The start of the year felt very busy, I was out and around Canberra but I did not seem to have much time. I was out photographing but I could not find the time to process and organise the photographs I had taken so I ended up with a lot of photos and no blog posts. Although I do not like composing long posts that cover several photographic trips I thought that would be the best way to allow me to publish the photographs below. There are a mix of photographic styles and subjects from various parts of Canberra with a number of different subjects. Some of these were captured while I was out specifically looking for photographic subjects, others were shot while I was out doing other things but had taken my camera with me. There are a number of birds and other animals below. I really enjoyed photographing the Purple Swanphens, even if they are common birds. I was also happy to photograph the Australian King-parrots that visited my garden because they are truly beautiful birds.
I am sincerely sorry for the lack of posting and this long one but I hope to be a little more in control of my schedule soon. I hope you enjoy the photographs.
Rain starting to fall, with a rain drop in the birdbath
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 2000, 255mm, f/16 and 1/200 SEC])
A serene Buddha’s head statue behind a garden pond
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 400, 90mm, f/8.0 and 1/50 SEC])
Looking across Lake Burley Griffin to Black Mountain early in the morning in February
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 100, 70mm, f/16 and 0.3 SEC]) tripod and CPL
A tighter shot four minutes later with a cloud changing the light falling across Black Mountain
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 100, 164mm, f/16 and 1/0.3 SEC]) tripod and CPL
Clouds over Mount Ainslie looking like a volcanic eruption
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/13 and 1/125 SEC])
A Dandelion beside a path near Lake Burley Griffin
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 100, 150mm, f/5.0 and 1/160 SEC])
Blundell’s Cottage beside Lake Burley Griffin at dawn
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM [ISO 100, 35mm, f/16 and 0.5 SEC])
A reminder of Canberra’s recent rural past, between Fyshwick and Queanbeyan
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 640, 82mm, f/11 and 1/100 SEC] with CPL)
Black Mountain Tower seen from the ANU campus
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 100, 113mm, f/8.0 and 1/100 SEC])
A row of eucalyptus trunks at ANU
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 100, 194mm, f/8.0 and 1/100 SEC])
These two Crested Pigeons (Ocyphaps lophotes) were looking for food in a parched, grassless area between a carpark and Sullivans Creek at the Australian National University (ANU). The birds on campus appear to be very use to humans as they do not flee when people walk closely past them.
A pair of Crested Pigeons at ANU
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 400, 200mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
This first group of Australian Wood Ducks (Chenonetta jubata) were not far from the Crested Pigeons. They were preening themselves but were also standing quietly, almost resting. It was a warmish day so they seemed to be content to be in the shade. The second pair, in the bottom photograph were happy in the shade created by a bridge at ANU.
Three Australian Wood Ducks resting beside Sullivans Creek
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 400, 200mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
A pair of wood ducks in the shade out of the heat at ANU
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 1000, 187mm, f/10 and 1/100 SEC])
The Purple Swamphens (Porphyrio porphyrio) were the birds I really enjoyed viewing as there were at least two families. The chicks seemed to be in seperate families but it was not clear which adults were associated with which chicks. There were at lest one adult with each group of chicks but there were also other adults around. The first family group had two chicks that were following an adult who was keeping them downstream at Sullivans Creek. The adult was happy to take them into the reeds on either side of the small creek. They possibly moved further upstream later on, even leaving the water. Only later did I realise I had a photo sequence of one chick expelling its waste in a long, green stream; towards its sibling. The receiving relative did not even react, probably best to avoid a family disagreement. In the second group, the three chicks were with two adults on the bank near the pedestrian bridge where a lot of people were crossing. It was only when I approached along the creekside path that the chicks started to move, with the parents entering the water first followed by the chicks, there was no panic among the birds and I stopped once I realised I had disturbed them. They still continued into the water at a slow, unrushed pace. Despite their elongated toes, without webbing they were still good swimmers. The parents were pulling weed up from the bottom, often dragging matted weed until they could get a bit to feed their chicks. The chicks were often calling but they did not rush the one being fed, possibly indicating there was enough food to consume.
The first Purple Swamphen family, south of the other family
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 1000, 200mm, f/10 and 1/640 SEC])
Possibly the same chicks with the top one defecating a green column, with the other being unperturbed by it
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 250, 200mm, f/10 and 1/500 SEC])
A parent in the other family feeding a chick
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 1000, 187mm, f/10 and 1/640 SEC])
An adult gathering weed
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 640, 200mm, f/10 and 1/320 SEC])
Two males and a female Australian King-parrot (Alisterus scapularis) were enjoying the fruit in our Chinese Pistachio tree (Pistacia chinensis). They were happily munching away on an overcast, drizzly day.
Australian King-parrot male in a Chinese Pistachio tree
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 500, 200mm, f/6.3 and 1/180 SEC])
Australian King-parrot female
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 500, 200mm, f/6.3 and 1/180 SEC])
A group of Pied Currawongs (Strepera graculina) have been regularly visiting some dried dog food I have been leaving out. I started doing this after seeing the condition of some of them around the time of the fires surrounding Canberra. I thought their condition was caused by the fires but some of the more knowledgeable people on Canberra Nature Map considered their condition was more likely caused by the stress in raising their chicks. Either way, I thought they needed a hand so I used some advice from Dr Darryl Jones in his book Feeding the Birds at Your Table. I also had Australian Ravens and Magpies dropping by for the occasional feed, and I even saw a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo with a pellet in its beak one day.
A dishevelled Pied Currawong eating food left out to help it
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 640, 200mm, f/6.3 and 1/200 SEC])
There are always Silver Gulls (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae) around Lake Burley Griffin, especially in areas where people gather and there may be a chance for the birds to get an easy feed. There was a group of these birds who were not enjoying the wind, eventually sitting down to face into the wind and shut their eyes. These birds are very light, so I can understand how they would find a strong wind a challenging proposition.
Silver Gulls by Lake Burley Griffin on a windy, overcast day in February
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 100, 200mm, f/9.0 and 1/125 SEC])
A pair of Magpie-larks (Grallina cyanoleuca) were moving through some trees at ANU.
Magpie-lark female in a tree at ANU
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 100, 200mm, f/8.0 and 1/100 SEC])
This group of Pacific Black Ducks (Anas superciliosa) were on the swollen Molonglo River in an area where there was a bit of slack water. Even though I was a distance from them they were still spooked, which led them to flying off, although they took off in my direction.
Pacific Black Ducks on the Molonglo River
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/5.6 and 1/500 SEC])
I had a wonderful time with this juvenile Gippsland Water Dragon (Itellagama lesueurii howittii) at the Australian National Botanic Gardens. It was originally poised, alert on a low wall and appeared comfortable enough with my presence that I was able to gradually move closer. At some stage, I thought it had decided I was close enough and ran off the wall. I thought my chances were over but it went to a boulder slightly closer where it quickly gobbled down an insect. Then it happily patrolled the boulder looking for more food.I really loved the second photo below, the way the dragon is looking off to one side. There were people walking past me and they probably wondered what I was photographing with my 70-200mm lens in such a small area of shrubbery but I was having a great time with this very cooperative reptile. There were one or two other juveniles in the surrounding area, about the same size, but none were in such a good spot for photographing as this one. Later, in a different part of the ANBG, I came across an adult male who did not mind getting his photo taken. The throat colouration marked him out as a male. He was on a small wall and came to the edge while I was photographing him.
Gippsland Water Dragon juvenile
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 100, 200mm, f/8.0 and 1/125 SEC])
I just really liked how this shot turned out
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 100, 200mm, f/8.0 and 1/125 SEC])
An adult Gippsland Water Dragon
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 100, 200mm, f/7.1 and 1/100 SEC])
Sullivans Creek at ANU had a large number of Mosquito Fish or Eastern Gambusia (Gambusia holbrooki) swimming in it. When I approached the creek they would swim off but gradually, after a moment would return to keep feeding. These fish were introduced into Australia in the 1920s to control mosquitos but are a major pest in inland waterways now.
Mosquito fish in Sullivans Creek
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 500, 200mm, f/10 and 1/500 SEC])
This spectacular looking Orb-weaving Spider was on our clothes line one night although it had not created an orb web when I was photographing it, nor did I see one the next day. I am not sure what it was doing on our line and I have not seen it since. I also did not tell my wife about it because she is not a big fan of spiders, even when they look as amazing as this one.
Orb-weaving Spider
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/5.0 and 1/180 SEC] with Yongnuo YN14EX Macro Ring Lite)
The photos below are of a number of dragonflies and damselflies I saw along Sullivans Creek, They were flying back and forward along the creek for the most part, with some occasionally resting on reeds. I was happily amazed at the variety of species I saw along a short stretch of an urban creek. The species below are the Blue Skimmer Dragonfly (Orthetrum caledonicum), Blue Spotted Hawker (Adversaeschna brevistyla), Scarlet Percher Dragonfly (Diplacodes haematodes), Common Flatwing Damselfly (Austroargiolestes icteromelas) and Common Bluetail (Ischnura heterosticta).
A Blue Skimmer Dragonfly resting on a reed at Sullivans Creek
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 500, 200mm, f/10 and 1/500 SEC])
Blue Spotted Hawker resting on a plant
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 400, 200mm, f/10 and 1/200 SEC])
Scarlet Percher dragonlfy
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 1000, 200mm, f/10 and 1/640 SEC])
Common Flatwing damselfly resting on a leaf
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 500, 200mm, f/10 and 1/500 SEC]) with focus stacking
Common Bluetail damselfly holding onto a reed
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 400, 200mm, f/10 and 1/200 SEC])
A head on shot
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 400, 200mm, f/10 and 1/200 SEC])
There were Giant Green Slantfaces (Acrida conica) everywhere in the grass beside Sullivans Creek. They came in various sizes and were in a perfect place for their camouflage. When I was moving through the grass they would only jump at the last minute before I was inadvertently about to step on them. If I did not watch where they landed they were very hard to find again to photograph.
Giant Green Slantface in the grass beside Sullivans Creek
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 500, 200mm, f/10 and 1/800 SEC])
This Wingless Grasshopper (Phaulacridium vittatum) nymph was in my backyard. It was a tiny thing and was confident in its camouflage. It moved slowly while I was photographing it, at least to get into a good position on top of that bit of bark it is resting on. These insects are considered pest on crops. They are native insects but changes to the landscape and vegetation since European settlement have been a great benefit to them, meaning they are always on the verge of breeding in great numbers to go on a feeding frenzy.
Wingless Grasshopper nymph
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/4.5 and 1/180 SEC] with Yongnuo YN14EX Macro Ring Lite)
This European Earwig (Forficula auricularia) was halfway up a thin leaf. It was lying mostly across the leaf but not doing anything obvious. These are introduced insects that are considered pests. While earwigs are omnivores, European Earwigs tend to target new growth in vegetation and can shred the growth on new plants.
European Earwig
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/4.5 and 1/180 SEC] with Yongnuo YN14EX Macro Ring Lite)
This Shield bug nymph was crawling over the inside of the foliage, and I liked the way it was silhouetted again the darkness inside the shrub.
Shield bug nymph on a leaf in a bush
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/4.5 and 1/180 SEC] with Yongnuo YN14EX Macro Ring Lite)
This Robber Fly (Zosteria rosevillensis) was in the reeds beside Sullivans Creek. It was happy on the leaf and not bothered by my presence. I really liked being able to look at the colours and structure of this fly, they have a strange beauty all of their own. Although that beauty belies their sinister intent as they feed on other insects and can sometimes be seen perched on top of their victims consuming them.
Robber Fly resting on a leaf
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 1000, 200mm, f/10 and 1/640 SEC])
There were two of these winged female ants. I wondered if they were the ones who had not been successful in starting a new hive as one was dead on its back while this one was crawling unsteadily across the brickwork.
A winged female ant on the brickwork
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 2000, 100mm, f/10 and 1/125 SEC])
This Caper White (Belenois java) was getting pollen from some flowers in the ANBG. It was flying around the flowers and across the walking path. These insects are spring migrants to the ACT but then stay through summer. Unfortunately, their migration is complex and not well understood. By way of example, these butterflies have been oberved migrating to areas where there are no caper bushes for their caterpillars to feed on.
White Caper butterfly drinking nectar from a flower
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/125 SEC])
I do not know the name of this Geometer Moth species but I found it on an external door frame and really liked the mixture of colours. It kept nice and still allowing me to practice some focus stacking.
A very small geometer moth on a door frame
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/6.3 and 1/180 SEC] with Yongnuo YN14EX Macro Ring Lite) with focus stacking
These Bolbitiaceae mushrooms appeared at night after some heavy rain. We had not noticed them during the day but when I looked out of the kitchen window that evening they were so obvious in the nocturnal twilight. After seeing them from the window, I had to go out and photograph them despite how damp it was. I am so glad I did because the next day, with the sun up, their heads had started to dry out and turn black. I have seen them again in this area after rain but never in such numbers.
Bolbitiaceae mushrooms sprouting beside a wet path taken on the evening of 15 February
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM [ISO 400, 35mm, f/11 and 1/160 SEC] with Canon 430EX III-RT flash)
The next day at 11 AM under a sunny sky
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM [ISO 400, 24mm, f/11 and 1/100 SEC] with Canon 430EX III-RT flash)
A close-up of one of the mushrooms
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 400, 100mm, f/6.3 and 1/100 SEC])