Red Hill Nature Reserve is such an enjoyable place in spring, with so many birds and other animals shaking off the Canberra winter chill. The weather has been very kind in recent weeks with mild, clear mornings, making photography such a pleasure. This morning’s walk was just wonderful, I saw some Rainbow Lorikeets, a bird species I adore. I also was up close with a Laughing Kookaburra, an experience that always thrills me. In addition, I saw a scarred, old, male kangaroo, who paid me no attention, he seemed to have no fear of me. It was so enjoyable photographing him as he barely even acknowledged my presence even though I was only a few metres away. I always enjoy my walks on Red Hill but this morning was extra special. I hope you enjoy the photographs below.
An Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata) pair were eating grass in the park that runs between two lots of houses, in the bottom left of the map above. This was the first time that I have seen wood ducks in this park but more wildlife is making use of the park. The birds are more common and kangaroos are always there in the morning, as well as now in the afternoon. We have even had a big male hop down our street and we do not front onto a grass area. Wood ducks eat grass and other vegetation.
Later, on Red Hill proper, I saw a male wood duck in a tree. I did not see a female but the male was calling. He also flapped his wings while he was on the branch, possibly as part of his preening or possibly to attract attention, as it really exposed the incandescent green in his wings. The sun caught the feathers at just the right angle. He appeared ready for mating as he had a thick mane on him, which is something that appears in the breeding season, leading to another common name for the species, the Australian Mane Duck.
An Australian Wood Duck pair eating grass in a park
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/125 SEC])
Male Australian Wood Duck in a tree flapping its wings on a branch
(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])
Two Rainbow Lorikeets (Trichoglossus haematodus) flew into a tree near where a pair successfully bred last year. This pair were calling while they were in the tree. They did not stay long before they flew off.
The other member of the pair of Rainbow Lorikeet from the bird at the top of this post
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 800, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/800 SEC])
The same bird at the top of the post shutting its eyes, but I like the look
(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])
A lone Noisy Friarbird (Philemon corniculatus) flew into a tall eucalyptus tree, calling the whole time. I did not hear any birds answering but there must be others around. The bird was also preening itself. This tree is not far from where there was a nest last year. The bald, black head and striking red eye give these birds a very sinister look despite them being honeyeaters. That said, they will feed insects to their young to get them quick energy to help them develop.
Noisy Firarbird 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 1/640 SEC])
The bird was calling and preening itself
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/640 SEC])
This Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina novaehollandiae) may have had a nest near by. I thought I noticed a nest in a tree, then when I moved to a different location this bird appeared to land at the nest but when it became aware I was still around it left the nest. I waited to see whether it would return to the next but it stayed perched on the branch. Rather than disturb the bird any more I left the area.
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
A Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) was in a tight group of trees just below a water tank. It landed on the ground as I was approaching but it did not seem successful if it was after food. It then flew back onto this branch. The kookaburra did not seem too concerned by my presence, although I did veer away so as not to scare it. I like this photograph because of the wattle blurred in the background. Two icons of the Australian bush, almost together.
Laughing Kookaburra with wattle bushes blurred in the background
A Satin Bowerbird (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus) was making noise not too far away from where the kookaburra was. It was in an area I do not usually see these birds. It was by itself and moving through some vegetation that had a lot of damage to it. I only managed one shot as there were so many branches in the way and it kept moving onwards. This bird was possibly still eating leaves as the fruit on trees has not arrived yet, although it is not too far off.
Female Satin Bowerbird
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 1000, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
The Gang-gang Cockatoos (Callocephalon fimbriatum) on Red Hill appear to be loosing some of their hollows to other species of birds. Some of the hollows noted as used as Gang-gangs last year are being used by other birds. The Gang-gangs will probably start breeding in October so they will be needing hollows soon. No trees on Red Hill have been cut down but some have lost branches with hollows and some trees in surrounding suburbs may have been lost to clearing. Hopefully there will be enough hollows for all the birds.
Gang-gang Cockatoo pair 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 1/1000 SEC])
A group of White-winged Choughs (Corcorax melanorhamphos) were foraging near where a run-off stream flows. They were foraging down hill through the light vegetation. There were the occasional arguments in the group that appears to be standard behaviour for choughs. This is some form of display behaviour, although I could not find a definite explanation after a quick Google search. This behaviour is seen when dealing with a threat, but there was no threat about. Another webpage did mention this display being done in front of an immature bird, possibly to teach it. Yet another page described it as social behaviour for cohesion. Take your pick of an explanation but a few birds were displaying their feathers at different times.
White-winged Chough with its wings and tail up in display
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 227mm, f/8.0 and 1/800 SEC])
This Eastern Rosella (Platycercus eximius) was exploring a hollow in a gum tree in a house’s front yard. The hollow was prominent, with no cover and open to the house-lined street. There was some new chewing around the hollow but it is not clear if this rosella was responsible.
Eastern Rosella exploring a tree hollow in a resident’s front yard
(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])
These Eastern Grey Kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) below are a selection of the ones I saw that morning. The first two kangaroos were in the same park where the wood ducks were, which I mentioned above in this post. The next kangaroo was at the perimeter of the nature reserve, as seen by the fence in the background. I just really liked the way the sun was playing on the fur almost like rim light. The final picture was of the old male. He was in the reserve, among a group of trees where there are always kangaroo scrapes. He was reclining as I approached. He looked at me for a little while then he looked away. If I moved closer he looked at me, in a languid-like way, never bothering to get that fast in responding to me. His ears swung around to me when he was looking at me but that was as excited as he got about my presence. I noticed what appeared to be lines through his facial fur, which I assumed were caused by scarring from another male’s front claws when they were grappling. The fact this male had a number of females around made me think he had been the winner in his bouts. I found his whole attitude to me, his scarring and his obvious size a combination that emphasised this kangaroo was not worried by my presence. He was prepared to keep lying there, as he had my measure, so he was not concerned. I like photographing kangaroos, especially their heads, and this kangaroo has given me the most memorable head shot I have had.
Two young Eastern Grey Kangaroos in a suburban park
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 800, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/200 SEC])
Eastern Grey Kangaroo and joey in the morning sun
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 800, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/200 SEC])
Male Eastern Grey Kangaroo with probable scarring on his face from past fights not concerned by me at all
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 1000, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/160 SEC])
This Orb-weaver Spider was in our backyard. I could only get one side of it because it was right in front of a fence so I could not get behind it. I am wondering if it is a St Andrews Cross Spider given the lattice work emerging in the web. Its web is in a good location as it caught an insect while I was photographing.
Orb-weaver Spider in its web
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 800, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/100 SEC])
The spider securing some food
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 800, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/100 SEC])
This Concealer Moth flew onto a stalk in front of me on Red Hill. My movements did not spook it so I was able to get down low to photograph it. I really liked its black and yellow colouration.
Concealer Moth
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 800, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/250 SEC])