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.

Pretty pest.

September 8, 2020

This Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, also known as the Yellow Crested Cockatoo, was happily sitting among the blossoms in my tree. Don’t be deceived, cockatoos can be very destructive. They chew on the branches and in my large gum tree, they have denuded the ends of the branches and littered the ground with small pieces. They have even been known to vandalize houses. They gather together in large mobs and chew on timber, deckings and railings.

Luckily this one and his friend flew off when he noticed I was taking his photo. Camera shy!