I read about a trail that crossed McQuoid Creek near Kambah Pool that I thought looked interesting. I did not want to do the full trail but I wanted to concentrate on the area around the creek itself. The trail was easy enough to access, it was opposite the small carpark located outside of the Kambah Pool entrance. While I was prepared to get my feet wet crossing the creek, because I had already read about that possibility, I was not prepared for the waist-high grass that I encountered. The rain over spring and summer had caused a lot of growth in this area meaning that the trails were no longer too distinct. I started following a trail made by a vehicle and missed the connecting trail. I only realised I had missed the trail when I encountered the Pine Island to Kambah Pool trail, which was a well-made and maintained trail. The area that I was in was very small and I never went too far from where I could still hear the odd car driving to Kambah Pool so I was in no risk of getting truly lost but I knew that my original plan was not going to work. The weather was also challenging because it was very overcast which not much light reaching the subjects that I was looking at. Fortunately, on both days that I visited the weather cleared up a bit towards the end of my time there so I had some better lighting. I was happy to see a Nankeen Kestrel on my first visit as well as Dollarbirds; those sightings prompted me to return the next weekend in anticipation of what I might see. I hope that you enjoy the photographs below of what I did see.
Read MoreNankeen Kestrel, Rainbow Bee-eater and some wonderful insects - Photographing at Gigerline Nature Reserve in November 2020
Gigerline Nature Reserve sits astride the Murrumbidgee River just south of Tharwa. I had visited part of the reserve before when I went to Tharwa Sandwash but I had not really visited the rest of the reserve. After heading there once, I ended up visiting it twice because I wanted to see more. My first visit was with the plan to walk along the Gudgenby River as far as I could, thinking that the water level would not be too high. I was wrong, the water level was right up and I could barely get to the remaining banks of the river from the surrounding countryside. As part of that trip I walked up to the top of the ridge of the peninsula that separates the Gudgenby and Murrumbidgee Rivers before they join. I am glad that I did because I came across the path that followed the ridgeline down to the tip of the peninsula. I did not have time to explore that path on my first visit so I knew that I would be back. I ended up having two great visits and saw my first wild Rainbow Bee-eaters, truly a beautiful bird. The second visit was a bit of a macro paradise, with so many subjects to photograph. I hope you like the photographs below.
Read MoreAustralian Pelican, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Lace Monitor and other amazing wildlife - Photographing north of Newcastle, Australia in November 2019
This blog post also starts with an apology as these photos are from November 2019 when I was doing some temporary work around Newcastle Airport. I have been busy with a number of other things since then so it took me a while to process all the photographs I had taken. In the past, while I was away for work, when I finished for the day I did not really do much but that November was the first time I was away for work since I took up photography, and I just wanted to go out to shoot photographs. I had taken my Canon EOS 6D Mark II, Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM and Canon EF100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM with me for this very purpose. From the first day I was determined to head out to photograph. I was very close to the Tilligerry State Conservation Area but there is no public access allowed so I had to contend with walking around the edge. I ended up finding this creek that ran along the western side and there were no signs saying I could not walk along this creek. That creek was fantastic because I could follow it beside the conservation area and move away from the roads. I also wandered off to other locations, trying different directions to see what I could find. I found a number of different areas like marshy ground or overgrown farm fields. I did not have a car with me so I was limited to moving on foot. Except on the last afternoon when I went with a friend down to Sunset Beach for dinner. I was so happy with all the wildlife I saw and I really missed not having my Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM to get better shots. That said, my lens combination really worked out well and that camera gear sat in a small back pack I could take as cabin luggage on the compact aircraft Fly Pelican used for the Canberra to Newcastle route. I had two weeks of solid photography, by myself, just walking around the area, it was a lot of fun. I enjoyed myself and I hope you enjoy the photographs below.
Read MoreA Flame Robin pair and a pair of Spencers Skinks - Photographing on the Square Rock Hike on Saturday, 28 September 2019
Square Rock Hike in Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve is a wonderful trail that is both easy and scenic. I was accompanying my son on the hike as part of our routine bush walks. The trail was very popular on that Saturday, with the car park already filling up by the time that we arrived. We met a number of people on the trail and up at the actual Square Rock lookout. There was a lot of wonderful birdlife as well as some Spencer’s Skinks, which seemed relatively accustomed to the presence of humans. I hope you enjoy the photographs below.
Read MoreNankeen Kestrel's mating and an active group of Striated Pardalotes - Photographing around Callum Brae Nature Reserve on Sunday, 22 September 2019
Callam Brae Nature Reserve really turned on a special morning this Sunday when I was walking around. I had not been in the reserve for long when I saw a Nankeen Kestrel. Just as I started to move away from that kestrel a second kestrel came along and the birds started mating. Further on I also enjoyed the challenge of trying to photograph a group of Striated Pardalotes. Beyond the birdlife the reserve was still experiencing challenging times with the two ponds I visited having very low water levels. In the first one, the pond looked like it had dried out at some stage but the recent rains had filled it up slightly. Strangely, the ground beneath the water must have been very dry preventing liquid absorption as the rain water resting on the top was almost clear. The water was not the usual colour of liquid content in these ponds. The weather was lovely on the day making it a glorious start to the day. I hope you enjoy the photographs below.
Read MoreSo many Grey Fantails, some other small birds and even a Nankeen Kestrel - Photographing at the Tharwa Sandwash on Sunday, 8 September 2019
Australian Capital Territory. It was a quiet little spot at the end of an unsealed road but with a tranquil beauty despite the strong wind blowing that morning. I really did not care if I saw any birds or not, I was just happy to soak up the peaceful. quietness of this location. The car park was almost at the river bank, with large, shady gums providing a canopy over the short walk to the river edge. The Murrumbidgee River was slowly slipping past in an almost imperceptible way. Everything about this spot seemed to reinforce that it was a location to slow down in. I had originally had a plan to climb a nearby hill but, in the end, I barely covered much distance, I just stayed very close to the river. I really enjoyed my quiet Sunday morning there and I hope you enjoy the photographs below.
Read MorePhotography at STEP, National Arboretum on Wednesday, 19 December 2018 - Fascinating Ravens, cooperative Pardalote and a male Superb Fairy-wren
The same person I met on the ‘Understanding Birds’ course, who volunteers at the Australian National Botanic Gardens also volunteers at the National Arboretum. Even though I ride through the Southern Tablelands Ecosystems Park (STEP) at the National Arboretum regularly on my bike I did not realise the plan behind it. The arboretum is attempting to replicate the various ecosystems found at different altitudes within the southern tablelands. While the trees are still young, once they reach maturity the park will be an evermore fascinating place to visit than it is at present. On the day of my visit it was very overcast with rain constantly threatening.
Read MorePhotographing at the National Arboretum on Friday, 12 October 2018 - Nankeen Kestrel and cormorants
After visiting the Australian National Botanic Gardens the previous day we had continued our floral tour by having lunch at the National Arboretum. Driving around the loop on the way out after our delicious lunch I was sure I had seen a raptor hovering on an air current over the southeastern slope of Dairy Farmers Hill. Since I had not photographed at the arboretum for a while I figured it was time to return to see what birdlife was there. I am glad I did as it was a wonderful morning. I saw the Nankeen Kestrel; despite the wind she was well accomplished at hanging in the air waiting to strike. There was so much other birdlife as well, I was especially pleased to see the two species of cormorants on the small dam at the base of the hill near the entrance. I hope you enjoy these photographs.
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