In looking back at my entries in Bird Journal I noticed it was roughly a year ago when I went for my first walk to Red Hill Nature Reserve with a camera in hand, intending to note and photograph birds. That morning I photographed Australian Magpies, Gang-gang Cockatoos, Australian King-Parrots and Eastern Rosellas. ON this day, I retraced my steps to see what birds I could find. I am glad the first bird I came across was an Australian Magpie. Yes, they are very common but they are intelligent birds and their morning call is something almost all Australians have grown up with. I followed my route from approximately 12 months before, with the walk not taking me far. I then went further up Red Hill but stayed on the Hughes side to see what photographs I could find. Those photographs are below and I hope you like them.
Looking from Red Hill through chimney smoke across the National Arboretum to the Brindabella range
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 300mm, f/11 and 1/640 SEC])
I really liked this Lichen on a dead gum tree
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 227mm, f/5.0 and 1/40 SEC])
Two more Lichens on a different dead tree
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM [ISO 400, 33mm, f/7.1 and 1/25 SEC])
There was a lone Australian Magpie (Cracticus tibicen) on a low wooden fence, most probably a male because there is not much white on its back. The light was terrible, making me use a very low shutter speed. I am happy the way the photographs turned out. The magpie appeared to be out looking for breakfast in the park. I did not stay long as I was off to over parts of Red Hill.
Australian Magpie
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/5.6 and 1/80 SEC])
I was also able to photograph a pair of Australian King-Parrots (Alisterus scapularis). They started on a near-dead tree, with a hollow in it, that was in the shadows so I thought I would not get a good photograph. They then flew to a living eucalyptus before retuning to the dead tree but to a better lit side. The male’s red was so well lit in the morning sun. They were a pleasure to look at.
A male Australian King-Parrot
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 250, 271mm, f/9.0 and 1/100 SEC])
A female Australian King-Parrot
There was a mob of Eastern Grey Kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) as I walked down a run-off channel. They seemed accustomed to people. One of the females had a joey in its pouch. Although I was not too close to them, I was surprised when too of the males chose to recline onto ground while I was photographing them. Normally, kangaroos are more alert when people are about. I had to focus in on the middle male as his ears were at an almost horizontal angle giving him a really unique look. I also zoomed in on the front paws of one of the males to look at his claws. Kangaroos are not thought of for their paws but they do look very formidable. For a male, these would be used to grapple with other males during fighting. In addition, more importantly, they will be used to help dig up food for the kangaroo to eat, such as roots.
A mob of Eastern Grey Kangaroos
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 100mm, f/11 and 1/200 SEC])
A study of one of the reclining males
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 371mm, f/11 and 1/400 SEC])
A focus on the front claws of one of the males
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/11 and 1/400 SEC])
I came across a hive of European Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) in a dead tree. The hive did not appear to be very active with only the occasional bee going in or out.
European Honey Bees making a hive in an old tree
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 800, 400mm, f/7.1 and 1/1600 SEC])
I am not very good on moths but I think this is a species of Geometer Moth. Initially it was on some grass near a Meat Ant colony. It did not appear to be bothered by the ants moving near by. It later flew to a low branch a little further away where it almost appeared to be eye-balling a fly. I was amazed at the antenna with the white branch and the black fronds coming off it.
Geometer Moth
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 250, 400mm, f/13 and 1/250 SEC])
I could not identify this fungus. It may be a Puffball Fungus that has recently emerged out of the ground and is starting to split open to allow the spores to take flight. I was able to use my defuser while taking the photograph to smooth out the morning rays that were hitting it unevenly through the tree branches. I then played around with the reflectors to see what effect I could achieve. The left side of the fungus is being lit by a gold reflector, which I felt helped bring out the colour of the fungus.
A fungus with spores showing
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM [ISO 400, 55mm, f/10 and 1/15 SEC])