plovers, and then we then travelled to Portland, and we went out to Danger Point where the Gannets are, but there were hardly any there since it was the wrong time of the year, but still got to see a couple and young one close by the fence.
137. Australian Ringneck
138. Pied Butcherbird
139. Jacky Winter
140. Chestnut-rumped Thornbill - no factsheet for this one
141. Australian Shelduck
142. Hooded Plover
143. House Sparrow
144. Australian Gannet
145. Little Egret
I have added a replacement photo of a Dusky Woodswallow (72), and a couple extra photos.
Today went for a walk at Deep Creek Reserve, mainly so my son could see the freight train go past, but always take my camera there since I've found it a good birding place. Saw a pair of Eurasian Skylarks today, haven't seen them there for a couple of months.
146. Eurasian Skylark
And just because it posed nicely for me a replacement photo of a sparrow.
Lovely set of pictures, Abby. I love the young Gannet and the Skylark especially but who can resist your extras? A koala! Not so keen on snakes and I had to dodge those large spiders over the weekend... messy & very large webs. It is great to be out & about at the moment.
Whee you are moving fast :-) Love the disgruntled gannet - so cool to see them on the nest instead of just distantly diving. And I love the bonus pics too! Yes, the orb web spiders are making the most of the last warm weather - soon they will be gone for the winter.
Feedback on the Stilt photo; I like the tighter crop better but I would try brightening it a bit. Also, my preference would be to have the birds flying to somewhere so I would place them slightly to the left. However, it is always your decision and preference which may be quite different to mine. Just have fun.
I'm with Sue on the stilt photo - its worthwhile trying to get as close as possible, and cropping distracting backgrounds when you can. Birds in flight are HARD but sometimes stilts will circle for a while over the water, giving you several chances to get shots, different angles etc. Stilts are hard, as they are SO black & white - its hard to see any detail in the black without overexposing the whites, so you have to underexpose and then boost the dark shades afterwards. Like Sue i also think its good for the birds to have a bit of space to "fly into" in the crop, normally, but sometimes a formation looks interesting in itself. And sometimes the backgrounds can enhance the feeling of the photo too. Its great fun trying to capture usable pics, and then playing with the results. Enjoy!
In your pic, maybe try a narrower 16:9 crop and see if you like that look, then try playing with reducing darkness.
My pics have a long way to go to get to what I see in my head, but attached are from a couple of weeks ago, like you I'm trying out different crops and treatments to see what I like.
Last Thursday went with Danika down to Wonthaggi, managed to find a paddock of Cattle Egrets.
149. Cattle Egret
Then on Friday I went to the Royal Botanic Gardens in Cranbourne. Haven't been here for a few months, its always fun for getting some close shots.
150. White-browed Scrubwren
Replacement shots of Little Wattlebird, Dusky Woodswallow and it was very cool to watch the Little Pied Cormorant get its lunch which consisted of Yabbies and Shrimp. And a bonus shot of a Bandicoot, not that you can see its nose properly.
Great pics Abby! I love all the cameo appearances from the non-avian wildlife. I have never seen a bandicoot either, always lovely to see a koala, the golden orb is such a beautiful spider and the rbb snake is pretty special too. It's great you have been able to get out among nature, very inspiring, time for me to follow suit :-).
Earlier this week I went for a walk at the Cardinia Aqueduct Trail, not a whole lot out I managed to get a photo of a Striated Thornbill finally. Not an overly great photo, but should do for an ID.
151. Striated Thornbill
Then caught the train into the city yesterday (with my son) and went to the Botanical Gardens, and met Danika there. Got a shocking photo of a Nankeen Night-Heron, hopefully I can get a better one sometime
152. Pied Currawong
153. Nankeen Night-Heron
Then today I went out for a quick walk before Kinder pickup time at Stockyard Point and saw a few Crescent Honeyeaters, which is the first time I have seen them properly, which was cool.
I think its a nice Striated Thornbill, I've always found them a challenge to photograph! And I'm jealous of you getting the Crescent Honeyeater before me, nice work!
Today I went to Lysterfield Park, to see if I could see the Swift Parrots that people have been seeing, and wow! At the end of my walk, of course near the carpark and picnic grounds there was a flock of 20-30 Swift Parrots, not the best light and of course they were near the top of the trees,but it still was amazing to see such a Lifer!
Been a while since I posted and there have been soo many wonderful photos. I'm envious of the Swift Parrots as I've never seen them. I agree with Sue and Alex about the Stilt photo. Love the tighter crop and them needing somewhere to go so more space on the right. A bit lighter would help and I agree with Alex about the 16:9 crop. I also do love your extra non bird species. Bandicoots are such busy little creatures
Did some local walks today, and pretty happy with what I found. Love it when you find birds that you aren't expecting!
At the Aspect Wetlands (Just off Cardinia Rd & Bridge Rd) saw 2 juv Australasian Darters which was neat, and a family of Black Swans.
112. Black Swan
113. Australasian Darter
and a better photo of a Purple Swamphen. (79)
Then at Edenbrook Wetlands, I saw 2 Royal Spoonbills (88) (first time I have seen them there, so was rather excited to see them, so of course some replacement photos)
114. Little Black Cormorant
Then this afternoon I went for a walk at the Beaconsfield Flora and Fauna Reserve, and there were alot of Bell Miners.
115. Bell Miner
And I have included a replacement for Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo (44), since we are lucky to get some near us at this time of the year.
Beautiful Swamphen catching that sunlight and the Bell Miners are great. Your walks are proving fruitful, Abby, well done.
From this past week...
At RJ Chambers Flora and Fauna Reserve I found a
116. Fan-tailed Cuckoo
Then at Corinella Cemetery Reserve a
117. Little Wattlebird
Then went to see if the Blue-winged Parrots were at The Gurdies Nature reserve, but unfortunately not. But have got some replacement shots of the Scarlet Robin.
Went fishing today, (out from Yaringa Harbour) only caught one fish but was happy and glad that I took my camera. Got a lifer! A young White-bellied Sea-Eagle. Have also attached a replacement Pacific Gull (85).
118. Pied Cormorant
119. White-bellied Sea-Eagle
120. Little Pied Cormorant
121. Australian Pelican
Nice set Abby. Congrats on the lifer. Always exciting to get one.
Well done getting a lifer, Abby. That is always a great feeling.
At the present time we have a lot of Rainbow Lorikeets around our neighbourhood, so have posted a couple of shots, been trying to get a good inflight shot, but might need to have some more patience.
122. Rainbow Lorikeet
Then the other morning I went for dawn walk at Deep Creek Reserve, and it was great to see two Black-Shouldered Kites, do see at least one frequently. Also saw a couple of Golden-headed Cisticola but not the best shot of that either unfortunately.
123. Black-shouldered Kite
124. Golden-headed Cisticola
Then today in Melbourne, got my pick of Feral Pigeons in there.
125. Rock Dove
Love the Kites and the Lorikeets. Going to have to take your word about the GHC as I can't really make anything out. I think we refer to feral pigeons as Rock Doves
Thanks Dev, fortunately I got a closer picture of the Golden-headed Cisticola (124) today, so here is a replacement shot for that.
Oh my Goodness he is sooo cute
Gee Abby, you are really setting the pace! Some fantastic birds, love the wedgie silhoette, but those Leaden Flycatcher shots are my favourite - brilliant :-)
Love the GH Cisticola!
Great set of birds, Abby... love the Rainbow Lorikeet lifting off and The Cisticola is so cute.
At Deep Creek Reserve in Pakenham, I saw a juv Brown Goshawk do a fly over.
126. Brown Goshawk
Yesterday we went down to Mushroom Reef Marine Sanctuary (on the Mornington Penn.) Unfortunately the weather wasn't great, but still managed to see a few birds and add a couple more to the list.
127. Sooty Oystercatcher
128. Great Cormorant (heavily cropped unforunately)
Great to see all your photos Abby, your numbers are climbing fast. Well done on your century, hoping for the double? Please keep posting more.
Dale Huonville, Tasmania
Last week went to Stockyard Point with Danika got to add a couple to the list.
129. Double-banded Plover
130. Caspian Tern
131. Australian Tern / Gull-billed Tern
Then yesterday I was at Corinella I got a replacement photo of Pelicans (121) which they posed nicely for.
Oh wow how great are those Pelicans posing, lined up beautifully! That photo looks like it should be hung on a wall :-)
Oh great shot of the pelicans!
Thanks, I am pretty happy with the shot of the Pelicans.
A couple of weeks ago I went to Reef Island again, got a couple more birds, but unfortunately they are heavily cropped.
132. Curlew Sandpiper
133. Ruddy Turnstone
Then last Friday I went for a walk in Sherbrooke Forest, and another heavily cropped, bad lighting photo
134. Red-browed Treecreeper
And also a Yabbie :)
You are getting a tremendous variety of birds Abby - great to see them all. Its going to be fun trying to catch you over the year :-)
Love the yabbie too - I like to see what else people are encountering while looking for birds!
135. Rose Robin
136. Lewin's Honeyeater
Went with Danika today to Alfred Nicholas Memorial Gardens to see the Rose Robin people have been seeing and we struck it lucky! Not the best photos but had a great time. (Trying this via my phone tonight, hope it works OK)
Some fabulous birds, Abby, you are really seeing a great variety. Wonderful that you and Danika could bird together. I am looking forward to more.
Nice robin :) I do miss the variety of birds I used to see when we lived in the Ranges.
Lovely photos of some nice birds, you are also gathering some good numbers, please keep em coming.
Dale Huonville, Tasmania
Thanks guys. have just got home from a little roadtrip with my family. Didn't do a whole lot of birding this trip, but did manage to get a couple to add to the list. Quick question, does the different subspecies under the Crimson Rosella count or is it just one for it? Saw the yellow race in Mildura. Will hopefully get them uploaded tomorrow.
Just counting at species level according to our rules ... so only one of the Crimson Rosellas will count despite looking so very different. You can count a different type of Rosella like an Eastern Rosella.
Thanks for the reply Sue. I thought that might be the case.
Over Easter hubby, son and myself camped by the Murray river near Mildura, then went for a couple of nights at Renmark which I managed to get a little walk out at Cooltong C.P, which I got a lifer out there a Chestnut Thornbill, then from there we went to Robe for a couple of nights and got to see another lifer a pair of Hooded Plovers, and then we then travelled to Portland, and we went out to Danger Point where the Gannets are, but there were hardly any there since it was the wrong time of the year, but still got to see a couple and young one close by the fence.
137. Australian Ringneck
138. Pied Butcherbird
139. Jacky Winter
140. Chestnut-rumped Thornbill - no factsheet for this one
141. Australian Shelduck
142. Hooded Plover
143. House Sparrow
144. Australian Gannet
145. Little Egret
I have added a replacement photo of a Dusky Woodswallow (72), and a couple extra photos.
Today went for a walk at Deep Creek Reserve, mainly so my son could see the freight train go past, but always take my camera there since I've found it a good birding place. Saw a pair of Eurasian Skylarks today, haven't seen them there for a couple of months.
146. Eurasian Skylark
And just because it posed nicely for me a replacement photo of a sparrow.
Lovely set of pictures, Abby. I love the young Gannet and the Skylark especially but who can resist your extras? A koala! Not so keen on snakes and I had to dodge those large spiders over the weekend... messy & very large webs. It is great to be out & about at the moment.
Whee you are moving fast :-) Love the disgruntled gannet - so cool to see them on the nest instead of just distantly diving. And I love the bonus pics too! Yes, the orb web spiders are making the most of the last warm weather - soon they will be gone for the winter.
Thanks Sue and Alex.
Today I went for a stroll at Wonthaggi Heathlands Nature Conservation Reserve. Honeyeaters were out in force.
147. White-naped Honeyeater
148. Spotted Pardalote
Also I have put in a replacement photo of a GHC.
The following is just a photo from a couple posts ago, trying a different way of resizing and cropping an image. Feedback is welcomed.
Wow Abby, love the Pardalote & GHC shots, well done. Cannot comment on the Stilts until I look on the computer as phone never gives the detail.
Gorgeous pic of the Pardalote Abby, I only ever get glimpses of them from afar. That's a great shot.
Aren't those pardalotes stunning? Perhaps our most beautiful bird (vying with the Gouldian Finches, but a bit more subtle :-)
Feedback on the Stilt photo; I like the tighter crop better but I would try brightening it a bit. Also, my preference would be to have the birds flying to somewhere so I would place them slightly to the left. However, it is always your decision and preference which may be quite different to mine. Just have fun.
I'm with Sue on the stilt photo - its worthwhile trying to get as close as possible, and cropping distracting backgrounds when you can. Birds in flight are HARD but sometimes stilts will circle for a while over the water, giving you several chances to get shots, different angles etc. Stilts are hard, as they are SO black & white - its hard to see any detail in the black without overexposing the whites, so you have to underexpose and then boost the dark shades afterwards. Like Sue i also think its good for the birds to have a bit of space to "fly into" in the crop, normally, but sometimes a formation looks interesting in itself. And sometimes the backgrounds can enhance the feeling of the photo too. Its great fun trying to capture usable pics, and then playing with the results. Enjoy!
In your pic, maybe try a narrower 16:9 crop and see if you like that look, then try playing with reducing darkness.
My pics have a long way to go to get to what I see in my head, but attached are from a couple of weeks ago, like you I'm trying out different crops and treatments to see what I like.
Thanks for the feedback guys, very helpful.
Last Thursday went with Danika down to Wonthaggi, managed to find a paddock of Cattle Egrets.
149. Cattle Egret
Then on Friday I went to the Royal Botanic Gardens in Cranbourne. Haven't been here for a few months, its always fun for getting some close shots.
150. White-browed Scrubwren
Replacement shots of Little Wattlebird, Dusky Woodswallow and it was very cool to watch the Little Pied Cormorant get its lunch which consisted of Yabbies and Shrimp. And a bonus shot of a Bandicoot, not that you can see its nose properly.
Very nice, love the cross little Scrubwren, and your Little Wattlebird replacement is a good one! And I've never seen a bandicoot, how cool :-)
Ah it's been awhile since I have commented. Some lovely photos Abby, and your numbers are also climbing.
Dale Huonville, Tasmania
Great pics Abby! I love all the cameo appearances from the non-avian wildlife. I have never seen a bandicoot either, always lovely to see a koala, the golden orb is such a beautiful spider and the rbb snake is pretty special too. It's great you have been able to get out among nature, very inspiring, time for me to follow suit :-).
Well done, Abby, some nice shots and I love that bandicoot.
Thanks everyone.
Earlier this week I went for a walk at the Cardinia Aqueduct Trail, not a whole lot out I managed to get a photo of a Striated Thornbill finally. Not an overly great photo, but should do for an ID.
151. Striated Thornbill
Then caught the train into the city yesterday (with my son) and went to the Botanical Gardens, and met Danika there. Got a shocking photo of a Nankeen Night-Heron, hopefully I can get a better one sometime
152. Pied Currawong
153. Nankeen Night-Heron
Then today I went out for a quick walk before Kinder pickup time at Stockyard Point and saw a few Crescent Honeyeaters, which is the first time I have seen them properly, which was cool.
154. Crescent Honeyeater
Nice ones, Abby. The Crescent Honeyeater is a smart looking lad and I love the Striated Thornbill. Well done.
Great variety you collecting. I also like you Crescent Honeyeater.
Dale Huonville, Tasmania
I think its a nice Striated Thornbill, I've always found them a challenge to photograph! And I'm jealous of you getting the Crescent Honeyeater before me, nice work!
Today I went to Lysterfield Park, to see if I could see the Swift Parrots that people have been seeing, and wow! At the end of my walk, of course near the carpark and picnic grounds there was a flock of 20-30 Swift Parrots, not the best light and of course they were near the top of the trees,but it still was amazing to see such a Lifer!
155. Swift Parrot
Brilliant work tracking down the Swifties after various reports lately...I'll be hard on your heels!
Congrats on the Swifts :) I was there today and they were back, and drawing a crowd.
Been a while since I posted and there have been soo many wonderful photos. I'm envious of the Swift Parrots as I've never seen them. I agree with Sue and Alex about the Stilt photo. Love the tighter crop and them needing somewhere to go so more space on the right. A bit lighter would help and I agree with Alex about the 16:9 crop. I also do love your extra non bird species. Bandicoots are such busy little creatures
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