Gang-gang Cockatoo female chewing on a tree(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 250, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC]) — Gang-gang Cockatoo female chewing on a tree
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 250, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])

Gang-gang Cockatoos, other parrots and some cute jumping spiders - Photographing around Red Hill Nature Reserve and Hughes in Mid-October 2020

BirdsinCanberra October 26, 2020

It had been a while since I had visited Red Hill Nature Reserve, despite it being almost right on our doorstep. I had been distracted because normally on Sundays I headed to a number of other locations around Canberra but I felt I had ignored this local jewel for too long. The inspiration for my return was actually a bunch of weeds. I had been driving on a road that runs along the north side of Red Hill when I notices large patches of purple on the hill. I suspected that they were probably weeds but I thought that they may make a nice subject for a photograph. I am glad that a few days later I did go out photographing because I had a wonderful encounter with some Gang-gang Cockatoos that I followed up the next day. While I did not travel far that weekend I had fun, including watching some of the jumping spiders I found around our house. I ended up doing more photography than I planned but I am glad that I did. I hope that you like the photos below.

A male Gang-gang cockatoo nestling peers from his hollow(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 800, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/500 SEC]) — A male Gang-gang cockatoo nestling peers from his hollow
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 800, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/500 SEC])

A Gang-gang cockatoo nestling and Sulphur-Crested Cockatoos using a hollow - Photographing around Hughes-Garran on Saturday, 4 January 2020

BirdsinCanberra January 16, 2020

The birdlife around Hughes-Garran seemed to enjoy another respite from all the recent smoke because the Sulphur-crested Cockatoos were out in number and I was even lucky enough to see a Gang-gang Cockatoo nestling. The Gang-gang nestling was particularly interesting as there was a concern among those interested watchers that this season would be a bad nesting season for Gang-gangs because of the drought and fires. With all this activity primarily in one spot I spent most of my morning walk near a single tree. I was enjoying looking at the birds coming and going but by doing so I was able to catch some shots I really liked. I hope you enjoy the photographs below.

Male Gang-gang Cockatoo preening himself 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 1/400 SEC]) — Male Gang-gang Cockatoo preening himself 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 1/400 SEC])

Gang-gang Cockatoos and Superb Parrots in trees - Photographing around Hughes and Garran on Tuesday, 31 December 2019

BirdsinCanberra January 1, 2020

The birdlife around Hughes-Garran finally had some clear skies to enjoy on this Tuesday after all the bushfire smoke. I was out on a different day than normal not because of the blue skies but because I had been away over the Christmas period so had missed my usual walk. I did not go too far this morning as somebody was showing me some birds they had noticed so I could take photographs. I had an enjoyable morning, seeing a pair of Gang-gang Cockatoos and a group of Superb Parrots. I also saw Dillwyia, the kangaroo I photographed on 30 November. I hope you like the photographs below.

This. Australasian Grebe, in its breeding plumage, climbed onto what I thought was just a blockage of leaves and debris, only then did I realise it was a nest(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and… — This. Australasian Grebe, in its breeding plumage, climbed onto what I thought was just a blockage of leaves and debris, only then did I realise it was a nest
(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])

Australasian Grebe on a nest and Galahs at hollows - Photographing around Hughes and Garran on Sunday, 8 December 2019

BirdsinCanberra December 13, 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.

A male Gang-gang Cockatoo preening the head of a female(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 800, 400mm, f/10 and 1/500 SEC]) — A male Gang-gang Cockatoo preening the head of a female
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 800, 400mm, f/10 and 1/500 SEC])

Gang-gang Cockatoo in a hollow, another Dollarbird and some interesting insects - Photographing around Red Hill Nature Reserve on Sunday, 24 November 2019

BirdsinCanberra November 30, 2019

The birds on Red Hill Nature Reserve were fantastic this Sunday morning despite the overcast and cloudy conditions. There were so many Gang-gang cockatoos around, including a quiet male being a sentinel at the entrance to a hollow. I saw another Dollarbird on a different part of the hill to the one last week, as well as my first ever Cicadabird. I was also glad I had my macro photography set-up with me as there were some interesting insects, including from the day before when I went walking around my yard with the macro camera. I hope you enjoy the photographs below.

The Dollarbird did not like the Noisy Miner being on the same branch(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 200, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/500 SEC]) — The Dollarbird did not like the Noisy Miner being on the same branch
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 200, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/500 SEC])

Dollarbirds 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

BirdsinCanberra November 24, 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.

Two Galahs feeding on some grass(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/800 SEC]) — Two Galahs feeding on some grass
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/800 SEC])

Beautiful Galahs feeding as well as a Golden Whistler and pardalotes - Photographing at Red Hill Nature Reserve on Saturday, 24 August 2019

BirdsinCanberra September 6, 2019

Red Hill Nature Reserve started a bit overcast but then the sun came out lighting up everything. I did not travel far this morning because I was trying to find some of the small birds again I had seen previously. I am glad I did not go too far as I was rewarded by being caught between trees as a mixed flock of small birds flitted through the area. The low light made photography a challenge, especially with small birds. Later in the morning, when the light was better, I took some photos of two very common birds, a Pied Currawong and Galahs, because I really wanted to use the light cast on them. I hope you enjoy the photographs below.