The title of this post probably requires an explanation but it truly reflects the sounds I heard on that Saturday morning at Red Hill Nature Reserve. I was standing in a small, rocky clearing under a cloudy sky when I noticed some Grey Fantails. They were joined by other small birds in the young gum trees that formed the edges of this open area. The birds were all constantly moving through the foliage in search of food. The quantity of flapping wings on leave started to sound like large rain drops hitting the leaves. The noise was so convincing I looked up several times to see if it was raining. The sight was fantastic, all these little birds darting backwards and forwards in the tree. I found it hard to take any photographs as I would try to focus on a bird but it would fly-off, I would then turn to another bird to repeat the same frustrating process. After a while I stopped photographing, instead, enjoying the moment with all these little birds flying about me. This wonderful experience reminded me how lucky I am to live near Red Hill. I hope you enjoy the photographs.
A dead tree on Red Hill waiting for the morning sun
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM [ISO 200, 18mm, f/22 and 1.0 SEC])
The same tree ten minutes later with some Sulphur-crested Cockatoos on its branches
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM [ISO 400, 20mm, f/16 and 0.6 SEC])
As you can see from the above photograph a small number of Sulphur-crested Cockatoos (Cacatua galerita) landed in the dead tree I was photographing. They continued to call, before they flew off leaving a single bird still in the tree. This bird was not calling and continued to stay in the tree.
A closer look at one of the Sulphur-crested Cockatoos in the dead tree
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 640, 400mm, f/6.3 and 1/400 SEC])
As I was climbing up a small slope, with many burned, black trees, I noticed a Pied Currawong (Strepera graculina) on a branch, not very far from me but in terrible light. I steadily raised my camera, trying not to startle it, and took two photographs before it flew off. I did not have a chance to adjust my settings for the very low light before snapping so I had to lift the light in post processing. The bird must have heard me coming but remained in the tree. I suspect when I started to look at it the Curraowng became nervous.
A Pied Currawond in the shadows
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 800, 248mm, f/7.1 and 1/1000 SEC])
This was one of the Grey Fantails (Rhipidura albiscapa) that attracted my attention and was the prelude to a mass of small birds flying around the trees.
A Grey Fantail, the start of the group of small birds
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 1000, 400mm, f/5.6 and 1/200 SEC])
It was hard to photograph the small birds as I did not want to approach too close in case I scared them. The light was also very bad so my lens was having trouble getting a focus lock as the birds moved through the trees. You can see from this photograph of a Striated Pardalote (Pardalotus striatus) I was not going too well with my photography. There were two or three Striated Pardalotes moving through the area but I was having trouble obtaining a clear photograph of any of the birds.
The Striated Pardalote looking for food
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 1000, 400mm, f/5.6 and 1/200 SEC])
I also saw this sole male Gang-gang Cockatoo (Callocephalon fimbriatum). He flew into this eucalyptus, remaining high up. Called a few times then flew off again.
A lone male Gang-gang Cockatoo high 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/7.1 and 1/1000 SEC])
The light was not good that morning so it was a challenge to photograph anything, especially fast moving birds at a distance. I was fortunate as I came across a large mob of Eastern Grey Kangaroos (Macropus giganteus). There were animals at different ages throughout the group, including a joey in its mother’s pouch. Two young males, in the bottom photograph were practice fighting. However, this morning, I was mainly focussed on the male seen at the top of this blog post and in the photographs immediately below. He was probably still immature. He stayed on all four limbs the whole time I was watching him. He generally kept his eyes focussed on me, except for the times below when I was able to snap his head from three angles. He did not seem sure about me, keeping me in sight most of the time. This male was also timid around other males. When another male moved past him, this male noticeable turned slightly in the direction of the passing male, in a way that looked to me like he was worried about being threatened. I could have stayed among the mob for far longer but I had to keep moving. It was nice being able to observe them.
Two young male Eastern Grey Kangaroos who were play fighting
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 1000, 400mm, f/7.1 and 1/200 SEC])
I had trouble in the morning with the ambient light, so I really felt none of my photos were good. I decided to head back out that night as I wanted to take some night-time macro shots and I wanted to try to take some shots of the night sky. I am so glad I went back as I am really happy with the macro shots I took that night. The night sky shot was a reasonable first attempt but I had the f-stop at the wrong end of the scale, it should have been wide open. The ISO should have been higher as well. I know what I need to do next time and I am looking forward for a chance to do it.
The night sky over Red Hill with the Southern Cross and pointers visible; my first night sky photograph
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM [ISO 800, 18mm, f/11 and 30.0 SEC])
I had wanted to photograph frogs at night. I could hear them but I could not find them. Although I am disappointed I did not see any frogs I had a great time photographing other creatures. There were a lot of slugs out. I found this group targeting a mushroom. They were crawling in from around the area. They almost appeared to have a shield on their back that looked to have two holes in it, on either side of the arch of their back.
Slugs consuming a mushroom
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM [ISO 250, 55mm, f/11 and 1/250 SEC] with Canon 430EX III-RT flash)
This Wolf Spider, with prey, was tiny. The only reason I saw it was because of the reflection from its eyes. My head light was getting a very strong return back intriguing me as to what was causing the reflection. I was absolutely amazed when I saw how small this spider was compared to the bright reflection from its eyes. The spider had been successful in hunting already, with a small beetle in its fangs about to become a meal.
The Wolf Spider with the beetle it had caught
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM [ISO 250, 55mm, f/11 and 1/250 SEC] with Canon 430EX III-RT flash)
The next relfection I saw made me more confident to investigate it, causing me to find this lovely Union Jack Wolf Spider. It was about twice the size of the first spider. There were a number so sugar ants crawling about, including one that went under this spider’s legs. I thought I was going to see a hunting shot but this spider quickly avoided the ant, jumping away from it.
Union Jack Wolf Spider
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM [ISO 250, 55mm, f/11 and 1/250 SEC] with Canon 430EX III-RT flash)
I also found this female Garden Orb Weaver (Eriophora sp.) n a partially destroyed spider web. I was able to see both sides of the spider. I thought it was repairing a broken web but I then noticed a black object it seemed to have at its fangs. Looking at the photographs later I guessed the object was an insect, which had been caught in the web. The web was in a bad way along the bottom threads but this spider was focussed on its food parcel. I was really pleased with the detail which came out in the two shots below, which have inspired me to try this again another time hopefully in the next few weeks.
The female Garden Orb Weaver securing food in its web
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM [ISO 250, 55mm, f/11 and 1/250 SEC] with Canon 430EX III-RT flash)
The other side of the Garden Orb Weaver
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM [ISO 250, 55mm, f/11 and 1/250 SEC] with Canon 430EX III-RT flash)