Hall is a small town, a village really, which existed in this area before Canberra was established. When Hall was absorbed into the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) its residences lost some of their rights as they moved from under New South Wales to the federal administration of the non-self-governing ACT. This was my first trip to Hall and I loved the place and the birdlife. I mainly wandered along the One Tree Hill track that starts on the north side of Hall. I did not go far but I saw honeyeaters, finches, a Grey Thrush-shrike and a number of other wonderful birds. I hope you like the photographs below.
Dilapidated woolshed at Hall
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 200, 176mm, f/13 and 1/250 SEC])
The back of a shed at the Hall Showgrounds
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM [ISO 400, 35mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
Went back to hall for lunch the next weekend, took this shot of the old fence line around the showgrounds on a wet day
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF40mm f2.8 STM [ISO 400, 40mm, f/5.0 and 1/400 SEC])
This Grey Shrike-thrush (Colluricincla harmonica) was the first bird I heard, then saw. It was in a small group of trees just beside the trail. It was calling out regularly although I did not hear any response to it.
A Grey Shrike-thrush that posed perfectly for me
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/500 SEC])
A group of White-eared Honeyeaters (Lichenostomus leucotis) were moving through the tops of the wattle bushes on the southern side of the track. One of them was calling but the others, possibly three, were quiet. I think they were swooped by a group of Double-barred Finches that flew in from the north-east.
One of the White-eared Honeyeaters in a tree
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/500 SEC])
About five Double-barred Finches (Taeniopygia bichenovii) flew in from the north-east, possibly swooping a group of White-eared Honeyeaters. They did not land in the bushes where the honeyeaters were but in a bush further away on the opposite side of the track. They then flew to the grass on the north side of the track. They hopped through the short grass, in an uphill direction, apparently eating the grass seeds. I lost sight of them once they went over a slight bump in the ground.
One of the Double-barred Finches feeding on grass seeds
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/500 SEC])
Two of the finches looking for food
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/500 SEC])
A Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) landed on a branch, looking out to the south. It was almost in line with the sun from where I was so it was getting some nice rim-light.
Laughing Kookaburra getting some rim light from the rising sun
(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])
A single Noisy Friarbird (Philemon corniculatus) landed in the crown of a gum tree. It called out but I did not hear any response.
A Noisy Friarbird in a eucalyptus tree
(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])
A male Superb Fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus) in its blue plumage landed on a bush almost in arm's reach. It stayed there long enough for me to swing around and photograph him. There was at least one female also in the location, although she was further down and on the inside of the bush.
A male Superb Fairy-wren that landed very close to me
(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])
A Spotted Pardalote (Pardalotus punctatus) was with a mixed flock of small birds moving between trees in a garden opposite the trail exit. It was moving through the tree quickly.
A Spotted Pardalote in a Hall garden
(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])
About four Silvereyes (Zosterops lateralis) were on the wattle bushes in the front garden of a house.
A Silvereye looking for food in the wattle growing in a Hall garden
(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])
This Grey Butcherbird (Cracticus torquatus) was in the Hall Showgrounds. It saw something on the ground and went straight to it. There was another butcherbird nearby but the magpies did not like having them around and chased them off.
A Grey Butcherbird hunting at the Hall showgrounds
(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])
The National Arboretum seemed like a good place to call into on the short drive home so I could try to get more photographs of the birds from my bike ride the previous day.
The White-fronted Chats (Epthianura albifrons) were not around in numbers, nor could I see a male with the obvious chat plumage, instead I saw this juvenile in some small saplings. The bird was doing its morning preening but had no interactions with other chats.
A White-fronted Chat juvenile in a bare tree
(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])
It kept flying between the trees
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/800 SEC])
There were two Grey Teals (Anas gracilis) on the pond, still swimming around.
Grey Teal
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/1000 SEC])
Several Welcome Swallows (Hirundo neoxena) were flying around the main pond. I suspect they were investigating it as a source of mud for their nests. They were giving a marvellous display of aerobatics when they were flying. I really liked the pictures of the swallow on the post. There was an insect buzzing around it and the swallow was following the movement of the insect intently, although I am not sure if the insect became a meal for the swallow.
Welcome Swallow on a post at the arboretum’s main pond
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/6.3 and 1/800 SEC])
It was interested in a flying insect
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/6.3 and 1/800 SEC])
A White-plumed Honeyeater (Lichenostomus penicillatus) was perched in one of the bare saplings. It was doing some morning preening.
White-plumed Honeyeater
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/6.3 and 1/800 SEC])
A male Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca), distinguished by its black face, was busy collecting wet mud. It would then fly off to the north, over the hill, I am not sure where its nest was. It was taking a bit of mud in its beak. It did not seemed that bothered by my presence, landing not far from where I was before walking around to gather mud in its beak.
Magpie-lark gathering mud for its nest
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/9.0 and 1/640 SEC])