Callam Brae Nature Reserve really turned on a special morning this Sunday when I was walking around. I had not been in the reserve for long when I saw a Nankeen Kestrel. Just as I started to move away from that kestrel a second kestrel came along and the birds started mating. Further on I also enjoyed the challenge of trying to photograph a group of Striated Pardalotes. Beyond the birdlife the reserve was still experiencing challenging times with the two ponds I visited having very low water levels. In the first one, the pond looked like it had dried out at some stage but the recent rains had filled it up slightly. Strangely, the ground beneath the water must have been very dry preventing liquid absorption as the rain water resting on the top was almost clear. The water was not the usual colour of liquid content in these ponds. The weather was lovely on the day making it a glorious start to the day. I hope you enjoy the photographs below.
Cloud patterns over Callam Brae
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM [ISO 400, 18mm, f/16 and 1/80 SEC])
This pond was probably completely dry but some recent heavy rains filled up the bottom but had not disturbed the mud making the pond almost clear…yes, there are boots in the pond…I don’t know why either
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM [ISO 400, 18mm, f/10 and 1/100 SEC])
A closer shot of the pond
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM [ISO 400, 18mm, f/10 and 1/100 SEC])
A Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides), with her white plumage catching the sunlight, drew my attention. Her brownish head gave her away as a female. She was perched quietly in a tree. I took some distance shots then moved closer to her. (I ended up with over 100 shots of her and the other bird, a total I had to cull.) She stayed still on the branch, occasionally preening herself. As I moved closer she would look at me but if I stayed still she would return to what she was doing. Eventually she flew off to another tree, where I could still photograph her through a gap in the branches of the intervening trees. I decided I had enough photographs so I switched off my camera, took one more look…to see a male land on her back to start the mating process. They were quiet throughout what was a very short event. The male then flew off to the north, while the female looked off in that direction but did not follow. I was elated to have seen the event. These are common birds but it is always amazing to me when I see birds do something that is not an everyday occurrence.
Female Nankeen Kestrel perched in a tree
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/800 SEC])
She had been preening herself
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/800 SEC])
I missed the initial landing of the male as I was getting ready to keep walking
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/1000 SEC])
Once the mating was over he flew off
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/1000 SEC])
There were at least four Striated Pardalotes (Pardalotus striatus) in this tree where I have seen them before. There may have been a couple of hollows in this tree. I noticed the birds open their wings for a prolonged period without flying. A page I later read said that this behaviour was connected with mating or warning competition to stay away from territory. However, it is not clear if only one sex does this behaviour or both. Interesting behaviour to observe.
A Striated Pardalote standing on what may have been the nest entrance
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/1000 SEC])
Two pardalotes in a tree with their wings extended for a prolonged period
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/1000 SEC])
Another pardalote with its wings extended
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/1000 SEC])
This Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) was in a tree in the distance. The sun hitting its light plumage attracted my gaze. I did not hear it calling, or any kookaburra calling, so I wondered if it was near a nest.
Laughing Kookaburra perched quietly in a tree
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/1250 SEC])
This male Gang-gang Cockatoo (Callocephalon fimbriatum) appeared to be by itself in this tree. I did not hear any Gang-gang calls. This tree was in the north of the reserve close to the entrance.
A male Gang-gang cockatoo in a tree
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/500 SEC])
This Backswimmer (Fam. Notonectidae) was in the second pond I saw, where there was still some murky green water. It seemed to get caught on this rock, as it ended up pushing itself up the rock. Its strange leg position was not how it was swimming before. These are predatory insects that feed on other small aquatic animals, including small fish. They are also able to fly so can move to other water sources if required. They do not breath underwater but require atmospheric air like other land animals.
Backswimmer in the other pond at Callam Brae
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/800 SEC])
This Red Velvet Mite caught my attention as it appeared to be walking on the surface of a puddle in the gravel beside the road. There was a strong wind so I was not sure if the mite had been blown into the puddle and was too light to break the surface tension so was pushed across the puddle by the wind. It did seem to be moving its legs on the water giving the impression it was walking. When the mite arrived on dry land it kept walking like it was just continuing its trip. The scientific community does not understand these mites well and these creatures are hard to identify at the species level without putting them under a microscope. They are predatory creatures going after small invertebrates they encounter.
Red Velvet Mite on the ground at the entrance to the reserve
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/500 SEC])
I believe this is Black Cocktail Ant. It was crawling around in a small flower I was photographing so I decided to photograph the ant instead.
Black Cocktail Ant inside a flower
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 400, 100mm, f/10 and 1/160 SEC])
A flower in my garden
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 400, 100mm, f/10 and 1/160 SEC])