Thanks to young Jadon (Jadyn?) for telling me where to find these guys. And a surprise for you... There are two chics in the nest. (I'm not mentioning where they are as it is quite a high traffic area) I also put up one of the Nankeen Night heron shots too.
Hi Richman,
These phtos are great I didn't know the chicks had hatched so when I saw your post I went out straight away to see them and I have done so every day since, just yesteday they started climbing outside the nest and have almost all their adult feathers, I have also seen the nankeen night heron several times and got quite close with some nice images which I will post some photos once I figure out how to
Thanks Jayden
How wonderful, what great photos, although I don't think any photo can reflect your delight to be so close to them. (Just don't tell too many people)
M-L
Don't worry. It is a high traffic area but I think most people wouldn't notice them They are fairly high. I haven't told anyone where it is but i'm sure it is fairly well known by the local birdwatchers.
Love the Bazas! :)
The night heron always looks like it's shrugging its shoulders.
I went back to see the Bazas a few weeks back (when I broke my old camera shooting a female Koel) in the afternoon after work and there were two gentlemen with three tripods setup one for video and one each for their bazooka lenses. I said "you're here for the Bazas". Their first comment to me was "You'll need a bigger lens than that" (I had a deceptively small Sigma170-500 Aspherical on board) The bazas were just learning to fly and one had flown off to another tree. The parents were hunting around and keeping an eye on them. I got a few pics but didn't want to start a crowd, so I didn't want to hang around too much. Here are a few I finally managed to get off the CF card..
Beautiful photos Richard
A story I have come accross a few times
Sad story though.
Like that time I met the local Photography club, all Canon Gear and lenses they could hardly hold. Most of them pulling huge gear packs on wheels. They looked at me and my Sony gear somewhat feeling sorry for me and my 400mm lens and no tripod .
What was I going to do with that?
As the story unfolds, while they unfolded their gear,I took 300 photos , carried my camera under my arm, leaving, when one of them smiled and said to me: Oh, giving up ? No, I said I have all the photos I need. Can we have a look said the guy , still smurking....
Seconds later he called the rest of his gang over to have a look at the photos I took only a few minutes ago.
How did you do that??? A well, I didn't answer, just walked off saying: you either have it or you don't.
Richard, we don't need huge lenses
, we have IT.
M-L
The best thing is that the lens only cost $340 some of these big lenses are over $20K (and the rest). I got it second hand from the US through ebay. It is quite an old lens but newer doesn't necessarily mean better and it is mint condition. The aspherical lens shape helps negate edge vignetting and Chromatic Abberration. Also edge focus is enhanced. I read one review where a bloke claimed it was the best lens he had ever used for birding, admittedly it was an old review and he was specifically talking about hand held which is my preference. My only complaint is that it doesn't have the lock to stop it extending when carried in a down position. With the higher resolution of my newer camera the shots are better than the old 40D used for these ones. You do have to concentrate on steadiness when extended all the way or make sure you have a fast enough shutter speed. (the same for all lenses)
You can always pick the newbie,most of them bring along every piece of gear they own just in case ,I only carry what I need if that means camera lens and drink bottle all the better.
When I was taking people on workshops back in the old days some would turn up with a car boot full of gear " literally" I would say to them nicely no no just take what you really need, I'd look around and they would be filling up a back pack !
Great shots richman, I have a couple similar from perhaps that same day or the day after when they were learning to fly
I was going to give you an update but it seems you don't need one, however they are now hunting outside ww and I don't see them as much as I used to (still about 3-4 times a week) , the nankeen night herons have also been hanging around where we saw them first and there is a pair hanging together consistently both having breeding plumage so hopefully there is a chick on the way,
Thanks Jayden
Ah thats how to spell your name Jayden. I must admit it is a new way of spelling it to me. Thanks for the update. I imagined that they would have moved on as they were starting to move around on the 30th Dec when those last pics were taken. Good to hear about the night herons.
Any new sightings? Did you manage to photograph the snipes yet? I heard there were dollar birds there but haven't seen or heard 'em. I got one while I was up Newcastle way.
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