I was so used to seeing the small, ex-farm dams at Callum Brae Nature Reserve as half-filled or completely dried vestiges of a wetter time in Canberra that I was shocked when I finally saw them full. It was not only a very positive sight but I was seeing life back in them and around them. Back in February 2020 I phtoographed the dams when they were completely empty, with their cracked dirt floors exposed to the heat of the sun. A little bit of rain soon afterwards provided some liquid covering but I did not expect to ever see them actually full. When I did see them finally full on a recent trip I also saw some Eastern Snake-necked Turtles swimming in the brown water but I have no idea where they came from. Besides the filled ponds I was delighted to see a pair of Rainbow Lorikeets at a hollow. It is past the breeding season but I am always happy to see these truly gorgeously coloured birds that can never be quiet. I hope that you enjoy 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 MoreSaw a Eastern Snake-necked Turtle on my way to and from work on Thursday, 15 November 2018
I have started taking a simple point and shoot Canon PowerShot SX120 IS on my backpack for my commute rides as I am often frustrated by the wildlife I see on my rides but my iPhone just will not capture the image. I would love to have my usual camera with me all the time but I am worried about damaging it when I am riding along some of the rough trails. I was glad I am carrying the point and shoot camera because riding to work this morning I saw an Eastern Snake-necked Turtle between Yarralumla Creek and the Curtin playing fields. I noticed this turtle had crawled onto the grass between the creek and the bike path. It seemed determined to cross the path. I accidentally spooked it taking photos, so it pulled its head into is shell, photo one, but became accustomed to my and other people's presence. I left it near the bike path to continue on to work, not knowing what it was doing. On the way home this afternoon, I was worried I would see it injured or dead on the bike path. Instead, I saw it was across the bike path, about two metres west of it, digging in the grass, photos four to six. I am guessing it was a female getting ready to lay eggs. I was surprised to see it doing so in the daytime in such an open area.
Read MoreA walk around Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve on Saturday, 1 September 2018
Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve is a large national park about 30 minutes drive south of where I live. It is situated in a valley with the Tidbinbilla River running through it. I convinced my son to come with me on Saturday to go for a walk around the fenced-in sanctuary that sits in the middle of the reserve. This is a predator proof area centred on a wetlands habitat giving wild native fauna communities a chance to live without the threat of feral animals. The native fauna have the run of the sanctuary while humans are confined to well maintained paths. We had an enjoyable morning seeing so many wild birds, platypus and even a turtle. My son is not really into wildlife but agreed he would like to go back again, which is good as I bought an annual pass :-)
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