Aranda Bushland Nature Reserve is a small reserve to the west of Black Mountain Nature Reserve. Given the time of year I was not planning on walking the usual routes through the reserve because there would probably not be too much wildlife to see. I decided to try some small ponds that were in the bushland. I had not been to these ponds before so I was not sure what to expect. The first pond was close to a road and there was not much life on the water. The second pond was further in among the trees and my initial thoughts were that there was not much there either. Fortunately, while peering through some branches I noticed a pair of Australian Wood Ducks. I was able to spend some time quietly photographing them. They were aware of me but grew used to my presence. I am beginning to make a habit of sitting by small ponds on cold Sunday mornings. Beyond the pond, I was fascinated by some lichen. With a bit of an imagination I am sure I could see a tree spirit’s face in the pattern on one tree. No, I do not believe in spirits, but it was nice to indulge my inner child. I hope you enjoy the pictures below.
The Old Man’s Beard lichen that caught my attention
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM [ISO 800, 49mm, f/8.0 and 1/100 SEC])
Some more Old Man’s Beard lichen on a branch from the same tree
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM [ISO 800, 46mm, f/8.0 and 1/100 SEC])
The other side of the branch above with what a I describe as a “tree spirit face” - yes a bit of Lightroom tweaking helped to bring it out more
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM [ISO 800, 46mm, f/8.0 and 1/100 SEC])
There were a male and female Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata) beside a pond when I first saw them. The male was on the bank preening himself while the female was in the pond, standing on the submerged section of a branch. She was very still, occasionally moving her head. The birds were calm, even when I slowly moved into view. When I walked a little closer to them, the male swam to where the female was. They then both swam a little out into the pond. Once they were comfortable I was staying in one location, I was sitting to watch them and take photographs, they waddled on to the land again. Once out of the water they started to eat some of the small plants in the soaked soil beside the water. The female did a little calling but only for a short period. When I circled the pond, they just kept moving around the pond to keep the water between them and me, they appeared reluctant to fly away.
The female Australian Wood duck swimming
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 800, 400mm, f/6.3 and 1/100 SEC])
The male Australian Wood Duck
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 800, 400mm, f/6.3 and 1/100 SEC])
The pair together
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 800, 248mm, f/8.0 and 1/100 SEC])
This photograph of a male Superb Fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus) is very blurry and I am only including it because the bird is banded. I will report it on Canberra Nature Map as I was not aware the fairy-wrens were banded here, unless it has come from ANU or the Australian National Botanic Gardens. Even though those locations are not too distant fairy-wrens supposedly do not move far so this one may be looking for a new territory. I did not see another fairy-wren in the immediate vicinity of this male, although I did see others during my walk.
A blurry male Superb Fairy-wren; I only kept it because of the leg bands
(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])
When I was almost back at the car, there were a pair of Crimson Rosellas (Platycercus elegans) feeding in this small shrub. They were eating the small fruits with the aid of their right foot. Use of the right foot is slightly against the parrot norm, which is usually a preference for the left foot. Some research, reported in a book titled Stray Feathers, has shown that parrots that have a preference for one foot over another are better at performing foraging tasks.
A Crimson Rosella enjoying some food in the morning
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/250 SEC])
I was again happy to see a flock of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus funereus) fly overhead. They were coming up from the south, from the direction of the National Arboretum, heading towards Black Mountain. Whenever I see these birds in a flock, they tend to fly in small groups of at most four birds. I do not know if that is a family unit or some other grouping, just something that I have noticed. They are beautiful birds, which are normally heard before they are seen.
A flock of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos flying over the area
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/1250 SEC])