For one reason and another it has been a while since I have been to Red Hill Nature Reserve, even though it is very near to my house. Recently, I just felt it was time to head back to this wonderful little reserve. That was especially the case when the sun was shining and I had a window of a couple of hours to get out to enjoy the weather. I just grabbed my go to Canon EOS 7D Mark II with the Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM telephoto lens plus the monopod and went up the hill. I am so glad I did. Both times it was mid-morning when the sun was up and the birds were still active but a little quieter than earlier in the morning when I usually go out photographing. Still the light was not too harsh and both times I made this dash I found some great subjects. You can see in the landscape shot below, looking across to the Brindabella Range that there was still a dusting of snow on the peaks around Canberra on the first Saturday. Despite that, the weather was not too cold and it was nice to be outside. I have also included some shots of flowers from our garden. Only the second one is an Australian native but I was enjoying the chance to practice some flower photography with natural light. It was good to be back on Red Hill, even if for a brief visit and I hope you enjoy the photographs below.
A dusting of snow on the Brindabella Range to the south-west of Canberra is a reminder winter is still here
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 100, 312mm, f/9.0 and 1/400 SEC])
French Lavender in our garden
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/5.6 and 1/100 SEC] three shot focus-stacked)
Hardenbergia white flowers in our garden
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 800, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/100 SEC] three shot focus-stacked)
Red Camellia in our garden
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/18 and 1/6SEC])
A sound of wood being cut into alerted me to the presence of a pair of Galahs (Eolophus roseicapillus) at a hollow. It was the sound of a sharp object being pushed into old wood and braking bits off. However, bear in mind that birds are very light so they are not getting a solid base to leverage off. Their beak is also well away from their claws, the only way they get purchase on the tree and you can understand how strong that beak is. Only one of this pair was at the hollow, the other stayed on a nearby branch. After a little while I left them as I did not want to disturb them too much if they were going to turn this hollow in to a nest at some stage.
A Galah appearing sel-concious about my interest
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/320 SEC])
Weebills (Smicrornis brevirostris) are such small birds and ever active, especially looking for food. I saw one on my first weekend and was only able to get one picture. The next weekend was better with at least two of them moving rapidly through the branches of a tree. They did not mind me getting a bit closer but they were moving around the branches getting food. I also took a blurry shot of one of them hovering just off the branch before it quickly darted in to get some food. When they hover like that, they do look like hummingbirds.
Weebill looking for food on the first weekend
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/6.3 and 1/400 SEC])
Weebill from the second weekend
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 320, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/250 SEC])
A Weebill doing its hummingbird impersonation
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 320, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/250 SEC])
I had a really memorable experience when I wandered into this little grove of trees. There were two Golden Whistlers (Pachycephala pectoralis), possibly a female and an immature bird. They were flying between trees, regularly making a single note call, as if to tell the other the location of the bird. They seemed to be looking under leaves for food. One of them managed to catch a juicy, green caterpillar. It then dashed the caterpillar against the branch the bird was perched on, causing some gooey stuff to stretch out the back of the unfortunate insect. The bird then, readjusted the caterpillar in its beak by throwing it slightly out of its mouth and catching it, the photo at the top fo the post. It did not eat the caterpillar while I was watching but the caterpillar was gone shortly afterwards. There was a slight disagreement between these two birds, possibly as a result of the caterpillar. Shortly afterwards, one of them dove at the other and there was brief exchange of harsher calls before one of the birds flew off to a nearby tree where it stayed by itself for the remainder of the time I had them under observation. The male and female are sexually dimorphic with the male having the bright yellow plumage and the female being duller, although on the plus side for her she is less conspicuous to animals who may want to eat a bird of her size.
Probably a Golden Whistler female
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/6.3 and 1/400 SEC])
A probable immature Golden Whistler given its two-toned beak and ruddy-coloured feathers on the back
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/6.3 and 1/400 SEC])
I had a fantastic encounter with a group of White-winged Choughs (Corcorax melanorhamphos). I know that these are common birds but, as I have said before, I have a real soft spot for these birds. This species of birds help me understand how birds evolved from dinosaurs with the way they graze across the ground. There was a group of about six choughs spread out over this area. They were all calling and occasionally there seemed to be a disagreement, and I did see a magpie fly though the area, which may have been the cause of the commotion. The reason that I felt so excited this morning was one of the choughs kept walking towards me and almost walked right by my foot like it did not care about my presence. I was annoyed I was standing as if was crouching I would have been able to get some great shots. The picture I have included below was one of a bird that was searching the leaf litter for food about three metres away from me. I always love when I can catch the light showing off their bright, red eye.
White-winged Chough 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 1/320 SEC])
There were a few Satin Bowerbirds (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus) out on Red Hill and I was not sure if they were all from one group. I thought I heard one practicing a mating dance but I could not see it. I did not see any breeding males only the green females or immature birds. The one in the photograph was after some food in this tree and has done a remarkable contortion to come up from below to eat the food.
Probable female Satin Bowerbird showing incredible flexibility to get at some 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 1/320 SEC])
On the first Saturday there was a large mob of Eastern Grey Kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) enjoying the sun on one of the north facing slopes. The area was just down from the houses. A number of the roos were sleepily reclining in the rain-induced lush vegetation. There seemed to be a definite preference for lying in areas of thick greenery rather than on the older, drier grass. I was annoyed when people would let their dogs of the leash to chase the kangaroos, although in at least one instance the dog was still on the leash, it was just that the young girl walking the dog was doing well just to remain upright as the dog pulled her along at running speed. I know that kangaroos can get to large numbers in Canberra and do become road victims but so many overseas visitors I know are amazed to see these wild creatures in the suburbs of Canberra.
Female Eastern Grey Kangaroo on the left and the male on the right
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 100, 182mm, f/8.0 and 1/200 SEC])
A head study of a mature male resting
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 100, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/200 SEC])
A mother with a joey in her pouch and two other kangaroos alert to a number of noises around them
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 800, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/320 SEC])
This Meadow Argus (Junonia villida) was flying between plants and rested long enough for me to snap a photo. It is one of the most complete butterflies of this species I have seen, as their wings normally have chunks taken out of them, possibly from animals trying to eat them.
Meadow Argus on a plant stem
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 100, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/320 SEC])
There was also a number of Common Hover Flies in the same area where the Meadow Argus was. I took the picture below because I liked the way the leaf curled away. But I also noticed that this fly landed and had its wings out. It had the tip of its abdomen extended and then curled under it. Then it closed its wings over its back and used its hind legs to clean itself. All while appearing to hold onto nothing.
Common Hover Fly cleaning itself
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 100, 400mm, f/10 and 1/250 SEC])