Red Hill Nature Reserve once again beckoned me. There were a number of birds that are always around, including a group of Gang-gang Cockatoos in one tree. This mini flock included some immature birds. Not far away Grey Butcherbirds called across the landscape, marking their presence. While none of the birds I saw this morning were exotic or rare I thoroughly enjoyed watching them. Later that day, Yerrabi Track at Namadgi National Park was the goal for my son and I. We walked along the track to the top of the Boboyan Trig Point. The walk was a lovely way to spend the morning. I was not able to photograph any birds but I enjoyed the scenery. I hope you enjoy the photographs below.
The moon over Red Hill
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 800, 400mm, f/5.6 and 1/400 SEC])
A burnt out stump with a hole in the top
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 800, 400mm, f/5.6 and 1/400 SEC])
Lilac Shelf Fungus on a log
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/200 SEC])
A large flock of Sulphur-crested Cockatoos (Cacatua galerita), with their loud calls, gathered in the trees lining the fairways of the Federal Golf Club. Their noise made them obvious before they were visible. Flying between the trees, these large birds filled the air; while an assortment of different sized white feathers filled the ground. There were possibly some corellas among them as some of the cockatoos looked a little different.
Sulphur-crested Cockatoos in trees along the Federal Golf Club
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/160 SEC])
A sizeable group of Gang-gang Cockatoos (Callocephalon fimbriatum) occupied a gum tree over the path I was following. They stayed in the tree for a while, such that they were still in the same tree when I walked back along the path. There were at least three males, clearly identifiable because of their magnificent red heads. I saw at least two female as well. There were also at least two immature birds. At one stage, these two immature males were on the same branch. The lower one had some seed cases on a small twig in its beak. The gang-gang approached the other immature male, seeming to pass the food to him, where upon they engaged in beak rubbing. The bottom bird then spread its wings. followed by the top bird and they both started squawking while appearing to bite at each other. While those two were carrying-on the adult males stayed in one part of the tree and the females in another part. The sky was initially overcast making it hard to take a good photograph. Towards the end of my walk the sun came out, casting a ray of light over one of the males. The light struck him brilliantly, catching the red crown in golden warmth. That photograph heads this post.
Two male Gang-gang Cockatoos in the 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 1/250 SEC])
Two immature Gangs-gangs interacting
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 800, 400mm, f/5.6 and 1/400 SEC])
An Australian Raven (Corvus coronoides), accompanied by two Noisy Miners, flew to a dead tree beside the trail. The miners were making a racket, undoubtedly as the ravens will predate miner nests during the breeding season. The raven flew from the north-west to the tree with two miners following it. While it perched on the tree, one miner swooped it but the raven barely acknowledged the miner’s efforts. The raven kept looking out to the south-east but then flew back to the north-west.
An Australian Raven, seemingly little bothered by some Noisy Miners
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 800, 400mm, f/5.6 and 1/400 SEC])
Three Grey Butcherbirds (Cracticus torquatus) were calling around a small area. Their morning song was very sweet, with a rising melody followed by an undulating sign-off. There was little interaction between the three birds despite their proximity. The bird in the picture below was calling. A Noisy Miner landed on the same branch as the bird in the picture below but the butcherbird did not acknowledge the miner, nor did the miner try to target the butcherbird.
One of the Grey Butcherbirds calling
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 800, 400mm, f/7.1 and 1/400 SEC])
This lone Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes) was on this branch, letting the sun strike it.
Crested Pigeon
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 500, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
This Pied Currawong (Strepera graculina) inspired me to take the photograph below. A full moon was still up so I moved around to get the bird and the moon in the same shot. All the elements were in the frame, I did not add anything, although I did do some post processing to darken the sky while making the moon clearer. I really liked the composition.
I did a bit of editing of this photograph but the Pied Currawong, tree and moon are all in their original locations
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/640 SEC])
Yerrabi Track was the destination for my son and I later that morning. While I could hear birds around us, and saw some fairy-wrens, I was not able to obtain any photographs of birds or other creatures. Despite that disappointment we both thoroughly enjoyed the walk. The scenery was spectacular, with the clouds helping to add drama to the sky. There was even a light dusting of snow on parts of the track.
A light dusting of snow on the track
(iPhone SE)
Mount Gudgenby from the Boboyan Trig Point
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 200, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/640 SEC])
Mount Gudgenby through a different composition
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 200, 100mm, f/14 and 1/125 SEC])
Sentry Box Mountain
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 200, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/640 SEC])
The rock tor just below Boboyan Trig Point
(iPhone SE)
Zooming in on the right-hand side of the tor
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 200, 100mm, f/9.0 and 1/125 SEC])