This Whistling Kite was the first one I had seen, and I almost missed it when I first arrived on Spinnaker Island, an island located in Canberra’s Lake Burley Griffin. The raptor was in a tree on the island when I arrived but flew away, not because of me, but I think it was looking for food. Beyond that fantastic bird I was pleasantly surprised how much birdlife there was on the island. Unfortunately, the lighting was not great because the morning was very overcast and there was still smoke from the bushfires. In addition, I thought it would be hard to find photographic subjects because the island was small with sparse vegetation but in the end I was late departing the island as I kept wanting to take more photographs. Being late meant I had to paddle a bit faster in my kayak to get back to shore so I was not too late home. I did not worry too much about my tardiness because I had had a truly interesting time on this small island, thoroughly enjoying my short visit; I hope you like the photos below, and the video I made of my visit (the video is also embedded below). Sorry about the quality of the photographs, the bad lighting meant I was shooting with a very high ISO so some crept into the pictures.
An Australian White Ibis (Threskiornis molucca) was on the shore of Lake Burley Griffin as I passed a headland to paddle to the island. The bird was in a dark spot but I really liked the composition. These birds are getting a bird reputation for scavenging in cities from people and perhaps some folk do not realise these are waterbirds. This one was stalking the shallows looking for food. As an aside, this was my first photograph I took from a kayak and I was very worried while taking the shot about tipping the kayak over and sending my camera gear into the lake.
Australian White Ibis on the shore of Lake Burley Griffin near dawn, my first photograph from a kayak
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 4000, 234mm, f/5.6 and 1/800 SEC])
A pair of Magpie-larks (Grallina cyanoleuca) were on the island but they did not appear to have a nest.
Male Magpie-lark with a dead Silver Gull behind him
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 4000, 400mm, f/5.6 and 1/500 SEC])
This Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus) was in the trees on the north-east corner of the island when I first arrived. After dragging my kayak ashore I was disheartened to see this beautiful bird fly off to the north towards Acton. Fortunately, it returned soon afterwards, once again perching in the tree. These trees were also being used by some Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes and some Australian Reed Warblers. The cuckoo-shrikes did not seem happy to share the tree with the kite and eventually drove it off. The reason for driving off the kite may be because Kites will eat birds, possibly evidences by the island being littered with the carcasses of dead Silver Gulls, many with wounds to their abdomens. I wonder if the kite was responsible for those wounds. A previous siting in November 2019 on Canberra Nature Map mentioned a kite on this island keeping on eye on roosting gulls.
Whistling Kite in a tree
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 4000, 400mm, f/5.6 and 1/320 SEC])
There were four Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes (Coracina novaehollandiae) on the island. They were very active, appearing to be alarmed when the Whistling Kite was around. They would fly to different trees on the island but did not fly too far away. One of them did appear slightly paler than the others, so it may have been an immature bird.
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 4000, 400mm, f/5.6 and 1/320 SEC])
There were several Australian Reed Warblers (Acrocephalus australis), possibly in a couple of groups. They were active in the trees on the north-east of the island as well as the reeds at the western end of the island. There was at least one immature bird in the group. It was happy to take insects out of a spider’s web and also to take food from an adult bird, in the case I saw, a larger insect than those in the web.
Australian Reed Warbler getting an easy insect meal by raiding a spider’s web
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 4000, 400mm, f/5.6 and 1/400 SEC])
Australian Reed Warbler adult above with a newly fed juvenile below that still wants more food
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 4000, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/640 SEC])
There were possibly up to four Purple Swamphens (Porphyrio porphyrio) on the island. I did not see any chicks and the adults mainly kept to the west end of the island, where the reeds were. One of the birds half-heartedly chased another one along the north side of the island. I love the way they flick their white tails as they walk.
Purple Swamphen
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 4000, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/640 SEC])
This male Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata) flew past the island. The photograph is a little blurry but I did like the colours in his wing.
Australian Wood Duck flying above the lake
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 2000, 263mm, f/14 and 1/400 SEC])
Two Pacific Black Ducks (Anas superciliosa) swam near the island but did not come on land.
Pacific Black Duck
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 1000, 263mm, f/8.0 and 1/500 SEC])
A pair of Black Swans (Cygnus atratus) flew towards the island, landing in the water just to the north, they then swam slowly parallel, in a westerly direction, along the north shore. As with the ducks they did not come onto the land.
Black Swan
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 1600, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/500 SEC])