I was out on Sunday morning for a walk around Red Hill Nature Reserve. There was some low cloud that eventually dissipated leaving a lovely blue sky. Unfortunately, I made a rookie mistake in that I did not adjust down my ISO after trying to take some photographs in low light meaning my later shots were looking over-exposed, loosing some detail. In addition, because It was a beautiful morning there were a lot of people out enjoying the sunshine making it harder to find a quiet place where the creatures had not been disturbed. Even with that complaint, I would not have missed being out and about, I always enjoy my time on Red Hill. I hope you enjoy the pictures below.
Looking towards the National Arboretum from Red Hill Nature Reserve
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
Walking through an area of scattered shrubs that is also lightly wooded I heard the sound of a group of Satin Bowerbirds (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus), of which the only bird I could photograph was a juvenile. These were also the birds I tried to photograph in low light as they moved through the shrubs in the shadows of the trees. There was a group of about four or five making that almost mechanical whirring and whizzing call. They moved from the shrubs to the trees. All of the birds flew off except the one in the photograph, a juvenile. This birds stayed in the tree making a different call, a higher pitched noise. While making the call it climber higher up the tree until it was at the top. It called and looked in all directions. I like the way the sun light hit its mouth in the picture below.
A juvenile Satin Bowerbird calling
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 1000, 400mm, f/5.6 and 1/1250 SEC])
Further up the hill, to a place I have rarely made in the past I briefly saw a juvenile Grey Butcherbird (Cracticus torquatus) fly into the crux of a gum tree. It appeared to be by itself. It did not stay long nor did I see in which direction it flew off. You can tell its a juvenile by the mottling on its chest. When it becomes an adult the chest feathers will be white.
Juvenile Grey Butcherbird in a gum tree
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 1000, 400mm, f/5.6 and 1/1000 SEC])
In the same tree where I saw the butcherbird I saw two Galahs (Eolophus roseicapillus) fly in just after the butcherbird left. They both started to chew at the bark. You can see one of them below trying to get at some bark.
A Galah chewing bark
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 1000, 400mm, f/5.6 and 1/1000 SEC])
I finally realised my mistake with the ISO, adjusting it down as the cloud burnt off. I was glad I did as I saw this beautiful Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita) against a solid blue sky, it was a wonderful contrast. The cockatoo was chewing at some wood. There are several theories as to why cockatoos chew wood, ranging from needing an outlet for relieving boredom to using the wood for grinding down their beak, which is constantly growing. In the second photograph, you can see the cockatoo throwing the wood away. I was not ready when it started to do that so the camera speed is a little slow meaning there is some blur.
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 200, 400mm, f/5.6 and 1/1250 SEC])
The cockatoo getting rid of some wood, I was not ready for this action, hence the blur
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 200, 400mm, f/5.6 and 1/1250 SEC])
I saw three mobs of Eastern Grey Kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) on Red Hill. Each group had the dominant male, a number of females and some joeys out of the pouch. This male had a group about half-way up the hill. He was not fussed by my presence, relaxing a bit. I really like the angle I caught him in here and was annoyed when I realised I still had the ISO up high. The upper body of the males is impressive to see. They need this strength to win the contests with other males. While they kick with their hind legs they sort of grapple with their front arms.
A male Eastern Grey Kangaroo
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 1000, 100mm, f/5.6 and 1/800 SEC])