Looking north-west along Old Boboyan Road
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF40mm f2.8 STM [ISO 200, 40mm, f/18 and 1/80 SEC])

Cycling around Namadgi's settler huts - Namadgi National Park, ACT, November 2024

Jon Steinbeck January 2, 2025

There are a number of ways to enjoy getting out into nature. One way is on a bike. It is a wonderful way to cover more distance than on foot but still be travelling slow enough to hear and see nature around you. In the ACT, one of the nicest walks in Namdgi National Park is the Settlers Track, which goes through some lovely scenery, while linking up three basic huts the early European settlers in the region built. While it is a walking track parts of it follow fire trails, trails that provide access to the huts. The huts are rudimentary but are open to the public and provide a convenient place to take a break.

The war memorial at the end of Tilba
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF40mm f2.8 STM [ISO 640, 40mm, f/16 and 1/100 SEC])

Cycling to Central Tilba along the back roads - Narooma, June 2024

Jon Steinbeck June 20, 2024

Central Tilba is small hamlet south-west from Narooma which can be reached along some beautiful and quiet gravel roads. Paved sections start and finish the ride but in between is wonderful, undulating gravel through a green and forested landscape. If you arrive early enough in the morning Tilba is still asleep so the main road is quiet, like you have it all to yourself. Cycling is a beautiful way to see this small part of the south coast of NSW.

Information board at the entrance to the velodrome
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF40mm f2.8 STM [ISO 1000, 40mm, f10 and 1/100 SEC])

Cycling on an old, grass-covered velodrome - Corunna Point NSW, May 2024

Jon Steinbeck June 9, 2024

I had a big smile on my face and I was feeling exuberant while whizzing around a historic grass-covered track. The course was still damp from the previous day’s rain, and more clouds threatened. Despite that, I was having a natural high because this abandoned course was still usable over 130 years after it was made, and I was using it. I was riding my Trek Checkpoint SL6 gravel bike around the old Corunna Point Velodrome and loving it.

Young Peron’s Tree Frog on the back steps of the garden
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 640, 100mm, f/16 and 1/100 SEC] with Canon 430EX III-RT flash)

Interesting little creatures in a garden - Narooma, NSW, October-December 2023

Jon Steinbeck December 26, 2023

Sometimes it is nice to pause and look at the little creatures that inhabit the same space as us in our garden. Initially, they can be hard to see but when we slow down and take a second look at the greenery do we notice the little creature. One evening, I walked out the back door of the house in Narooma to look for those little animals and was barely noticing the steps ahead of me. There were some leaves on them, as there often were, but one brownish leaf looked different that night. I had another look and there was a small Peron’s Tree Frog, probably a juvenile, on the edge of a step. I had taken only a few paces from the back door and already nature was there. The frog was not that fussed by me and even let me take a very close front on portrait. That made my night. I hope that you enjoy the photographs below.

Australian Pelican with breeding face colouring resting on the sand flat
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 100, 400mm, f/9.0 and 1/400 SEC])

Birds and fur seals along the foreshore - Narooma, NSW, June 2023

Jon Steinbeck July 31, 2023

Australian Pelicans are stunning big birds with an appearance that is unmistakable. Since starting to photograph them I have really noticed the colours in their famously large bills. In the breeding season the colours change and become even more saturated, creating a rich palette on the birds bill. While I was photographing on an exposed sand flat at Narooma in June a lone pelican was resting there. I was able to approach it with the sun almost directly behind me. The bird was regularly looking at the other activities happening around it and I was lucky enough that it turned its head so that the sun caught the length of the richly-hued bill. It was one of my favourite shots of these truly wonderful birds. I had a marvellous time wandering around on the sand flats and I hope that you like the photographs below.

Pied Oystercatcher on the sand flats
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/500 SEC])

Some shore birds and other wildlife over a weekend - Narooma, Autumn 2023

Jon Steinbeck June 29, 2023

That Sunday morning I just wanted to do some photography. Finding the time to photograph and then having good light had been challenging for a few months but I was going out regardless that morning. The previous day, while bike riding, I had seen how the low tide towards the entrance of Wagonga Inlet exposed sandflats around two small islands, which were located behind the rocks being used to train the river. There were a number of shorebirds searching for food in that area so I wanted to return to photograph them. Unfortunately, Sunday’s wind was brisk making it hard to get crisp photos because the breeze was rippling the finer details of the the birds feathers. Despite that, I was happy to see some Pied Oystercatchers. One of the birds was not too bothered by my presence. It remained a short distance away while I walked carefully to try to get the best light on it. The bird appeared to be not interested in feeding, remaining still, with one leg tucked into its feathers. I was the only person on the sandflats, so it was just me and the birds. It was so wonderful to be back photographing and letting the time tick by while I was lost in the birdlife. I really enjoyed the weekend, but especially that morning, and I hope that you enjoy the photographs below.

Two Welcome Swallows on the Mill Bay Boardwalk
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 400, 200mm, f/8.0 and 1/800 SEC])

Some early autumn birds with herons and swallows - Narooma, Autumn 2023

Jon Steinbeck April 23, 2023

The weather in Narooma is starting to cool with Autumn dropping the temperatures. There was also a cold snap over Easter that caught us unprepared with our more suitable clothes unfortunately left back in Canberra. Luckily, I had clothes that would keep me warm enough on my bike so I headed out on Good Friday to explore the area. While riding along the Mill Bay Boardwalk I saw two Welcome Swallows perched on the end of a cross beam that supported the wooden boards. The one nearer to me seemed nervous because of my presence. It would fly off in a rapid circle before returning beside its fellow swallow. It did that a few times before it stayed on the cross beam, although even there it regularly shuffled its position while the second swallow stayed still. I love the colours of the Welcome Swallow so I was glad that this one stayed still a few times for me. A number of birds were still around but the weather was cooler and the days shorter with Winter a couple of months away. I am still enjoying getting to the coast to see the nature there and I hope you enjoy the photographs below.

The iconic seascape of Glasshouse Rocks at Narooma
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 106mm, f/20 and 1/160 SEC])

Rocks, waves and water - Beautiful Narooma Part 1, Summer 2022/23

Jon Steinbeck March 1, 2023

Narooma is a town of about 3000 people on the southern coast of NSW. Its urban centre spans the truly crystal blue waters of the Wagonga Inlet. Travelling south by car from Canberra it is easy to find this summer holiday destination because the Princes Highway travels around a sharp right corner before crossing over the inlet. Narooma is a beautiful gem that has grown mainly along the southern side of the inlet and the Pacific Ocean on the sea side. No major rivers flow into the inlet, just a some creeks, making the water beautiful and clear. It is no exaggeration to say crystal blue, because that is what the water is. I have previously posted (here and here) about this wonderful seaside destination and we ended up spending a fair bit of our summer holiday in Narooma, being captivated by the beauty. It would be hard to select a single photo to represent the locale but Glasshouse Rocks, on the southern side of the town, is worthy of consideration for that role.

This is the first post in a series of five looking at different aspects of wildlife at Narooma. In this post I am covering the environment around Narooma. I took my camera with me on holiday because I knew Narooma was going to be beautiful and I hope you enjoy the photographs below.

Head study of a male Chestnut Teal on a rainy day
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 500, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])

Good weather for ducks on a rainy day - Huskisson, NSW, September 2022

Jon Steinbeck September 19, 2022

Chestnut Teal males have a wonderfully, almost fluorescent green head, set-off by some very red eyes. They are a truly handsome bird. Their green comes alive when the light hits it properly giving it a shimmering effect like the finest dress satin. They are also a species of duck that tolerates high salinity, which means they are often seen in estuaries and bays. So I was not that surprised when I saw their magnificent green heads on a rainy, wet Saturday in Huskisson at the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum. As the saying goes on a rainy day, it was good weather for ducks. Although those teals were wild, they were accustomed to the presence of humans walking around making them easy to approach. While one male eyed me warily I was able to take the photograph above, catching its wary stare back at me. I was happy to get a shot showing the shimmering green, even if the light was not great due to the grey rain clouds. I hope that you enjoy the photographs below.

Storm wave refracting around South Head
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 2500, 278mm, f/7.1 and 1/1000 SEC])

Storm waves at South Head - Sydney, NSW, July 2022

Jon Steinbeck July 25, 2022

The big storm waves had already passed but I was in Sydney on the morning of 6 July so I wanted to see what shots I could take of interesting waves. While the sea was calming down I thought that there was still drama in the surging water that would make heading out in the rain worthwhile. Even from sheltered Camp Cove I could see that there was white-capped water everywhere in the outer parts of Sydney Harbour. Walking along the well maintained footpath, then descended a slippery muddy track, I found a place just inside the base of South Head below Hornby Lighthouse. The storm-tossed sea was a greyish-green with waves dashing ashore every few seconds. I was reluctant to walk further around the rock platform because the only possible route took me across an area that was occasionally inundated by rushing waves. Despite not being in the best spot for the compositions I was thrilled to be watching the harbour waters contorting with the waves running across them. I hope that you enjoy the photographs below.

Little Pied Cormorant resting on a branch
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 250, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])

Cormorants, herons and a kingfisher on a mangrove-lined creek - Cyne Mallows Creek, May 2022

Jon Steinbeck June 19, 2022

The weather in Canberra continued to be very ordinary with overcast skies leading to rain buffeted by strong winds. However, the forecast for Sunday on the long weekend at the end was for nice weather and the tide was scheduled to be high in the morning. These factors said it was time for a paddle down on the New South Wales coast to photograph there. I chose Cyne Mallows Creek near Nelligen for destination because I wanted to see how far I could travel up the small but interesting creek to take photographs. I was lucky with the birdlife, while mainly common birds, I enjoyed the chance to have good light for photography. One Little Pied Cormorant was even accommodating enough to let me float very close to it so I could take some photographs. It was a beautiful day on a fascinating creek that really helped to recharge my batteries. I hope that you enjoy the photographs below.

White-faced Heron prowling for food on the rocks
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 200, 400mm, f/7.1 and 1/500 SEC])

Birds and dolphins seen while kayaking - Jervis Bay, NSW, April 2022

Jon Steinbeck April 25, 2022

There were oystercatchers, cormorants and three White-Faced Heron prowling over Scottish Rocks in Jervis Bay. The small waves were slowly washing my kayak and I closer to where the birds were and the animals were still going about their normal behaviour. A clear blue sky lit this scene of seabirds on the rocks while I decided to focus on a single heron that was towards the back of this gathering. It was making its way over the rocks, probably looking into rock pools while it moved across the uneven surface. I was happy in that moment of warm weather, sllghtly rocking water and a wild bird acting naturally in front of me. My day trip to Jervis Bay was definitely worth it and I hope that you enjoy the photographs below.

White-faced Heron searching for food in exposed sea grass
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 250, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/500 SEC])

Herons, egrets, sea-eagles and even insects along the mangroves - Tomaga River, NSW, March 2022

Jon Steinbeck March 28, 2022

The eyes of the White-faced Heron regarded me momentarily but I was at the edge of the exposed sea grass flat, too far to be a threat, especially when the heron was looking for food. The grey coloured bird went back to the vital search for food in the rich habitat where small marine creatures tried to hide under the limp sea grass strands. I could approach no closer n my kayak but it was securely resting where some water still lapped its side. This was my second trip to the Tomaga River which had some beautiful wildlife along it but the weather this time was so much nicer than the previous time. I was paddling up the river while the tide was ebbing but I did not mind, I was just enjoying the beauty of mangroves and a wonderful tidal river on the coast. I paddled as far up the river as I could, enjoying every moment and I hope that you enjoy the photographs below.

Red Fingered Marsh Crab on the bent trunk of a Grey Mangrove
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 800, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])

Admiring the beauty of a mangrove ecosystem - Currambene Creek NSW, January 2022

Jon Steinbeck January 18, 2022

Mangrove habitats are such fascinating ecosystems because they straddle the worlds of land and water because of tidal movements. I was fortunate in January 2022 to have time to head down to the ever beautiful Jervis Bay where I ignored the stunning white beaches because I was heading for the wonderful Currambene Creek to explore a mangrove habitat. Although the beaches of Jervis Bat are deservedly famous for their beauty I was captivated by being among the mangrove trees. I was captivated by the life in the habitat, especially the crabs. The Red Fingered Marsh Crab has such striking colours with its lime green carapace contrasting with its red claws. I was fascinated to see these crabs moving on the exposed trunks of the mangrove trees. Even more fascinating, was when I approached the trees, the crabs did not head into the water but they shot up the trees to holes and crevices higher up in the trunks, well above the hide tide mark. While it was not significant behaviour it still brought home to me how this habitat provided for different creatures in a variety of ways and how much I enjoyed drifting between the crooked trunks of those amazing trees. I hope that you enjoy the photographs below.