A cairn for the memoryLooking north-west past a cairn to the Brindabella Range from the Cooleman Ridge Nature Reserve (full blog post)
White water into a blue pondA waterfall downstream from the Blue Lake at Jenolan Caves but with the reflected blue of the limestone minerals (Full blog post)
Morning waters at Bottle and Glass RocksBottle and Glass Rocks with the sun rising to the right of the photograph (full blog post)
Fallen tree under a moody skyA fallen tree against an atmospheric sky (full blog post)
The Murrumbidgee flowing throughThe Murrumbidgee River, looking upstream across a weir at Casuarina Sands Reserve, using long exposure (full blog post)
An abandoned quarry still has lifeLooking to the south-west over the disused quarry at Mount Mugga Mugga (full blog post)
The morning sun creeping out to the Brindabella RangesUriarra 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. (Full post)
The morning road winding to Uriarra CrossingUriarra 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. (Full post)
A Black Wattle surrounded by eucalyptus on a foggy morningThis 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. (Full post)
Cork Oak pushed back still growingI 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. (Full post)
Looking along a rock embankment to the Lake George escarpmentFurther info here
The new dawn through old fire damage - the morning sun seen through a blackened, fire-charred arch at the base of a tree
Bullen Range under low clouds seen from Mount Taylor
Fog in the valley of Uriarra Crossing
The drive into Tidbinbilla is always nice, this morning it was extra special
Cotter Caves are closed to the public for safety reasons, although people can climb to the viewing platform
A view along the southern side of Lake Burley Griffin
Looking back along the path I had followed to the lookout at Cotter Dam
Dead tree on a fog covered O’Malley Pond
The same dead tree from a different angle with the rising sun reflected in the water
A rusting caterpillar track from a tractor or something similar among the trees in the fog
An interesting stump in a quiet backwater of the Murrumbidgee River
A row of leafless grape vines in winter
Looking south along the Murrumbidgee River, up the flow of the river
A placid part of Paddy’s River
An old tree stump exposed in the dried main pond on the National Arboretum
The old fence line around the Hall showgrounds on a wet day
Bullen Range with the sun just lighting it up, seen from Cotter Road (Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 800, 100mm, f/14 and 1/100 SEC] four shot panorama)
A placid Murrumbidgee River at Casuarina Sands with a moon reflected and a Little Pied Cormorant on the far right(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM [ISO 100, 24mm, f/10 and 1/60 SEC]) https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2020/5/16/the-murrumbidgee-river-in-may-with-all-the-beautiful-life-photographing-along-the-murrumbidgee-in-may-2020
A sunbeam lighting some leaves in a quiet creek off the main river(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 1000, 100mm, f/5.6 and 1/100 SEC])https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2020/5/16/the-murrumbidgee-river-in-may-with-all-the-beautiful-life-photographing-along-the-murrumbidgee-in-may-2020
A vertical view of the Gudgenby RiverDJI Mavic Air 2 [ISO 100, 4.5mm, f/2.8 and 1/80 SEC]https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2020/5/16/the-murrumbidgee-river-in-may-with-all-the-beautiful-life-photographing-along-the-murrumbidgee-in-may-2020
Typical autumn fog rolling in across the Murrumbidgee River near Tharwa Sandwash(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2020/5/16/the-murrumbidgee-river-in-may-with-all-the-beautiful-life-photographing-along-the-murrumbidgee-in-may-2020
Molonglo River rushing under the last footbridge before the confluence(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM [ISO 100, 16mm, f/16 and 0.6 SEC])https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2020/5/16/the-murrumbidgee-river-in-may-with-all-the-beautiful-life-photographing-along-the-murrumbidgee-in-may-2020
Looking upstream along the Molonglo River from the foot bridge on a foggy morning(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM [ISO 200, 35mm, f/16 and 0.4 SEC])https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2020/5/16/the-murrumbidgee-river-in-may-with-all-the-beautiful-life-photographing-along-the-murrumbidgee-in-may-2020
Sun playing through the fog on the hill near Uriarra Crossing(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 100, 105mm, f/8.0 and 1/500 SEC])https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2020/5/16/the-murrumbidgee-river-in-may-with-all-the-beautiful-life-photographing-along-the-murrumbidgee-in-may-2020
Dead trees against a brooding dawn sky (Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM [ISO 200, 34mm, f/18 and 1.6 SEC])(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM [ISO 200, 34mm, f/18 and 1.6 SEC]) https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2020/5/26/macrophotography-around-canberra-may-2020
Looking down on that dead tree DJI Mavic Air 2 [ISO 100, 4.5mm, f/2.8 and 1/25 SEC]https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2020/5/26/macrophotography-around-canberra-may-2020
Unlikely tree growing on boulders in the Murrumbidgee River, staying put despite floods (Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF40mm f2.8 STM [ISO 100, 40mm, f/14 and 0.4 SEC])https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2020/6/9/crimson-rosella-on-a-fence-galahs-and-a-yellow-tailed-black-cockatoo-photographing-around-canberra-on-a-cold-june-long-weekend-2020
Fog over the rural view at Carwoola through a frost-covered gate (Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM [ISO 100, 35mm, f/22 and 0.3 SEC])https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2020/6/9/crimson-rosella-on-a-fence-galahs-and-a-yellow-tailed-black-cockatoo-photographing-around-canberra-on-a-cold-june-long-weekend-2020
Friday afternoon’s sky was very atmospheric, but the changing light made it hard for taking photographs (Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 100, 82mm, f/14 and 1/100 SEC])(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 100, 82mm, f/14 and 1/100 SEC])https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2020/6/14/australasian-darter-cormorants-and-a-yellow-tailed-black-cockatoo-photographing-around-canberra-12-14-june-2020
Gibraltar Falls(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM [ISO 100, 22mm, f/20 and 30 SEC])https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2020/6/14/australasian-darter-cormorants-and-a-yellow-tailed-black-cockatoo-photographing-around-canberra-12-14-june-2020
Some of the flooded trees in the full dam at Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve (Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 100, 104mm, f/7.1 and 1/60 SEC])https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2020/7/10/pink-eared-duck-black-swan-coots-and-a-frozen-damselfly-in-the-fog-photographing-at-mulligans-flat-nature-reserve-in-winter-2020
Some of the trees in the sunken forest on the Shoalhaven River in NSW(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 800, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/100 SEC])https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2020/7/10/australian-pelicans-cormorants-and-stunning-scenery-kayak-photography-in-kangaroo-valley-in-july-2020
Vertical shot of a burnt, old tree on a foggy morningDJI Mavic Air 2 [ISO 100, 4.5mm, f/2.8 and 1/160 SEC]https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2020/8/6/photographing-birds-in-a-heavy-fog-photographing-at-goorooyarroo-nature-reserve-on-sunday-2-august-2020
I liked how this dead tree closed a loop with its own reflection (Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 250, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/80 SEC])https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2020/7/26/little-corellas-at-a-hollow-a-number-of-ducks-and-other-wonderful-things-photographing-around-callum-brae-nature-reserve-on-sunday-19-july-2020
Of things forgotten and abandoned (Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 1000, 77mm, f/8.0 and 1/1000 SEC])https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2020/7/20/australian-pelican-blue-faced-honeyeater-lace-monitor-and-other-amazing-wildlife-photographing-north-of-newcastle-australia-in-november-2019
When you see scenery like this under a moody sky, your plans for photographing wildlife change (Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 125, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/100 SEC])https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2020/8/26/snow-on-the-brindabella-ranges-around-canberra-photographing-around-canberra-on-sunday-23-august-2020
The mountain bike trail through the pine forest I was using for the focus of the photograph(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF40mm f2.8 STM [ISO 100, 40mm, f/16 and 1/6 SEC])https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2020/10/5/australian-pelican-on-the-molonglo-galahs-and-little-birds-photographing-in-a-pine-forest-on-sunday-27-september-2020
Panorama of Scrivener Dam from the Lake Burley Griffin side(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/10 and 30 SEC] seven shot panorama)https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2020/10/5/the-biggest-huntsman-i-have-photographed-photographing-around-lake-burley-griffin-on-saturday-night-3-october-2020
Overgrown path between the National Zoo and the Molonglo River(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 400, 200mm, f/10 and 1/100 SEC])https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2020/11/27/water-birds-overgrown-paths-and-flowers-commuting-and-photographing-in-canberra-in-november-2020
Looking almost to Tharwa Sandwash (Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 200, 100mm, f/10 and 1/100 SEC])https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2020/12/25/nankeen-kestrel-rainbow-bee-eater-and-some-wonderful-insects-photographing-at-gigerline-nature-reserve-in-november-2020
Then the other valley became mystical with Profile Rock, bottom left, looking like it was breathing mist (Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/13 and 1/180 SEC])
The ridge to the southeast was ominously moody like vengeful gods were about to appear (Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/13 and 1/100 SEC])
Flooded forest at the turnaround location, but slightly above the level of the river (Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM [ISO 100, 25mm, f/20 and 1.0 SEC])
Stream overflowing across a path under cloudy skies (Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM [ISO 100, 16mm, f/22 and 0.8 SEC])
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])