Canberra has been experiencing a lot of heavy rain and overcast days recently. This has turned Canberra greener than it has been for years but the conditions have not been conducive to taking photographs. Despite the weather I still like to go for a kayak because I dress for getting wet from spray so a bit of rain is no problem. Recently, I have really wanted to improve my confidence of taking a proper camera and lens with me in my kayak so I have a better chance of photographing the wildlife and other things I see when I am paddling. So on this Saturday I packed my Canon EOS 6D Mk II DSLR with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM lens that I placed carefully into a Sea to Summit deck bag on my kayak before I went for my usual paddle on Lake Burley Griffin. I am starting with a lighter camera and lens combination while I get used to using a decent camera from a kayak. I did take this DSLR with the Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM zoom lens when I paddled on the Shoalhaven River but I was not confident using that lens and camera combination from the kayak in the middle of the river so I would head to the shore where I could run the kayak aground while I took photographs, meaning I sometimes missed shots. I think I have the right technique now so after I am feeling more confident I will take my normal camera and lens combination with me. That said, even with the current set up I enjoyed taking shots and I was happy with the photos that I took of the Australasian Darter and the Silver Gulls. I hope that you like the photographs below.
I often like paddling towards the west, heading along the curves that the Molonglo River carved out from these plains over tens of thousands of years but are now part of Lake Burley Griffin. Heading in a westerly direction is an enjoyable paddle as the banks of the lake tend to be grass and reeds rather than concrete like they are in the central basin. There is also the National Arboretum off to the west presenting a nice, green ridge to look at. Although I can see the road from the lake there is normally not much traffic along it so I tend to see the land rising from the water rather than the cars.
This Saturday, after turning around at Scrivener Dam, I retraced the watery route back to my starting point. Heading north on the westernmost arm of the lake Black Mountain is obvious against the sky, with the Telstra Tower topping it. On foggy, or days with low clouds, the elements can cloak the tower, or event the whole mountain. This morning was one of those days where the clouds seemed to be caught by the tower as they tried to blow past adding some wonderful drama to the scene.
Black Mountain and its tower seen from Lake Burley Griffin
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 800, 70mm, f/7.1 and 1/200 SEC])
Focussing in on the low cloud surrounding the tower
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 500, 96mm, f/9.0 and 1/200 SEC])
After swinging around the point in the lake made by Weston Park I headed south-east back towards the suburb of Yarralumla just as some rain started to pour. The banks of the lake were particularly nice on the southern side because they had trees that reached into the lake. I noticed an Australasian Darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae), probably a female, resting on a branch with some rain-covered leaves behind her. This was my big test to see if I could photograph from my kayak. As you can see from the shot at the top of the post and below, I was able to get some shots of this bird. The problem with a kayak is that it does not stay stationary so it was always drifting towards the bird. In response, the bird started to look around, possibly to check on what its options for escape were. I noticed that it had something on its beak, possibly plastic. I am not sure what it was, and I had a closer look at the photograph, but it may have been some ring that the darter had attempted to spear with its beak. I thought the darter would have used a branch to pull the plastic off but may be that bit of waste was wedged firmly on its beak or the rubbish had just lodged there after the most recent dive. As my kayak drifted closer to the bird she decided that I was too close so she dropped into the water. Darters normally seem to head into the water when they feel threatened whereas cormorants often prefer to fly off.
Australasian Darter
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 500, 96mm, f/9.0 and 1/200 SEC])
Paddling back along the lake, I decided not to return straight to where I had started from but to continue tracing my outward route by going around an island in the lake, Spinnaker Island. This was a small island with only a few trees but the grass and other vegetation was growing tall with the recent rains. The overgrown island was not receiving much maintenance at present possibly because the Silver Gulls (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae) were mating on the island.
I often paddle past this island in the mornings and I always see Silver Gulls on stumps on the island and was wondering if they use those stumps as breeding places. These gulls typically use shallow scrapes lined with vegetation to lay their eggs in. It is possible they were using depressions in the stumps and logs as nesting locations because they have been recorded nesting on a number of different objections beyond the ground, such as: boats, roofs, shrubs, etc. Certainly, it would seem that one gull would always be ‘on duty’ at the site, challenging other gulls that came too close. I did not see any indication of feeding so there may still be eggs at this stage. The first two photographs were of the same stump, but in the second photograph one of the birds has left. The third photograph was of another bird that also seemed to have a log, doing its best to keep other birds away.
Two Silver Gulls on a stump
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 250, 200mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
The Silver Gull that remained on the stump
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 250, 200mm, f/7.1 and 1/250 SEC])
A different Silver Gull on a different stump further amongst the grass on the island
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 250, 200mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
After completing a loop around Spinnaker Island I paddled back to the little beach at Yarralumla Bay where I finished my paddle, but not my photography. There were three trees, which I believe are oaks, that had star pickets in them. I don’t think people have randomly stuck the star pickets into the trees, I suspect, given the state of the pickets, that they may have been there from when the trees were first planted as a way to stabilise the trees like a stake. However, nobody ever returned to remove the pickets and because they were solidly in the ground the trees had to grow around them. I have seen a tree on Red Hill that had a spoon embedded in it so I suspected these trees were not unduly worried by these pickets, the lush canopy of leaves seemed to support this. I had seen these trees every morning when I paddle from this beach and always wanted to photograph these strange adornments so I was happy to finally have a chance.
Oak Trees with star pickets
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 800, 70mm, f/14 and 1/80 SEC])
I enjoy my paddling and I try to get out regularly, especially now that the weather is warming up. The following Saturday I was sweating on what the weather would do because I wanted to go for another paddle with my camera. I was in luck, because again the weather held off and even the sun periodically came out to provide some welcomed light. This time I headed east to the central basin because I wanted to see what birds I could find around Aspen Island, where the National Carillon is, plus the two small un-named islands just to the west of Aspen. Noting where the sun was I paddled towards Kings Avenue Bridge before I turned the kayak around to have the early morning sun behind me to photograph with. The sky to the south was looking ominous and dark, with the clouds that a bit later in the day brought the forecast heavy storm. Against that moody sky I noticed a glow over the area where most of the national institutions were, but it did not seem to be a light from any of them. I was wondering if maybe the sun was reflecting off a building or something similar. Whatever it was, I really liked the effect. That was a similar situation wth the light reflecting off the massive flag pole above Parliament House. I lined up under Kings Avenue Bridge for that shot, it was a very standard shot but it gave me a chance to practice getting into a position with a kayak, then maintaining that position. The sun kept going behind clouds making it a tad challenging to hold a position while I waited for the reflected light to be strong again. Eventually, I accepted that the sun was not going to re-appear from behind a large cloud so I took that as a sign to commence my return journey.
Unfortunately, I did not see any birds that I could photograph around Aspen Island or the two adjacent, un-named islands but I did like the way that the morning sun was catching the light-coloured exterior of the National Library, contrasting with the dark, foreboding storm clouds behind it.
Not sure what was causing this glow because the sun was behind me
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 1000, 72mm, f/11 and 1/125 SEC])
A standard shot from under Kings Avenue Bridge looking up to the flag over Parliament House with a storm as a backdrop
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 1000, 72mm, f/11 and 1/160 SEC])
Sunlight reflecting off the National Library contrasting with the dark of an approaching storm
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 640, 86mm, f/9.0 and 1/250 SEC])
Crossing the central basin on my return journey, trying to stay out of the way of the rowers practicing on the lake, I paddled back under Commonwealth Avenue Bridge. Just to the west of that bridge was a dead tree directly beside the lake. The tree was wonderfully twisted like menacing tentacles reaching out to grab something passing by. I often rode past that tree on my bicycle contemplating how to use it in a photograph. In my mind I wanted to isolate the tree but avoid capturing any urban development around it. I wanted to show it alone to extenuate its character-filled limbs. In paddling past it, I realised that I have found my angle. In fact looking at the photograph, I probably should have gone a little further back and moved a little closer to the shore to really isolate the tree fully.
A dead tree that seemed to match the sky
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 640, 70mm, f/9.0 and 1/250 SEC])
I was getting close to the finish of my paddle but I had still not photographed any birds or other wildlife. I decided to go past Springbank Island but I scared a Great Cormorant when I paddled around some vegetation and learnt that I needed to be a little further away from trees so that I did not suddenly come upon birds, because that would spook them.
After my failure at Springbank Island I headed once more for Spinnaker Island but I came from a different direction to the previous week. Once again I saw a pair of Silver Gulls apparently guarding a stump, or actually a fallen tree that was still attached to the stump. From the bird droppings around a part of the tree it looked like this was a well used location. Again, I could not see any indication of chicks being fed so I could only assume that there were only eggs in the nest.
Silver Gull on a branch on a Spinnaker Island
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 640, 200mm, f/7.1 and 1/250 SEC])
Paddling on I was welcomed by the pleasant call of an Australian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus australis). I had tried to photograph this species the previous week but their habit of staying within the reeds defeated me. This week, I was fortunate as I saw one bird on an exposed part of the island, outside of the lush reeds growing around it. The bird looked like it was gathering nest building material as it used its beak to tug at some dead reeds on the bank. I lined up my kayak beautifully to take photographs, with the sun behind me and a gentle breeze pushing my craft in the diection of the bird. I was annoyed that I had not been brave enough to have brought my large zoom lens because I felt I really would have got some charming photographs of the warbler with a more powerful lens. Still, I enjoyed my time with this bird because the warbler did not seem that worried about my kayak slowly getting closer. Eventually, the bird flew off with some vegetation. At that stage I thought my chance for observing and photographing the bird was over because it would climd some way up the reeds before disappearing back into a clump that was just too far in among the reeds for me to see the birds. However, a bird suddenly flew up onto a larger stalked plant before descending down its trunk. I had to stifle a laugh because for the next 20 seconds all I could was this stouter plant waving backwards and forwards very roughly among the thinner surrounding reeds, like this tiny bird was trying to work the plant loose from the ground. I knew the bird was doing nothing of the kind but I did have a funny mental image of a cursing, sweating bird putting its back into ripping that plant up from its roots. Eventually, the bird flew back up with a far more moderately sized reed in its beak before once more descending into that hidden clump of foliage where it was building a nest. Again and again I saw these birds climb the reeds, sometimes calling, other times flying rapidly between individual reeds. There may have been up to three birds in that clump of reeds but as both sexes look the same I could not tell if there was a mating pair at least although I made that assumption. It would be a good time to have chicks for this insect-eating bird because the reeds were full of insects that also seemed keen on mating such as mayflies.
Australian Reed Warbler looking for nest building material
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 1000, 200mm, f/7.1 and 1/320 SEC])
While I was photographing the Reed Warblers a pair of stately Black Swans (Cygnus atratus) swam past. That was all I saw of them but they are such beautiful birds with their black plumage and bright red beaks that I always enjoy photographing them. I had seen two of these birds fly up the length of the central basin but I had been so mesmerised watching the two birds flying in a line that was going to pass straight over me I forgot that I had a camera that I should take out to photograph them. Sometimes it is nice just to enjoy the moment.
The movement of the swans reminded me that I also needed to keep going because I should get back to the family rather than sit peacefully in the reeds photographing water birds.
Black Swan swimming past
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 1000, 200mm, f/7.1 and 1/320 SEC])
As I was paddling away from my enjoyable time at Spinnaker Island I saw some rowers go past, accompanied by their coach in a small runabout. Although I tend not to photograph people I liked this shot because the rowers were brightly coloured with trees behind them, yet further back was the brewing storm. I also liked that the coach was using his hands in this photograph so he looks active as well. Rowers move much faster than me on the water and I feel that we are sometimes two watercraft destined to have a crash. They can easily overtake me but they cannot easily see behind them, so they are not well sighted about what is in their path. Whereas I find it difficult to look back over my shoulder to see what may be approaching me. That said, I tend to know where the rowers go on the lake so I avoid those areas or cross them quickly. The coaches are always considerate when they dart about to correct and motivate their charges because they always slow down when they approach me and often wish me a good morning. There is a nice feeling on the lake and I hope that I have never caused the rowers any inconvenience because I figure that we are all out there enjoying what we are doing so why ruin it for the other party when the lake is large enough for all of us.
Rowers receiving guidance from their coach
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 100, 200mm, f/7.1 and 1/320 SEC])
Heading back into Yarralumla Bay I saw some birds on a swimming pontoon enjoying what was no doubt a safe spot away from people walking their dogs that were sometimes off the leash. It was much harder for dogs to chase birds on this pontoon, although the birds would have had to go to the shallows to preen themselves.
Little Black Cormorants and Silver Gulls enjoying a swimming pontoon
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 1000, 200mm, f/7.1 and 1/500 SEC])
I am still a sucker for a photograph of a cormorant so I lined the kayak up one of the Little Black Cormorants (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris) letting my momentum and the wind slowly send me closer. Unfortunately, I should have stopped earlier because I spooked these birds that flew off. However, the Silver Gulls were non-plussed, not even bothering to move.
Little Black Cormorant preparing to fly away
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 1000, 200mm, f/7.1 and 1/500 SEC])
Turning back to paddle to the shore I noticed a small bird on the shoreline, one that I have never seen there before, it was a Red-capped Plover (Charadrius ruficapillus), that the Canberra Ornithologist Group lists as a ‘rare, non-breeding visitor’ in the ACT. The small bird was keeping close to the waterline but even the small wavelets were sending it scurrying back up this small beach. It would occasionally peck at something on the sand that surprised me because I did not realise there was much life on this beach. The bird was not bothered by the sea gulls, who did not give it a second glance although it did stay at the northern end of the beach away from a large gather of gulls and not far from some clumps of vegetation. I only saw one of these birds and I doubt that it will stay there because this little beach can get busy during the day and is a rather popular beach. I was happy to get some useable photographs because while shooting the bird my kayak was parallel to the beach, right on the shore and being rocked by a series of small waves so I was not shooting from a stable position.
Red-capped Plover looking for food
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 1250, 200mm, f/9.0 and 1/500 SEC])
Red-capped Plover watching the waves
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 1000, 200mm, f/9.0 and 1/500 SEC])
After photographing the plover I could not ignore a beautiful Immature Silver Gull that was standing almost directly beside where my kayak was. The brown mottling over the grey and the dirty white showed it was an immature bird. This colouration was part of its camouflage it needed when it was younger in the nest before it fledged. As it gets older its plumage will change into the white and grey that people are used to and its beak and legs will turn a brighter red.
Immature Silver Gull with an adult in the background
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 1250, 200mm, f/9.0 and 1/500 SEC])
Silver Gulls at the waters edge, with two immature birds in the water, while mainly adults are on the shore
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 1250, 200mm, f/9.0 and 1/500 SEC])
I have really enjoyed my photographing while I am paddling because it combines two activities that I like and it gives me some different perspectives that I would not have if I was just photographing from the shore. I feel that I have to bite the bullet and get used to bringing the larger lens. I have just seen so many things that I wished I had better shots of. I will see how I go with that plan.
Thanks for reading about my trip and thanks also for looking at my photos. I hope you come back again to read more about some of the wonderful natural things that the Australian Capital Territory has on offer. All the best until the next post.