The sun rise that Sunday morning at Callum Brae Nature Reserve was spectacular, with some amazing hues. I did not have the right lens to take the shot I wanted so I left the macro lens on my camera and shot the sunrise through the trees. The colours did not last long, then they were gone and I did not do justice to what it was like. The sunrise was a nice sight to see as it was the start of a new day and the birds were up and going. There was a group of Little Corellas that were mixed in with some Suphur-crested Cockatoos but not afraid to ensure that they were not pushed around by the larger birds. The dams were still full with two different species of ducks taking advantage of the abundance of water. I also had to continue my photographic fascination with Eastern Grey Kangaroos by taking a few shots of a mob. I hope you enjoy the photos below.
Read MoreAustralasian Grebe on a nest and Galahs at hollows - Photographing around Hughes and Garran on Sunday, 8 December 2019
Trees were a bit of my focus this Sunday morning as I wondered around Hughes and Garran bu I also had plenty of opportunity to photograph some wonderful birds in the area. I saw Galahs at hollows and I was fortunate enough to see an Australasian Grebe climb on to what I assume was its nest. After the usual birds the bottom part of the post is insect heavy as Hughes is in the middle of cicada season with a large number of Red Eye Cicadas around, bringing a number of birds to our garden as they pluck cicadas from our trees. Continuing the insect theme, later on that Sunday I was around the Australian National University (ANU) for my son, but I had a camera with me just in case I came across anything interesting. In this case, a number of insects. I hope you enjoy the photographs below.
Read MoreDollarbirds are around as are the Corellas, and I even saw a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo in a hollow - Photographing around Red Hill Nature Reserve on Saturday, 16 November 2019
The birdlife around Red Hill Nature Reserve was even better than usual on this Saturday morning. I saw my first Dollarbird of the season and two species of Corellas were around. There was also a Laughing Kookaburra in a hollow. The wonderful birdlife combined with a warm, sunny morning made it a great start to the day. I hope you like the photographs below.
Read MorePhotographing at Callum Brae Nature Reserve on Sunday, 18 November 2018 - Looking so dry for birds and turtles
I thought I would try a different design approach with this post. Rather than upload multiple photographs of the same subject, I thought I would instead use one picture only to portray the subject. The ‘less-is-more’ approach. I think it helps de-clutter the post if nothing else. I will see how it goes but I thought my walk around Callum Brae Nature Reserve on Sunday, 18 November would be a good post to start with. Callum Brae was looking so dry. The vegetation was still that light Australian green colour so much flora seems to be in Canberra but the dams were looking very empty. In approaching one small dam I was unable to photograph a Little Pied Cormorant that I had scared off. I was amazed to see it at that remnant of water, I am not sure what it had been hunting. There was also this old, stone-lined run-off channel that seemed to taunt modern visitors with how much rain once must have fallen on that land to justify constructing that diversion. Now, it is grass-covered with saplings well established, as if saying no water will flow along its course again. There was still birdlife at Callum Brae but it was the first time I saw several species of birds come down for water. I hope you enjoy the photographs below.
Read MoreMorning walk on Friday, 6 July 2018
I took the day off work to carry out some personal errands, which also gave me an excuse to walk back from Phillip. I took my camera with me as I was walking in the morning so I was hopeful I would be able to take photos of the birds I encountered along the way. It was a windy morning with clouds blowing across the sun but I was still able to take some photos. The light could have been better but it was not too bad. I found some more Satin Bowerbirds as well as a flock of Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, who I sat and watched for a little while.
Read MoreA walk around the Federal Golf Course on 23 June 2018
Saturday morning was shrouded in fog for most of Canberra until well after the best light for photography had gone. I felt somewhat cheated by losing a morning when I could have been out practicing my photography while enjoying the birdlife around the area. Later in the day I went out well before sunset to see what I could find to photograph. Even when I went out the sun was already low over the ridge of Red Hill meaning there was not much good light left. It is also that time of the year when there does not seem to be much diversity in the birdlife, just those birds who stay all year round. I also wondered if the short winter days made it harder for birds to feed in the afternoon and still have enough light to return to their night time locations. Despite what I have just written, I still enjoyed going for the walk as well as having a chance to see another part of Red Hill.
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