Silvereye on Silver Wattle looking for its next place to feed(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 1000, 360mm, f/8.0 and 1/640 SEC]) — Silvereye on Silver Wattle looking for its next place to feed
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 1000, 360mm, f/8.0 and 1/640 SEC])

Honeyeaters, Rufous Whistler and a multitude of small birds - Photographing at Paddys River on Sundays, 6 and 13 September 2020

BirdsinCanberra September 25, 2020

While I have visited where Paddys River meets the Cotter River, I have only ever driven across the bridge over Paddys River further upstream on my way to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve but never given a thought to stopping there. So I decided it was time to stop at that bridge to explore that area underneath it to see what animals there were. In the end, I visited the area over two successive weekends because I found so much of interest. I was focussed more on the birds but there was other life around, all of which will make me include this location on my regular visit list. It was so tranquil yet so full of life with different species of honeyeaters, and so many small birds whirling around me. Plus there was the reassuring gurgle of Paddys River flowing past me on both visits.

Immature Gold Whistler with a caterpillar(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/6.3 and 1/400 SEC]) — Immature Gold Whistler with a caterpillar
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/6.3 and 1/400 SEC])

Golden Whistlers, Weebills and a Galah at a hollow - Photographing around Red Hill Nature Reserve in July 2020

BirdsinCanberra July 30, 2020

For one reason and another it has been a while since I have been to Red Hill Nature Reserve, even though it is very near to my house. Recently, I just felt it was time to head back to this wonderful little reserve. That was especially the case when the sun was shining and I had a window of a couple of hours to get out to enjoy the weather. I just grabbed my go to Canon EOS 7D Mark II with the Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM telephoto lens plus the monopod and went up the hill. I am so glad I did. Both times it was mid-morning when the sun was up and the birds were still active but a little quieter than earlier in the morning when I usually go out photographing. Still the light was not too harsh and both times I made this dash I found some great subjects. You can see in the landscape shot below, looking across to the Brindabella Range that there was still a dusting of snow on the peaks around Canberra on the first Saturday. Despite that, the weather was not too cold and it was nice to be outside. I have also included some shots of flowers from our garden. Only the second one is an Australian native but I was enjoying the chance to practice some flower photography with natural light. It was good to be back on Red Hill, even if for a brief visit and I hope you enjoy the photographs below.

A female Rufous Whistler(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/160 SEC]) — A female Rufous Whistler
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/160 SEC])

A Rufous Whistler and a Yellow-faced Honeyeater, as well as a big huntsman in the toilet - Photographing on the Gibraltar Peak Hike on Monday, 7 October 2019

BirdsinCanberra December 9, 2019

The Gibraltar Peak Hike in Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve is an iconic Canberra hike. It seems that most Canberrans who enjoy a hike have done the Gibraltar Peak trail, and even some Canberrans who are not into hiking have done the trail. It is a lovely hike that seems to keep going up as you near the crest. The climb is definitely worth it with spectacular views to be enjoyed from the top. The wildlife was also very special, from the large huntsman spider in the toilet at the start of the hike to all the wonderful birdlife. I hope you enjoy the photos below.

A Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike with a caterpillar for food(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]) — A Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike with a caterpillar for food
(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])

A Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike having a feed and my first Olive-backed Oriole of the season - Photographing around Red Hill Nature Reserve on Saturday, 14 September 2019

BirdsinCanberra September 27, 2019

Red Hill Nature Reserve was absolutely beautiful in the early Spring sunshine. The weather was some of the nicest Canberra has had for a long time. The birdlife was starting to come alive with some visitors coming back and birds turning their attention to breeding. I did not get far that morning as I was enjoying myself, yet again, among the trees on the slope that faces the southwest. I watched a Weebill hop around some branches. I also enjoyed more pardalotes and a female Golden Whistler. It was a lovely Spring morning photographing some beautiful birds. 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.

An Olive Whistler in some of the thorn bushes that clog the bank of Paddy’s River(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]) — An Olive Whistler in some of the thorn bushes that clog the bank of Paddy’s River
(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])

An Olive Whistler visited a quiet part of Paddy's River - Photographing at Murray's Corner on Sunday, 18 August 2019

BirdsinCanberra August 26, 2019

Murray’s Corner is a little reserve that sits on Paddy’s River in an area surrounded by pine forest. I thought I would pay it a visit as I really enjoy the Cotter area. Paddy’s River is a quiet river and I feel it would be nice to return in the spring and summer when there is more likely to be life. I heard a number of birds but I was only able to photograph the Olive Whistler that heads this blog post. Unfortunately, I had some car issues so I ended up being at Murray’s Corner longer than planned, which did allow me to practice some landscape photography in a tranquil setting. I eventually finished my morning at Phillip, to put my car in for servicing, but that did allow me to photograph some House Sparrows in the area. There are always animals to photograph, so at least that made the morning a bit happier. I hope you enjoy the photographs below.

This female Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo is a stunning bird

Photographing at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve on Friday, 4 January 2019 - Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos and a Rufous Whistler

BirdsinCanberra January 11, 2019

As this was the last weekday of my time off from work I wanted to go somewhere special to photograph, so I decided to make the trip to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. This wonderful gem of nature is an easy 30 minute drive from my house and always worth a visit. I decided to use Daslsetta car park as the centre of my exploring, with a walk eastwards then back westwards towards Tidbinbilla River. I really underestimated how much ground I was going to cover, quickly finding myself running out of time yet still nowhere near the river. There was a lot of birdlife around but the closed canopy made it more of a photographic challenge than a lot of places around Canberra. As always, I enjoyed my time and will be back. I was really happy I went because I saw some marvellous Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos, an Australian Hobby flew past and I was also really fortunate to photograph two Yellow-faced Honeyeaters doing a horizontal face-off. A great morning spent in some truly beautiful country, I hope you enjoy the photographs.

A Yellow-rumped Thornbill looking for food

Photographing at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve on Tuesday, 18 December 2018 - Honeyeaters and a Rufous Whistler

BirdsinCanberra December 24, 2018

I am on a break at present, so I thought it would be nice during the school holidays to take my son for a walk in the ever lovely Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. I wanted to visit again to photograph and I thought it would a lovely way to spend a morning. I was not wrong, as the weather was glorious and the wildlife was out and about. I did not plan to finish one of the walks, just follow the trail to a point where we felt we had gone far enough, then turnaround. It can be frustrating for a non-photographer to walk with somebody who always wants to stop to take photographs but my son was very patient. We saw so much birdlife, although it was not always easy to capture birds moving fast through shrubs and trees. I hope you enjoy the photos.

The male Golden Whistler has a one of the archetypal bird calls of the Australian bush

Walking in Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve on Sunday, 29 September 2018 - hearing and seeing a Golden Whistler

BirdsinCanberra October 1, 2018

I dragged my poor, suffering son out again to join me in a walk along two of the trails at the lovely Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, just south of Canberra. The two trails I chose were Cascades Trail and Lyrebird Trail, two connected trails in the west of the park, starting from Mountain Creek car park. Both trails meander through some very dense vegetation, and that Sunday’s nice weather had brought a few people out to the trails, so I was not able to photograph many birds. I was not too disappointed as I did get to photograph a Golden Whistler and just walking along the trails in the warm spring sunshine with my son really made my day.