Author: glenys mahler

I live in Patho, Australia.

Looking for Ducks

February 2, 2021

It’s mid-summer and not as many birds seem to be around, so we went off driving looking for a duck to photograph.

Eventually, we found one and some of its mates. It’s interesting that they are not the same type. There are a few wood ducks among the brightly colored lot, Australian Shelducks.

There was even a swan or two floating around. The ducks suddenly looked keen for a swim.

Just put a toe in first.

OK this one’s in a hurry. Watch out below.

Another Swamp Hen

January 31, 2021

This time I tried to really capture the colour in this amazing little bird.

Who me??

Look at my beak.

My feet can walk gently over almost anything.

And from behind I have a fluffy white behind

On a Rainy Day in Summer

January 30, 2021

It’s a….. ???? It’s a Cormorant not enjoying the rain…

I started to make a list of the birds that I have photographed and because it’s a rainy day in summer, (one in very few!), and both grandkids who live here have returned to school, I thought I’d take the time to add the list to the blog.

I’m not happy with how it looks. It looks a bit haphazard. I’ll keep playing around and try to improve it. At least the links seem to work. Please tell me if any redirect you places you didn’t expect.

I soon got tired of all that and took the camera out into the rain.

I don’t get many rainy days to look at birds. They didn’t seem to enjoy the rain even though they were water birds.

This pelican hunkered down as low as he could when the rain started.

I think I might be in danger of becoming a twitcher, as there are lots more birds I would like to add to my list.

Swamp Hens

January 29, 2021

These little guys and many of their friends live along the bank of the lagoon out in front of my house and are constant visitors to my garden. They’re always quiet and well-behaved. They don’t make a mess or scratch around and they’re very cute.

Hydromys Chrysogasta

January 28, 2021

Isn’t it always the way. “Will I lug my heavy camera on my evening walk? No I’ll just take the Iphone. MISTAKE… I came across a pair of amazing creatures, hydromys chrysogasta (native water rats). One got out of the water and ran across the track but I was too slow to get a photo. So I got photos but all you can see are the cute little ears. I might try to stalk them tomorrow… with the big lens.

Black or brown duck

January 27, 2021

Today was hot, too hot be be outside so I took to my computer under the air con. I was organising my photos and hadn’t tagged this pic. OK, they’re ducks, but what sort???

They are called Pacific Black Ducks. That’s correct these brown ducks are actually brown. But wait. Look closer there is actually a strip of black on their faces. There is now, after I adjusted the color on the computer! No, really, it just looks black from a distance. That’s why there’re called Black Ducks

Speaking of colors, they also have a very aqua blue spot. It’s sort of hidden under their feathers, but when they spread their wings you can’t miss it. Look at the bottom duck.

And then I read that they’re actually called Grey Ducks in New Zealand. No wonder I get confused with all this bird stuff.

As we head into the 40s

January 26, 2021

It’s just too hot, so I thought I’d put up a cool picture. It was taken a few weeks ago. There aren’t many birds around at the moment. I guess they agree with me, just too hot. They had the sense to head off elsewhere!

Mulberry thief

January 25, 2021

This little guy was perched at the top of the mulberry tree. He’d been very busy helping himself to figs and mulberries in my garden. It was HOT. It is still very hot, 37 degrees C at 9pm, with tomorrow forecast to reach to 4os. It was so hot he just looked at me when I snapped his photo. There’s enough fruit for all of us and I didn’t have the energy to chase him away.