I usually go to Red Hill Nature Reserve on a Saturday morning, then go further afield on Sunday. As I felt I had not really been on Red Hill for a while I decided to photograph there this morning. I am so glad I did because it was a very rewarding morning, Not only did I find a eucalyptus tree that was supporting three species of birds with its trunk, I also saw my first goshawk, which was a very cooperative subject for photographing. The weather was also very helpful, being a lovely sunny day. Red Hill is such a wonderful location, with so much to offer. The birdlife was at its best this morning and I know I only saw a very small part of the reserve.
The view north from Red Hill to Black Mountain
I snapped this Crimson Rosella, on the left, and Eastern Rosella, right hand picture, on the way to the nature reserve. I felt I should at least include them in the post as they are such lovely looking birds. I know they seem commonplace but I briefly had a chat with a lady out walking who excitedly told me she had seen the biggest “red and blue parrot” (Crimson Rosella?) she had ever seen. The joy these birds can bring to people because of their colours means people like them and, hopefully, will see worth in protecting their habitat.
There were three Sulphur-crested Cockatoos in this eucalyptus tree, primarily focussed on a tree hollow where a branch had been. It appeared the hollow was not that deep as only half a cockatoo ever went in the hollow. Two birds were in the hollow with their heads buried in there, possibly eating at the wood or grubs, perhaps they were producing a sugary sap. The third bird was on a branch by itself. They were finally chased off by a male Gang-gang.
The first photograph shows the male Gang-gang Cockatoo that chased off the Sulphur-crested Cockatoos. I initially thought he was alone. I was making some notes about what I had seen when I looked up only to see him disappear into the tree hollow featured in the remaining photographs. He went in quietly, so I did not even realise he was moving. He had completely disappeared by the time I had my camera ready. I kept looking at the hole, convinced he would be out shortly. I was therefore, surprised and delighted, when a female came out instead. She popped her head out first, photo two, before emerging completely to fly off to the north-west.
The above were not the only Gang—gang Cockatoos I saw this morning. I saw two more in a tree further north of the above tree, and down the hill a little. I was alerted to them as I heard them calling. Initially, I could only see the male then I noticed the female. They were both chewing on bark and branches. There was a hollow nearby but I could not tell if it was being used by them. There did appear to be beak marks around it like it had been chewed. Before getting to this tree, I had seen gang-gangs chase away a group of Sulphur-crested Cockatoos from it but I was not sure if these were the birds who had done the chasing.
At the first tree where I saw the Gang-gangs and the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo I was sure I could hear a Striated Pardalote, I really wanted to take a photograph of it so I moved closer to the tree. I saw a bird hopping along a branch, positive I had found my subject. I saw it had travelled to the end of the branch but then it disappeared. I could not look further as I was distracted then by the Gang-gang. A little while later I noticed a hole under the branch, which sure enough, a pardalote turned up to. It appeared to be chipping away at it. I could hear noise like chipping and it spent a lot of time at the entrance. The hole may have been larger inside as the bird entered head-first but exited head-first as well. It spent most of its time around the edge of the hole. I saw at least two pardalotes in the tree but only ever one near the hole.
I saw several lone Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes, or maybe it was the same bird. I heard it calling but I did not see two birds together.
On my walk back home I noticed two Magpie Larks perched together on an overhead wire. They are common birds but I thought it may be worth a photograph having two of them so close together. Before I could bring my camera up, they took off at speed together, without any noise. I had enough time to think how strange that behaviour seemed for Magpie Larks when a Brown Goshawk flew by at low level, just above my head height and just out of arm’s reach; providing a clear reason for the sudden departure of the two smaller birds. My eyes followed the goshawk go past as I mentally willed it to stop, as there was no hope for me to get a picture of it in flight. Fortunately it flew into the branches of a young eucalyptus tree within sight of me. My first shots were taken with the intent to just take photos before it flew off again. I knew the light was at a bad angle but I felt I needed to take some photographs first, then worry about better light. The bird perched on a branch, pulling its left-hand claw up into its front. It was calling regularly from the branch. As it seemed to be staying put I worked my way around to the front so I could get a better light. The last photograph below was actually the first photograph I took of the bird, hence the side on view. The second last photograph was at the next location where I was at an angle to the bird, while the rest of these photographs are from the front. Reference books have the bird looking more erect so this individual may have been cool, hence why its feathers are puffed out to generate warmth. I would have stayed longer photographing the goshawk but I needed to get home. It was an uplifting way to finish my walk around Red Hill. I felt like a kid again having seen such a beautifully raptor so close in nature.
Being a walk around Red Hill, I could not resist taking some photos of the Eastern Grey Kangaroos. Joeys are in abundance on the hill and four of the photos below have joeys in them. The middle photo on the right is a joey who looks like it is just out of the pouch. It was small but confident enough to be at a short distance from its parents. The final photograph shows a large male who felt comfortable enough around me to remain nicely splayed out. I had a lower angel shot but this angle captured his fore paws with their formidable claws. I was not planning on disturbing him.
