Photographing at Red Hill Nature Reserve on Saturday, 27 October 2018 - mating Gang-gangs and beautiful flycatchers

Jon Steinbeck November 7, 2018

This post has taken far too long to publish as it is two weeks since I went for this walk on Red Hill Nature Reserve. Sometimes life just seems to get in the way of our pastimes. The weather on this day was so nice, I was so glad I went out for a walk to take photographs. I met a lady who was walking her dog who gave me some wonderful tips about the birdlife on Red Hill, hence why I was able to photograph the Leaden Flycatchers below. I also had another fantastic encounter with some Gang-gangs. It was a lovely morning on Red Hill. I hope you enjoy the photographs.

A male Red-rumped Parrot near its nesting location

Photographing at Jerrabomberra Wetlands on Sunday, 21 October 2018 - A darter and nesting Red-rumped Parrots

Jon Steinbeck November 2, 2018

I always enjoy a trip to Jerrabomberra Wetlands because the birdlife is so rich in an area with easy access and great watching locations. The wetlands are always worth a visit, with different locations giving a different view of the life to be found. This time I decided to park on Dairy Road so I could enter from the south-east side of the reserve. I am glad I took that route as almost immediately I saw a pair of Black Swans with a group of cygnets. With spring upon Canberra there are more baby birds as well as more nesting birds. A number of migratory birds have also returned. Canberra is really coming alive with birds so it is a great time to have a walk around different parts of Canberra observing the birdlife.

Photographing at Red Hill Nature Reserve on Saturday, 13 October 2018 - Six Gang-gangs and a baby magpie

Jon Steinbeck October 20, 2018

The weather this Saturday was again not the best. There was a light, misty drizzle from the start, which did stop but the overcast conditions remained. The first location I went to had few birds and the cloud cover made it hard to take good photographs. I was thinking about returning home rather than keep walking but I persevered. I figured I would at least get to Red Hill Nature Reserve to see what I could find. The first photo below the map underneath this text gives an idea about the conditions on the day. I am glad I did keep going as I saw six Gang-gangs in one location, the most I have ever seen gathered together. Closer to Hughes I saw a magpie chick that was close to fledging. I hope you enjoy the pictures.

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Photographing at Callum Brae Nature Reserve on Thursday, 11 October 2018 - mating Gang-gangs and Ravens attacking a fox

Jon Steinbeck October 14, 2018

Callum Brae Nature Reserve is part of the extensive nature reserve system around Canberra. It is southeast of where I live and is part of a bush corridor starting outside of Canberra leading to Red Hill Nature Reserve. From my place it was a quick, easy drive to an area I have travelled past but never stopped at before. I was not sure what I would see at Callum Brae but my expectations were well and truly met. From mating Gang-gangs, to my first good sighting of Rainbow Lorikeets in Canberra, as well as a chance to see the shimmering green wings of the Shining-bronze Cuckoo. Despite the relatively small area of the nature reserve it packed many interesting sights in to the morning for me. I was so thankful to live in a city that has these types of reserves so near in such easy access. Unfortunately, it was another overcast morning, which I am still learning how to cope with, so the photos do appear to be a bit subdued. With that said, it was a wonderful start to another day of holidays, I hope you enjoy the photographs.

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Walking around London Bridge, Googong Foreshore on Tuesday, 9 October 2018 - a sunning water dragon and Welcome Swallows

Jon Steinbeck October 10, 2018

We had a family day out yesterday as we knew the weather was turning with rain forecast from Wednesday onwards. I had always wanted to visit London Bridge, at Googong Foreshore, I have already seen the other one, although technically the Googong one is the original based on geological age. We arrived near midday so apart from magpies most other birdlife was not readily apparent. This trip was not so much about the wildlife, it was more to see the rock formation but it was still a good opportunity to take some shots. That said, I was so intent on wandering around I forgot to take a scenery shot so I had to settle for a snap from an iPhone. It was a lovely place to visit and I am keen to return with an eye to doing more photographing.

Walking around the base of Black Mountain on Monday, 1 October 2018 - a Noisy Friarbird was calling

Jon Steinbeck October 1, 2018

At the base of Black Mountain there is a part of the Australian National Botanic Gardens that extends outside of the fence, so is open earlier than the rest of the garden. It is is the Bushland Nature Walk. A 1.2 km walk that roughly follows the contour of Black Mountain taking you to a sturdy viewing platform with a panoramic view looking east over Lake Burley Griffin and Canberra. There are also a number of information boards along the way explaining about the vegetation you are seeing. I had wanted to do this walk for a while and the public holiday presented the perfect opportunity. From the moment I started the walk there was so much birdlife. I saw Fairywrens, a Red Wattlebird and a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike. It was a good harbinger of what was a very enjoyable walk through some lovely bushland on the edge of Canberra with a spectacular view at the end of it. If that walk had not been enough I decided to drive home via the western end of Lake Burley Griffin to see what birdlife was around, I thought I would practice using my car as a mobile hide. I am so glad I did as I was rewarded with the opportunity to take some photos of a richly coloured Sacred Kingfisher, a type of bird I really love but have not had a chance to photograph yet. I hope you enjoy these pictures as I really enjoyed taking them.

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

Jon Steinbeck 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.

The White-faced Heron primed to strike with a nice reflection in the water

Photographing at Casuarina Sands Reserve on Sunday, 23 September 2018 - awesome White-faced Heron

Jon Steinbeck September 27, 2018

It had been a while since I had been to Casuarina Sands Reserve so this Sunday seemed like a good time for a return visit. I was hoping I would see some Superb Fairy-wrens as I wanted to take a picture of a male in his blue breeding plumage. This was half achieved, as I did see a male in his blue but I did not get a chance to take a good shot. I will have to keep trying. I was not too upset as I had already had an awesome experience photographing a White-faced Heron who had no concerns about my presence. I sat on a rock across the river from the bird just enjoying the beautiful, placid morning with an amazing creature in front of me, birds around me, and occasional groups of cyclists on the road whizzing past oblivious to my presence. I also saw a Grey Currawong as well as watching Welcome Swallows gather mud for their nests. It was also yet another chance to sit besides a slow moving river in some lovely sunshine listening to birds around me. I could not have asked for a more lovely start to a Sunday. I hope you enjoy these photographs.

A very cooperative pair of Gang-gang Cockatoos

A walk around Red Hill Nature Reserve on Sunday, 2 September 2018 with some Gang-gangs showing up

Jon Steinbeck September 7, 2018

I visited a different part of Red Hill Nature Reserve than I usually visit on my morning walks. I am glad I did as there was a different variety of birds in this location. I had an extended view of a pair of Gang-gang Cockatoos as well as a fleeting look at a Fan-tailed Cuckoo. I spent a fair bit of time staying in a single spot photographing the birds around me, it was a lovely start to a Sunday.

Some of the water birds inside the sanctuary at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve

A walk around Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve on Saturday, 1 September 2018

Jon Steinbeck September 3, 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 :-)

A walk around Wanniassa Hill Nature Reserve on Sunday, 5 August 2018

Jon Steinbeck August 6, 2018

I was taking our green waste to the Mugga Lane Resource Management Centre early on Sunday morning, which I thought was the perfect excuse to then do some bird photography. I got going early so I could hit the Wanniassa Hill Nature Reserve while the morning light was still shining on it. Given the way the sun was coming up in the north-east I went to the north facing slope at the start to use the available light. The birdlife was a bit sparse initially, with some small wrens flitting from shrub to shrub while crows and parrots flew high overhead. I thought I had chosen the wrong place but eventually the birds came out in a way I was able to photograph. Below are the results.

Looking over Grassy Creek to the mountains in the background

Walking Settlers Track on 2 June 2018

Jon Steinbeck July 16, 2018

Being completely honest, today was not the best day to head to the south of the ACT looking to photograph birds. While the temperature was recorded at 10 degrees, the gusts of wind from the south up to 50 kph gave an apparent temperature of 4 degrees, if not cooler. There was also a mist hanging around that added to the cold. The birds were smarter than I, they mainly seemed to be sheltered somewhere away from the prevailing conditions. This post is a bit light on for birds but hopefully it is still of interest. I was annoyed that I could not take all the photographs I wanted as I did see what may have been a hawk causing some magpies a bit of concern. Eventually the magpies chased it off but I was too far away to confirm what I was seeing let alone photograph it. Still, it was nice to be out in Namadji National Park taking pictures, which I hope are still worthwhile.