Pied Oystercatcher on a fence rail
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 320, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/500 SEC])

Sea-eagles, herons and oystercatchers - Beautiful Narooma Part 2, Summer 2022/23

Jon Steinbeck March 6, 2023

One fine morning in Narooma I decided to head out to photograph. It was the first time in a while that I had been able to get out with a camera. I didn’t have much time so I was not planning to go far. I decided to head straight for the tiny Lewis Island that sat just west of the road bridge over Wagonga Inlet. In approaching the foot-bridge to Lewis Island I saw a lone Pied Oystercatcher standing on one leg atop the white, wooden rail along the footbridge. To me, not only did the rail provided a firm base to rest my camera it also created an obvious leading line guiding the eye to the oystercatcher. I advanced slowly across the bridge, periodically stopping to take some shots, knowing that at some stage the oystercatcher would flee from me. It did not take long for the bird to decide I was too close. First its folded leg came down, then it took a few steps along the railing before it flapped its wings to fly a few metres to the sand on the island. I felt bad for disturbing the bird but glad it had not flown too far.

The iconic seascape of Glasshouse Rocks at Narooma
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 106mm, f/20 and 1/160 SEC])

Rocks, waves and water - Beautiful Narooma Part 1, Summer 2022/23

Jon Steinbeck March 1, 2023

Narooma is a town of about 3000 people on the southern coast of NSW. Its urban centre spans the truly crystal blue waters of the Wagonga Inlet. Travelling south by car from Canberra it is easy to find this summer holiday destination because the Princes Highway travels around a sharp right corner before crossing over the inlet. Narooma is a beautiful gem that has grown mainly along the southern side of the inlet and the Pacific Ocean on the sea side. No major rivers flow into the inlet, just a some creeks, making the water beautiful and clear. It is no exaggeration to say crystal blue, because that is what the water is. I have previously posted (here and here) about this wonderful seaside destination and we ended up spending a fair bit of our summer holiday in Narooma, being captivated by the beauty. It would be hard to select a single photo to represent the locale but Glasshouse Rocks, on the southern side of the town, is worthy of consideration for that role.

This is the first post in a series of five looking at different aspects of wildlife at Narooma. In this post I am covering the environment around Narooma. I took my camera with me on holiday because I knew Narooma was going to be beautiful and I hope you enjoy the photographs below.

Lage Brown Mantid noticing me getting closer
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/18 and 1/180 SEC] with a Raynox DCR250 Super Macro Lens and Canon 430EX III-RT flash)

Praying mantis looking at me and other macro subjects - Home, ACT, October 2022

Jon Steinbeck November 3, 2022

The pseudo pupils of the Large Brown Mantid made this alien-like insect appear like it was looking directly at me. No doubt the mantis had detected my approach but the raised triangular head with the large eyes was exactly the shot I was hoping for. The mantis had been resting on a black garden stake when I went searching for macro subjects to try out my recently purchased Raynox DCR 250 Super Macro Lens, which simply clips onto the front of my Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM. I was thrilled when I came across the praying mantis because it was such a spectacular macro subject, especially when it lifted its head. After a while, it seemed to sense that the camera was not a threat so it returned to a relatively normal position even though its large eyes were still slightly tilted toward my lens. I enjoyed my time playing around with my new lens and I hope that you enjoy the photographs below.

Head study of a male Chestnut Teal on a rainy day
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 500, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])

Good weather for ducks on a rainy day - Huskisson, NSW, September 2022

Jon Steinbeck September 19, 2022

Chestnut Teal males have a wonderfully, almost fluorescent green head, set-off by some very red eyes. They are a truly handsome bird. Their green comes alive when the light hits it properly giving it a shimmering effect like the finest dress satin. They are also a species of duck that tolerates high salinity, which means they are often seen in estuaries and bays. So I was not that surprised when I saw their magnificent green heads on a rainy, wet Saturday in Huskisson at the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum. As the saying goes on a rainy day, it was good weather for ducks. Although those teals were wild, they were accustomed to the presence of humans walking around making them easy to approach. While one male eyed me warily I was able to take the photograph above, catching its wary stare back at me. I was happy to get a shot showing the shimmering green, even if the light was not great due to the grey rain clouds. I hope that you enjoy the photographs below.

Rainbow off Tuross Head against the storm clouds
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 500, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/1000 SEC])

Storm clouds off the coast - Tuross Head, NSW, August 2022

Jon Steinbeck September 6, 2022

The coast was beckoning so we headed down for a day trip and lunch at the quiet seaside locale of Tuross Head. The weather forecast was not the best, with a very high chance of heavy rain and a possible storm. Still, I was optimistic that the lighting conditions at out destination would allow for some photography. While I was unable to photograph much wildlife the storm-tinged sky that rolled in over the course of the day created a dramatic backdrop for some coastal shots. Because the dark clouds were coming up from the southeast, the sun in the clear, blue sky to west created a partial rainbow out to sea. Not the photography that I intended but I was happy nonetheless to be at the coast with a camera. I hope you enjoy the photographs below.

Storm wave refracting around South Head
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 2500, 278mm, f/7.1 and 1/1000 SEC])

Storm waves at South Head - Sydney, NSW, July 2022

Jon Steinbeck July 25, 2022

The big storm waves had already passed but I was in Sydney on the morning of 6 July so I wanted to see what shots I could take of interesting waves. While the sea was calming down I thought that there was still drama in the surging water that would make heading out in the rain worthwhile. Even from sheltered Camp Cove I could see that there was white-capped water everywhere in the outer parts of Sydney Harbour. Walking along the well maintained footpath, then descended a slippery muddy track, I found a place just inside the base of South Head below Hornby Lighthouse. The storm-tossed sea was a greyish-green with waves dashing ashore every few seconds. I was reluctant to walk further around the rock platform because the only possible route took me across an area that was occasionally inundated by rushing waves. Despite not being in the best spot for the compositions I was thrilled to be watching the harbour waters contorting with the waves running across them. I hope that you enjoy the photographs below.

Little Egret wading in the late afternoon sun at Merimbula
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])

Fur Seals, beautiful water birds and gorgeous scenery - South Coast NSW, June 2022

Jon Steinbeck July 22, 2022

The afternoon sun was getting low in the western sky when we finished walking along the boardwalk at Merimbula. This walk took us from the bridge over Boggy Creek in the centre of town, along the side of Merimbula Lake. The tide was low with mudflats and sand exposed. A group of egrets were wading through the still waters of Merimbula Lake and among them was a lone Little Egret. The sun was on the other side of the birds so they were not in an ideal position but the Little Egret raised its head to look in the direction of the sun and I was able to get a photograph when its eye glinted in the sun and there was a rim lighting effect on its white plumage. That was at the end of day one of our trip to the south coast of New South Wales. We needed a coastal fix to recharge our batteries from an early, cold winter in Canberra. We spent four days along the south coast, looking at sites from Eden up to Narooma. It was a wonderful trip to a beautiful part of the world. I hope that you enjoy the photographs below.

Little Pied Cormorant resting on a branch
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 250, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])

Cormorants, herons and a kingfisher on a mangrove-lined creek - Cyne Mallows Creek, May 2022

Jon Steinbeck June 19, 2022

The weather in Canberra continued to be very ordinary with overcast skies leading to rain buffeted by strong winds. However, the forecast for Sunday on the long weekend at the end was for nice weather and the tide was scheduled to be high in the morning. These factors said it was time for a paddle down on the New South Wales coast to photograph there. I chose Cyne Mallows Creek near Nelligen for destination because I wanted to see how far I could travel up the small but interesting creek to take photographs. I was lucky with the birdlife, while mainly common birds, I enjoyed the chance to have good light for photography. One Little Pied Cormorant was even accommodating enough to let me float very close to it so I could take some photographs. It was a beautiful day on a fascinating creek that really helped to recharge my batteries. I hope that you enjoy the photographs below.

Black Swan’s eye catching the morning sun as the bird preens itself
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 200, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/500 SEC])

Misty morning for birds and other subjects - Lake Burley Griffin, May 2022

Jon Steinbeck May 12, 2022

It was the first day of May and the weather was improving on that Sunday morning, much better than the windy, chilly Saturday. I had enjoyed a wonderful paddle on Lake Burley Griffin with an atmospheric mist coming off the lake and clear blue skies allowing the sun to light the wisps. After my kayak, I took my time loading the car, just enjoying the slow beat of life on the lake. While I was enjoying the leisurely pulse of life a beautiful Black Swan swam slowly toward my beached kayak. I was unsure what was going on and if I would have to shoo the large, dark bird off my kayak so that I could load it onto my car. However the bird swam along the kayak’s side before turning around to swim back. Just after it turned there must have been an itch on its back because it curved the its neck gracefully over to tackle the annoyance deep in its black feathers. In doing so, the sun struck its head lighting the side facing me while other parts of the bird remained in shadow. The bird’s red iris caught the light just as some small beads of water did on its head. I wished I had been slightly lower for the shot but it was a beautiful sight to see just before I had to pack up to return to normal life. It had been a wonderful morning on the lake and I hope that you like the photographs below.

Book Review - Coast: A history of the New South Wales Edge by Ian Hoskins

Jon Steinbeck May 10, 2022

This book was a thoroughly enjoyable read about an interesting part of Australia which is normally not treated as a single entity, the entire length of the New South Wales coast. I would think that the challenge in writing a book like this is how to link the whole length of the coast, while also limiting the narrative from other parts of the state. Then, how to write a history of that geographic area such that it is interesting to read. On all accounts the author succeeds.

A seed pod from a tree lying on the tiled ground
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 1600, 100mm, f/9.0 and 1/125 SEC])

Photo challenge to find subjects in an urban car park - Civic, ACT, February 2022

Jon Steinbeck May 9, 2022

This is a different kind of post and it is basically only pictures. One day in in February my wife asked me to drive her to a shop in Civic because she wanted to learn the way to get there. Once we arrived, she would do the shopping while I stayed in the car. Rather than just wait in the car I decided to take my camera to challenge myself to find some nature subjects in an urban car park. To equip myself properly, I took two lens, my Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM and Canon EF40mm f2.8 STM. I don’t think any of the shots that resulted are fantastic but it was a fun challenge, made even harder by the wet, overcast weather that robbed me of good lighting. I hope you like them.

Thanks for looking at my photos. I hope you come back again to read more about some of the wonderful natural things that the Australian Capital Territory has on offer. All the best until the next post.

The morning sun highlighting the blue of a Purple Swamphen
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 500, 227mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])

Chasing the light on Lake Burley Griffin - Lake Burley Griffin, March-April 2022

Jon Steinbeck May 3, 2022

Being a completely amateur photographer I find that my photography is confined to weekends so I am often reliant on the weather being nice on those days. Unfortunately, it seemed that in Canberra the first half of 2022 had many weekends with inclement weather meaning that the light was not great. I still took my camera with me when I kayaking but it was discouraging when the light just did not seem to be there. However, it did give me a chance to play around with some moody light conditions. Fortunately, there were also days when the sun was out providing lovely light, such as the morning I came across the Purple Swamphen above. These are very common birds around Lake Burley Griffin, especially close to reeds where they roost of a night. It is easier to ignore them after a while because they are so common but when the light hits them and the blue of their feathers shine, they become a glorious sight to see. Over two months in 2022 I saw the lake in different light conditions and I wanted to share the result. I hope that you enjoy the photographs below.

White-faced Heron prowling for food on the rocks
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 200, 400mm, f/7.1 and 1/500 SEC])

Birds and dolphins seen while kayaking - Jervis Bay, NSW, April 2022

Jon Steinbeck April 25, 2022

There were oystercatchers, cormorants and three White-Faced Heron prowling over Scottish Rocks in Jervis Bay. The small waves were slowly washing my kayak and I closer to where the birds were and the animals were still going about their normal behaviour. A clear blue sky lit this scene of seabirds on the rocks while I decided to focus on a single heron that was towards the back of this gathering. It was making its way over the rocks, probably looking into rock pools while it moved across the uneven surface. I was happy in that moment of warm weather, sllghtly rocking water and a wild bird acting naturally in front of me. My day trip to Jervis Bay was definitely worth it and I hope that you enjoy the photographs below.

Wild Australian Fur Seals having a disagreement on the breakwater at Narooma
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 100, 400mm, f/9.0 and 1/400 SEC])

First time seeing wild Australian Fur Seals, and other coastal wildlife - Narooma, NSW, February 2022

Jon Steinbeck April 5, 2022

I was a kid again, captivated and enthralled by wild creatures swimming and basking across the inlet entrance from where my son and I were. I looked to see if any of these beautiful Australian Fur Seals were on our side of the Narooma coast entrance but they were all across the water from us. My teenager son was likewise enraptured looking at these amazing marine mammals living their lives in front of us. We took a seat on the rocks to enjoy the show. We had already seen a lot in Narooma, remarking on the clear waters where so many fish thrived. I had wanted to come to the inlet entrance because I had read that seals were sometimes sighted there and I was hopeful that we may glimpse one but instead we saw a group of them. It was so wonderful to sit down on a rock, under beautiful weather, beside the sea and be engrossed in wild animals not bothered by out presence. We had a wonderful time and I hope that you enjoy the photographs below.

White-faced Heron searching for food in exposed sea grass
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 250, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/500 SEC])

Herons, egrets, sea-eagles and even insects along the mangroves - Tomaga River, NSW, March 2022

Jon Steinbeck March 28, 2022

The eyes of the White-faced Heron regarded me momentarily but I was at the edge of the exposed sea grass flat, too far to be a threat, especially when the heron was looking for food. The grey coloured bird went back to the vital search for food in the rich habitat where small marine creatures tried to hide under the limp sea grass strands. I could approach no closer n my kayak but it was securely resting where some water still lapped its side. This was my second trip to the Tomaga River which had some beautiful wildlife along it but the weather this time was so much nicer than the previous time. I was paddling up the river while the tide was ebbing but I did not mind, I was just enjoying the beauty of mangroves and a wonderful tidal river on the coast. I paddled as far up the river as I could, enjoying every moment and I hope that you enjoy the photographs below.

Black Swan eating in the early morning, reflected in the lake
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 640, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])

Overcast summer mornings on the lake - Lake Burley Griffin, ACT, January 2022

Jon Steinbeck March 10, 2022

At the start of 2022 the weather in Canberra was anything but summer-like. I even stopped taking my camera with me when I was paddling on Lake Burley Griffin because the light was always bad and the weather meant the lake was never calm. That said, I often regretted not having taken my camera because I would then see a subject I thought would make a lovely photograph. In the end, I was glad that I took my camera with me more often than not because even on the bad mornings I felt I found things that were special, like a pair of Black Swans feeding near the shore where the water reflected their curving necks. It would have been magical if the water was still but it was still a special moment to watch these lovely birds so close to shore. I enjoyed the moment and I hope that you enjoy the photographs below.

Brayshaw’s Homestead looking north to the grey clouds
DJI Mavic Air 2 [ISO 200, 4.5mm, f/2.8 and 1/1000 SEC]

Wildlife along a wet Settlers Track - Namadgi National Park, ACT, January 2022

Jon Steinbeck March 6, 2022

Walking along trails of green grass under grey clouds that occasionally drizzled rain while at other times opened to reveal glorious blue skies helped refresh my son and I. The fresh wind moistened by humidity and light precipitation was never too strong, just enough to keep us cooled while we walked along the Settlers Track in Namadgi National Park. The birdlife was around but hard to see, but there was other wildlife and natural subjects to photograph. The two well-preserved former settler’s homes seemed out of place among this natural beauty, but the lack of activity around them emphasised that they were from a time past. While we enjoyed admiring the natural surrounds of these abodes their isolation reflected a different time, and it was nice to know that we would be hopping into a car and driving back to our home with its modern connectivity to the world. Still it was invigorating to feel the surrounding world of trees, creeks and animals for a few hours. I hope that you enjoy the pictures below.

Australian pelican flying in to enjoy fish scraps from amateur fisherman at Tuross Head boat ramp
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 320, 200mm, f/10 and 1/800 SEC])

Australian Pelicans, waders and beautiful wildlife at a river mouth - Tuross Head, NSW, January 2022

Jon Steinbeck January 30, 2022

Overcast skies hung threateningly overhead on the day in January 2022 when I went to Tuross Head. Rain was threatening most of the time and a strong wind blew up later in the paddle. However, none of that mattered because it was just such a wonderful time paddling around the shallow waters there with the beautiful birdlife and other animals. A kayak was the ideal means to see the region because I could paddle up shallow creeks and easily move between sand bars. The wildlife was captivating, from the Eastern Curlew that I saw even before I put my kayak in the water to the Semaphore Crabs that blanketed the mudflats up the Tuross River. And once I saw the Australian Pelicans I was in my element. I had a great time photographing those big water birds that can look so clumsy walking but are masters of using the wind to manoeuvre in the air. Later, after the kayak, I was in a suitably elevated position to photograph some of those magnificent, large water birds as they came in low to land on the estuary surface around the boat ramp. I had a marvellous morning despite the overcast conditions and I hope that you enjoy the photographs below.

Red Fingered Marsh Crab on the bent trunk of a Grey Mangrove
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 800, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])

Admiring the beauty of a mangrove ecosystem - Currambene Creek NSW, January 2022

Jon Steinbeck January 18, 2022

Mangrove habitats are such fascinating ecosystems because they straddle the worlds of land and water because of tidal movements. I was fortunate in January 2022 to have time to head down to the ever beautiful Jervis Bay where I ignored the stunning white beaches because I was heading for the wonderful Currambene Creek to explore a mangrove habitat. Although the beaches of Jervis Bat are deservedly famous for their beauty I was captivated by being among the mangrove trees. I was captivated by the life in the habitat, especially the crabs. The Red Fingered Marsh Crab has such striking colours with its lime green carapace contrasting with its red claws. I was fascinated to see these crabs moving on the exposed trunks of the mangrove trees. Even more fascinating, was when I approached the trees, the crabs did not head into the water but they shot up the trees to holes and crevices higher up in the trunks, well above the hide tide mark. While it was not significant behaviour it still brought home to me how this habitat provided for different creatures in a variety of ways and how much I enjoyed drifting between the crooked trunks of those amazing trees. I hope that you enjoy the photographs below.

A farmer’s fence stretching into the waters of Lake George, with the windmill farm in the distance and water birds in the foreground
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 125, 100mm, f/11 and 1/400 SEC])

Lake George has water again, bringing some beautiful wildlife - Lake George, January 2022

Jon Steinbeck January 9, 2022

After about twenty minutes of easy driving, after taking the exit off the Hume Highway onto the Federal Highway heading towards Canberra, motorists will see a long, steep-sided hill range to the right with sporadic tree covering. To the left, Google Maps will display a large blue body of water, Lake George. For most of the last decade, people would have suffered cognitive dissonance looking at Google’s blue symbology but when they looked to where the water should be they would be confused by the dry, withered flat ground passing the car window. However, with the rain of the past 18 months the lake is almost back to its glory days. It is easily visible from the Federal Highway and a stop at Weereewa Lookout shows a body of extensive water covering the area between the high ground to the east and west. It is great to see the water in Lake George again, and to see the beautiful wildlife the water is supporting. I visited the lake twice recently and was thrilled with all the birdlife as well as the interesting insects. I of course took my camera with me and I hope that you enjoy the photographs below.