Red Hill Nature Reserve looked like it was ready to break out of winter despite the cold spell that has hit Canberra this week. The wattle was starting to bloom and more birds were showing up. I was out before the sun lit up the reserve but despite some cloud the sun did break through throwing some beautiful light on the area. There just seemed to be more birds on Red Hill this morning, with more variety as well. I could not spend long wandering around but I enjoyed my time. It was good to see some Gang-gangs near a tree where they bred successfully last year. It was also nice to see a group of Rainbow Lorikeets around. It was just a lovely start to the day. I hope you enjoy the photographs below.
I liked the pattern and colours on this old, up-turned stump
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF40mm f2.8 STM [ISO 400, 40mm, f/7.1 and 1/60 SEC])
Three Gang-gang Cockatoos (Callocephalon fimbriatum), a male and two females, were in a tree where there was successful breeding last season. The male was chasing off some Sulphur-crested Cockatoos that may have been interested in the hollow used by the Gang-gangs last breeding season. The male chased the Sulphur-crested Cockatoos to a tree about 20m to the west. One of the females joined him there, then they followed the Sulphur-crested Cockatoos that flew off much further to the west. The other female Gang-gang stayed in the original tree the whole time. The other Gang-gangs may have returned to the initial tree as I heard more Gang-gang calls from that tree later in the morning when I was further away. There are plenty of Gang-gangs around at present as there call is easily heard around the suburb.
Female Gang-gang Cockatoo
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/200 SEC])
Two Australian Wood Ducks (Chenonetta jubata), a male and female, were on some piles of dirt. There were also some other wood ducks around as well. These two ducks may have been foraging as they ended up on the same mound. This area south of the Deakin Telstra building normally has Australian Wood Ducks, which may be searching for tree hollows as breeding places.
A pair of Australian Wood Ducks, female on the left and male on the right, looking at each other
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 278mm, f/8.0 and 1/80 SEC])
Four Rainbow Lorikeets (Trichoglossus haematodus) were in a tree closer to the houses. They took off to the north but then doubled back to a tree near the Deakin telephone exchange, although I could only see one of the birds in the tree. It only stayed for a while before it flew off northwards as well. They have had a nest in this area before so this may be a good sign for the breeding season.
One of the four Rainbow Lorikeets I saw
(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])
Australian Magpies (Cracticus tibicen) are common across the ACT. It is hard to find an open area where there are no magpies. It is also approaching the time of year when magpies start swooping; causing much consternation among cyclists, the usual target, and some unfortunate pedestrians, who also occasionally become targets. The pair I came across on this morning walk were very interesting as they appeared to be from two different sub-species. Canberra is in the region where the two sub-species meet and it is not unusual to see mating between the sub-species. The birds do produce young who form a hybrid of the two sub-species.
A female white-backed form of Australian Magpie, the greyish pattern on her back denotes her sex
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 312mm, f/7.1 and 1/500 SEC])
This black-backed form appeared to be a partner of the above bird, not uncommon in Canberra
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 312mm, f/7.1 and 1/500 SEC])
This White-plumed Honeyeater (Lichenostomus penicillatus) was a new bird for me. There was a group of small birds moving among the trees but they were moving quickly, while staying on the far side of the tree from where I was. I waited until one came to the the leaves on my side of the tree. I was not able to see what bird I was photographing, I thought it was a Silvereye given the olive green colouring. It was only when I was processing the photographs did I realise it was a honeyeater. The bird appeared to be eating from the leaves and branches. I am unsure whether it was after lerp or possibly the melting frost to drink.
I admit, not the best photograph of a White-plumed Honeyeater
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/7.1 and 1/500 SEC])
Eastern Grey Kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) are very common but I still enjoy seeing them. They are very alert on Red Hill possibly because of the people moving around as well as dogs. This morning I saw a group of three, in an area by themselves. There was one male, his tail is just visible in the bottom right of the photograph, as well as a female with a large joey. The joey was out of the pouch but taking a very long drink of milk. The whole time I was photographing the joey was drinking. It mainly had its eyes shut and ears flat against its head. The joey may have consumed all the milk as it started nodding its head while still drinking and opening its eyes. Its mother did not seem much larger than the joey. While the joey was drinking the mother was keeping me under observation as well as some other kangaroos. This little group was in an area beneath some trees where kangaroos regularly seem to overnight. Kangaroos are breeding machines. With this joey outside of the pouch feeding, there was likely a second joey on a teat inside the pouch and a third one in suspended embryo stage inside the mother awaiting the departure of the joey in the pouch so the embryo could start developing. A mother kangaroo can have three young in various stages of development with her body producing two different types of milk to support the different needs of the two baby kangaroos.
A joey taking milk for a female that is not much larger than the joey
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 640, 300mm, f/8.0 and 1/100 SEC])