A juvenile Australian Magpie with a juicy cicada just passed to it by the adult bird on the left(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 640, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/500 SEC]) — A juvenile Australian Magpie with a juicy cicada just passed to it by the adult bird on the left
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 640, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/500 SEC])

A Laughing Kookaburra in a hollow and Australian Magpies enjoying cicadas - Photographing around Red Hill Nature Reserve on Saturday, 30 November 2019

BirdsinCanberra December 7, 2019

Red Hill Nature Reserve was under a blanket of cloud and smoke haze on this Saturday. There was a major bushfire out towards Braidwood that was sending smoke over Canberra. This smoke haze, combined with the cloud lowered the light levels and also meant any distance shots were hazy. Even so, it was still nice being out on Red Hill. A group of Australian Magpies were enjoying taking cicadas in flight. I was also lucky to see a Laughing Kookaburra emerge from a hollow. I also saw a kangaroo I thought had flowers on its head but realised it had been tagged. It was a lovely morning, even if I was rushing through my walk as later on Saturday we went to Centennial Vineyards in Bowral for a family lunch. I hope you like the pictures below.

The Gang-gang Cockatoo pair in a tree(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 800, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/200 SEC]) — The Gang-gang Cockatoo pair in a tree
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 800, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/200 SEC])

A possible pair of breeding Gang-gang Cockatoos and Satin Bowerbirds practicing their mating dance - Photographing around Red Hill Nature Reserve on Saturday, 2 November 2019

BirdsinCanberra November 17, 2019

Red Hill Nature Reserve was its usual awesome destination. I started on the Garran side before crossing the Federal Golf Club to get to the reserve proper. It was a fantastic morning where I think I saw a breeding pair of Gang-gang Cockatoos. There were also some other birds showing interest in hollows, which is a good sign at this time of year. There was also a group of Laughing Kookaburras, and I always enjoy seeing them. I hope you like the photographs below.

A Rainbow Lorikeet pair grooming each other at a hollow(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/640 SEC]) — A Rainbow Lorikeet pair grooming each other at a hollow
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/640 SEC])

Galahs, Rainbow Lorikeets and a male Gang-gang cockatoo in hollows - Photographing around Red Hill Nature Reserve on Saturday, 26 October 2019

BirdsinCanberra October 30, 2019

Red Hill Nature Reserve was the first place I went to photograph on that Saturday as my son and I were going to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve for a walk later that day. The wind picked-up in speed throughout the morning and the clouds were coming across so Red Hill ended up being the best location for photographing that day. I rushed through Red Hill because I needed to get home so we could get to Tidbinbilla while it was still the morning. Because I enjoy Red Hill I wanted to go for a quick walk there before heading off to Tidbinbilla. I hope you enjoy the photographs below.

Looks like father Gang-gang Cockatoo checking to see his sons are not misbehaving(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/640 SEC]) — Looks like father Gang-gang Cockatoo checking to see his sons are not misbehaving
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/640 SEC])

An entertaining family of Gang-gang cockatoos and a Galah in a hollow - Photographing around Red Hill Nature Reserve on Sunday, 20 October 2019

BirdsinCanberra October 26, 2019

Red Hill Nature Reserve was again the place to be on this Sunday morning, especially when I came across what appeared to be a noisy family group of Gang-gang Cockatoos in a tree. They were having a great time, and I was rooted in one spot watching their antics. I saw some other wonderful birds that day, but the Gang-gangs was definitely the highlight. I hope you enjoy the photographs below.

Mating Gang-gang Cockatoos(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 1000, 400mm, f/7.1 and 1/200 SEC]) — Mating Gang-gang Cockatoos
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 1000, 400mm, f/7.1 and 1/200 SEC])

Mating Gang-gang cockatoos and lots of interests in hollows - Photographing around Red Hill Nature Reserve on Sunday, 13 October 2019

BirdsinCanberra October 20, 2019

Red Hill Nature Reserve had, unfortunately, been off my schedule for a couple of weeks due to some unforeseen events but I was finally able to get back there on this Sunday morning. It was good to get back to Red Hill as that day was a lovely spring morning with a lot of wonderful birdlife. I saw a number of Gang-gang cockatoos, including a pair mating. I also saw a number of Rainbow Lorikeets and had a wonderful time trying to get a good picture of a Crimson Rosella, who was very patient with me. It was a wonderful morning, and just what I needed. I hope you like the photographs below.

A Rainbow Lorikeet surveying its surrounds from 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 1/400 SEC]) — A Rainbow Lorikeet surveying its surrounds from 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 1/400 SEC])

Gang-gang Cockatoos, Rainbow Lorikeets and a White-plumed Honeyeater letting me know the days are getting longer - Photographing at Red Hill Nature Reserve on Saturday, 17 August 2019

BirdsinCanberra August 22, 2019

Red Hill Nature Reserve looked like it was ready to break out of winter despite the cold spell that has hit Canberra this week. The wattle was starting to bloom and more birds were showing up. I was out before the sun lit up the reserve but despite some cloud the sun did break through throwing some beautiful light on the area. There just seemed to be more birds on Red Hill this morning, with more variety as well. I could not spend long wandering around but I enjoyed my time. It was good to see some Gang-gangs near a tree where they bred successfully last year. It was also nice to see a group of Rainbow Lorikeets around. It was just a lovely start to the day. I hope you enjoy the photographs below.

A year on, I am still photographing magpies, this time in the half-light of dawn(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 312mm, f/5.6 and 1/80 SEC]) — A year on, I am still photographing magpies, this time in the half-light of dawn
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 312mm, f/5.6 and 1/80 SEC])

A magpie at dawn and colourful Australian King-Parrots - Photographing at Red Hill Nature Reserve on Saturday, 4 May 2019

BirdsinCanberra May 10, 2019

In looking back at my entries in Bird Journal I noticed it was roughly a year ago when I went for my first walk to Red Hill Nature Reserve with a camera in hand, intending to note and photograph birds. That morning I photographed Australian Magpies, Gang-gang Cockatoos, Australian King-Parrots and Eastern Rosellas. ON this day, I retraced my steps to see what birds I could find. I am glad the first bird I came across was an Australian Magpie. Yes, they are very common but they are intelligent birds and their morning call is something almost all Australians have grown up with. I followed my route from approximately 12 months before, with the walk not taking me far. I then went further up Red Hill but stayed on the Hughes side to see what photographs I could find. Those photographs are below and I hope you like them.

A female Australasian Darter drying herself at Lake Tuggeranong(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM [ISO 400, 55mm, f/5.6 and 1/800 SEC]) — A female Australasian Darter drying herself at Lake Tuggeranong
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM [ISO 400, 55mm, f/5.6 and 1/800 SEC])

A female Australasian Darter drying herself and a intrepid juvenile Australian Magpie - Riding and photographing on the Canberra Centenary Trail, Friday, 19 April 2019

BirdsinCanberra April 20, 2019

One of my other favourite pastimes is cross-country mountain biking. Knowing Canberra would be very quiet on the morning of Good Friday, I decided that time was a great opportunity to do the southern loop of the Canberra Centenary Trail. I was planning a ride of 50 km, although it end up being over 60 km. I wanted to take my camera in case I saw some things to photograph but I was reluctant to take my Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM, since it would be in my back pack being carried over some bumpy trails. So, I settled on my Canon EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM, which is over 10 years old and was a kit lens I bought with my first Canon DSLR. I would have to accept a reduction in quality for not risking my good lens. It was a wonderful ride and I am glad I had a camera as there were things to photograph. The lens was not great but it did an OK job. I was probably more focussed on photographing landscapes but I was also looking out for birds and other wildlife. I hope you enjoy the photographs below.

A male Gang-gang Cockatoo at Mount Mugga Mugga Nature Reserve(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 640, 400mm, f/5.6 and 1/500 SEC]) — A male Gang-gang Cockatoo at Mount Mugga Mugga Nature Reserve
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 640, 400mm, f/5.6 and 1/500 SEC])

A beautiful pair of Gang-gang Cockatoos and a stunning Scarlet Robin made an appearance - Photographing at Mount Mugga Mugga Nature Reserve on Sunday, 17 March 2019

BirdsinCanberra March 20, 2019

I really wanted to return to Mount Mugga Mugga Nature Reserve as I felt I had not really seen the reserve. It is impossible to really understand what a location can offer as far as birdlife from a single visit. I had also had contact during the week with Mike who really knows the area and corrected me on some things. He also pointed out the disused quarry will be filled in over the next 20 to 30 years, which will be interesting to see how nature regenerates around the area. I am so glad I did go back Mount Mugga Mugga as I saw so many more birds this time. I had a wonderful time watching a group of small birds go about their life on the slopes. I was particularly happy to get some pictures of a beautiful Scarlet Robin. My already fantastic morning was made even better when I came across some Gang-gang Cockatoos in a tree that were in a great position for photographing. It was a great start to a Sunday and I wished I could have stayed longer. I hope you enjoy the photographs below.

A study of the head of an Australian Magpie feeding near the summit of Red Hill(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 500, 400mm, f/5.6 and 1/12500 SEC]) — A study of the head of an Australian Magpie feeding near the summit of Red Hill
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 500, 400mm, f/5.6 and 1/12500 SEC])

A soaring Wedge-tailed Eagle and taking close-ups of an Australian Magpie - photographing around Red Hill Nature Reserve on Saturday, 16 March 2019

BirdsinCanberra March 18, 2019

This morning turned into one of those great photographic days. When I started out, I was really not confident about the day as it was overcast with birds being hard to find. As the sun burnt off the cloud, I brightened up as it was a beautiful day with some common birds, magpies and Fairy-wens, providing great photographic subjects. Towards the end of my walk I saw a dragonfly flying in one spot of an open area. With the sky now a lovely blue giving me a burst of energy I decided to challenge myself to shoot a photograph of this moving insect in flight. While persevering with that challenge I became aware of three specks much higher in the sky, When I zoomed in, I saw a Wedge-tailed Eagle with two Australian Ravens. Even though I was already late getting home I had to photograph those birds soaring high in the sky, as well as complete my challenge to myself with the dragonfly. The results are below. The birds were very high so my lens was struggling. While the dragonfly photo has some room for improvement, I was happy with the result I was able to achieve. The whole walk was just another wonderful morning on Red Hill Nature Reserve and I hope you enjoy the photographs below because I had a great time taking them.

The Little Pied Cormorant dispelling water after a dive

Photographing around South Head, Sydney on Monday, 24 December 2018 - Surprised to see New-Holland Honeyeaters, lovely to see beautiful Superb Fairy-wrens and a Little Pied Cormorant

BirdsinCanberra January 31, 2019

Over Christmas 2018 I was up in Sydney visiting some of the locations I grew up in; many, many years ago. So, yes, this post is a little delayed. Indeed, even though I was only there for three days, I have three lots of photographs. Initially, I was planning on doing just one large post, to get this out of the way. However, as I was looking through the photos it brought back the good memories of both my youthful days as well as the lazy, family-oriented Christmas I had just enjoyed. None of these photographs are particularly earth shattering but this post, along with the next two (plus one more of the animals around my parents’ house) did let me see a side of Sydney I have not seen in any detail for a number of decades. The various places also allowed me to see how the wildlife I grew up with in Sydney has endured and, in some cases, has changed. This first post is about a lovely Christmas Eve morning I spent walking around the tip of South Head in Sydney, from Camp Cove out to the actual headland itself. I did not expect to see a New Holland Honeyeater out on this bit of headland that marks the entry to Sydney Harbour. I was also thrilled to get some pictures of a Little Pied Cormorant, a bird I see in Canberra but is also happy to fish in saltwater as well. I hope you enjoy the pictures below.

A White-winged Chough alert to danger from above

Photographing at Red Hill Nature Reserve on Monday, 17 December 2018 - Gang-gangs, Choughs, a Goshawk and some interesting insects

BirdsinCanberra December 20, 2018

As I had been away on Saturday I could not do my usual walk on Red Hill Nature Reserve. I was also busy on Sunday morning at ANBG with a group from the course I attended looking at some things there, I will post about that soon. I am writing this post out of order so I can get my photos up on Canberra Nature Map. This post is not just about my morning walk but, as I was walking to Deakin later in the day, I took my camera with me then as well. It was a very full day with a number of Gang-gangs, bowerbirds, the Brown Goshawk and photographing some insects. I really enjoyed myself and I hope you like the photographs.

Photographing around Nielsen Park and Vaucluse House on Saturday, 15 December 2018 - Sooty Oystercatchers in Sydney

BirdsinCanberra December 19, 2018

I was back in Sydney for a brief stay but I did have time to head out to Nielsen Park and then Vaucluse House to see what birds I could find on an overcast Sydney Saturday morning. While the lighting was not great I was really happy to photograph my first Sooty Oystercatchers, and in Sydney Harbour, amazing! Seeing them made me really happy as they are such beautiful birds even though they are simply coloured and they are also so distinct, you cannot confuse them for other birds. I saw some other very typical birds for the area and I practiced some macro photography with an orb weaver. All said, a really great morning for a day which looked so challenging from a photographic perspective. I hope you enjoy the photographs.

The male Gang-gang Cockatoo emerging from the tree hollow

Photographing at Red Hill Nature Reserve on Sunday, 9 December 2018 - Gang-gangs in hollows and nesting Rainbow Lorikeets

BirdsinCanberra December 10, 2018

Usually I walk around Red Hill Nature Reserve early on a Saturday morning but as I was out on Saturday with an ANU Continuing Education course I was attending, I visited Red Hill on Sunday morning instead. (I will write more about the course very shortly, especially our field trip to Mulligans Flat.) I varied my route ever so slightly this morning, as I try to do regularly, which allowed me to see a few more birds than I would have seen on my usual path. Red Hill is such a treasure so close to where I live, it is always worth going for a walk. I hope you enjoy these photographs.

A very cooperative preening Australian Magpie

Photographing at Red Hill Nature Reserve on Saturday, 24 November 2018 - Rainbow Lorikeets and some more insects

BirdsinCanberra November 25, 2018

My motivation for getting out of bed before the sun rises on a Saturday morning is the knowledge that I will be shortly walking around Red Hill Nature Reserve photographing something interesting. I never try to anticipate what I will see on the hill that day, I just know I will see something. On this morning, I was so glad to see Rainbow Lorikeets. As I said in a previous post, I really have a soft spot for these engaging parrots as they were always around when I was growing up in Sydney. They still maintain their mischievous ways. Despite all the marvellous birdlife I saw, this was the first morning in a long time I did not come back with a single Gang-gang photograph. I certainly heard the birds and saw one fly past, I just did not see any of these wonderful birds in a tree. Towards the end of my walk I found a placid, cooperative Australian Magpie who went about its business, mostly, unconcerned about my photographic activity. I also photographed three different species of insects, all with my telephoto lens. I hope you enjoy the pictures below.

Photographing at Red Hill Nature Reserve on Saturday, 27 October 2018 - mating Gang-gangs and beautiful flycatchers

BirdsinCanberra November 7, 2018

This post has taken far too long to publish as it is two weeks since I went for this walk on Red Hill Nature Reserve. Sometimes life just seems to get in the way of our pastimes. The weather on this day was so nice, I was so glad I went out for a walk to take photographs. I met a lady who was walking her dog who gave me some wonderful tips about the birdlife on Red Hill, hence why I was able to photograph the Leaden Flycatchers below. I also had another fantastic encounter with some Gang-gangs. It was a lovely morning on Red Hill. I hope you enjoy the photographs.

A male Red-rumped Parrot near its nesting location

Photographing at Jerrabomberra Wetlands on Sunday, 21 October 2018 - A darter and nesting Red-rumped Parrots

BirdsinCanberra November 2, 2018

I always enjoy a trip to Jerrabomberra Wetlands because the birdlife is so rich in an area with easy access and great watching locations. The wetlands are always worth a visit, with different locations giving a different view of the life to be found. This time I decided to park on Dairy Road so I could enter from the south-east side of the reserve. I am glad I took that route as almost immediately I saw a pair of Black Swans with a group of cygnets. With spring upon Canberra there are more baby birds as well as more nesting birds. A number of migratory birds have also returned. Canberra is really coming alive with birds so it is a great time to have a walk around different parts of Canberra observing the birdlife.

Photographing around Hughes on Saturday, 22 September 2018 - Gang-gangs and nesting Galahs

BirdsinCanberra September 23, 2018

I was busy in the morning so I was unable to go out for my usual walk but I was able to head out after lunch for a quick photographic stroll. I decided to head to a small patch of trees and shrubs where I was told there were nesting Gang-gang Cockatoos. I did not see any nesting Gang-gangs but I did see three of them as well as some nesting Galahs, some mischievous ravens, grazing White-winged Choughs and a juvenile Superb Parrot high up in a tree. Considering I did not go far that afternoon I was really happy with what I saw. I hope you like the photographs.

A very cooperative pair of Gang-gang Cockatoos

A walk around Red Hill Nature Reserve on Sunday, 2 September 2018 with some Gang-gangs showing up

BirdsinCanberra September 7, 2018

I visited a different part of Red Hill Nature Reserve than I usually visit on my morning walks. I am glad I did as there was a different variety of birds in this location. I had an extended view of a pair of Gang-gang Cockatoos as well as a fleeting look at a Fan-tailed Cuckoo. I spent a fair bit of time staying in a single spot photographing the birds around me, it was a lovely start to a Sunday.

One particular tree in Hughes on Saturday, 11 August 2018

BirdsinCanberra August 13, 2018

I was able to go for a Saturday morning walk today, I was trying to find Gang-gang cockatoos that I had seen over the last two days when I did not have my camera with me. Unfortunately, I was unsuccessful in my quest but I did come across a eucalyptus tree that had a number of different varieties of birds in it. There were Galahs, Crimson Rosellas, Eastern Rosellas, King-Parrots, Australian Magpies, Pied Currawongs and, of course, Noisy Miners. It was, as if this tree somehow had the the one source of sustainment that all these birds needed. I have begun to notice in my walks that often there is a single tree that seems to be the tree that attracts the most birds. With that in mind I can understand the challenge of forest conservation to not just preserve trees but to preserve those individual trees that have all the elements needed by birds.