Tag: bird watching

Black-fronted Dotteril

November 4, 2020

This bird is sometimes called a Black-fronted Dotterill. I found it poking along in the muddy edge of a lake at Wooroonook, in Central Victoria, Australia, while I was out camping for the weekend..

It runs along and stops very suddenly. I found it difficult to get it in focus because of all the sudden movement Busy little thing.

For Lisa’s Bird Weekly Challenge. I’m just learning to take photos of birds. I find it so much more difficult when the subject keeps moving!! At least flowers don’t fly off on you when they realise you are there. But there is a great feeling of achievement when I can actually recognise a bird in the shot. I have so much respect for the skills of bird photographers… and I will keep trying to improve mine.

It’s a Darter.

October 28, 2020

Some call it a snake bird. It’s more accurately called an Australasian Darter.

I love its beak. It’s like a spear and I wouldn’t like to be a fish in its path.

It looked impressive when it spread its wings and took to flight.

Here’s one a little further along the creek. It was eating in a quiet little spot. They spear their fish and eat underwater. This one stayed under the water for a long time. You can see with their long necks that stick out of the water, why they are referred to as snake birds.

Bee-Eater

October 26, 2020

This tiny little bird is absolutely beautifully colored. It is called a Rainbow Bee-eater. The colors are intense, especially when it flies. I’m sill to take a picture of it in flight. It moves really quickly.

Red Rumped Parrot

October 24, 2020

Taking photographs of birds is not easy! I had a lovely day today, trying to photograph birds. I learnt a lot and learnt that I have lots more to learn…

Here are some photos of this Red Rumped Parrot. I find it difficult to find the birds in the lens, let alone focus the shot. But at least I can recognise this bird now. He’s got a red patch on his rump.

Red Browed Finch

October 22, 2020

I watched this little finch and its mate hopping around outside my window. They seemed to be making a nest in amongst the wisteria. I took some photos through the closed window, hence the foggy appearance and lack of clarity in the photos. I really need to wash the windows! Then I tried to sneak up on them outside but they seemed very aware of my presence and wouldn’t come back into view. Hopefully, I will find time to sit and wait for a better shot.

Grey birds

September 13, 2020

Did you know some birds use their wings to make sound?

This is a crested pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes). It uses its feathers to communicate with other birds. They make noises when they fly, sometimes being called whistle-winged pigeons. The wings can make different notes, high notes signal danger. For more information click here.

Here’s another visitor. I need help identifying it.

It is a Noisy Miner. Eliza Waters, on the other side of the globe in Massachusetts, US, identified it from another Australian blogger’s site.