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

BirdsinCanberra 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.

Lage Brown Mantid noticing me getting closer
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/18 and 1/180 SEC] with a Raynox DCR250 Super Macro Lens and Canon 430EX III-RT flash)

Praying mantis looking at me and other macro subjects - Home, ACT, October 2022

BirdsinCanberra November 3, 2022

The pseudo pupils of the Large Brown Mantid made this alien-like insect appear like it was looking directly at me. No doubt the mantis had detected my approach but the raised triangular head with the large eyes was exactly the shot I was hoping for. The mantis had been resting on a black garden stake when I went searching for macro subjects to try out my recently purchased Raynox DCR 250 Super Macro Lens, which simply clips onto the front of my Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM. I was thrilled when I came across the praying mantis because it was such a spectacular macro subject, especially when it lifted its head. After a while, it seemed to sense that the camera was not a threat so it returned to a relatively normal position even though its large eyes were still slightly tilted toward my lens. I enjoyed my time playing around with my new lens and I hope that you enjoy the photographs below.

Juvenile Galah in a backyard tree(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 227mm, f/11 and 1/400 SEC]) — Juvenile Galah in a backyard tree
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 227mm, f/11 and 1/400 SEC])

Birds, mammals, lizards, spiders and insects - Photographing around Canberra in early December 2019

BirdsinCanberra January 29, 2020

Bird and wildlife photography in December 2019 was very challenging due to the smoke haze from the bush fires around Canberra. Please understand, I am not complaining as on the relative scale of things, a bit smoke haze was not bad when people were dying or losing their houses and some species of wildlife are facing extinction because of the extent of the fire. Really, I got off very lightly, as I was still able to photograph, even if it was a little difficult. This post is a grab bag of the various birds and other wildlife I saw over that period. I was moving around Canberra, particularly near the Australian National University (ANU) at Acton, doing a few things, generally with my camera close at hand so I could take photographs. I hope you like the photographs I was able to capture and sorry this is so late.

The male Gang-gang Cockatoo, from the second pair, checking out a tree 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 1/320 SEC]) — The male Gang-gang Cockatoo, from the second pair, checking out a tree 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 1/320 SEC])

Two pairs of Gang-gang Cockatoos were checking out trees and some other random photos - Photographing around Hughes and Garran on Sunday, 25 August 2019

BirdsinCanberra September 7, 2019

This Sunday was not my typical Sunday. I did not go for a drive to take photographs, I just went for a walk around the Hughes-Garran boundary near the Federal Gold Club to see what photographic subjects I could find. I was able to find some Gang-gang Cockatoos, which is always nice. I also just found some random photographic subjects that caught my eye. Later on that day I had the camera out at home trying to photograph hoverflies in flight. Finally, in the afternoon, I went across to Westfield Woden, taking my camera with me to use on the way back. I used my 100mm macro lens and I was not keen on changing to the 40mm prime I was also carrying because of the strong wind; I did not want dust getting into the camera or lens while I was changing lenses. Still, I enjoyed the chance to be out taking photographs. I hope you enjoy the photographs below.

Two rain-drenched Eastern Grey Kangaroos at Mount Taylor Nature Reserve on Sunday morning(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/6.3 and 1/800 SEC]) — Two rain-drenched Eastern Grey Kangaroos at Mount Taylor Nature Reserve on Sunday morning
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/6.3 and 1/800 SEC])

Amazing spiders, interesting insects, drenched kangaroos and beautiful scenery - Photographing around Canberra on Friday to Sunday 24-26 May 2019

BirdsinCanberra June 4, 2019

This was not the weekend I had planned nor was I expecting. I started photographing on Friday afternoon when I again had to go to Westfield Woden Shopping Centre so I decided to walk back home while taking photographs. The weather on Saturday, while cold, was fine enough to photograph around Red Hill Nature Reserve. However, on Sunday morning there was rain and I was wondering if I would get out to Mount Taylor Nature Reserve. Happily I did. Monday, a public holiday in Canberra, no such luck, it was bleak; wet and cloudy for most of the day. I think the bad weather made it harder to see birds over the weekend as they had either gone or were trying to find ways to minimise energy loss in the face of the colder temperatures. The kangaroos I encountered on Mount Taylor on Sunday were drenched with rain but their fur coats appeared thick, probably providing needed insulation. Rain drenched birds would be cold but would also find it harder to fly. Sorry, there are no bird photos below but there are kangaroos, spiders, insects, landscape and one dinosaur skeleton (photographed in a museum). I hope you enjoy the photographs.

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.

The female Leaden Flycatcher feeding one of her young

Photographing around Red Hill on Saturday, 29 December 2018 - More possible Gang-gang nesting behaviour and Leaden Flycatchers with their young in the nest

BirdsinCanberra January 1, 2019

I was able to get back out for a walk around Red Hill Nature Reserve, equipped with the knowledge JackyF had passed on about bird nesting sites. It was a lovely day for a walk on Red Hill with the birds being very cooperative, especially the wonderful Leaden Flycatchers. I also had a repeat sighting of Gang-gangs at a possible nesting hollow. I hope you enjoy the photographs.

I know it is not quite in focus but it was heart-pounding to see this Brown Goshawk targeting me

Photographing at Red Hill Nature Reserve on Friday, 30 November 2018 - Swooped by a Goshawk and saw a kingfisher nest

BirdsinCanberra December 5, 2018

I was not planning on going to Red Hill Nature Reserve on this day, as we were travelling to Sydney on later that morning for an overnight stay. However, when I woke up, I could not help myself, I just wanted to go for a walk and I am glad I did. The weather was a bit overcast but it kept clearing throughout the walk. I saw my first Olive-backed Oriole on Red Hill. There was a group of White-winged Choughs cooperatively building a nest. A pair of Sacred Kingfishers revealed what may be their nest to me. Among all those sitings, the most incredible experience, even if it was heart-pounding, was being swooped by the Brown Goshawk, which you can see in the heading photograph. I really enjoyed the morning walk on Red Hill, I rushed home, excited as one thing, still with enough time to do the things I had to do before going to Sydney. I hope you enjoy the photos below from the day.

This was actually my last shot of the day but I do like how I caught the bee in flight

Practicing macro photography on European Honey Bees at Hughes on Saturday, 30 September 2018

BirdsinCanberra October 1, 2018

I wanted to expand my photography so, almost on a whim, I grabbed the camera and the tripod to wander around the garden in search of subjects for macro photography. My 40mm Canon lens has macro written on the side of it, although it is the standard lens that came with the camera about ten years ago when I bought my Canon EOS 100D. I started my attempts with some flowers, experimenting with shutter speeds and f-stops as well as an external flash. I was reasonable happy with the results, although I need to balance the flash and ambient light better. I thought it would be interesting trying some live subjects, the first of which I came across were some European Honey Bees who were visiting our front garden. Again, I did some experimentation but I was happy. with my initial foray into macro photography. I will need to keep practicing but I did enjoy looking at the smaller world around us.