A male Magpie-lark appears to pause to look at the reflections in the water(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 male Magpie-lark appears to pause to look at the reflections in the water
(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 number of birds at a small dam and a flock of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos - Photographing around Callum Brae Nature Reserve on Sunday, 14 July 2019

Jon Steinbeck July 19, 2019

Callum Brae Nature Reserve is always worth a visit. There were a number of small dams so I was in my element of being beside a small pond or dam on a cold Sunday morning. I had not been to the reserve for a while, so this morning was a nice opportunity to return. I walked along the firetrail to where it met a dried water course, which I then followed south-easterly towards the dams. The water course had little puddles of water but was far-off being even a small creek. Interestingly, despite the dampness in the water course the dams were still drying out. I did not photograph the usual dam I have used to show the effects of the dry weather but I am sure it was looking like it had even less water in it compared to my previous visits. As always, there were a number of different parrot species as well as a number of Australian Wood Ducks. I always enjoy a walk around Callum Brae and I hope you enjoy the photographs below.

Some of the flock of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos in a tree(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/125 SEC]) — Some of the flock of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos in a tree
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/125 SEC])

A lovely flock of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos kept me company - Photographing at Cotter Bend on Sunday, 30 June 2019

Jon Steinbeck July 5, 2019

Cotter Bend is one of the small reserves located where Paddys River, the Cotter River and the Murrumbidgee River meet just downstream from the Cotter Dam. There is a short walk from the main reserve along a trail, then a fire road to the Cotter Caves. These were naturally-formed caves in the area that were previously open to the public. However, the continued tours through the caves were damaging them and the people visiting the caves scared off a colony of Eastern Bent-Wing Bats in the caves. In recent times the caves were closed to the public via the means of a steel gate. This decision was prompted by the unstable cave geology as well as in an attempt to encourage the bats to return. The Sunday morning of my visit was cold and overcast, with even a brief, light rain squall. I did see some birds but they were hard to photograph in the low light of the morning. Fortunately, later in my walk a large flock of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos flew into the area, a bird that I am always happy to see. There are not many pictures below but I hope you like them.

A female Australian Wood Duck preparing to make its typical call(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 female Australian Wood Duck preparing to make its typical call
(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])

Australian Wood Ducks and Crimson Rosellas staking out dead trees - Photographing around Red Hill Nature Reserve on Saturday, 29 June 2019

Jon Steinbeck July 5, 2019

Red Hill Nature Reserve is an easy walk from my house, so even if I am a little slow getting out of the door, I still have enough time to make a walk worthwhile. That is what happened this Saturday morning. I was a little late getting out the door because I was not certain about the weather but decided to head out as the slight rain looked like it was clearing. I am glad I went for a walk as the weather was not bad and I still saw some wonderful birds. The Australian Wood Ducks were back in force, apparently staking out trees. Although, there is competition with other hollow breeders like Crimson Rosellas. The walk was not a long one but the birds were beautiful. I hope you like the photographs.

One of the males in the group of Gang-gang Cockatoos(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]) — One of the males in the group of Gang-gang Cockatoos
(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])

A group of Gang-gang Cockatoos in a tree are a great start to the day - Photographing at Red Hill Nature Reserve on Saturday, 22 June 2019

Jon Steinbeck July 2, 2019

Red Hill Nature Reserve once again beckoned me. There were a number of birds that are always around, including a group of Gang-gang Cockatoos in one tree. This mini flock included some immature birds. Not far away Grey Butcherbirds called across the landscape, marking their presence. While none of the birds I saw this morning were exotic or rare I thoroughly enjoyed watching them. Later that day, Yerrabi Track at Namadgi National Park was the goal for my son and I. We walked along the track to the top of the Boboyan Trig Point. The walk was a lovely way to spend the morning. I was not able to photograph any birds but I enjoyed the scenery. I hope you enjoy the photographs below.

A male Red-rumped Parrot preparing to drink from a remnant muddy pond(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 640, 400mm, f/5.6 and 1/400 SEC]) — A male Red-rumped Parrot preparing to drink from a remnant muddy pond
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 640, 400mm, f/5.6 and 1/400 SEC])

Watching different species of thornbills interact when magnificently coloured Red-rumped Parrots arrive - Photographing at Kama Nature Reserve on Sunday, 16 June 2019

Jon Steinbeck June 28, 2019

Kama Nature Reserve presented itself as a place to shoot some reasonable photographs on an overcast June Sunday morning. I am glad that I tried this new location because I was able to take photographs on a day that was not ideal for such an activity. Kama Nature Reserve has relatively open country so on an overcast day there was likely to still be sufficient natural light for photography. The conditions were not great for taking photos but I was able to photograph two species of thornbills that were interacting around a nearly dried pond. There were also a number of parrots, including the ubiquitous Sulphur-crested Cockatoos and the beautifully coloured Red-rumped Parrots. The area was a wonderful location, which I enjoyed, despite the less than ideal natural lighting. I hope you like the photographs below.

Very happy with this picture of a New Holland Honeyeater(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/1000 SEC]) — Very happy with this picture of a New Holland Honeyeater
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/1000 SEC])

Love the beauty of New Holland Honeyeaters and Eastern Yellow Robins are awesome as well - Photographing at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve on Sunday, 9 June 2019

Jon Steinbeck June 21, 2019

I can understand a fascination with clouds and I only wish I was a better photographer so my photographs could really convey the beauty contained in the clouds on that Sunday morning at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. There were clouds and fog, normally not good for photographing but with clear patches of sky and strong winds the clouds could be floating sculptures one minute then alien jellyfish eating mountains the next. Sometimes the clouds and fogs sandwiched the landscape between them, giving the mountains an otherworld sense appearing briefly from a magic cloud bank. There was also a mist rising from the ground, helping to encase the shrubs in wisps of mystery. But there were clear patches of vegetation where I saw some beautiful birds. I think I have taken my best photograph so far of a New Holland Honeyeater, it was like the bird knew I was photographing it so was happy to pose. The morning was just a wonderful start to the day. The drive into Tidbinbilla set the tone of the visit when I had to stop the car so I could start photographing the clouds. My mood was further boosted when a very kind indigenous ranger saw me arrive early at the Dalsetta Car Park and pulled in with his ute to offer my a lift up to the top of the ridge, as he thought I was going to photograph the clouds from up there. He was a friendly guy and we had a brief chat about photography. He had taken some photos of a previous thick fog which filled the whole valley. It is just a wonderful start when you have a friendly person greet you as they want to give you a hand. It was a wonderful morning and I hope you enjoy the photographs below.

The Wedge-tailed Eagle perched at the top of the tree(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/5.6 and 1/320 SEC]) — The Wedge-tailed Eagle perched at the top of the tree
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/5.6 and 1/320 SEC])

Two perching Wedge-tailed Eagles as well as a Scarlet Robin - Photographing at Namadgi National Park on Saturday, 8 June 2019

Jon Steinbeck June 19, 2019

I will be honest, this was not the walk we had planned for Namadgi National Park, I got my Boboyan Roads mixed up so we turned onto Old Boboyan Road when we should continued along Boboyan Road. I am not upset because we will do the originally planned walk very shortly and I was also able to see two Wedge-tailed Eagles. I saw one of them in the distance through a mess of tree branches, I was amazed I had picked out this awesome bird of prey which was perched motionless on a far away dead tree. I was even happier when I could get photographs from a better vantage point further along the trail. My son and I both enjoyed the trail, despite the weather not being great, cloudy with the temperature hovering around 6ºC (about 43ºF). In addition, I was undeniably happy to get some OK shots of the eagles considering the bad light as well as the distance to the birds. I hope you enjoy the photographs below.

Some Sulphur-crested Cockatoos sitting on an overhead power cable in Hughes(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/100 SEC]) — Some Sulphur-crested Cockatoos sitting on an overhead power cable in Hughes
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/100 SEC])

Confirming I had seen Coconut Ants - Photographing around Red Hill Nature Reserve on Saturday, 8 June 2019

Jon Steinbeck June 17, 2019

I was heading out later in the morning with my son to go to Namdagi National Park but I still wanted to have my usual walk on Red Hill Nature Reserve. I had to cut the walk short because we were going to leave early to go to Namadgi. A shorter walk on Red Hill was not really a problem as the weather was cloudy and slightly foggy so not the best for photographing birds. I did not see many birds that day, in fact my only really bird shot was at the top of this post and shows a number of Sulphur-crested Cockatoos waiting near a house for food. Beyond that bird photograph I was really just trying to get more photographs of the Coconut Ants from my previous walk to confirm what they were.

A Little Pied Cormorant and a White-faced Heron share a resting spot at Uriarra Crossing(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/320 SEC]) — A Little Pied Cormorant and a White-faced Heron share a resting spot at Uriarra Crossing
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/320 SEC])

Water birds in the fog and Brown Thornbill looking for food, plus some amazing looking insects - Photographing at Uriarra Crossing Reserve and home on Sunday, 2 June 2019

Jon Steinbeck June 15, 2019

I enjoy being beside a slow-moving river, there is something relaxing in the sound of the water leisurely flowing past. I enjoy it even more when there is birdlife going about its business while I watch the events unfold. That is probably why I again found myself sitting beside the Murrumbidgee River on a cold, foggy Sunday morning at Uriarra Crossing thoroughly engrossed in the moment without worrying about the frigid temperature. There were some lovely birds down near the river, including a Little Pied Cormorant and a White-faced Heron sharing the convenience of a toppled-over tree. This post also includes some photographs at the bottom that I took at home later that morning, when I was supposed to be cleaning up the backyard. In moving some wood I came across some fascinating creatures I just had to photograph, before I returned to cleaning up the garden.

A lone male Gang-gang Cockatoo chewing at a branch in Hughes(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 lone male Gang-gang Cockatoo chewing at a branch in Hughes
(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])

Gang-gang Cockatoos are still around and stalking a moth - Photographing at Red Hill Nature Reserve on Saturday, 1 June 2019

Jon Steinbeck June 11, 2019

This Saturday was the first official day of winter, with the weather making the point thanks to a sub-zero start. Despite the cold, frosty morning I was still keen to go our for my usual walk on Red Hill Nature Reserve. I went to the eastern part of the reserve as I had not been there for a while. During my walk I was easily distracted by some water droplets on spider webs as well as a dead tree with fantastic character. I took the usual photograph of the tree but also tried something different by photographing up the trunk to where the branches came out of the tree. I was reasonably pleased with the shot. I was also happy to be able to photograph some Gang-gang Cockatoos again, it has been a while. I hope you enjoy the photographs below.

Two rain-drenched Eastern Grey Kangaroos at Mount Taylor Nature Reserve on Sunday morning(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/6.3 and 1/800 SEC]) — Two rain-drenched Eastern Grey Kangaroos at Mount Taylor Nature Reserve on Sunday morning
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/6.3 and 1/800 SEC])

Amazing spiders, interesting insects, drenched kangaroos and beautiful scenery - Photographing around Canberra on Friday to Sunday 24-26 May 2019

Jon Steinbeck June 4, 2019

This was not the weekend I had planned nor was I expecting. I started photographing on Friday afternoon when I again had to go to Westfield Woden Shopping Centre so I decided to walk back home while taking photographs. The weather on Saturday, while cold, was fine enough to photograph around Red Hill Nature Reserve. However, on Sunday morning there was rain and I was wondering if I would get out to Mount Taylor Nature Reserve. Happily I did. Monday, a public holiday in Canberra, no such luck, it was bleak; wet and cloudy for most of the day. I think the bad weather made it harder to see birds over the weekend as they had either gone or were trying to find ways to minimise energy loss in the face of the colder temperatures. The kangaroos I encountered on Mount Taylor on Sunday were drenched with rain but their fur coats appeared thick, probably providing needed insulation. Rain drenched birds would be cold but would also find it harder to fly. Sorry, there are no bird photos below but there are kangaroos, spiders, insects, landscape and one dinosaur skeleton (photographed in a museum). I hope you enjoy the photographs.

One of the female Superb Fairy-wrens out at Uriarra Crossing(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/5.6 and 1/400 SEC]) — One of the female Superb Fairy-wrens out at Uriarra Crossing
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/5.6 and 1/400 SEC])

A female Grey Strike-thrush and Superb Fairy-wrens were out in the autumn morning sun - Photographing at Uriarra Crossing on Sunday, 19 May 2019

Jon Steinbeck May 28, 2019

Uriarra Crossing is set in a small valley where a road crosses the Murrumbidgee River. It is north-east of Canberra, where the Uriarra Road curves through undulating hills. I first found the location when I was participating in a charity bike ride and thought it was beautifully placid, deserving of a return visit. It may have taken me a while to come back with my camera but it was worth the return. I had not even reached the crossing before I pulled over to take my first photographs of the scenery. It was such a beautiful little place with some reasonable facilities for a picnic. The access to the river was an easy stroll. I probably visited at the wrong time of the year as Canberra comes to the end of Autumn with Winter fast approaching. The weather was not too cold but many animals would have been rising later in the day once the sun was higher in the sky casting a warming glow over the area. I was able to see a Grey Thrush-strike and you can always count on Superb Fairy-wrens to be about. I am looking forward to returning and may be wandering in a different direction along the river. It is just one of the lovely locations Canberra has. I really hope you enjoy the pictures below.

A juvenile Australian King-parrot enjoying some food(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 500, 400mm, f/5.6 and 1/60 SEC]) — A juvenile Australian King-parrot enjoying some food
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 500, 400mm, f/5.6 and 1/60 SEC])

More beautiful Australian King-parrots and a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo - Photographing at Red Hill Nature Reserve on Saturday, 18 May 2019

Jon Steinbeck May 23, 2019

As autumn bites ahead of winter the birdlife on Red Hill Nature Reserve becomes harder to find, with many species departing for warmer parts. Some birds will stay through the winter, such as the Sulphur-crested Cockatoos and the Australian King-parrots, a species which will mostly disappear as it warms up. Even the insects become harder to find as the temperature drops. This Saturday morning I was lucky to spend time photographing a wonderful group of juvenile Australian King-parrots who were more focussed on food than me. I heard Yellow-tail Black Cockatoos in the distance but I could not see them. I thoroughly enjoy my Saturday walks on Red Hill, an area I have really gotten to know over the past 12 months. I still find new places, which leads me to new ideas for photographing. When the birds are hard to find I look for other shots and I have two shots, which I hope are interesting, for different reasons, below. I have also included some photographs from a walk I took back from Woden Shopping Centre.

A Grey Butcherbird with the lizard it caught(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/6.3 and 1/800 SEC]) — A Grey Butcherbird with the lizard it caught
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/6.3 and 1/800 SEC])

A Grey Butcherbird with its prey, fog and a myriad of photographic subjects - A weekend photographing around Red Hill Nature Reserve, 11-12 May 2019

Jon Steinbeck May 16, 2019

This was not quite the weekend I had planned. I went out on Saturday morning for my usual walk, this time going to the Hughes-Garran area, particularly the woodland. There had been rain overnight so the ground was wet, the sky was still a bit overcast and temperature a little cool. I had then planned to go for a short hike later that day with my son in Tidbinbilla National Park but we were having car problems so we ended up having a very nice hike over Red Hill Nature Reserve. The next day, again, because of car issues, I returned to Red Hill, which was covered in fog, with a light frost as well, for a walk there. The fog stayed for my whole walk and for most of the day. In the end, I spent my whole weekend wandering over Red Hill Nature Reserve, which was not a bad way to spend a weekend. The conditions were not great for photography, especially of birds, so there are plenty of pictures below of subjects that are not birds. I hope you do not mind and enjoy the photographs.

A Common Brown butterfly on the leaf litter(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 250, 400mm, f/9.0 and 1/800 SEC]) — A Common Brown butterfly on the leaf litter
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 250, 400mm, f/9.0 and 1/800 SEC])

Some beautiful butterflies and some intriguing trees - Photographing at Cork Oaks on Saturday, 4 May 2019

Jon Steinbeck May 13, 2019

I regularly ride my mountain bike through the refrehsing trails at the National Arboretum then I continue on to Cork Oaks Plantation, which was a forestry venture in the original plan for Canberra. One morning, I had a good look at the trees, thinking there must be some photographic subjects among them. I decided to return on a weekend with my camera, which is how I came to be there on the Saturday of this blog post. I was not disappointed in my wandering around the plantation. I found some interesting trees, especially the trees that had fallen down but were still growing, as well as two species of butterflies to photograph. I never thought I would be into photographing trees but I really enjoyed it so I hope you enjoy looking at the photographs.

A year on, I am still photographing magpies, this time in the half-light of dawn(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 312mm, f/5.6 and 1/80 SEC]) — A year on, I am still photographing magpies, this time in the half-light of dawn
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 312mm, f/5.6 and 1/80 SEC])

A magpie at dawn and colourful Australian King-Parrots - Photographing at Red Hill Nature Reserve on Saturday, 4 May 2019

Jon Steinbeck May 10, 2019

In looking back at my entries in Bird Journal I noticed it was roughly a year ago when I went for my first walk to Red Hill Nature Reserve with a camera in hand, intending to note and photograph birds. That morning I photographed Australian Magpies, Gang-gang Cockatoos, Australian King-Parrots and Eastern Rosellas. ON this day, I retraced my steps to see what birds I could find. I am glad the first bird I came across was an Australian Magpie. Yes, they are very common but they are intelligent birds and their morning call is something almost all Australians have grown up with. I followed my route from approximately 12 months before, with the walk not taking me far. I then went further up Red Hill but stayed on the Hughes side to see what photographs I could find. Those photographs are below and I hope you like them.

A female Golden Orb Weaver(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM [ISO 400, 55mm, f/10 and 1/200 SEC] with Yongnuo YN14EX Macro Ring Lite) — A female Golden Orb Weaver
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM [ISO 400, 55mm, f/10 and 1/200 SEC] with Yongnuo YN14EX Macro Ring Lite)

A magnificent female Golden Orb Weaver at the centre of her web - Photographing at Namadgi National Park on Saturday, 27 April 2019

Jon Steinbeck May 2, 2019

I made a special car trip to hike two kilometres by myself, along a bush track, so I could stand on a rock ledge, in the middle of a cool night at Namadgi National Park, just to take a photograph of the night sky. I think my passion for my hobby is bordering on obsession but I am thoroughly enjoying it. Standing on that ledge, with a clear night sky revealing the millions of stars in a truly black night sky was jaw dropping in its vastness. My photographic ability could not do the scene justice but I enjoyed the opportunity. I also took my macro light with me to take pictures of any little creatures I saw. I enjoyed the dark, where the extent of what I could see was so constrained, making the world seem so small but then contrasting those limits with the boundless heavens above me. There was a tranquility to the night but also a new world where the sound of a kangaroo hopping over the the woodland floor carried much further. It was a really wonderful experience. I hope you enjoy the photographs below.

A Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo chewing on a tree(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/6.3 and 1/640 SEC]) — A Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo chewing on a tree
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/6.3 and 1/640 SEC])

Watching six wonderful Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos was a great experience - Photographing at Red Hill Nature Reserve on Saturday, 27 April 2019

Jon Steinbeck May 1, 2019

Some birds have characters that shine through. They do not just appear in the landscape, they liven it up. You cannot help but feel there are emotions and thoughts there deeper than normally ascribed to birds. To me, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos are just such a bird. I stopped to watch six of them go about their lives on Red Hill Nature Reserve. They each had their own lives, they were so absorbing to watch. I heard their cry from a distance, fortunately they were in an area near where my path was heading. It was just such a beautiful way to start a Saturday. I hope you enjoy the pictures below.

A Welcome Swallow perched above the rear door at the Namadgi Visitors Centre(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/6.3 and 1/100 SEC]) — A Welcome Swallow perched above the rear door at the Namadgi Visitors Centre
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/6.3 and 1/100 SEC])

Welcome Swallows perching and Dusky Woodswallows enjoying the sun - Photographing at Namadgi National Park on Thursday, 25 April 2019

Jon Steinbeck April 30, 2019

The temptation to photograph once again at Namadgi National Park was too overwhelming and I once again found myself driving south to the national park in the early morning of 25 April 2019. The weather was gorgeous, great for beginner photographers. I also took the opportunity to shoot some landscapes while I was on some high ground. I followed the Cypress Pine Lookout trail again, although I did not see as many species of bird as last time, even when I was back near the visitors centre. The lack of birds did not worry me as it was such a beautiful morning to be out for a walk, so I hope you enjoy the photographs below.

The group of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos after landing in a conifer(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/9.0 and 1/1250 SEC]) — The group of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos after landing in a conifer
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/9.0 and 1/1250 SEC])

A group of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos winged overhead and a stunning Australian Jewel Spider - Photographing at Lake George on Monday, 22 April 2019

Jon Steinbeck April 26, 2019

Driving into Canberra from the north along the Federal Highway the road skirts past Lake George in what is still New South Wales. Most people may be confused when driving past the “lake” as it is more often not there. The lake is not fed by any major river, rather it is filled by rain water that has trouble penetrating the sub-strata beneath the lake. I wanted to have a closer look at the area to see what animal life I could find. I was also interested to photograph the escarpment to the west of the lake as it dominates the drive alongside the lake. I was excited to find an Australian Jewel Spider very soon after arriving. I was even more thrilled when a group of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos made an appearance. It was just a lovely morning getting close to an iconic location, even if I never actually saw the “lake”. I hope you enjoy the photographs below.