tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25515423594193854232024-03-13T19:45:25.446+11:00A passion for birds...wanderings and wonderings <br>
of bird photography (mostly) in Australia <br>
by Ian SmissenIan Smissenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07795090037606105126noreply@blogger.comBlogger293125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551542359419385423.post-23220939304417202282020-03-06T18:44:00.000+11:002020-03-06T18:44:39.765+11:00Stilts, Plovers, Coots and a lot of rain<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I was fortunate to spend the day at a <a href="https://birdlife.org.au/" target="_blank">Birdlife Australia</a> / <a href="https://barwonestuaryproject.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Barwon Estuary Project</a> workshop on shorebirds today.<br />
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The morning was spent with presentations from Birdlife Australia ornithologists on the life-cycles and environmental challenges faced by both migratory shorebirds (those that breed outside Australia and travel here in their non-breeding season) and indigenous shorebirds (those that breed, feed and generally hang around permanently within Australia - although several species migrate around Australia depending on weather conditions), and sessions on hints to ID shorebirds.<br />
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We spent the afternoon (or as much of it as we could bear given the persistent rain) at Lake Victoria in Point Lonsdale.<br />
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I arrived a little early so spent a few minutes photographing a pair of <b>Eurasian Coots</b> on the delightfully named 'Emily's Pond' nearby.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjit-LxrwOBgQX_9LYQQnF85rJMwLQ3Mr_2-yFA7DA6mWkZ_ZLtepvlhyphenhyphen2VkV4ec-V3L6tXV2mWbJ5cZWufYpYSvRRTpVZtaZDZVVA3AiA2BHMV5fCZUBx-fSvj7RO0xMqLwvhinez81hI/s1600/IanSmissen_20200306_0071-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjit-LxrwOBgQX_9LYQQnF85rJMwLQ3Mr_2-yFA7DA6mWkZ_ZLtepvlhyphenhyphen2VkV4ec-V3L6tXV2mWbJ5cZWufYpYSvRRTpVZtaZDZVVA3AiA2BHMV5fCZUBx-fSvj7RO0xMqLwvhinez81hI/s640/IanSmissen_20200306_0071-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ItHBcx4FUzyZxqSwmLnbPoOUkIo_voxMclc1roB9Vo5SuYEYdQnDf0BFM5Zgr9a4jvo-_cDPFTW442crcJLZyDuKrvf9pHlaZgsI9EsV0Ig2ovQFsP9tNSnN6LaAfK4_rZb0D3gFU-0/s1600/IanSmissen_20200306_0088-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ItHBcx4FUzyZxqSwmLnbPoOUkIo_voxMclc1roB9Vo5SuYEYdQnDf0BFM5Zgr9a4jvo-_cDPFTW442crcJLZyDuKrvf9pHlaZgsI9EsV0Ig2ovQFsP9tNSnN6LaAfK4_rZb0D3gFU-0/s640/IanSmissen_20200306_0088-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eurasian Coot, Emily's Pond, Point Lonsdale, Victoria<br />Panasonic Lumix G9 with Lumix-Leica 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 lens @ 400mm<br />ISO 400, 1/1250 second @ f/6.3</td></tr>
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Once everyone had arrived we walked through the salt marsh to a viewpoint across one of the small lakes adjacent to Lake Victoria where we suspected there would be Avocets and Stilts. Despite the gloomy and 'damp' conditions, we were not disappointed as there were several small flocks of <b>Red-necked Avocets</b> in the middle of the shallow lake<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOXG9bejNuop6T22Xv_i74gSQ0M95ru9WXf2sFz_I9xYJ3IwbBOpj9puh_fLRJTgOMPlw1hh3R4YS49Hf7fGjN3zUt7l7otcflplfqW1Px9tRpAJhF5YPk3cjU85Vb-ez_EuyC-DnMYrs/s1600/IanSmissen_20200306_0124-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOXG9bejNuop6T22Xv_i74gSQ0M95ru9WXf2sFz_I9xYJ3IwbBOpj9puh_fLRJTgOMPlw1hh3R4YS49Hf7fGjN3zUt7l7otcflplfqW1Px9tRpAJhF5YPk3cjU85Vb-ez_EuyC-DnMYrs/s640/IanSmissen_20200306_0124-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Avocet, Lake Victoria, Point Lonsdale, Victoria</span><br style="font-size: 12.8px;" />Panasonic Lumix G9 with Lumix-Leica 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 lens @ 400mm<br style="font-size: 12.8px;" /><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">ISO 400, 1/1000 second @ f/6.3</span></td></tr>
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and a large flock of <b>Banded Stilts</b> sheltering beside a small island in the lake.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzn4O-bkuck2QbVl54eNxSi1e_F8hS1K0spn2jLi-uxu3wJmd5eIw6yGIG4TO7jQQg40TtaznsS8PnlERnLOxtYX0QEFEahp3OlXRnktSCzA1-HGkZQzZz1SK82uYfVphptGuEJDvBaE4/s1600/IanSmissen_20200306_0122-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzn4O-bkuck2QbVl54eNxSi1e_F8hS1K0spn2jLi-uxu3wJmd5eIw6yGIG4TO7jQQg40TtaznsS8PnlERnLOxtYX0QEFEahp3OlXRnktSCzA1-HGkZQzZz1SK82uYfVphptGuEJDvBaE4/s640/IanSmissen_20200306_0122-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Banded Stilt, Lake Victoria, Point Lonsdale, Victoria</span><br style="font-size: 12.8px;" /><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Panasonic Lumix G9 with Lumix-Leica 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 lens @ 137mm</span><br style="font-size: 12.8px;" /><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">ISO 400, 1/1600 second @ f/4.5</span></td></tr>
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Several smaller groups of Stilts took off giving us fleeting glimpses of them in flight<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Fnp2MydnW5hCtPFuhbbQQluNpFeEj5e_CRCFmZRfKSFCoC_tnlHhGhU0fQS0yieFohfmPtZD0SFsf3lMMCmFtLYuCfQmqLi4EAYCk73epGREMMD7d0TmE7tnz3YytVw8lwA9FUGSAYE/s1600/IanSmissen_20200306_0147-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Fnp2MydnW5hCtPFuhbbQQluNpFeEj5e_CRCFmZRfKSFCoC_tnlHhGhU0fQS0yieFohfmPtZD0SFsf3lMMCmFtLYuCfQmqLi4EAYCk73epGREMMD7d0TmE7tnz3YytVw8lwA9FUGSAYE/s640/IanSmissen_20200306_0147-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Banded Stilt, Lake Victoria, Point Lonsdale, Victoria</span><br style="font-size: 12.8px;" /><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Panasonic Lumix G9 with Lumix-Leica 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 lens @ 400mm</span><br style="font-size: 12.8px;" /><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">ISO 400, 1/1600 second @ f/6.3</span></td></tr>
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before landing on the small ponds on the shore of Lake Victoria proper, giving us a closer view of these beautiful birds, many of which were in breeding plumage displaying their brown chest band.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoSaj8PLwMHadt1Gzk_fcufXZf93uu-tEdNOcW9BOk4DVApg_q_I6VsOB4s3KWlf3NN-tOHBoDK_uLbt_3rh1x4nRbK96HEjbPE1cpCJfoZl-u41C-PqjNewmpfqtljRPVWnjdfPev8ew/s1600/IanSmissen_20200306_0197-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoSaj8PLwMHadt1Gzk_fcufXZf93uu-tEdNOcW9BOk4DVApg_q_I6VsOB4s3KWlf3NN-tOHBoDK_uLbt_3rh1x4nRbK96HEjbPE1cpCJfoZl-u41C-PqjNewmpfqtljRPVWnjdfPev8ew/s640/IanSmissen_20200306_0197-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Banded Stilt, Lake Victoria, Point Lonsdale, Victoria</span><br style="font-size: 12.8px;" /><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Panasonic Lumix G9 with Lumix-Leica 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 lens @ 400mm</span><br style="font-size: 12.8px;" /><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">ISO 800, 1/4000 second @ f/6.3</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHLQEyQdAT7piFGs_PQQmg8rml3P7jduyNiZ2rUYqyoYgH3qvIPnieGnGEJJ_o3vZjJrQrnDJJ6rzJkJhJdT0uvogD8EvYyhrvHZpj5qAuVxeNmTpDdNWdA-OoorKCxKlIIj5EonYV9Q8/s1600/IanSmissen_20200306_0207-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHLQEyQdAT7piFGs_PQQmg8rml3P7jduyNiZ2rUYqyoYgH3qvIPnieGnGEJJ_o3vZjJrQrnDJJ6rzJkJhJdT0uvogD8EvYyhrvHZpj5qAuVxeNmTpDdNWdA-OoorKCxKlIIj5EonYV9Q8/s640/IanSmissen_20200306_0207-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Banded Stilt, Lake Victoria, Point Lonsdale, Victoria</span><br style="font-size: 12.8px;" /><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Panasonic Lumix G9 with Lumix-Leica 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 lens @ 400mm</span><br style="font-size: 12.8px;" /><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">ISO 400, 1/2000 second @ f/6.3</span></td></tr>
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There were a few (unphotographable) Red-necked Stints doing their sewing-machine impersonations feeding on the sand banks and a flock of <b>Red-capped Plovers</b> sheltering amongst the Bearded Glasswort on one of the small, semi-inundated islands.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKu0zbMFi4E8CZk-M5nDu_iZo4qzKjLoGR1INbtRBLdhRCONPAvtc9Cynfu_n2Ma_L0Q3OlhzQ_mUOzDvGOYsM-h-dfWLnZTxSUgzcs3QitxQ-9IHXL6E5ith4sM1ndgf7a0rCrUhnic/s1600/IanSmissen_20200306_0208-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKu0zbMFi4E8CZk-M5nDu_iZo4qzKjLoGR1INbtRBLdhRCONPAvtc9Cynfu_n2Ma_L0Q3OlhzQ_mUOzDvGOYsM-h-dfWLnZTxSUgzcs3QitxQ-9IHXL6E5ith4sM1ndgf7a0rCrUhnic/s640/IanSmissen_20200306_0208-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Red-capped Plover, Lake Victoria, Point Lonsdale, Victoria</span><br style="font-size: 12.8px;" /><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Panasonic Lumix G9 with Lumix-Leica 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 lens @ 400mm</span><br style="font-size: 12.8px;" /><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">ISO 400, 1/1250 second @ f/6.3</span></td></tr>
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So, not a great day photographically but it's always great to see Avocets and Banded Stilts, both of which migrate around Australia chasing the wet so we don't always get to see them.<br />
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Ian Smissenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07795090037606105126noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551542359419385423.post-12915695797384506932019-04-19T16:12:00.000+10:002019-04-22T16:18:32.337+10:00Gang Gang Cockatoos in Geelong<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Gang Gang Cockatoos are seasonal visitors to the Geelong region. They usually arrive in autumn to feed on the ripening 'gum-nuts' of several eucalyptus species.
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSuK6psE-4uR4WsJaa2uDTPZMBw6_Oyl1xOKGGJmZySeqBxBAHKak0lSXLa8_62AZYUTPdM6aqc_Nxg1s0uRDopxk5eBjK0ugjigiutrIkb1zJRyq5Ke6W0mhlohCmFmuGY8q8-QrSmY/s1600/IanSmissen_20190419_0017-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSuK6psE-4uR4WsJaa2uDTPZMBw6_Oyl1xOKGGJmZySeqBxBAHKak0lSXLa8_62AZYUTPdM6aqc_Nxg1s0uRDopxk5eBjK0ugjigiutrIkb1zJRyq5Ke6W0mhlohCmFmuGY8q8-QrSmY/s640/IanSmissen_20190419_0017-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Gang Gang Cockatoo (adult males), Deakin University, Waurn Ponds<br />
Panasonic Lumix G9 with Panasonic Leica 100-400mm f/4-6.3 lens<br />
195 mm, ISO 200, 1/200 second @ f/8</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Gang Gangs are sexually dimorphic, i.e., (adult) males and females look distinctly different. Males have the bright orange-red head, females have grey head but have beautiful cream and orange banding on the breast and belly.</span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAQ3CF5V5ZNOhwblp8lFAbGoiLBsfjFNh2YbPRzWiQESSwW3NoT6fa4p9EGDdv4EBdYu9pOYbj5-06a7Pb0rxOBdR6fzqPlqfysQVfYo3GwIT6HChPvr7vLilaA9WvsAjCH_mQX-k6hts/s1600/IanSmissen_20190419_0119-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAQ3CF5V5ZNOhwblp8lFAbGoiLBsfjFNh2YbPRzWiQESSwW3NoT6fa4p9EGDdv4EBdYu9pOYbj5-06a7Pb0rxOBdR6fzqPlqfysQVfYo3GwIT6HChPvr7vLilaA9WvsAjCH_mQX-k6hts/s640/IanSmissen_20190419_0119-Edit.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Gang Gang Cockatoo (adult male), Deakin University, Waurn Ponds<br />
Panasonic Lumix G9 with Panasonic Leica 100-400mm f/4-6.3 lens<br />
400 mm, ISO 400, 1/640 second @ f/8</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjZbPJ5y0RjDcmjWlOMAU3SwD21GHpALszlTaTNBtCrNzqZ3xsoJzyzvEeXOFA9pb9ppQiePRovgLpIhK1m42t-LSkhezpBx3SzSCP8Y-nFv84-NcdJ8N2kOGKI93TAjFU8mEz2gShYQ/s1600/IanSmissen_20190419_0092-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjZbPJ5y0RjDcmjWlOMAU3SwD21GHpALszlTaTNBtCrNzqZ3xsoJzyzvEeXOFA9pb9ppQiePRovgLpIhK1m42t-LSkhezpBx3SzSCP8Y-nFv84-NcdJ8N2kOGKI93TAjFU8mEz2gShYQ/s640/IanSmissen_20190419_0092-Edit.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Gang Gang Cockatoo (adult female), Deakin University, Waurn Ponds<br />
Panasonic Lumix G9 with Panasonic Leica 100-400mm f/4-6.3 lens<br />
400 mm, ISO 200, 1/100 second @ f/8</td></tr>
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Like all cockatoos, they have large, powerful bills and highly dextrous feet, which they use in combination with a hard, rough tongue to manipulate food.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOH5eYvuaiyllN-DRi2N5fFwDX-erEB-VL1Y8iaX9N3sdm_Zo-mmVsiUOiflwJZS6LMA5jAF444HttOIVd8VYCuB6jkUn_FsddKjB7g_Kc_HdTxVsrQ4YbwYwzceyr42mssrsbinZmuYk/s1600/IanSmissen_20190419_0104-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOH5eYvuaiyllN-DRi2N5fFwDX-erEB-VL1Y8iaX9N3sdm_Zo-mmVsiUOiflwJZS6LMA5jAF444HttOIVd8VYCuB6jkUn_FsddKjB7g_Kc_HdTxVsrQ4YbwYwzceyr42mssrsbinZmuYk/s640/IanSmissen_20190419_0104-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Gang Gang Cockatoo (adult female), Deakin University, Waurn Ponds<br />
Panasonic Lumix G9 with Panasonic Leica 100-400mm f/4-6.3 lens<br />
400 mm, ISO 400, 1/400 second @ f/8</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9HmFzs9ZDsWTWhEKp52MVX-hMotRYWa1UuBnKxlJ13Rqts6Psvar0sWorEqI_ZOz1ID-gJpcrqUgKPEDC_hwi8AtqPVbDAlCQjVHLLZwYjD9jjXkgvHMxS03p8NsOXqXAmY0JnzRNrA/s1600/IanSmissen_20190419_0175-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9HmFzs9ZDsWTWhEKp52MVX-hMotRYWa1UuBnKxlJ13Rqts6Psvar0sWorEqI_ZOz1ID-gJpcrqUgKPEDC_hwi8AtqPVbDAlCQjVHLLZwYjD9jjXkgvHMxS03p8NsOXqXAmY0JnzRNrA/s640/IanSmissen_20190419_0175-Edit.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Gang Gang Cockatoo (adult male), Deakin University, Waurn Ponds<br />
Panasonic Lumix G9 with Panasonic Leica 100-400mm f/4-6.3 lens<br />
350 mm, ISO 400, 1/400 second @ f/8</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0a0a0a; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>In this video I discuss how to photograph birds high in trees in bright, sunny conditions.<br />
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Ian Smissenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07795090037606105126noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551542359419385423.post-80756632236019666372019-03-16T17:30:00.000+11:002019-03-18T18:13:54.471+11:00Early morning waders at Kirk Point and a day at the WTP<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I was due to meet the Melbourne Birdlife Photography group for the monthly outing (this month at the Western Treatment Plant in Werribee). The night before, I checked the sunrise and tide times and weather predictions and all looked perfect for an early morning shoot at Kirk Point (just outside the treatment plant).<br />
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Check my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RtahNUakPg&t=5s" target="_blank">YouTube channel</a> for a video of today's shoot.<br />
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The rocks at Kirk Point are overnight roosting sites for many species of birds, including several species of migratory wading birds. As the tide rises, the rocks further from shore get inundated and the birds come closer and closer to shore. If you get there early enough (in this case I was there 30 minutes before sunrise) the birds will encroach much closer than you could approach them.<br />
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I was not disappointed. Hundreds of <b>Red-necked Stint</b> and <b>Curlew Sandpiper</b>, along with gulls, terns and cormorants, settled on the rocks just metres in front of my chosen perch on a rock on the beach and caught the orange glow of first light.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-necked Stint, Kirk Point, Point Wilson, Victoria<br />
Panasonic Lumix G9 with Panasonic Leica 100-400mm lens @ 100mm, ISO 800, 1/1250 @ f/6.3</td></tr>
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The small migratory waders are due to take off on their long migration back to the arctic in the next few weeks so my attention was drawn to them.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgUsQ5YT04PMqgeAdHpZogURpUPclsNi_qYU_dLdt6NN_cuyY5PtQtbMTuGzDF8lxmLR8BCRuLqYvDRq4rUJocMIXUR2VAH8fHdGw-xSLq4i_ExhvA83-yYDI14-hEVfAO9GUOjlO-nrA/s1600/IanSmissen_20190316_0074-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgUsQ5YT04PMqgeAdHpZogURpUPclsNi_qYU_dLdt6NN_cuyY5PtQtbMTuGzDF8lxmLR8BCRuLqYvDRq4rUJocMIXUR2VAH8fHdGw-xSLq4i_ExhvA83-yYDI14-hEVfAO9GUOjlO-nrA/s640/IanSmissen_20190316_0074-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-necked Stint, Kirk Point, Point Wilson, Victoria<br />
Panasonic Lumix G9 with Panasonic Leica 100-400mm lens @ 400mm, ISO 800, 1/1000 @ f/6.3</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQDTy27_PkwVqggP938I6Y3xSEqyqUseJbvIu6FklEgM76nU1EAkJC6dB-_F4EjTUTziidZ6PwrUGl1r1CGxgdz7AjFH9nosFvU_Ryr3LKT3_XsTz5TDhf7sbcNglgIFg9_G_jNwoVezU/s1600/IanSmissen_20190316_0085-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQDTy27_PkwVqggP938I6Y3xSEqyqUseJbvIu6FklEgM76nU1EAkJC6dB-_F4EjTUTziidZ6PwrUGl1r1CGxgdz7AjFH9nosFvU_Ryr3LKT3_XsTz5TDhf7sbcNglgIFg9_G_jNwoVezU/s640/IanSmissen_20190316_0085-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-necked Stint and Curlew Sandpiper, Kirk Point, Point Wilson, Victoria<br />
Panasonic Lumix G9 with Panasonic Leica 100-400mm lens @ 400mm, ISO 800, 1/1000 @ f/6.3</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8aviNZTHTYdHpDobppIj323HrP5YTpuo3lfOF5WrkJY_50ce7KaOlFCF3acWaXHsCLOo_I79yRgKbJGejqZtDEt8uLrhRosc-04g83CaUuWaUCRIMUD5_7xbaaRWcXrvyBb-hjZPkd8U/s1600/IanSmissen_20190316_0334-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8aviNZTHTYdHpDobppIj323HrP5YTpuo3lfOF5WrkJY_50ce7KaOlFCF3acWaXHsCLOo_I79yRgKbJGejqZtDEt8uLrhRosc-04g83CaUuWaUCRIMUD5_7xbaaRWcXrvyBb-hjZPkd8U/s640/IanSmissen_20190316_0334-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Red-necked Stint, Kirk Point, Point Wilson, Victoria<br />
Panasonic Lumix G9 with Panasonic Leica 100-400mm lens @ 280mm, ISO 400, 1/1000 @ f/6.3<span style="text-align: left;"> </span><br />
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Several of the <b>Curlew Sandpiper</b> had started develop breeding plumage indicating an imminent departure north.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0AOU_I-5MddzYPq2N7JzLdu0ln4caCta9nVZkwNmauXqm6B5HF4HeGLnXcGiN6HllhS3PTSKGjR2HZWKCCBoB_G10ZPLHrEPYIGFE5poi9xc_-2Gwlh2-JTACRd1AULx0HjI7PnSlZto/s1600/IanSmissen_20190316_0269-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0AOU_I-5MddzYPq2N7JzLdu0ln4caCta9nVZkwNmauXqm6B5HF4HeGLnXcGiN6HllhS3PTSKGjR2HZWKCCBoB_G10ZPLHrEPYIGFE5poi9xc_-2Gwlh2-JTACRd1AULx0HjI7PnSlZto/s640/IanSmissen_20190316_0269-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-necked Stint and Curlew Sandpiper, Kirk Point, Point Wilson, Victoria<br />
Panasonic Lumix G9 with Panasonic Leica 100-400mm lens @ 318mm, ISO 400, 1/1000 @ f/6.3<br />
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As the tide continued to rise, only cormorants (<b>Pied Cormorant</b> and <b>Little Black Cormorant</b>) remained on the outer rocks (and one gull lurking in the background)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXFVjr8Fn5XCGZqABP9anHWCR671oY5n9ZvrXGncm1PbBRZwBDneX7_cX5swvHDRIL0WXO-Ip4fKAeu-rny3fu5rECKTasPp8v4emW5mOn46S1pvr-kulZe88R6AKgbeYAwmtU_hFdSjA/s1600/IanSmissen_20190316_0292-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXFVjr8Fn5XCGZqABP9anHWCR671oY5n9ZvrXGncm1PbBRZwBDneX7_cX5swvHDRIL0WXO-Ip4fKAeu-rny3fu5rECKTasPp8v4emW5mOn46S1pvr-kulZe88R6AKgbeYAwmtU_hFdSjA/s640/IanSmissen_20190316_0292-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pied Cormorant and Little Black Cormorant, Kirk Point, Point Wilson, Victoria<br />
Panasonic Lumix G9 with Panasonic Leica 100-400mm lens @ 280mm, ISO 400, 1/800 @ f/6.3</td></tr>
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while the waders took flight for alternative feeding and roosting locations.</div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJaivNJomIBV5aryg34fPZvB4IWrH0ZGAzt48aF36HRjsfgk-pxRhAQibdfWjCka0wk9WGKi7VRlsb2EoKNq2bA3X0Egds-sghAJNJtQI18Xqz8lXWhWMX-CyggConhgZBJuzaK-Wsd48/s1600/IanSmissen_20190316_0337-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJaivNJomIBV5aryg34fPZvB4IWrH0ZGAzt48aF36HRjsfgk-pxRhAQibdfWjCka0wk9WGKi7VRlsb2EoKNq2bA3X0Egds-sghAJNJtQI18Xqz8lXWhWMX-CyggConhgZBJuzaK-Wsd48/s640/IanSmissen_20190316_0337-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Red-necked Stint and Curlew Sandpiper, Kirk Point, Point Wilson, Victoria<br />
Panasonic Lumix G9 with Panasonic Leica 100-400mm lens @ 280mm, ISO 400, 1/1250 @ f/6.3</td></tr>
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The rest of the day was spent at the treatment plant in great company. It's always a thrill to take first time visitors to this spectacular birding location.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2D5tmdXolzZTNtREHY_-yq6DmSrAM0oSVDYwByUuSlmVdyzuG_7XGwG3jzmN0dkaDZFhdCjsA8t4Y4WKZKrELHEMVM-nbfV_TB0reWv4yJ726ROTHDdltRTzU-vEinKuD8C1J2q9Idx0/s1600/IanSmissen_20190316_0394-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1080" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2D5tmdXolzZTNtREHY_-yq6DmSrAM0oSVDYwByUuSlmVdyzuG_7XGwG3jzmN0dkaDZFhdCjsA8t4Y4WKZKrELHEMVM-nbfV_TB0reWv4yJ726ROTHDdltRTzU-vEinKuD8C1J2q9Idx0/s640/IanSmissen_20190316_0394-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake Borrie, Western Treatment Plant, Werribee, Victoria<br />
Panasonic Lumix G9 with Panasonic Leica 100-400mm lens @ 124mm, ISO 200, 1/500 @ f/6.3</td></tr>
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I have never seen so many <b>Pink-eared Duck</b> at this location but they are always difficult to photograph on the wide-open waterways of the treatment plant. I did manage to 'sneak up' a little and shoot through the reeds.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1Bahwv6MLYSxaUDQj6PxCTxUx8YK0fwzGAsXSJWODiJnDcCkxAacWnbe1gaLt6LN_G_A8hXLLuApSYjeXG1NYpabcXuWJAk4eZHd968K45ysNbVjLAEUyBeFNQ9v5eQMXmk7yUnwoW0/s1600/IanSmissen_20190316_0385.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1Bahwv6MLYSxaUDQj6PxCTxUx8YK0fwzGAsXSJWODiJnDcCkxAacWnbe1gaLt6LN_G_A8hXLLuApSYjeXG1NYpabcXuWJAk4eZHd968K45ysNbVjLAEUyBeFNQ9v5eQMXmk7yUnwoW0/s640/IanSmissen_20190316_0385.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink-eared Duck, Western Treatment Plant, Werribee, Victoria<br />
Panasonic Lumix G9 with Panasonic Leica 100-400mm lens @ 280mm, ISO 400, 1/1250 @ f/6.3</td></tr>
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Hundreds of Welcome Swallow and <b>Fairy Martin</b> were hunting insects around the bird hide and I managed to get a few good shots of the martins - normally a challenge as they are rarely still for more than a few seconds.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNLOKDzhOECLZdWOuBtutangeWFNamym5AybpZYMkxVZu1KvU846T1VwRCwiuIXMNKiy2qQGTEYLjVVBS_XRuXZAL24jUxujJL4FlLyZAjXOxUVjn2y6b7CzEDAzRmwVCsSFCvXxziGQ/s1600/IanSmissen_20190316_0360-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNLOKDzhOECLZdWOuBtutangeWFNamym5AybpZYMkxVZu1KvU846T1VwRCwiuIXMNKiy2qQGTEYLjVVBS_XRuXZAL24jUxujJL4FlLyZAjXOxUVjn2y6b7CzEDAzRmwVCsSFCvXxziGQ/s640/IanSmissen_20190316_0360-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fairy Martin, Western Treatment Plant, Werribee, Victoria<br />
Panasonic Lumix G9 with Panasonic Leica 100-400mm lens @ 400mm, ISO 400, 1/640 @ f/6.3</td></tr>
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However, the main highlight of the day came late in the afternoon with this capture of a juvenile <b>Lewin's Rail</b> - my first photograph of this elusive species and first sighting in Victoria - two ticks with one bird :-)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO___TjP2tryUWbWaUmUPX_aokThjIX7Kh7gVKkFF0raZcPQxxw6veSU2PhY1JR0dcAS68OuR63zaH14qWPCxdHHvyBBvKthFgyXyo-uRydTlRLEEyVyk2mcAgHBvC4LZ4KM6JpaVR-W0/s1600/IanSmissen_20190316_0488-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO___TjP2tryUWbWaUmUPX_aokThjIX7Kh7gVKkFF0raZcPQxxw6veSU2PhY1JR0dcAS68OuR63zaH14qWPCxdHHvyBBvKthFgyXyo-uRydTlRLEEyVyk2mcAgHBvC4LZ4KM6JpaVR-W0/s640/IanSmissen_20190316_0488-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lewin's Rail (juvenile), Western Treatment Plant, Werribee, Victoria<br />
Panasonic Lumix G9 with Panasonic Leica 100-400mm lens @ 400mm, ISO 400, 1/640 @ f/6.3</td></tr>
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Happy days :-)</div>
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Ian Smissenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07795090037606105126noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551542359419385423.post-83708013551829238442019-01-28T13:50:00.002+11:002019-01-29T10:20:48.130+11:00An Osprey in Melbourne!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The Eastern Osprey, <i>Pandio cristatus</i>, is a species rarely seen in the central region of Victoria and almost never in Melbourne. A solo female has been spotted along the banks of the Werribee River in western Melbourne this week and the bird watchers and bird photographers of Melbourne have been all in a flutter. While I have seen and photographed this species elsewhere in Australia, I couldn't resist an early morning start to get to the location, at which she'd been spotted for several days, just after sunrise. Several other birders were already there with cameras and binoculars scouring the trees along the river banks. Apparently she'd been here earlier but had flown off up river, so we waited, our numbers swelling to about 20 by the time she was spotted in a tree on the opposite bank. She stayed, posing for portraits, albeit long distance ones, for about 30 minutes...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZGaJiH6FfqC6SR2jaWydLql0cuuTqkhMNct2ZEUJIRJEl7HJir-uSgJzVW6tDwa_GjByhp9ZRdO0cd_IF6GrG7WAQsNmWosUXp9M5MSeu5qsSRX7PnYKRaQTKzwisOP0mfT5F4Up1SI/s1600/IanSmissen_20190128_0136-Edit-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="1080" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZGaJiH6FfqC6SR2jaWydLql0cuuTqkhMNct2ZEUJIRJEl7HJir-uSgJzVW6tDwa_GjByhp9ZRdO0cd_IF6GrG7WAQsNmWosUXp9M5MSeu5qsSRX7PnYKRaQTKzwisOP0mfT5F4Up1SI/s640/IanSmissen_20190128_0136-Edit-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eastern Osprey, Werribee River, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 + 1.4x adapter, ISO400, 1/2000 second @ f/5.6 (cropped)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
before taking off...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-GKgk4EoBP9kP87OtNkRSuSpLmxNQuFkmmoZ1C6uuch08mwhiASV6AWL8nBl66YOZSjmfUqnZidaPX6QETn2FgydrzAdovb7BI5PJc15Zh22Hfp7vZdOEeUECe5edHLUNVDmV6oNc60c/s1600/IanSmissen_20190128_0256-Edit-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="1080" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-GKgk4EoBP9kP87OtNkRSuSpLmxNQuFkmmoZ1C6uuch08mwhiASV6AWL8nBl66YOZSjmfUqnZidaPX6QETn2FgydrzAdovb7BI5PJc15Zh22Hfp7vZdOEeUECe5edHLUNVDmV6oNc60c/s640/IanSmissen_20190128_0256-Edit-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ1YpEmPBFbtMGWbHpNxtLQFYT2W9vWj-4brJ-EG8RWpa24-zM1WcDYc9P_lxHmCIvaBbkJlvYBmhLPDtNlTNPgS2FViwqEpGhMFfjbE03FAQMg1ij4kj9Drg0tfAuzFA4CAlesuXPIoY/s1600/IanSmissen_20190128_0258-Edit-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="1080" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ1YpEmPBFbtMGWbHpNxtLQFYT2W9vWj-4brJ-EG8RWpa24-zM1WcDYc9P_lxHmCIvaBbkJlvYBmhLPDtNlTNPgS2FViwqEpGhMFfjbE03FAQMg1ij4kj9Drg0tfAuzFA4CAlesuXPIoY/s640/IanSmissen_20190128_0258-Edit-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eastern Osprey, Werribee River, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 + 1.4x adapter, ISO400, 1/2000 second @ f/5.6 (cropped)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
and plunging into the river and catching a small fish then alighting on a branch closer to us and proceeded to eat the fish. I missed the fishing because of shrubs and tree branches in the way but managed a few shots of the dining room.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi41i3ctMX78bSKjEwlEVlhQckpIR9rcikIvR5GUOXZEvht54Wq_HxBi2GIgudBTq6c-M4yUJsFHO97bzTHO5iwtiWnVe_jlmNhwP2VCzXrZZ8eNhwe5WkwW16sA09flGSkvfBEZB6Hqcw/s1600/IanSmissen_20190128_0302-Edit-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="1080" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi41i3ctMX78bSKjEwlEVlhQckpIR9rcikIvR5GUOXZEvht54Wq_HxBi2GIgudBTq6c-M4yUJsFHO97bzTHO5iwtiWnVe_jlmNhwP2VCzXrZZ8eNhwe5WkwW16sA09flGSkvfBEZB6Hqcw/s640/IanSmissen_20190128_0302-Edit-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eastern Osprey, Werribee River, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 + 1.4x adapter, ISO400, 1/4000 second @ f/5.6 (cropped)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Ian Smissenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07795090037606105126noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551542359419385423.post-64026000500812556492019-01-05T12:05:00.001+11:002019-01-06T00:23:53.273+11:00Tufted Duck - first sighting in Australia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It has been a (very) long time since I've posted something here but the sighting of a new vagrant species in Australia this week prompted me to get out and find the bird this morning. A male <b>Tufted Duck</b> (<i>Aythya fuligula</i>) was spotted at the Western Treatment Plant (WTP, aka "Werribee Sewerage Farm") earlier this week and it had the Australian twitching community all a flutter (pun intended). This was the first ever sighting of this species anywhere in Australia. So, camera gear and binoculars packed in the car, I picked up my son at 7am for the hour's drive to Werribee. We initially investigated the location at which the bird had been spotted on Wednesday but, while there were plenty of interesting birds, there were very few ducks and no sign of the foreigner.<br />
<br />
Twitching (searching for new/rare bird species) at the WTP has some distinct advantages over other locations:<br />
1. LOTS of birders go there and when a new species is sighted you can guarantee you won't be alone,<br />
2. The country is VERY flat so you can see for kilometres,<br />
the result of which is that when searching for a rarity, it's easier to look for the crowd of birders than to look for the bird.<br />
<br />
As we were leaving our first location, a little disheartened, we spotted a collection of cars (yet to find a suitable collective noun) a couple of km away at another series of ponds. A few minutes later, we had joined the throng (below - the gap in the middle is where we had been) - binoculars, telescopes and long lenses pointed towards a flock of ducks (mostly <b>Australian Shelduck</b>) and a few grebes and coots clustered on the other side of a pond.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3t1m24x3nlRc6GufNR1gDR1Jo6TikFiZmTSG9gkFMzedjJvqi-uHj49XxjcGA2UrYwVbKR1k3-jxUY28KP_m69kIvkLTRNbsAqoKp7lX2UdAGI3Pbfx1vkTUKz_ynrHZpTLA8HsZUf3U/s1600/IMG_1393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3t1m24x3nlRc6GufNR1gDR1Jo6TikFiZmTSG9gkFMzedjJvqi-uHj49XxjcGA2UrYwVbKR1k3-jxUY28KP_m69kIvkLTRNbsAqoKp7lX2UdAGI3Pbfx1vkTUKz_ynrHZpTLA8HsZUf3U/s640/IMG_1393.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
It only took a few minutes for the first call of "I've got it!" to rouse the gang into cries of:<br />
"Where?"<br />
"You see the last hangar...just below the right hand side of that"<br />
"You mean near the pile of dirt?"<br />
"Yes, just near the those swans close to the bank"<br />
"Wait, I see it, no, it's just dived..."<br />
<br />
My 300mm lens was never going to be sufficient to see the bird clearly so I added both 2x and 1.4x tele-converters to my Pentax K-3 (crop factor of 1.5) giving me a virtual focal length of 1260mm. Even then, the bird was not much more than a blur in the distance.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg36DVjiMhB5cb1G9SqHCP0jL42qluufcSbno6NSk2EzYeNIZFP5LSV7J20mN7gi6AuGMt3EMse2F3CExa8WJcyDXSyWJ3fZ464UVoqNPrJ-fn7-V3Tl73AhUKHhPjZFYDhPHKOCB0XiF0/s1600/IanSmissen_20190105_0013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="1080" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg36DVjiMhB5cb1G9SqHCP0jL42qluufcSbno6NSk2EzYeNIZFP5LSV7J20mN7gi6AuGMt3EMse2F3CExa8WJcyDXSyWJ3fZ464UVoqNPrJ-fn7-V3Tl73AhUKHhPjZFYDhPHKOCB0XiF0/s640/IanSmissen_20190105_0013.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tufted Duck (centre of photograph near the grassy bank) with Australian Shelduck and Eurasian Coot<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 lens x2 and x1.4 adapters, 1/125 sec @ f/12.5</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span id="goog_421563393"></span><span id="goog_421563394"></span>Fortunately, video is more forgiving of having so much extra glass and I (unusually) had the foresight to switch to video for a few seconds, capturing the bird preening and wing-flapping.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='640' height='360' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyHbhoYMOAWc1Z36cbPJIs2P_9zoqDOs6mD2R3Ok4p1trjjll79e84TpylbEf-ifs9fwB9QEU5mj-5SoqzVAQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
I'm not sure how many species that is for me now in Australia (I'm not a fanatical counter/ticker) but it's always great to find such a rarity and very happy that it's my 300th bird in Australia on this blog.</div>
Ian Smissenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07795090037606105126noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551542359419385423.post-18247411281612187032017-11-12T08:00:00.000+11:002018-01-12T12:09:37.761+11:00Portland Pelagic<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's been a while since I was out birding so I was very pleased to get out on a pelagic birding trip from Portland, Victoria.<br />
<br />
As far as Southern Ocean pelagic trips go, this one was calm with only about a 1 metre swell and not much wind so the trip out to the continental shelf was relatively comfortable. On arriving at the shelf we began berleying and were soon greeted by a few of the usual suspects:<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>White-chinned Petrel</b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwScFpattS9ulqcp9t4QGzpZ1ezZJ0Bd7fa51ivTj5E7F36M14szalgBJ39dY9Mo6jOxSK0FaySLVT7vTtCDRf6dAd-it2e6f4rJGlFem9nW4SAAjPiv8soA4peoV9K0SqHLW2AqRhGm0/s1600/IanSmissen_20171112_0053-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwScFpattS9ulqcp9t4QGzpZ1ezZJ0Bd7fa51ivTj5E7F36M14szalgBJ39dY9Mo6jOxSK0FaySLVT7vTtCDRf6dAd-it2e6f4rJGlFem9nW4SAAjPiv8soA4peoV9K0SqHLW2AqRhGm0/s640/IanSmissen_20171112_0053-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-chinned Petrel, Southern Ocean (off Portland)<br />Pentax K-1, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 lens @ 200mm, ISO800, f/6.3 @ 1/4000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYeR8yGSLFEIHeIi5Xb5fjLe7S9MDWWjrtbEnmjcA9u14gnLpLNaKTytFFRgWmQyNahazdjOZI_5SOCqZdCRW4bPjLuZfjxrzUUI9hTMCmTKeWXJWG1FgG_cxy8nfwXH5kJbt-df-36DQ/s1600/IanSmissen_20171112_0347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYeR8yGSLFEIHeIi5Xb5fjLe7S9MDWWjrtbEnmjcA9u14gnLpLNaKTytFFRgWmQyNahazdjOZI_5SOCqZdCRW4bPjLuZfjxrzUUI9hTMCmTKeWXJWG1FgG_cxy8nfwXH5kJbt-df-36DQ/s640/IanSmissen_20171112_0347.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-chinned Petrel, Southern Ocean (off Portland)<br />Pentax K-1, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 lens @ 200mm, ISO800, f/5.6 @ 1/2000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hP3mef0EPIRoJn688PS-KAWsmDdn1Nc9lnpHCPCXZehzfsVVEB9X5AByCZpLXhrBCtEEtEsaKuPsz0VY9uuOlK70RAL7bKA_w2DN_1lo2PXiTdNoqX-uF26YlCwwYkzMLPTONd6tLqc/s1600/IanSmissen_20171112_0361-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hP3mef0EPIRoJn688PS-KAWsmDdn1Nc9lnpHCPCXZehzfsVVEB9X5AByCZpLXhrBCtEEtEsaKuPsz0VY9uuOlK70RAL7bKA_w2DN_1lo2PXiTdNoqX-uF26YlCwwYkzMLPTONd6tLqc/s640/IanSmissen_20171112_0361-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-chinned Petrel, Southern Ocean (off Portland)<br />Pentax K-1, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 lens @ 70mm, ISO800, f/5.6 @ 1/3200</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyEWf70bPoeQ67fZoU3Qa8q2gVQBmslvOMQPIn-xKPLszb05KXmlNzot1JPMRURsZLb3jO1OT6Fx55U_IYvmynufDM40Eiareryqwd2ceWi5CL7vhuWd3iun3nwGODUSLlwlm0vggJeyg/s1600/IanSmissen_20171112_0393-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyEWf70bPoeQ67fZoU3Qa8q2gVQBmslvOMQPIn-xKPLszb05KXmlNzot1JPMRURsZLb3jO1OT6Fx55U_IYvmynufDM40Eiareryqwd2ceWi5CL7vhuWd3iun3nwGODUSLlwlm0vggJeyg/s640/IanSmissen_20171112_0393-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-chinned Petrel, Southern Ocean (off Portland)<br />Pentax K-1, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 lens @ 200mm, ISO800, f/4 @ 1/2000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
and <b>White-capped (Shy) Albatross</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO1uF3njUKlTZ66mA-TlRljbgwZUq4URuU_jxsMlqiJhAqwcw79rIduwry4rWpPlY5jLafKTQsnXRhnMVU2XbNvlWTMp7hTr7nckE9PStewbv7_fMzmVuyg4QOsJtXbtFHnj7AwVaP_js/s1600/IanSmissen_20171112_0054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO1uF3njUKlTZ66mA-TlRljbgwZUq4URuU_jxsMlqiJhAqwcw79rIduwry4rWpPlY5jLafKTQsnXRhnMVU2XbNvlWTMp7hTr7nckE9PStewbv7_fMzmVuyg4QOsJtXbtFHnj7AwVaP_js/s640/IanSmissen_20171112_0054.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-capped Albatross, Southern Ocean (off Portland)<br />Pentax K-1, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 lens @ 180mm, ISO800, f/6.3 @ 1/1600</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLplpPowDEmTqeokDBoW_h_x0lWlTTiqpw_aGughm7rYdLJoKgIZRoVpn-lbCsvS5GdCnnh12PrC7DwPsZp_vUhASQgtUrvmE8kXQDTvF9W8ssUw3bQPTu8iPyEHLL2jF6S8QrhTYba34/s1600/IanSmissen_20171112_0117-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLplpPowDEmTqeokDBoW_h_x0lWlTTiqpw_aGughm7rYdLJoKgIZRoVpn-lbCsvS5GdCnnh12PrC7DwPsZp_vUhASQgtUrvmE8kXQDTvF9W8ssUw3bQPTu8iPyEHLL2jF6S8QrhTYba34/s640/IanSmissen_20171112_0117-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-capped Albatross, Southern Ocean (off Portland)<br />Pentax K-1, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 lens @ 180mm, ISO800, f/4 @ 1/3200</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxuNBOYj0bwOll2qK2NU895VcfCGoKoy0gDZIb8rZ7w682LqlJtg5pTqo9DSd4Hp_AW19fMMZNLAaTat79l_58IPG5ysIGwnHTVQiQ2J3nEEE1zazBg5z9xjZuiiQlolHdaglBza60JU4/s1600/IanSmissen_20171112_0169-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxuNBOYj0bwOll2qK2NU895VcfCGoKoy0gDZIb8rZ7w682LqlJtg5pTqo9DSd4Hp_AW19fMMZNLAaTat79l_58IPG5ysIGwnHTVQiQ2J3nEEE1zazBg5z9xjZuiiQlolHdaglBza60JU4/s640/IanSmissen_20171112_0169-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-capped Albatross, Southern Ocean (off Portland)<br />Pentax K-1, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 lens @ 130mm, ISO800, f/5.6 @ 1/6400</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ZcJjxAFzjNhHuq_moVjbZOCnEag4rZFyNNgKKOJnW6vyLlxPn11GyX3RITuV09tLWDU51q-rs3R8Z1Hd7fdRyOoS7tOhtUStxe1_34MzFziiKu8yJlnIWKaufDkgWeTNlj-mSpI_LwQ/s1600/IanSmissen_20171112_0404-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ZcJjxAFzjNhHuq_moVjbZOCnEag4rZFyNNgKKOJnW6vyLlxPn11GyX3RITuV09tLWDU51q-rs3R8Z1Hd7fdRyOoS7tOhtUStxe1_34MzFziiKu8yJlnIWKaufDkgWeTNlj-mSpI_LwQ/s640/IanSmissen_20171112_0404-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-capped Albatross, Southern Ocean (off Portland)<br />Pentax K-1, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 lens @ 150mm, ISO800, f/4 @ 1/5000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAXPXnd4Tlcd-kSDdXbOIdk7I75OCYUpIA0PqX-rzoTCuUGC6UYIZYMMK_r2Mpzzb_FXapJnPWRCdsW7AS1tDYG_nse4WmAqmaF8Oo1bvE1E266VfqZvvGUa6G-sF_qKi9OuUVfiQThw/s1600/IanSmissen_20171112_0499-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAXPXnd4Tlcd-kSDdXbOIdk7I75OCYUpIA0PqX-rzoTCuUGC6UYIZYMMK_r2Mpzzb_FXapJnPWRCdsW7AS1tDYG_nse4WmAqmaF8Oo1bvE1E266VfqZvvGUa6G-sF_qKi9OuUVfiQThw/s640/IanSmissen_20171112_0499-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-capped Albatross, Southern Ocean (off Portland)<br />Pentax K-1, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 lens @ 160mm, ISO800, f/4 @ 1/8000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfzywY1DqsJqSyshNfU_TW6gEoF0ZNDEEHJPa3DHTCz1uVcCL3F-U6u9I3So6ViT50Yi8h2MzL4Z1RFBQ-kIbjadR7Nd4WnQX8cdqHaInpDaYu50vtcyunHkzfoB6Db3JM6bG1qfi40Sk/s1600/IanSmissen_20171112_0550-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfzywY1DqsJqSyshNfU_TW6gEoF0ZNDEEHJPa3DHTCz1uVcCL3F-U6u9I3So6ViT50Yi8h2MzL4Z1RFBQ-kIbjadR7Nd4WnQX8cdqHaInpDaYu50vtcyunHkzfoB6Db3JM6bG1qfi40Sk/s640/IanSmissen_20171112_0550-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-capped Albatross, Southern Ocean (off Portland)<br />Pentax K-1, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 lens @ 70mm, ISO800, f/4 @ 1/8000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQfmSb5uevLvcQU90KitKr1zB0bUjLv4TTz2WVHz7OAiFJwniBiEgrWjQcxVbHPbl_yGRI6Llsp7yhbGT2OOO0Hej8IsmKaXje0n4j9nb-zmQrdFnFM2dhqPZRHr9lUhTnNH6KrX06GPE/s1600/IanSmissen_20171112_0565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="900" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQfmSb5uevLvcQU90KitKr1zB0bUjLv4TTz2WVHz7OAiFJwniBiEgrWjQcxVbHPbl_yGRI6Llsp7yhbGT2OOO0Hej8IsmKaXje0n4j9nb-zmQrdFnFM2dhqPZRHr9lUhTnNH6KrX06GPE/s640/IanSmissen_20171112_0565.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-capped Albatross, Southern Ocean (off Portland)<br />Pentax K-1, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 lens @ 70mm, ISO800, f/5.6 @ 1/1600</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
along with one immature <b>Black-browed Albatross</b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZzhipN1JSB42HB7HxcQugkgi0hLiL_XeccGEtO_SIfeuCzTBHIl7jtSAV-rQqJWOLSWr9iMarB2GuLBfNh0rbMvUYKpfEqr3ZFE_kjQbVuI60ptziOLKbd5eUx0agqKVJ6SSXwJaXfz8/s1600/IanSmissen_20171112_0574-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZzhipN1JSB42HB7HxcQugkgi0hLiL_XeccGEtO_SIfeuCzTBHIl7jtSAV-rQqJWOLSWr9iMarB2GuLBfNh0rbMvUYKpfEqr3ZFE_kjQbVuI60ptziOLKbd5eUx0agqKVJ6SSXwJaXfz8/s640/IanSmissen_20171112_0574-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-browed Albatross (immature), Southern Ocean (off Portland)<br />Pentax K-1, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 lens @ 200mm, ISO800, f/5.6 @ 1/2000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The highlight, however, was a solo <b>Fairy Prion</b>, dancing on the water surface close enough to the boat to get some half reasonable shots :-)<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPEdY415XX8GPK3_VoZyTN3yOraaAs0raUvg0mvDKl3pnWKSxBdtJbsta4ljn7PBRmMEEa45iW_qDrO5RrFRx4_bTdotuJaC7JPkEBdTSF9S8tcE2clZZxcBHzQSApVX1mOEXF7SSPPCc/s1600/IanSmissen_20171112_0012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPEdY415XX8GPK3_VoZyTN3yOraaAs0raUvg0mvDKl3pnWKSxBdtJbsta4ljn7PBRmMEEa45iW_qDrO5RrFRx4_bTdotuJaC7JPkEBdTSF9S8tcE2clZZxcBHzQSApVX1mOEXF7SSPPCc/s640/IanSmissen_20171112_0012.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fairy Prion, Southern Ocean (off Portland)<br />Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 lens + 1.4x adapter, ISO800, f/4 @ 1/1250</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTar3CQ2q2rEHwqNS6u4qCIChKPQn_zkomVhsKLTQGgJTLvvbHjYIuVzRAupOeQkKBsgvxl2CuRi_6VEXDGmBHFCV9nFVIuTlSvErO3mlprqxTcLne1_KAcbKxNB0ss8q_XkrAQGxsrNQ/s1600/IanSmissen_20171112_0014-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTar3CQ2q2rEHwqNS6u4qCIChKPQn_zkomVhsKLTQGgJTLvvbHjYIuVzRAupOeQkKBsgvxl2CuRi_6VEXDGmBHFCV9nFVIuTlSvErO3mlprqxTcLne1_KAcbKxNB0ss8q_XkrAQGxsrNQ/s640/IanSmissen_20171112_0014-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fairy Prion, Southern Ocean (off Portland)<br />Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 lens + 1.4x adapter, ISO800, f/4 @ 1/2500</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiPEQXcXu3wmT6zh1Dwv1udImjbFvqwt71CNoEetNapFFxH6GaafvHvhFk4ifMNcHFYpPnMNFVpODxjMXHemg5USJVprfUWVfhNynnT3pKkVclMZh1sEJv3hpmKPRBSD8OlHG6FBEDA-s/s1600/IanSmissen_20171112_0019-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiPEQXcXu3wmT6zh1Dwv1udImjbFvqwt71CNoEetNapFFxH6GaafvHvhFk4ifMNcHFYpPnMNFVpODxjMXHemg5USJVprfUWVfhNynnT3pKkVclMZh1sEJv3hpmKPRBSD8OlHG6FBEDA-s/s640/IanSmissen_20171112_0019-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fairy Prion, Southern Ocean (off Portland)<br />Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 lens + 1.4x adapter, ISO800, f/4 @ 1/2500</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Not a wide variety of species but some great photo opportunities.<br />
<br /></div>
Ian Smissenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07795090037606105126noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551542359419385423.post-4926651931624104102017-05-31T18:34:00.000+10:002017-06-18T17:48:05.020+10:00Lord Howe Island - Part 2: Search for the Woodhen<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Following the <a href="http://smissen.blogspot.com.au/2017/06/lord-howe-island.html">boat trip to Balls Pyramid and photographing the birds around our accommodation</a>, the one bird I was determined to see and photograph while on the island was the <b>Lord Howe Woodhen</b>, an endangered species brought back from the brink of extinction in the last 30 years. It is most commonly seen at the southern end of the island so one morning I took a walk along the main road past the airport and golf course.<br />
<br />
<b>Sacred Kingfisher</b> were everywhere as they seem to have taken on the Kookaburra role on the island - frequently seen perched on almost anything.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijC2avMYORKKqAbvuS0vdNfBk7JVjXntQIkwEE0DrxyI-3RSHLGaVP0jPIIcPqdcVJVWZsrkWdCyK9eob5FEQLyFPH44_wR8x8ZIsyk9GvUn1F0tGwutHuZ_IjexD_NgXpRMPp7EG0msM/s1600/_IMG0207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijC2avMYORKKqAbvuS0vdNfBk7JVjXntQIkwEE0DrxyI-3RSHLGaVP0jPIIcPqdcVJVWZsrkWdCyK9eob5FEQLyFPH44_wR8x8ZIsyk9GvUn1F0tGwutHuZ_IjexD_NgXpRMPp7EG0msM/s640/_IMG0207.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Sacred Kingfisher, Lord Howe Island<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 lens +1.4x adapter, ISO400, 1/640 @ f/5.6</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0IeyBzINXovFcBLFhoRg-3hn1gQ1qH0A_DdwwS5mtN98c85Xek_IdBhlJzYtJQmYXvcrXERn87wjlvON1l1OG-Mn5fuPx65FWzinJtC3LupvmlfSIk55Su982wSjC84dK2M6lLMGOJ0/s1600/IanSmissen_20170530_0049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0IeyBzINXovFcBLFhoRg-3hn1gQ1qH0A_DdwwS5mtN98c85Xek_IdBhlJzYtJQmYXvcrXERn87wjlvON1l1OG-Mn5fuPx65FWzinJtC3LupvmlfSIk55Su982wSjC84dK2M6lLMGOJ0/s640/IanSmissen_20170530_0049.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Sacred Kingfisher, Lord Howe Island<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 lens +1.4x adapter, ISO800, 1/8000 @ f/4 </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRgWYzHO69ubv6H-QOcglWxNhXE85nlR2gE-NXJODIyoAt0kHilKWnuu21yBmoG6WIuROetfzriTwg1xDVvjOCPMHuuyYz47OX3C2JNLSJZtx9fgu2sqWAn4Hbs3pZy7_AGZRdlSXmDfM/s1600/IanSmissen_20170530_0156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRgWYzHO69ubv6H-QOcglWxNhXE85nlR2gE-NXJODIyoAt0kHilKWnuu21yBmoG6WIuROetfzriTwg1xDVvjOCPMHuuyYz47OX3C2JNLSJZtx9fgu2sqWAn4Hbs3pZy7_AGZRdlSXmDfM/s640/IanSmissen_20170530_0156.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Sacred Kingfisher, Lord Howe Island<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 lens +1.4x adapter, ISO800, 1/4000 @ f/4</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The only bird more common was the <b>Magpie-lark</b>, seen and heard anywhere there was open pasture or mown grass.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXBSWi8FoX-bGeISUxvBueSphTZHs68mc-uHq-Eu-uO1fyL7BUISXqE_ibJWFcwFF9m-ud07ARH90wdTDEhic1cZkpFqxBn9uoS-YG7o6s0uLwKiSnr7TDXF_IWUlBSuHjpE6uLEL__A/s1600/IanSmissen_20170530_0063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXBSWi8FoX-bGeISUxvBueSphTZHs68mc-uHq-Eu-uO1fyL7BUISXqE_ibJWFcwFF9m-ud07ARH90wdTDEhic1cZkpFqxBn9uoS-YG7o6s0uLwKiSnr7TDXF_IWUlBSuHjpE6uLEL__A/s640/IanSmissen_20170530_0063.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Magpie-lark, Lord Howe Island<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 lens +1.4x adapter, ISO800, 1/4000 @ f/5.6</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>White-faced Herons</b> were commonly seen on the beaches and in the pasture.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4TnIvO_C7yeVSQtl982taU2V6O6T-N-7bijlcxRzzIdG-qEzvsqMbZob8p49jFjs12rpbMQB0DktNHIbwj0dYxSaSCgVL7JheWkGTJsyajO50fHCa0-m7mS3BCF9-nnuEfBQ77Ee894/s1600/IanSmissen_20170530_0233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4TnIvO_C7yeVSQtl982taU2V6O6T-N-7bijlcxRzzIdG-qEzvsqMbZob8p49jFjs12rpbMQB0DktNHIbwj0dYxSaSCgVL7JheWkGTJsyajO50fHCa0-m7mS3BCF9-nnuEfBQ77Ee894/s640/IanSmissen_20170530_0233.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">White-faced Heron, Lord Howe Island<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 lens +1.4x adapter, ISO800, 1/1600 @ f/8</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A small flock of <b>Pacific Golden Plover</b> was foraging in the pasture on the grassy hillside next to the airport. They were a long way away (this shot is heavily cropped) but it was good to see them.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7losWpDqfWn2PXwR6Bxo_2MG6wMUxJ0jC82SMVXcUMyOr1ETTxAG_6sRl3vo1-xfCAKT9PRaqT1RjHeTEdb4bpNVHnxYmp9iTJO1Lnc7gq1vy3pZ4P6CPg5KI7n44AbfRgo_3qPmKKKo/s1600/IanSmissen_20170530_0076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7losWpDqfWn2PXwR6Bxo_2MG6wMUxJ0jC82SMVXcUMyOr1ETTxAG_6sRl3vo1-xfCAKT9PRaqT1RjHeTEdb4bpNVHnxYmp9iTJO1Lnc7gq1vy3pZ4P6CPg5KI7n44AbfRgo_3qPmKKKo/s640/IanSmissen_20170530_0076.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Pacific Golden Plover, Lord Howe Island<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 lens +1.4x adapter, ISO800, 1/4000 @ f/5.6</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The only ducks I saw while on the island was this pair of what look like Northern Mallard-Pacific Black Duck hybrids.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK6D8SM2dqotv3PXAgTBSsfa2f0Fe-1C1aME-aA85e82QdnqVCsMwu6vwBRmRLJonXETHGK0NZ2mlifYC5_y7pl_L-MKaj9q9rB9c4NzEDdANUW4DoiP5bglYD94GtZRR-Uw4XjXCerqU/s1600/IanSmissen_20170530_0068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK6D8SM2dqotv3PXAgTBSsfa2f0Fe-1C1aME-aA85e82QdnqVCsMwu6vwBRmRLJonXETHGK0NZ2mlifYC5_y7pl_L-MKaj9q9rB9c4NzEDdANUW4DoiP5bglYD94GtZRR-Uw4XjXCerqU/s640/IanSmissen_20170530_0068.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Northern Mallard-Pacific Black Duck hybrid, Lord Howe Island<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 lens +1.4x adapter, ISO800, 1/4000 @ f/5.6</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I spotted <b>Buff-banded Rail</b> foraging in the mown grass along the road into the airport so took a detour to see if they were more photo-friendly than their Milky Way relatives. They were!<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6I-qVi1QkPno7zv5fWbWMR-VIYgUXl5pumWUn3eUpVVa9USux0vX74y4ZAwY2vuAgiS_VaHQ8H53RfV9IXWJ_ZfWOwOw2JVWJEWavhjPJpxblsWZfrcIX7m_A8WtgZkhwEIkQquJ-OY/s1600/IanSmissen_20170530_0134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6I-qVi1QkPno7zv5fWbWMR-VIYgUXl5pumWUn3eUpVVa9USux0vX74y4ZAwY2vuAgiS_VaHQ8H53RfV9IXWJ_ZfWOwOw2JVWJEWavhjPJpxblsWZfrcIX7m_A8WtgZkhwEIkQquJ-OY/s640/IanSmissen_20170530_0134.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Buff-banded Rail, Lord Howe Island<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 lens +1.4x adapter, ISO800, 1/4000 @ f/5.6</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Roadside signs past the airport confirmed what the locals had told me about the most likely place to find woodhens<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjXCPnc_xJnNGX9a4WkgiYYWeMWzI1QAZ3WSujx_xwpjnPtF1NNYP4niz-7Fxx6EYSMEDIDBALH8fOCAsAHy9WjaIdmxEsdPMYKxdpU_MUrBdpaP9RF34z1EuDH09bPcjFFBPiaK6o_gE/s1600/IanSmissen_20170530_0083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="598" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjXCPnc_xJnNGX9a4WkgiYYWeMWzI1QAZ3WSujx_xwpjnPtF1NNYP4niz-7Fxx6EYSMEDIDBALH8fOCAsAHy9WjaIdmxEsdPMYKxdpU_MUrBdpaP9RF34z1EuDH09bPcjFFBPiaK6o_gE/s400/IanSmissen_20170530_0083.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
but, after an hour of unsuccessful searching, I gave up and headed back (a 6 km walk) to civilisation. My son and son-in-law passed me (riding bikes) on the road on their way back from a hike up to Goat House Cave on Mt Lidgbird and we agreed to meet up at Thomson's Store (self proclaimed best burgers for 600km) for lunch during which they told me (and showed me video evidence) that they had seen woodhens on a side road about 500m from where I had stopped searching. So, I borrowed my son's bike and rode back to the Goat House track. I walked the first few hundred meters along the track listening and looking for woodhens - to no avail - and gave up and decided to check out further along the main road, where I managed to find two birds right by the side of the road, one of which stood still long enough for me to get off one shot. Fortunately, I had already changed to a 24-70mm zoom lens while in the rainforest - a long lens would have been useless here.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzpNpkD23HGwW2M19aBXPiHA35tQgWjTGKrG17xeXeKXgQsiaVNzctSqiXGCjbq_3JsCwA4bJMqAJznHTfQI3sS5eYpvQy838kHG9fCTxEUFXDr4nD6whO-vbghnOFjqZGNrkih-PVv-s/s1600/IanSmissen_20170530_0252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="900" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzpNpkD23HGwW2M19aBXPiHA35tQgWjTGKrG17xeXeKXgQsiaVNzctSqiXGCjbq_3JsCwA4bJMqAJznHTfQI3sS5eYpvQy838kHG9fCTxEUFXDr4nD6whO-vbghnOFjqZGNrkih-PVv-s/s640/IanSmissen_20170530_0252.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Lord Howe Woodhen, Lord Howe Island<br />
Pentax K-3, Pentax 24-70mm f/2.8 lens @ 70mm, ISO1600, 1/800 @ f/5.6</td></tr>
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<br />
So, after a 13km walk and 13 km bike ride I managed to see and photograph my target species - tired but happy :-)</div>
Ian Smissenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07795090037606105126noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551542359419385423.post-15740367815989198822017-05-31T17:27:00.000+10:002017-06-18T17:47:47.621+10:00Lord Howe Island - Part 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's been a long time since I was out photographing birds but a family holiday on Lord Howe Island in May this year provided the chance for some opportunistic birding and photography.<br />
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There are only about 30 species of birds resident (breeding) on Lord Howe Island with another 15 or so common visitors at different times of the year so the birding is not diverse but what it lacks in diversity it makes up for in ease of access with most species being easy to find and photograph, though some of the seabirds require boat trips or hikes to wild clifftops. My wild clifftop hiking days are over but a boat trip (around the island and to Ball's Pyramid) did prove fruitful in finding several lifers.<br />
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<b>Red-tailed Tropicbird</b> breed along the northern cliffs of the island. The breeding season was just finishing but there were still many birds flying around the cliffs.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMTlSCGzuqmhxRK2PKwslPx6M8577D6HXq0m5lBa193ZH0EV1rvnflq6v5aFR0k6MpKOeUrij2VBJAR5aN09zsisuKZ_S3rqb4OJ-JOcRcfS0ym7rlASxq2ZfdcgfL0BEy6eo_nsOGBs/s1600/IanSmissen_20170527_0476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMTlSCGzuqmhxRK2PKwslPx6M8577D6HXq0m5lBa193ZH0EV1rvnflq6v5aFR0k6MpKOeUrij2VBJAR5aN09zsisuKZ_S3rqb4OJ-JOcRcfS0ym7rlASxq2ZfdcgfL0BEy6eo_nsOGBs/s640/IanSmissen_20170527_0476.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-tailed Tropicbird, North Head, Lord Howe Island<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 lens +1.4x adapter, ISO400, 1/800 @ f/5.6</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>Masked Booby</b> breed on the Admiralty Islets off the north-east coast of Lord Howe Island<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxc2_1AfglnLMkpaYv3ohdned9UpWPxJLCKuF6Fd7hdtvrBjyb0rO1xgywhrNj7vzmGhMEs6xIqPUNuz1QGwKetfO4H-CvGC12ZsUOc8N8YHAeGyG-UTAaleJvpQXVDjSzNCcuCyevjA/s1600/IanSmissen_20170527_0482.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxc2_1AfglnLMkpaYv3ohdned9UpWPxJLCKuF6Fd7hdtvrBjyb0rO1xgywhrNj7vzmGhMEs6xIqPUNuz1QGwKetfO4H-CvGC12ZsUOc8N8YHAeGyG-UTAaleJvpQXVDjSzNCcuCyevjA/s640/IanSmissen_20170527_0482.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Masked Booby, Roach Island, Lord Howe Island<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 lens +1.4x adapter, ISO400, 1/1250 @ f/5.6</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
and we saw many adults and immatures flying around both Lord Howe Island and Ball's Pyramid.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZ3brznU1vPzoBfmaFyPXTxMjxv-SsWRo7bi6O1AcZW1KyOjc6izPreAVOSbafw0rHMUe6gFvjFc4QNHi_o87k_GZCQ-3Ef67eNs2ZM6CEZ65YiB5R-e10lBH5dPn7tmEldsE74eH2Zc/s1600/IanSmissen_20170527_0532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZ3brznU1vPzoBfmaFyPXTxMjxv-SsWRo7bi6O1AcZW1KyOjc6izPreAVOSbafw0rHMUe6gFvjFc4QNHi_o87k_GZCQ-3Ef67eNs2ZM6CEZ65YiB5R-e10lBH5dPn7tmEldsE74eH2Zc/s640/IanSmissen_20170527_0532.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Masked Booby, Lord Howe Island<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 lens +1.4x adapter, ISO400, 1/1250 @ f/11</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5tIJm0rA-UsVVMTpOTbQU0kyn_ipoEossRVA0c80Bdzh4_MrDPUQ2oo9L4DjlZ2UL2_JzN5v_7hdfmO5N2yZ340mwkqw0gwc7h-YH5fM5rNkLS4JywPhE2eqDVqp59GwoJLz_vn_7tko/s1600/IanSmissen_20170527_0601-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5tIJm0rA-UsVVMTpOTbQU0kyn_ipoEossRVA0c80Bdzh4_MrDPUQ2oo9L4DjlZ2UL2_JzN5v_7hdfmO5N2yZ340mwkqw0gwc7h-YH5fM5rNkLS4JywPhE2eqDVqp59GwoJLz_vn_7tko/s640/IanSmissen_20170527_0601-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Masked Booby (immature), Lord Howe Island<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 lens +1.4x adapter, ISO400, 1/2000 @ f/8</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijOM4ruqciJInz_Jgu6mRg_ZCjXzn7Xso3sHvcGF2m4Dbl7_ectuhWZcx86NK8LiHAj6joxUvrgUj98OoF9HEGajnNy07JIiK1iVAN-ktUlJPkz2pHc2uoWMy3gQNyX-e2JksmYiNj0Rg/s1600/IanSmissen_20170527_0622-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijOM4ruqciJInz_Jgu6mRg_ZCjXzn7Xso3sHvcGF2m4Dbl7_ectuhWZcx86NK8LiHAj6joxUvrgUj98OoF9HEGajnNy07JIiK1iVAN-ktUlJPkz2pHc2uoWMy3gQNyX-e2JksmYiNj0Rg/s640/IanSmissen_20170527_0622-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Masked Booby (immature), Ball's Pyramid<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 lens +1.4x adapter, ISO400, 1/1000 @ f/14</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVQLG72HOIk2Wp1GXXyAYSW3BJ0szHYcp6LTb8eOg_IkqeW9FPAxvjh_P2biuSS4piMiishyKiyTanN7fGHOEfEAfFUgSV4yfSWBjZYKxCZU7ur18M4ueQvVzaW6Xt2XAYAmjaVgOye4/s1600/IanSmissen_20170527_0646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVQLG72HOIk2Wp1GXXyAYSW3BJ0szHYcp6LTb8eOg_IkqeW9FPAxvjh_P2biuSS4piMiishyKiyTanN7fGHOEfEAfFUgSV4yfSWBjZYKxCZU7ur18M4ueQvVzaW6Xt2XAYAmjaVgOye4/s640/IanSmissen_20170527_0646.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Masked Booby (immature), Ball's Pyramid<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 lens +1.4x adapter, ISO400, 1/640 @ f/14</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Providence Petrel</b> roost and breed on the cliffs on the western side of Mt Gower (on the southern tip of Lord Howe Island) and, during late afternoon, can be seen flying around the cliffs.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqQJo4JPwyc2BVFXdF5oZUR4qxjn3NFw81XkCEWXVYTnLv1L8snxeTYESbZ3rIn6vfaBiuQ6s7b7AqhXYoAsmMKmv6kH-N9FuBRrsw710sqXLKoKZ5_oNlx9yDbE5PIM8hw-7EaaEgUkY/s1600/IanSmissen_20170527_0682-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqQJo4JPwyc2BVFXdF5oZUR4qxjn3NFw81XkCEWXVYTnLv1L8snxeTYESbZ3rIn6vfaBiuQ6s7b7AqhXYoAsmMKmv6kH-N9FuBRrsw710sqXLKoKZ5_oNlx9yDbE5PIM8hw-7EaaEgUkY/s640/IanSmissen_20170527_0682-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Providence Petrel, Lord Howe Island<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 lens +1.4x adapter, ISO400, 1/5000 @ f/7.1</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Several came close enough to the boat for me to capture a close-up.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVsa_W2Kr8FzxPUSA8y9E0JKljoESdIpECHL2sUcbdK-vUq31OzMS_xYucaCPwckoWMTX7qpItn45NfJ608cNN-bjPHn21R_ckILObfT8bNvraQ4mR_-YMX7xX7nQQmb5mlwhjtm09qGU/s1600/IanSmissen_20170527_0707-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVsa_W2Kr8FzxPUSA8y9E0JKljoESdIpECHL2sUcbdK-vUq31OzMS_xYucaCPwckoWMTX7qpItn45NfJ608cNN-bjPHn21R_ckILObfT8bNvraQ4mR_-YMX7xX7nQQmb5mlwhjtm09qGU/s640/IanSmissen_20170527_0707-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Providence Petrel, Lord Howe Island<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 lens +1.4x adapter, ISO400, 1/2000 @ f/8</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We stayed at Milky Way Apartments, at the northern end of the island, nestled between Old Settlement Beach and a patchwork of rainforest and cattle pasture.<br />
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Several small passerines: Common Blackbird, Lord Howe Golden Whistler, <b>Lord Howe White-eye</b>, were seen almost everywhere around the accommodation gardens. I managed to get the white-eye within an hour of arriving<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijpHKanVqrmz-ejH1-IpPoQeD6gAaqceev86NuOaYej6euqmZjqRhyphenhyphen40rSx4ozswc0k8ZOpaYZeef6iqytep8qwbkBq5bE0YgCVJu-HXRJhZwNeSejYBimYYBp9KkZaynREy77sdFj4ac/s1600/_IMG0188-Edit-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijpHKanVqrmz-ejH1-IpPoQeD6gAaqceev86NuOaYej6euqmZjqRhyphenhyphen40rSx4ozswc0k8ZOpaYZeef6iqytep8qwbkBq5bE0YgCVJu-HXRJhZwNeSejYBimYYBp9KkZaynREy77sdFj4ac/s640/_IMG0188-Edit-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lord Howe White-eye, Lord Howe Island<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 lens +1.4x adapter, ISO400, 1/100 @ f/5.6</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
but the Golden Whistler remained elusive for the whole week. I could hear at least three pairs in the trees around our accommodation but none made themselves visible enough to photograph. I didn't bother trying for the blackbirds...</div>
<div>
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<div>
<b>Lord Howe Currawong</b> (an endangered subspecies of Pied Currawong) could be heard each morning flying from the hills north of our apartment directly overhead into the forest behind us but remained elusive until the final morning when several landed in trees just near our apartment.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnAmqT4CjfDRdAayQe4qixk_1IO4aSEj-85k93sQBUiXKOYJG8d1L-IVSNnWUFFSZIj_E2SB_q2162ywS2iWT9-jg0Dv_L53y08p4HTVnIhKyGaFkOVHpdi6psGO5_6i1yoBd9tpUSsng/s1600/_3IM1682-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnAmqT4CjfDRdAayQe4qixk_1IO4aSEj-85k93sQBUiXKOYJG8d1L-IVSNnWUFFSZIj_E2SB_q2162ywS2iWT9-jg0Dv_L53y08p4HTVnIhKyGaFkOVHpdi6psGO5_6i1yoBd9tpUSsng/s640/_3IM1682-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lord Howe Currawong, Lord Howe Island<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 lens +1.4x adapter, ISO1600, 1/800 @ f/5.6</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
A pair of <b>Sacred Kingfishers</b> was seen every morning and evening flying among the palms around the apartment.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeHFCFMrZwr6gK_J5Db3ekAY9lNifNcHdAh2cJt-ogVVZniKbbN7OkPYt4mw6BGMh_AiVVuwSeu5NCn_-KkV-n5qsjW7emPioxBElf416nD0gbwM-4sx0hDVGVSPo4wq_klNQz9l5N984/s1600/IanSmissen_20170530_0032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeHFCFMrZwr6gK_J5Db3ekAY9lNifNcHdAh2cJt-ogVVZniKbbN7OkPYt4mw6BGMh_AiVVuwSeu5NCn_-KkV-n5qsjW7emPioxBElf416nD0gbwM-4sx0hDVGVSPo4wq_klNQz9l5N984/s640/IanSmissen_20170530_0032.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sacred Kingfisher, Lord Howe Island<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 lens +1.4x adapter, ISO1600, 1/1000 @ f/4.5</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Emerald Dove</b> and Buff-banded Rail were seen foraging on the ground among the palms and out in the open on the cut grass around the apartment, frequently only a few metres away from us. I made several attempts to photograph the rails, setting myself up lying on the grass near where they were usually seen coming out from the palms but all without success - they seemed to refuse to come anywhere near me when I had a camera. The doves, on the other hand, were much more co-operative; so much so that I had to remove the 1.4x adapter because they approached too close to me to get them in frame. Even then I had to frequently scramble backwards when they approached closer than the closest focussing distance of the 300mm lens I was using.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvhG0vnvs3njgfX-iS7vXjbn_PN7fWmqemF7oRe8jH8_GFua_-s5SOE6wkcmA7FGl131db8YXKTZe2kppOj-ANCeuIpEmCDc8Vql5TCwaBg23EEh0ZUazZkJvUTUXqTBWd8UNhU0S_ACA/s1600/IanSmissen_20170528_0012-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvhG0vnvs3njgfX-iS7vXjbn_PN7fWmqemF7oRe8jH8_GFua_-s5SOE6wkcmA7FGl131db8YXKTZe2kppOj-ANCeuIpEmCDc8Vql5TCwaBg23EEh0ZUazZkJvUTUXqTBWd8UNhU0S_ACA/s640/IanSmissen_20170528_0012-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emerald Dove, Lord Howe Island<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 lens, ISO3200, 1/3200 @ f/2.8</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOLvCY6ori4w5V06Epefye8sTHlzzzDzwQkdVHbgB7WZZiDgS731LnC5LWxhRXHhaAZK9w4W9DXekQWfAWp94ELSAekTKhZh9hPNCE1zRReicztfvm3wLIVXU6TtInjvhb0AV_RoaDS4/s1600/IanSmissen_20170528_0026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOLvCY6ori4w5V06Epefye8sTHlzzzDzwQkdVHbgB7WZZiDgS731LnC5LWxhRXHhaAZK9w4W9DXekQWfAWp94ELSAekTKhZh9hPNCE1zRReicztfvm3wLIVXU6TtInjvhb0AV_RoaDS4/s640/IanSmissen_20170528_0026.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emerald Dove, Lord Howe Island<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 lens, ISO3200, 1/8000 @ f/4</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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The cattle in the nearby pasture attracted several <b>Cattle Egrets</b><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpKreO0zTKfWSRQD33FWoJdTEe4PeFgmsBqzChx69O-5LwFXmT609MxlpBht9VC53dNm50CRXFzmN5Pa6EGQf5CRTXo69OlLbGOr7ZymFOS21NRiDVATj5-mZXd2hIcdHBpQfEHX47S4E/s1600/IanSmissen_20170530_0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpKreO0zTKfWSRQD33FWoJdTEe4PeFgmsBqzChx69O-5LwFXmT609MxlpBht9VC53dNm50CRXFzmN5Pa6EGQf5CRTXo69OlLbGOr7ZymFOS21NRiDVATj5-mZXd2hIcdHBpQfEHX47S4E/s640/IanSmissen_20170530_0009.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cattle Egret, Lord Howe Island<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 lens +1.4x adapter, ISO800, 1/640 @ f/5.6</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: left;">
... <a href="http://smissen.blogspot.com.au/2017/06/lord-howe-island-part-2-search-for.html">Part 2: Search for the Woodhen</a></div>
</div>
Ian Smissenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07795090037606105126noreply@blogger.com2Lord Howe Island, New South Wales, Australia-31.5553263 159.0821211-31.6635738 158.9207596 -31.4470788 159.2434826tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551542359419385423.post-27310985262955075182016-10-23T19:55:00.003+11:002016-10-23T19:59:33.312+11:00A bit of birding in lieu of a pelagic trip<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The pelagic birding trip we were booked on today from Port Fairy was postponed due to the weather so I dropped into a few places on the way home to see what I could find. <br />
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First stop was the wetlands at the start of the Port Fairy Rail Trail. Several <b>Golden-headed Cisticola</b> were calling from the reeds but they stayed in the centre of the wetland so I couldn't get any closeup shots. This was the best I could do.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8w_Ny66eVgGNkgXK_IheeDMeVPCPyTVrvCgeR9_xl8RfZONeU_VLDZoByh8h0nDeaL205BWT6aqbS6BKOrAWSWj_nUclqkREa8KVs-iZOtETmAdVu7Dou39-ojmkLusE2VH2pPBXr5Cc/s1600/Golden-headedCisticola_PortFairy01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8w_Ny66eVgGNkgXK_IheeDMeVPCPyTVrvCgeR9_xl8RfZONeU_VLDZoByh8h0nDeaL205BWT6aqbS6BKOrAWSWj_nUclqkREa8KVs-iZOtETmAdVu7Dou39-ojmkLusE2VH2pPBXr5Cc/s640/Golden-headedCisticola_PortFairy01.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden-Headed Cisticola, Port Fairy Rail Trail<br />Pentax K-1, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/4, 1/400</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9u0tcRnZBEoUn-UmyC6hC9hB8ihdViTmZuK63I_LcXVjZdM528jHYvpNwOXZNPGKd5rEwOhTRPNJCR6oJDzvIJc8JhSiksfG4cLuNQFmZOUMvsksIe0lQrLq9NNpBy3rNf4qR1X4rwc/s1600/Golden-headedCisticola_PortFairy02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9u0tcRnZBEoUn-UmyC6hC9hB8ihdViTmZuK63I_LcXVjZdM528jHYvpNwOXZNPGKd5rEwOhTRPNJCR6oJDzvIJc8JhSiksfG4cLuNQFmZOUMvsksIe0lQrLq9NNpBy3rNf4qR1X4rwc/s640/Golden-headedCisticola_PortFairy02.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden-Headed Cisticola, Port Fairy Rail Trail<br />Pentax K-1, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/4, 1/500</td></tr>
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Three <b>Common Greenshank</b> were feeding along the edge of the Moyne River but only one was close enough for a half decent shot.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtQGliazRbgJaGPjSYHrp0esCjFRX4OWB7atLFhfXrkplzTH3Am4oftBNSr4P_eWNYX2YGXwnM1krTYSo4J9TKbFxzRJ1TAvmvm-LrvG-95i7SYoFTF_kNomXKyx7PnKXevaUstonsOG0/s1600/CommonGreenshank_PortFairy01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtQGliazRbgJaGPjSYHrp0esCjFRX4OWB7atLFhfXrkplzTH3Am4oftBNSr4P_eWNYX2YGXwnM1krTYSo4J9TKbFxzRJ1TAvmvm-LrvG-95i7SYoFTF_kNomXKyx7PnKXevaUstonsOG0/s640/CommonGreenshank_PortFairy01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Greenshank, Moyne River, Port Fairy<br />Pentax K-1, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/4, 1/1000</td></tr>
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I tried Belfast Beach but there were people and dogs along the beach so I didn't bother looking for any birds and headed for Killarney Beach, where I found three of my fellow pelagic-trip refugees and we took a walk along the western end of the beach. We spotted six Hooded Plovers but decided not to approach them too closely as they were fairly skittish. A pair of <b>Kelp Gulls</b> was hanging around on the shore and this one stayed still long enough for a long-distance shot.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYxHFDuNXyS9mcFv5plFxVSLj7VtwPMF2xIkRcNBd-EgQ9zAtsJFBkNIboargxBSh_NUoIP6MwdykGqia7NchLQtn1cOKk1WfyINq8Bg6Iin7HMsuMr-V30GYlrW-jSddtOV7zaoknpBk/s1600/KelpGull_KilarneyBeach01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYxHFDuNXyS9mcFv5plFxVSLj7VtwPMF2xIkRcNBd-EgQ9zAtsJFBkNIboargxBSh_NUoIP6MwdykGqia7NchLQtn1cOKk1WfyINq8Bg6Iin7HMsuMr-V30GYlrW-jSddtOV7zaoknpBk/s640/KelpGull_KilarneyBeach01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kelp Gull, Killarney Beach<br />Pentax K-1, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/2000</td></tr>
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There were also <b>Sooty Oystercatchers</b> and <b>Australian Pied Oystercatchers</b> flying around.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwWCpT3NO7tFrMBDLVWmAVvRKs9VJzwuG2IfLa1PTPooqHCseo8xp5xmskRwERGQEsZeI8dUcsZfUas01l1FH-C5cezFLhAGNAvp8RB50sDWciI0OAwEHH2Xcv521mIfhyBJ58Won4Uk/s1600/SootyOystercatcher_KilarneyBeach01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwWCpT3NO7tFrMBDLVWmAVvRKs9VJzwuG2IfLa1PTPooqHCseo8xp5xmskRwERGQEsZeI8dUcsZfUas01l1FH-C5cezFLhAGNAvp8RB50sDWciI0OAwEHH2Xcv521mIfhyBJ58Won4Uk/s640/SootyOystercatcher_KilarneyBeach01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sooty Oystercatcher, Killarney Beach<br />Pentax K-1, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/2000</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8q1Z2SaDwh8GCFCIB1NR2P33qobAnaoYCzppk6N2D2hVt4yE_Ek_wVfwNKCXkx05FQUun9DLnx0w2DPisZ6WnJjS4IzaqDuHrBNv4Z9TUaiL0fUFA494j2iqEhSTAc99ESoJmpX_zUXw/s1600/AustralianPiedOystercatcher_KilarneyBeach01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8q1Z2SaDwh8GCFCIB1NR2P33qobAnaoYCzppk6N2D2hVt4yE_Ek_wVfwNKCXkx05FQUun9DLnx0w2DPisZ6WnJjS4IzaqDuHrBNv4Z9TUaiL0fUFA494j2iqEhSTAc99ESoJmpX_zUXw/s640/AustralianPiedOystercatcher_KilarneyBeach01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australian Pied Oystercatcher, Killarney Beach<br />Pentax K-1, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/500</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhihSuD6SHk5ti-Yb08y7Q-ld9ld6zxq4Mv2y4wuePvvhV0BBwog3sIkzFVOjKD1F9YCba0OCr8Lsc6CHmVjYXdNvmyZvx3owav3SYXErCcU1OGDn9W0f2DlkWMA6uawXVQkoIgJAATQvw/s1600/AustralianPiedOystercatcher_KilarneyBeach02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhihSuD6SHk5ti-Yb08y7Q-ld9ld6zxq4Mv2y4wuePvvhV0BBwog3sIkzFVOjKD1F9YCba0OCr8Lsc6CHmVjYXdNvmyZvx3owav3SYXErCcU1OGDn9W0f2DlkWMA6uawXVQkoIgJAATQvw/s640/AustralianPiedOystercatcher_KilarneyBeach02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australian Pied Oystercatcher, Killarney Beach<br />Pentax K-1, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/1250</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Lunchtime was beckoning so I grabbed take-away in Warrnambool and went to Thunder Point to eat and watch the avian passers-by. These two <b>Little Ravens</b> sat right next to the car allowing me this shot out of the window.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg3CJxcYYrinTw1Fu6_s1QBbxlu-6651pU1Rzyqg6PmfDGmkYxGL0DoAovQQaXNxXDGFRUz4ylJ0VmsT0SjHKQ05D00ZAEIPRXfKVNBxach_KaPb82UaYQYgjtGLpPbZo_qMEgitEoN3c/s1600/LittleRaven_Warrnambool01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg3CJxcYYrinTw1Fu6_s1QBbxlu-6651pU1Rzyqg6PmfDGmkYxGL0DoAovQQaXNxXDGFRUz4ylJ0VmsT0SjHKQ05D00ZAEIPRXfKVNBxach_KaPb82UaYQYgjtGLpPbZo_qMEgitEoN3c/s640/LittleRaven_Warrnambool01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Raven, Thunder Point, Warrnambool<br />Pentax K-1, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/11, 1/250</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The final stop before heading for home was a quick drop-in to Lake Purrumbete just outside of Camperdown. There was very little bird activity on the lake but this <b>Little Pied Cormorant</b> posed for a few shots on a fence post in the middle of a flooded paddock - again shot out of the car window.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Hpmr62DvimzA12M56-mXxUuC1-JrCkdC3UAkxxA-4m5iSLOtIrLH_BPzPkRSqcSpBl0S6yZfG3gdRprd2LmJO_IpI4GR-o0GUmayBnIa2pi5qAvvttKabujpBJP8foXPdAfN-bYsVbA/s1600/LittlePiedCormorant_LakePurrumbete01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Hpmr62DvimzA12M56-mXxUuC1-JrCkdC3UAkxxA-4m5iSLOtIrLH_BPzPkRSqcSpBl0S6yZfG3gdRprd2LmJO_IpI4GR-o0GUmayBnIa2pi5qAvvttKabujpBJP8foXPdAfN-bYsVbA/s640/LittlePiedCormorant_LakePurrumbete01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Pied Cormorant, near Lake Purrumbete<br />Pentax K-1, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/2500</td></tr>
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</div>
Ian Smissenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07795090037606105126noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551542359419385423.post-62044000890633343202016-10-15T20:02:00.000+11:002016-10-15T20:07:28.255+11:00Brisbane Ranges National Park<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It has been several months since I've been out birding so I was very pleased to join the Melbourne BirdLife Photography Group in an outing to Brisbane Ranges National Park today. The weather was fine and slightly overcast but the high winds made it challenging for bird photography as most of the bush birds had hunkered down to get out of the wind. A couple did show themselves for a few shots though.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjANMN69eFtisqCUUcAB3_Buhp6LtP7INI94y-QiCwsxbKnsQP3qcMKtIGIPn1iPk_EqZw4nmSwVd2bvaKjrCjaZ9eOvDBbk8qliQFGCoauLtopJA6v09vEszOzABMN9d1OI-SuThyphenhyphen-yVk/s1600/White-throatedTreecreeper_BRNP01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjANMN69eFtisqCUUcAB3_Buhp6LtP7INI94y-QiCwsxbKnsQP3qcMKtIGIPn1iPk_EqZw4nmSwVd2bvaKjrCjaZ9eOvDBbk8qliQFGCoauLtopJA6v09vEszOzABMN9d1OI-SuThyphenhyphen-yVk/s640/White-throatedTreecreeper_BRNP01.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-throated Treecreeper, Anakie Gorge, Brisbane Ranges NP<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/4, 1/200</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2XpZe96IZdXp7TIg_AKesJLkCQozK-86lhSO5TDSYho6XKeuhZSLabASBZt7nHnUjQZDhY6Z629OXQ7c7wu29SQqgJMotOH1BO-EYty2KzWsMSCSpgD9r9L_eR1hzyi5-2IG5ZUrrgHM/s1600/EasternSpinebill_Steiglitz01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2XpZe96IZdXp7TIg_AKesJLkCQozK-86lhSO5TDSYho6XKeuhZSLabASBZt7nHnUjQZDhY6Z629OXQ7c7wu29SQqgJMotOH1BO-EYty2KzWsMSCSpgD9r9L_eR1hzyi5-2IG5ZUrrgHM/s640/EasternSpinebill_Steiglitz01.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eastern Spinebill, Bert Boardman Recreation Reserve, Steiglitz<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/4.5, 1/500</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Ian Smissenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07795090037606105126noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551542359419385423.post-7932526173941716002016-05-01T18:32:00.000+10:002016-05-08T07:56:05.254+10:00A Wrybill or two (thousand)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
After yesterday morning photographing <a href="http://smissen.blogspot.com.au/2016/04/muriwai-gannet-colony-new-zealand.html">Gannets at the Muriwai Gannet Colony</a>, I spent this morning at the Miranda Shorebird Centre. Most of the Arctic migratory waders had gone but the real target species for the trip was to photograph <b>Wrybill</b> - small endemic New Zealand plovers with a uniquely sideways bending beak (allegedly always to the right). I had never managed to see these birds before so was looking forward to an encounter. I checked the tides and was happy to see that high tide was early afternoon, which would give me enough to time get to Miranda (about an hour's drive south of Auckland on the Thames estuary), visit the Miranda visitor centre and after the compulsory t-shirt purchase, check out the hides overlooking the tidal mudflats. So far, all was going to plan. What I did not check, though, was the tidal height. It was a neap tide (the lowest high tides in the tidal cycle) so even at its highest point, the water did not cover the mudflats in front of the hide so all the birds remained hundreds of metres away. However, you make the best of what you find so I settled in and scanned the mudflats to see if I could at least find a few Wrybill among the small wading birds pottering around the mudflats.<br />
<br />
As I was about to give up, a flock of waders wheeled over the distant sand bar towards the hide<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhONow4XPKqcYH85rP7I5jvPb61BQ-yN0l_4EblklmIhP33SN4JeTiChwn5UQUcz4eT9uEADkHiI_rdvFqnxdPCVNdYiNvzCwCo70On-Mosz-_9AweCBKPevgyeNCiblH7c3-HHH3vt_m8/s1600/Wrybill_Miranda02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhONow4XPKqcYH85rP7I5jvPb61BQ-yN0l_4EblklmIhP33SN4JeTiChwn5UQUcz4eT9uEADkHiI_rdvFqnxdPCVNdYiNvzCwCo70On-Mosz-_9AweCBKPevgyeNCiblH7c3-HHH3vt_m8/s640/Wrybill_Miranda02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wrybill, Miranda Shorebird Centre, New Zealand<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8, ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/1600</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyd6kGhg9DVi_jMtqV9ODO9_PS15PtqPkRy_c5rGARR39FMPw9pAfajLJfj7VtBvaMc0GQk66L0geuz5ynFVafCfwS09EB9F5UuEnFAHVv03a8FpsUt77vnm8wYsTmJEtqSuxbAk5DE8/s1600/Wrybill_Miranda03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyd6kGhg9DVi_jMtqV9ODO9_PS15PtqPkRy_c5rGARR39FMPw9pAfajLJfj7VtBvaMc0GQk66L0geuz5ynFVafCfwS09EB9F5UuEnFAHVv03a8FpsUt77vnm8wYsTmJEtqSuxbAk5DE8/s640/Wrybill_Miranda03.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wrybill, Miranda Shorebird Centre, New Zealand<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8, ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/1600</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
and settled along the small channel in the centre of the mudflats, about 250 metres away.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZ-Gz3dgFc-zNEwwgt3FXiQ7rM9xR9ZpoRgNbBSUFjrKXzP8G6sdIzTSN1joIyv4e4iMD04BSKI3vSfJ7zi6DljmDW78EKPL_Sqx3zhWtCc8QOSXzUofT5Wa2u9qc6NWDzazz3p1wR8Q/s1600/Wrybill_Miranda01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZ-Gz3dgFc-zNEwwgt3FXiQ7rM9xR9ZpoRgNbBSUFjrKXzP8G6sdIzTSN1joIyv4e4iMD04BSKI3vSfJ7zi6DljmDW78EKPL_Sqx3zhWtCc8QOSXzUofT5Wa2u9qc6NWDzazz3p1wR8Q/s640/Wrybill_Miranda01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wrybill, Miranda Shorebird Centre, New Zealand<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8, ISO 800, f/4, 1/2500</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Closer inspection confirmed them to be Wrybill - it is just possible to see the characteristic black 'necklace' on some birds and, if you use your imagination, a few appear to have curved bills. So, mission accomplished, I have now seen and photographed this species, albeit at a distance. The flock apparently numbers about 2600 birds - I didn't count them myself, but feel free to have a try in the photograph below :-)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8b-VNpaE5S3n3iT6TtNQtfq6dMz9rmyb9z4-DMTHWiI9z3u0ZI2l9DfGbQ5mNXfXpeVluX-Z5bwWiDWxhI4Kv1MoZxN6Qj54FXK5kHAUhqbaej3XDs58SC7Ss0xD2wxd612IS1Olw88o/s1600/MirandaPano01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8b-VNpaE5S3n3iT6TtNQtfq6dMz9rmyb9z4-DMTHWiI9z3u0ZI2l9DfGbQ5mNXfXpeVluX-Z5bwWiDWxhI4Kv1MoZxN6Qj54FXK5kHAUhqbaej3XDs58SC7Ss0xD2wxd612IS1Olw88o/s640/MirandaPano01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wrybill, Miranda Shorebird Centre, New Zealand<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8, ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/6400 (stitched panorama)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
There were also lots of birds flying past and overhead but the only half decent shot I got was this pair of <b>Pied Stilts</b> aka (in Australia) as <b>Black-winged Stilt</b>,<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkKOYFmdIuZnrwI_5Z-JpJEvgdqV55m6WUqtXMUZ-BlRjLpO5PJALnEqWQwAktHOLAxHzbNkT4MXrokXgCE-q9AHpZ9bDkzcB_YasweRmzeGeAx8dgO7ojCoWU2ZM784rzqig3v-xhiKo/s1600/PiedStilt_Miranda01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkKOYFmdIuZnrwI_5Z-JpJEvgdqV55m6WUqtXMUZ-BlRjLpO5PJALnEqWQwAktHOLAxHzbNkT4MXrokXgCE-q9AHpZ9bDkzcB_YasweRmzeGeAx8dgO7ojCoWU2ZM784rzqig3v-xhiKo/s640/PiedStilt_Miranda01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pied Stilt (Black-winged Stilt), Miranda Shorebird Centre, New Zealand<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (+ 1.4x adaptor), ISO 800, f/8 1/1000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
which could also be seen more closely, feeding in the ponds alongside the road (this one was photographed through a fence from the car window).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJwhyphenhypheniqaQJ2EeM-DPf1Z_NE3XOAv9TfRpsiBstAXxKLUgc1eZrDjTCvSexSw98vhtNH63_lad3tv0gWwBvmYSASYFrD0NQ6F1kwf30RBsAVfEamkgjMOCvmxfJoqcDwj1X7mcQr5yOqmw/s1600/PiedStilt_Miranda02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJwhyphenhypheniqaQJ2EeM-DPf1Z_NE3XOAv9TfRpsiBstAXxKLUgc1eZrDjTCvSexSw98vhtNH63_lad3tv0gWwBvmYSASYFrD0NQ6F1kwf30RBsAVfEamkgjMOCvmxfJoqcDwj1X7mcQr5yOqmw/s640/PiedStilt_Miranda02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pied Stilt (Black-winged Stilt), Miranda Shorebird Centre, New Zealand<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (+ 1.4x adaptor), ISO 800, f/8 1/1600</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Now, to plan a trip back to Auckland in summer and at a good high tide...</div>
Ian Smissenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07795090037606105126noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551542359419385423.post-55319496951818906352016-04-30T18:39:00.000+10:002016-05-05T18:37:00.750+10:00Muriwai Gannet Colony (New Zealand)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I was working in Auckland yesterday so decided to stay for the weekend and visit the Muriwai Gannet Colony and Miranda Shorebird Centre, both less than an hour's drive from central Auckland.<br />
<br />
Muriwai is one of the black sand beaches on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand (see <a href="https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Muriwai+Beach/@-36.8544715,174.4659546,11z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x6d0d72b239b052ad:0x998dadf3161131b8" target="_blank">map</a>).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-Ielet5VCmuWVS8qbaT2kR7VAABbGTag2BD0y9Uh7LQIFRKGJnRin4lRGhiYA7CX3ab6HGnWxw_4LlWeDAKgGEdDskd5yjD55nTJugvsY0vvI0zvhhGE4c2EG4ndwyKiHb6w3j1tdwI/s1600/MuriwaiGannetColoby01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-Ielet5VCmuWVS8qbaT2kR7VAABbGTag2BD0y9Uh7LQIFRKGJnRin4lRGhiYA7CX3ab6HGnWxw_4LlWeDAKgGEdDskd5yjD55nTJugvsY0vvI0zvhhGE4c2EG4ndwyKiHb6w3j1tdwI/s640/MuriwaiGannetColoby01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Muriwai Beach, North Island New Zealand<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 @ 16mm, ISO 400, f/8, 1/125</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It is the home of a large colony of <b>Australasian Gannets, </b>only a few hundred metres easy walk from the car park at the beach. About 1200 pairs of gannets breed here over summer but by this time of the year there are very few birds resident in the colony.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFXhzveeqTIKySb2ZzmHeW6HptNkiNJwtPj3RFdMBXDUJKYqClLo8L166rrSakfum1j3GtruAIEeCDHz7sFNe_pUgKyyelCTwDAHE0r8tvulG-58CZUghmJAz-7c0Yffbz24XF4Tb8v8/s1600/MuriwaiGannetColony03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFXhzveeqTIKySb2ZzmHeW6HptNkiNJwtPj3RFdMBXDUJKYqClLo8L166rrSakfum1j3GtruAIEeCDHz7sFNe_pUgKyyelCTwDAHE0r8tvulG-58CZUghmJAz-7c0Yffbz24XF4Tb8v8/s640/MuriwaiGannetColony03.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Muriwai Gannet Colony, North Island New Zealand<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 @ 10mm, ISO 800, f/8, 1/1000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivxvmOdsz_S478NkULEbON0ooMuNeH7kjASAGcwJ-Q0nBUIF1EkPMrq9LAec3cgRAv0jMJA6LZw1hoBtkvtaunOvlvjAgKnvJwsBpXDTnpb14iKILBcrTW6P9IP1buL3cvjoeme2GfinY/s1600/MuriwaiGannetColony02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivxvmOdsz_S478NkULEbON0ooMuNeH7kjASAGcwJ-Q0nBUIF1EkPMrq9LAec3cgRAv0jMJA6LZw1hoBtkvtaunOvlvjAgKnvJwsBpXDTnpb14iKILBcrTW6P9IP1buL3cvjoeme2GfinY/s640/MuriwaiGannetColony02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Muriwai Gannet Colony, North Island New Zealand<br />
Pentax K-3, Pentax 16-50mm f/2.8 @ 28mm, ISO 400, f/8, 1/250</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
However, there were still a few remaining, some with juveniles still yet to fledge (and, unfortunately, a few recently dead juveniles)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgok_xMS0UykZ1FPY9IWCy04aMrJl4I6qGbJSIcTU53sfvonuyACwpxxsyubW0RaFksOSSOktcqelaEhz_b8vXUPUx28JP5VaMEjQQDWePn-36OGjoRIp3GcyycYQnk1puq0We-cW76-rk/s1600/AustralasianGannet_Muriwai03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgok_xMS0UykZ1FPY9IWCy04aMrJl4I6qGbJSIcTU53sfvonuyACwpxxsyubW0RaFksOSSOktcqelaEhz_b8vXUPUx28JP5VaMEjQQDWePn-36OGjoRIp3GcyycYQnk1puq0We-cW76-rk/s640/AustralasianGannet_Muriwai03.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australasian Gannet, Muriwai Gannet Colony, New Zealand<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (+1.4x adaptor), ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/800</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW59lyDxYUfSfofaxQ5v4MT0M_-1F8HNXvtpu8l-hoMtOTqPBMmS7p_p03_yx1fNxHmMXx4sELI9F9JY9k-slfQjArh73dgAhNd1d5ktRfCTUZiO-qfjUntdIujpdkGK8pcLqLOTAjSmM/s1600/AustralasianGannet_Muriwai08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW59lyDxYUfSfofaxQ5v4MT0M_-1F8HNXvtpu8l-hoMtOTqPBMmS7p_p03_yx1fNxHmMXx4sELI9F9JY9k-slfQjArh73dgAhNd1d5ktRfCTUZiO-qfjUntdIujpdkGK8pcLqLOTAjSmM/s640/AustralasianGannet_Muriwai08.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australasian Gannet, Muriwai Gannet Colony, New Zealand<br />
Pentax K-3, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200mm, ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/2000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
and enough adults flying around to provide some in flight targets<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC3tuQQeIAI3VhycokFgHPOp6rQp-VKStQ9N3rULJQraDdcM4XIJAN-E4L8t7ndA1nF3fhgVLU1QRQwOV1_uQALGLeSGO4mq1gkhUruzIRif0xWt5QGC3fqyEw3EfPBxN-NQWNzoZ6Sqc/s1600/AustralasianGannet_Muriwai01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC3tuQQeIAI3VhycokFgHPOp6rQp-VKStQ9N3rULJQraDdcM4XIJAN-E4L8t7ndA1nF3fhgVLU1QRQwOV1_uQALGLeSGO4mq1gkhUruzIRif0xWt5QGC3fqyEw3EfPBxN-NQWNzoZ6Sqc/s640/AustralasianGannet_Muriwai01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australasian Gannet, Muriwai Gannet Colony, New Zealand<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (+1.4x adaptor), ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/1000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQw6wYiyDqCJxXgU7YVUj7jshArEjf1SZmRV8aCxUsz39sxIVFUrRmvSfYKg-c62xr9WjdcFcZHr90wpEDsS7N6HfRkdLfkFi_qrw60IsmfJKdovgjilXJYG5OLcuB5MOW0gt-kGnDII/s1600/AustralasianGannet_Muriwai02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQw6wYiyDqCJxXgU7YVUj7jshArEjf1SZmRV8aCxUsz39sxIVFUrRmvSfYKg-c62xr9WjdcFcZHr90wpEDsS7N6HfRkdLfkFi_qrw60IsmfJKdovgjilXJYG5OLcuB5MOW0gt-kGnDII/s640/AustralasianGannet_Muriwai02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australasian Gannet, Muriwai Gannet Colony, New Zealand<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (+1.4x adaptor), ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/640</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4lVgINMl_q_dgAXMFIDA139x3icY-1GD2FieKXlDaKwIhUXbuhWG4IAsm_ZauOHjvjbM6K9HZG7cVOuY9-0dyMOXt4cfHMPZIz6rSUJ6MeVeYikH2uy4MRQlicG7qQozSPFeTn125RK0/s1600/AustralasianGannet_Muriwai04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4lVgINMl_q_dgAXMFIDA139x3icY-1GD2FieKXlDaKwIhUXbuhWG4IAsm_ZauOHjvjbM6K9HZG7cVOuY9-0dyMOXt4cfHMPZIz6rSUJ6MeVeYikH2uy4MRQlicG7qQozSPFeTn125RK0/s640/AustralasianGannet_Muriwai04.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australasian Gannet, Muriwai Gannet Colony, New Zealand<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (+1.4x adaptor), ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/1250</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6k2WG8xZwFt5ziIXu0BAB0v_oTHFeP15_JSeBtcalts8Oie8pulRMutA8c_bRid9W0mN0AKRWX9JIpIeDS8om4YL3NQcQ3pAMos1zdeobfWlyXxygzzOpEF08a34T-_zSaaegNiw2yGs/s1600/AustralasianGannet_Muriwai05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6k2WG8xZwFt5ziIXu0BAB0v_oTHFeP15_JSeBtcalts8Oie8pulRMutA8c_bRid9W0mN0AKRWX9JIpIeDS8om4YL3NQcQ3pAMos1zdeobfWlyXxygzzOpEF08a34T-_zSaaegNiw2yGs/s640/AustralasianGannet_Muriwai05.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australasian Gannet, Muriwai Gannet Colony, New Zealand<br />
Pentax K-3, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @130mm, ISO 400, f/4, 1/2000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
as well as some shenanigans on the ground.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIcdUEb8whUYRt6sluaMebr1Zu5QhzF_VW5Mki0n88NE6hNFF5Z51CO9nGFHj1Isi18hSdm0Y7P4Imw7s0mNHwNje8MDtO4XwCRro0cKNPmwUpVfWZs_kkwdmWmOpY3nwHq2MB7_QNrjw/s1600/AustralasianGannet_Muriwai06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIcdUEb8whUYRt6sluaMebr1Zu5QhzF_VW5Mki0n88NE6hNFF5Z51CO9nGFHj1Isi18hSdm0Y7P4Imw7s0mNHwNje8MDtO4XwCRro0cKNPmwUpVfWZs_kkwdmWmOpY3nwHq2MB7_QNrjw/s640/AustralasianGannet_Muriwai06.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australasian Gannet, Muriwai Gannet Colony, New Zealand<br />
Pentax K-3, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200mm, ISO 400, f/4, 1/2000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I found one 'outsider' among the roosting gannets.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlKLShd8DWQlsTjS8jQ3rTxoBAhxrJA0cNplj4xU1msE-h9ulzdKzQwkNeRtV3caFu_fl2R8DG7jlP568Xo43L5qxCVti9lux3lYTZ6MzG6IH2NSSYSdsUASmEo2prTLmldUNfH4Np_k/s1600/AustralasianGannet_Muriwai07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlKLShd8DWQlsTjS8jQ3rTxoBAhxrJA0cNplj4xU1msE-h9ulzdKzQwkNeRtV3caFu_fl2R8DG7jlP568Xo43L5qxCVti9lux3lYTZ6MzG6IH2NSSYSdsUASmEo2prTLmldUNfH4Np_k/s640/AustralasianGannet_Muriwai07.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown Booby (immature) + Australasian Gannets, Muriwai Gannet Colony, New Zealand<br />
Pentax K-3, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @200mm, ISO 400, f/4, 1/1600</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgoBC_Ex4vih4gwrvJINgcFXNqvVgkqhyDcCkKkQ9cbQjEXx91x0CfnTGuBJQMv85vGxgoxQpDZ78pQKzQI2LkotlaK1yL7Tg5phae8sRGhQwZhR3l1ucAYph8nXyMKDefQWMmBib4No/s1600/BrownBooby_Muriwai02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgoBC_Ex4vih4gwrvJINgcFXNqvVgkqhyDcCkKkQ9cbQjEXx91x0CfnTGuBJQMv85vGxgoxQpDZ78pQKzQI2LkotlaK1yL7Tg5phae8sRGhQwZhR3l1ucAYph8nXyMKDefQWMmBib4No/s640/BrownBooby_Muriwai02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown Booby (immature), Muriwai Gannet Colony, New Zealand<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (+1.4x adaptor), ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/500</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
and I managed to get one half decent shot of it as it flew away (unfortunately I had the 70-200mm zoom attached to the camera and no time to swap over to a longer lens).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihVqht5cJPoo7OgH3QHp5AA9vvgnoRHXwvl3mYMz7JieaJRYP0xV4tOS0bZg4vnQQKV1FvxiWn3ORu7u1aSRifljze5jEjcXJfR5mrvTvs4WIpYDfPvEwid99CNBAjvnLrc1KaH72DnuY/s1600/BrownBooby_Muriwai03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihVqht5cJPoo7OgH3QHp5AA9vvgnoRHXwvl3mYMz7JieaJRYP0xV4tOS0bZg4vnQQKV1FvxiWn3ORu7u1aSRifljze5jEjcXJfR5mrvTvs4WIpYDfPvEwid99CNBAjvnLrc1KaH72DnuY/s640/BrownBooby_Muriwai03.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown Booby (immature), Muriwai Gannet Colony, New Zealand<br />
Pentax K-3, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @200mm, ISO 400, f/4, 1/2500</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
still to come...the search for Waybill at the <a href="http://smissen.blogspot.com.au/2016/05/a-wrybill-or-two-thousand.html">Miranda Shorebird Centre</a>.<br />
<br /></div>
Ian Smissenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07795090037606105126noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551542359419385423.post-91192181720425918122016-04-16T19:00:00.000+10:002016-04-18T18:54:50.588+10:00Indented Head Fly-by<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I spent today with the Melbourne Birdlife Photography Group, checking out some of my favourite sites around the Bellarine Peninsula. Unfortunately, the weather was dismal - grey clouds and drizzly rain - for most of the day but we managed to get a few shots of birds in flight at the last stop for the day at the Indented Head boat ramp. Indented Head juts out into Port Phillip Bay, intersecting a well used seabird flight path, so it's a great place in the late afternoon when birds are heading back to roosting sites for the night. With heavy cloud cover, the light was not great so it was a constant balancing act of trying to get the best ISO and aperture to maintain at least a reasonable shutter speed but a few cormorants and gulls provided some entertainment.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The lights and railings on the jetty provide roosting spots for the gulls<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPOwPiVIggmRCn-DJ_Uz3MciPz1uwbItA9rRp7wU5A8xcj3SMuV3vMjEdNYkMol75TymreUa0lFpBjSfnaytOKNLw7tbCLT3z9Jz0EXSOxYd2w1RfwfUpcuhnGq-Y-I_XUa_7wnFDcsdQ/s1600/PacificGull_IndentedHead01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPOwPiVIggmRCn-DJ_Uz3MciPz1uwbItA9rRp7wU5A8xcj3SMuV3vMjEdNYkMol75TymreUa0lFpBjSfnaytOKNLw7tbCLT3z9Jz0EXSOxYd2w1RfwfUpcuhnGq-Y-I_XUa_7wnFDcsdQ/s640/PacificGull_IndentedHead01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Pacific Gull, Indented Head<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 extender), ISO 400, f/4, 1/4000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBlDt2XzXasYczHQFwDiQq89KvAtkrgP6GDTaN-R1fB5yyjTSg_p1MBjpST7WAiDZjG68V2FKoGRqDdoWdWS92jvbTsAZvFkmouD_WVWZXMPMqJgb3wemHTOvI6hBsVjxct-FZtKnwsw/s1600/SIlverGull_IndentedHead02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBlDt2XzXasYczHQFwDiQq89KvAtkrgP6GDTaN-R1fB5yyjTSg_p1MBjpST7WAiDZjG68V2FKoGRqDdoWdWS92jvbTsAZvFkmouD_WVWZXMPMqJgb3wemHTOvI6hBsVjxct-FZtKnwsw/s640/SIlverGull_IndentedHead02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Silver Gull (immature), Indented Head<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 extender), ISO 400, f/4, 1/3200<br />
<div>
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</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
while they wait for the returning fisherman to throw them some scraps.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI8gMIx_U5KUrff6-TeApBnkjCvKadoy5do3y2vusvoITNZHkQHwOo3aRX-wWxiJtCA9h3OZDQTr3gWODOQwWhdwNGtzZNRcIH_FbKJhYRqBqxRGKtvBR_dmRsozMw7PC2OeAcJvMBjws/s1600/PacificGull_IndentedHead02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI8gMIx_U5KUrff6-TeApBnkjCvKadoy5do3y2vusvoITNZHkQHwOo3aRX-wWxiJtCA9h3OZDQTr3gWODOQwWhdwNGtzZNRcIH_FbKJhYRqBqxRGKtvBR_dmRsozMw7PC2OeAcJvMBjws/s640/PacificGull_IndentedHead02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Pacific Gull, Indented Head<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 extender), ISO 400, f/4, 1/2000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8NT65qMYDljlWuigc0GP05LueZmfRPypuPkmjayovHJPL64IGxX7wgugO4PyR5Fd-A2JhCpgK688SFWcbHwbe_E5QwL_k342psfDFCzKihRmclJa05KjRuZX1OvuyrIR5OGVLDvQ91U/s1600/PacificGull_IndentedHead03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8NT65qMYDljlWuigc0GP05LueZmfRPypuPkmjayovHJPL64IGxX7wgugO4PyR5Fd-A2JhCpgK688SFWcbHwbe_E5QwL_k342psfDFCzKihRmclJa05KjRuZX1OvuyrIR5OGVLDvQ91U/s640/PacificGull_IndentedHead03.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Pacific Gull, Indented Head<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 extender), ISO 400, f/4, 1/1600</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBBn077Y6DI-M1cep_LkPJjQp9zU4GGXnQdKYL7oWJm20qI6bbtaiUK_aU_03z34eDfoblu8sfwEvU4ZUdIKC_0Wrjl9iNpvr7AR_OoXHBwvIIKKMZ19ax93_hoR6fVOG3btAtHGafOM/s1600/SilverGull_IndentedHead01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBBn077Y6DI-M1cep_LkPJjQp9zU4GGXnQdKYL7oWJm20qI6bbtaiUK_aU_03z34eDfoblu8sfwEvU4ZUdIKC_0Wrjl9iNpvr7AR_OoXHBwvIIKKMZ19ax93_hoR6fVOG3btAtHGafOM/s640/SilverGull_IndentedHead01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Silver Gull (immature), Indented Head<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 extender), ISO 400, f/4, 1/6400</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnMwYX2nuVka2zhOAPNDHcCuEE-bm3l9yenmF9OQS15B3VEYaDBzU0IZ5_yLDJPLsAy_bv3DOGF4psKtulldrSU-s166oBHBAe-Ss_22WNuA9Wm097o3LVYaKZuFwd4hXff2NxQaA-cxc/s1600/LittlePiedCormorant_IndentedHead02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnMwYX2nuVka2zhOAPNDHcCuEE-bm3l9yenmF9OQS15B3VEYaDBzU0IZ5_yLDJPLsAy_bv3DOGF4psKtulldrSU-s166oBHBAe-Ss_22WNuA9Wm097o3LVYaKZuFwd4hXff2NxQaA-cxc/s640/LittlePiedCormorant_IndentedHead02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Pied Cormorant, Indented Head<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 extender), ISO 640, f/4.5, 1/1000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Nlz-OmwBzc6sExaaGQHdii1CEX-PwMXdV7u0FMMps6UMRj81hqCqX4wYnCdHoNs7zfT3WOvddnc5y-RKtVBrG3_1dZMy7p2iudTbFfgRl8Q4YdM1d0XU1iGWRbqOdPIhL4Tm68vP97k/s1600/PiedCormorant_indentedHead01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Nlz-OmwBzc6sExaaGQHdii1CEX-PwMXdV7u0FMMps6UMRj81hqCqX4wYnCdHoNs7zfT3WOvddnc5y-RKtVBrG3_1dZMy7p2iudTbFfgRl8Q4YdM1d0XU1iGWRbqOdPIhL4Tm68vP97k/s640/PiedCormorant_indentedHead01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pied Cormorant, Indented Head<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 extender), ISO 640, f/4.5, 1/2000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Ian Smissenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07795090037606105126noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551542359419385423.post-44343629025256891752016-03-19T21:47:00.000+11:002016-05-04T23:04:10.519+10:00Bunyip State Park + Warburton<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It has been way too long since I have been out birding so, despite the weather forecast, I was glad to get out into Bunyip State Park today with the Melbourne Birdlife Photography group.<br />
<br />
We spent the morning at Dyer's Picnic Ground on the delightfully named Black Snake Creek Road. Unfortunately, the weather prediction was pretty much spot on: heavily overcast with frequent showers. This made the light very poor and there were not many birds around but when life gives you lemons, make lemonade...so I took the opportunity to practice using fill flash with the Better Beamer. This requires a balancing act of finding the right ISO and aperture settings to get the background exposure with enough light so you don't get a bird on black background and dropping the flash power sufficiently to not over expose the bird or make the flash look too obvious. The two shots below are the best I came up with during the morning but I didn't quite get the balance right - there's still too much flash. This is most noticeable in the eyes - ideally you need to get the flash off camera as much as possible but I don't have a flash bracket so there's a little work needed in Lightroom to remove the eyeshine. Also, the shadows in the background are too obvious - this mostly due to the background being too close to the subject. Ideally, it is good practice to watch your background and move around o get the best possible background but there's not much you can do with small birds in low vegetation and you only have a few seconds to get the shot.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZGUeqeibfYdB_CY43qwNeq4pukUBLotNB21yJTP7SXW2n8FFC3bArBfQD0HGYekHSJQOIk1Qy9uwIEDreZwAvbNXuFAW6JZLFPlVKRJTlpeBxBxwZAZIw2nL_wCrABm9ktcEsVTGBvQ/s1600/BrownThornbill_Bunyip01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZGUeqeibfYdB_CY43qwNeq4pukUBLotNB21yJTP7SXW2n8FFC3bArBfQD0HGYekHSJQOIk1Qy9uwIEDreZwAvbNXuFAW6JZLFPlVKRJTlpeBxBxwZAZIw2nL_wCrABm9ktcEsVTGBvQ/s640/BrownThornbill_Bunyip01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown Thornbill, Dyer's Picnic Ground, Bunyip State Park<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 + 1.4x adapter, ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/180 (+fill flash)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-JmW7-kTr2zt30NJr9hkdhvK_J-x4G2_U0B81f3dy_306la8GCM1KQQQuG61nPcM_sajdTer24YHxxdjYyUi5IMWTjNKtcQwe_DilBwpQmO6JLCCCLOPmDhRNYZX6PQ39iQl3wiYMQo/s1600/GreyFantail_Bunyip01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-JmW7-kTr2zt30NJr9hkdhvK_J-x4G2_U0B81f3dy_306la8GCM1KQQQuG61nPcM_sajdTer24YHxxdjYyUi5IMWTjNKtcQwe_DilBwpQmO6JLCCCLOPmDhRNYZX6PQ39iQl3wiYMQo/s640/GreyFantail_Bunyip01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey Fantail, Dyer's Picnic Ground, Bunyip State Park<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 + 1.4x adapter, ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/180 (+fill flash)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The afternoon stops did not yield much worth photographing so I took a drive through the park through to Powelltown, where I planned to take at least a short walk along the Powelltown Rail Trail but, as I arrived, it started to rain heavily so I continued the scenic drive through some back tracks to Warburton, where I managed to find a pair of Australian Wood Ducks roosting on a tree in the Yarra River.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4hb40HBSxbgREo_DU9LiPjBOAPDFhyOt5QVpI16y_72uNEIoxm_ttlDOo9Oy_HHmHbRytVYJ7Mul7d2L6v5J_VWUJBl9tILTLePvcKJk0W3vmxXqo-fIvz8LM1vuT9Fv_Qs2G86hmq2A/s1600/AustralianWoodDuck_Warburton01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4hb40HBSxbgREo_DU9LiPjBOAPDFhyOt5QVpI16y_72uNEIoxm_ttlDOo9Oy_HHmHbRytVYJ7Mul7d2L6v5J_VWUJBl9tILTLePvcKJk0W3vmxXqo-fIvz8LM1vuT9Fv_Qs2G86hmq2A/s640/AustralianWoodDuck_Warburton01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australian Wood Duck (male), Yarra River, Warburton<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 + 1.4x adapter, ISO 800, f/9, 1/180 (+fill flash)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Upga6liCHTNm4MfEyu7dcSHhnXjNvgdj41xldXPLU0oSnDOR1dvyae5l8gmQGdzBYXofFlhkgsoOFlJpmJr1sckDSFwrPC7sJ83kAFgPg7SJy88VRm96pcWhyphenhyphen2KPePFpNPvi7UAdPLU/s1600/AustralianWoodDuck_Warburton02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Upga6liCHTNm4MfEyu7dcSHhnXjNvgdj41xldXPLU0oSnDOR1dvyae5l8gmQGdzBYXofFlhkgsoOFlJpmJr1sckDSFwrPC7sJ83kAFgPg7SJy88VRm96pcWhyphenhyphen2KPePFpNPvi7UAdPLU/s640/AustralianWoodDuck_Warburton02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australian Wood Duck (female), Yarra River, Warburton<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 + 1.4x adapter, ISO 800, f/9, 1/180 (+fill flash)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The combination of larger birds and greater separation from the background made these shots more successful with the fill flash.</div>
Ian Smissenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07795090037606105126noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551542359419385423.post-43626827310048638642015-11-03T22:00:00.000+11:002015-11-04T01:34:38.817+11:00Balyang Sanctuary and the Barwon River<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
With a public holiday today and reasonable weather, I was looking for somewhere local to go birding. There were a few too many people and dogs frequenting the beaches around home to make it worth looking for wading birds so I headed into Geelong to check out the birds at Balyang Sanctuary and the adjoining Barwon River. Balyang Sanctuary was the focus of <a href="http://smissen.blogspot.com.au/2010/08/balyang-sanctuary-geelong.html">one of my earliest posts</a> in this blog but I have not been there with the camera for several years and there are usually cormorants and darters breeding on the river so I was looking forward to seeing what I could find.<br />
<br />
As I was preparing the camera and tripod, an <b>Australasian Darter</b> took off from a branch on the other side of the lake and I managed to get one shot off hand-held with whatever settings I had on the camera at the time. Fortunately, I had the ISO up and aperture large enough to get a reasonably fast shutter speed (1/640) on Aperture Priority, though nowhere near fast enough to freeze the wings - I only really got them like this because they were at the top of the wing beat so not moving very fast. I was on single shot auto focus so I couldn't manage to get any more shots.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-XDl4TkEzcKBx2j4epqQ7aTFBxHlTSSUeUPnU6Co9168UkYkX9Wlq_PhUY0RQJKmtcNcV7Angxna6tixTKExggeGNIJPR7oap5GvKwlPwTGP0bb8YlhODzWJ4MoyaFMn4X4Z9hymTaE/s1600/AustralasianDarter_Balyang01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-XDl4TkEzcKBx2j4epqQ7aTFBxHlTSSUeUPnU6Co9168UkYkX9Wlq_PhUY0RQJKmtcNcV7Angxna6tixTKExggeGNIJPR7oap5GvKwlPwTGP0bb8YlhODzWJ4MoyaFMn4X4Z9hymTaE/s640/AustralasianDarter_Balyang01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australasian Darter, Balyang Sanctuary, Geelong<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/640</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
There were several species of ducks on the lake, including a pair of <b>Chestnut Teals</b> that cooperated long enough for me to get a shot of each.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4IEbsCespDBwQN-NlQVJFFnIkcK7fNqgoIOWCcHDqldKuhqVHmJjtc1c9bE_ogNiPJiIoUwjwi3RCgZgLiJ8jz0_Uqd_ekVC4fxpVPW48vT7vV67GLysUuXx_K6hdcSV-IfNoeAQeUwY/s1600/ChestnutTeal_Balyang02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4IEbsCespDBwQN-NlQVJFFnIkcK7fNqgoIOWCcHDqldKuhqVHmJjtc1c9bE_ogNiPJiIoUwjwi3RCgZgLiJ8jz0_Uqd_ekVC4fxpVPW48vT7vV67GLysUuXx_K6hdcSV-IfNoeAQeUwY/s640/ChestnutTeal_Balyang02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chestnut Teal (male), Balyang Sanctuary, Geelong<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/320</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMdBF0CQYceB91U1EjGbVzY1d2-PxhESx-qy6-pA0JRg6NfV_mzuylJoV3sbO3CWql5D4SRlVjybCZE7sKj7ORANTFUYf77uA5eHVDFQgh3pCVkiwcuTiHfsWiVgQRJyktv0jDvYhpkR0/s1600/ChestnutTeal_Balyang03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMdBF0CQYceB91U1EjGbVzY1d2-PxhESx-qy6-pA0JRg6NfV_mzuylJoV3sbO3CWql5D4SRlVjybCZE7sKj7ORANTFUYf77uA5eHVDFQgh3pCVkiwcuTiHfsWiVgQRJyktv0jDvYhpkR0/s640/ChestnutTeal_Balyang03.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chestnut Teal (female), Balyang Sanctuary, Geelong<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/400</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
However the most interesting birds on the edge of the lake were <b>Red Junglefowl</b> (Domestic Chicken), with this rooster foraging along the bank. There are frequently domestic ducks and geese around this lake but I've never seen chickens before and this male is pretty close to wild-type.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbUjcJco_Q1R-_XzTyovhDfURp2tz6_Z2n9WqacFtxhndJt4rxrGERTJIF0DujWF5s4fN0g0H5UUfI-0us7R3nsyzrawMOTk7n5MJYu6HHsM1XorhHVZezCoK40kiiBb9bmYvaHFtr_4/s1600/RedJunglefowl_Balyang02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbUjcJco_Q1R-_XzTyovhDfURp2tz6_Z2n9WqacFtxhndJt4rxrGERTJIF0DujWF5s4fN0g0H5UUfI-0us7R3nsyzrawMOTk7n5MJYu6HHsM1XorhHVZezCoK40kiiBb9bmYvaHFtr_4/s640/RedJunglefowl_Balyang02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Junglefowl (Domestic Chicken), Balyang Sanctuary, Geelong<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/1600</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The duck boxes that have been constructed in various locations on the lake also make great landing platforms for other birds to shake themselves dry after a bath.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzq2iJa68wOkqmwWSd_Zdsb5r5pdlxy-NkMreTrSwgn15uC2OJ1iUvz7tq9HSYEo26k9ai-fmKqofWtjpayb0FODDW7vnizDa731NsnVLL1jb-fwnCwYN-pwIw9pFYRZY7UIftYnUyws/s1600/White-facedHeron_Balyang02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzq2iJa68wOkqmwWSd_Zdsb5r5pdlxy-NkMreTrSwgn15uC2OJ1iUvz7tq9HSYEo26k9ai-fmKqofWtjpayb0FODDW7vnizDa731NsnVLL1jb-fwnCwYN-pwIw9pFYRZY7UIftYnUyws/s640/White-facedHeron_Balyang02.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-faced Heron, Balyang Sanctuary, Geelong<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/4, 1/1600</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
In addition to the lake, the sanctuary also has an area of open woodland and several species of birds utilise the holes in old River Red Gums for nesting.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6pNKpRQU2eS_Fdj2E0nwto9RNBRg56TPHMJhcatG0qkFHy6TNPJTy0nn0NNuW1YpToxmqRDM9OXq2IEV994UkPoCWxYkbqsfQE2ZVfzy15lDsaLQdHHT4qrype2TaEWKpsAcy8KFxut0/s1600/Sulphur-crestedCockatoo_Balyang03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6pNKpRQU2eS_Fdj2E0nwto9RNBRg56TPHMJhcatG0qkFHy6TNPJTy0nn0NNuW1YpToxmqRDM9OXq2IEV994UkPoCWxYkbqsfQE2ZVfzy15lDsaLQdHHT4qrype2TaEWKpsAcy8KFxut0/s640/Sulphur-crestedCockatoo_Balyang03.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Balyang Sanctuary, Geelong<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/11, 1/400</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCg1PgDoAAhpqyufQH-4kodltomVyqazdlf_ZdcF49A3-IQEi05i9zCDGf-94DtP9nmuVduyemRMHzJyda8RfRn7XuXrHXbSg0Jc4jIm1VNNxKVhkwCbN11BEHA7CpcwZIQO7UF7LBj5s/s1600/Sulphur-crestedCockatoo_Balyang04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCg1PgDoAAhpqyufQH-4kodltomVyqazdlf_ZdcF49A3-IQEi05i9zCDGf-94DtP9nmuVduyemRMHzJyda8RfRn7XuXrHXbSg0Jc4jIm1VNNxKVhkwCbN11BEHA7CpcwZIQO7UF7LBj5s/s640/Sulphur-crestedCockatoo_Balyang04.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Balyang Sanctuary, Geelong<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/11, 1/125</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0p8edDhVmqOppji29CKhFIqUUytn0EWCuRBDJGGQuHpHYRW-GMsjGNJMjH6MyuHdLFSzV7QhVHrhaiPNFp5cLiwv1FnEetztrpDCW-C8JK1asIE8_SEoaLP6XUiDIt4tR0hEGEzEG_fg/s1600/RainbowLorikeet_Balyang01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0p8edDhVmqOppji29CKhFIqUUytn0EWCuRBDJGGQuHpHYRW-GMsjGNJMjH6MyuHdLFSzV7QhVHrhaiPNFp5cLiwv1FnEetztrpDCW-C8JK1asIE8_SEoaLP6XUiDIt4tR0hEGEzEG_fg/s640/RainbowLorikeet_Balyang01.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rainbow Lorikeet, Balyang Sanctuary, Geelong<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/11, 1/125</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
But not all the parrot action was in the nest holes...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD-f6GJg33GDRM-xeXm2c89QJTReLWO_0vrDPQP0zUvqUjstro4pD4cp7STfwy6QSNGcYiD8sEUSDWZsOo7NemngvmnfqcHByXzekBWOBBVonEg5PGlKSbeD6fxNqMY5PbxrFqEL1wQVE/s1600/Sulphur-crestedCockatoo_Balyang01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD-f6GJg33GDRM-xeXm2c89QJTReLWO_0vrDPQP0zUvqUjstro4pD4cp7STfwy6QSNGcYiD8sEUSDWZsOo7NemngvmnfqcHByXzekBWOBBVonEg5PGlKSbeD6fxNqMY5PbxrFqEL1wQVE/s640/Sulphur-crestedCockatoo_Balyang01.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Balyang Sanctuary, Geelong<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/2500</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP8VdHYqAYXAt5gy1kgbH5j9F7WIDco8hf5ZXC3hI6eUNQ7xt1_HyTM8UT38ma6qGUCM7N9Suqu3W8uGlM-viJR5hLtfKHjtFCXXcayb4b9iNQdrG5zV4lMUf_lJmqYTtGWJBMuhp4mqA/s1600/Sulphur-crestedCockatoo_Balyang02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP8VdHYqAYXAt5gy1kgbH5j9F7WIDco8hf5ZXC3hI6eUNQ7xt1_HyTM8UT38ma6qGUCM7N9Suqu3W8uGlM-viJR5hLtfKHjtFCXXcayb4b9iNQdrG5zV4lMUf_lJmqYTtGWJBMuhp4mqA/s640/Sulphur-crestedCockatoo_Balyang02.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Balyang Sanctuary, Geelong<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/2000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
and the highlight was this pair of <b>Long-billed Corellas</b>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuromm5HAt18ln_W8auyqaf-r5fniiAoPH635YKgnaUEqTlIKsg4d1_HK-DI0Icyk8sQy-GGRf1hyphenhyphenxkmVGUKivcmeA4b7Smu0JFQC_gw7Xjz4OEilLsgzpB6SC26nrIpc2_dKiTM9FkQA/s1600/Long-billedCorella_Balyang02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuromm5HAt18ln_W8auyqaf-r5fniiAoPH635YKgnaUEqTlIKsg4d1_HK-DI0Icyk8sQy-GGRf1hyphenhyphenxkmVGUKivcmeA4b7Smu0JFQC_gw7Xjz4OEilLsgzpB6SC26nrIpc2_dKiTM9FkQA/s640/Long-billedCorella_Balyang02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long-billed Corella, Balyang Sanctuary, Geelong<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/400</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5BsemXaIbxbvR5QqApRmFin-eAFyPAa_vI9kFta5PGEu-Rw0H87v_6be45oPbAB8uoz7wBdCmSYuEo2S3v0YxekdR0VPRhWaMB47MhAswIOKwdvrT4S1yEjLqC7E6rvvOL__8n2S5QA/s1600/Long-billedCorella_Balyang04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5BsemXaIbxbvR5QqApRmFin-eAFyPAa_vI9kFta5PGEu-Rw0H87v_6be45oPbAB8uoz7wBdCmSYuEo2S3v0YxekdR0VPRhWaMB47MhAswIOKwdvrT4S1yEjLqC7E6rvvOL__8n2S5QA/s640/Long-billedCorella_Balyang04.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long-billed Corella, Balyang Sanctuary, Geelong<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/500</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSThCNqj7Ryj1hi_KF41HT3Ac1NU1YixdJ6OzoJXeEdVkxxADh0qUIpWmsN4lqr2qgrL3xobqsCFkcrJmbLzo4O-nU-WkAPZXEkIV36_OztpgLWi9yWlNU36SLs52-EAMeTsCcku0WiAs/s1600/Long-billedCorella_Balyang05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSThCNqj7Ryj1hi_KF41HT3Ac1NU1YixdJ6OzoJXeEdVkxxADh0qUIpWmsN4lqr2qgrL3xobqsCFkcrJmbLzo4O-nU-WkAPZXEkIV36_OztpgLWi9yWlNU36SLs52-EAMeTsCcku0WiAs/s640/Long-billedCorella_Balyang05.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long-billed Corella, Balyang Sanctuary, Geelong<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/500</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0r73ABkf3O6Zsc8pTnbkaoTgOWCHacBM-FlBUXFrfS-1Jc_uim7bJ-dtLPla9ZqVryUiQioScorehGcsW62b1j-SzVQEV834uPDjK8hhbqB9AA33DM6tojEAE8kGyAmq2ILF28w8tzA/s1600/Long-billedCorella_Balyang07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0r73ABkf3O6Zsc8pTnbkaoTgOWCHacBM-FlBUXFrfS-1Jc_uim7bJ-dtLPla9ZqVryUiQioScorehGcsW62b1j-SzVQEV834uPDjK8hhbqB9AA33DM6tojEAE8kGyAmq2ILF28w8tzA/s640/Long-billedCorella_Balyang07.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long-billed Corella, Balyang Sanctuary, Geelong<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/500</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The sanctuary is adjacent to the Barwon River where there are often ducks and coots on the river - no ducks today but this Eurasian Coot was swimming close to the bank in lovely light and showing bow-wave ripples in the mirror-like water.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivxeZstDBZCyYI8cQvNKnUo1HhKS5kN4ZLneWK8miCzhm33CKIulOl9imFCK3CeVC8eemJfbrFrvAaHuBRn09n_LnP5vX4P3m8NJpDPvUVArfCFhnFIrvvK-6jrZRa2xbIEr7RqyolZc/s640/EurasianCoot_Balyang01.jpg" style="color: #0000ee; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eurasian Coot, Barwon River, Geelong<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/1000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Cormorants and darters can be found perching along the river<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFoPLSAQFEkn441f3vyx050BqsCy5q2MdfnZEzQ4ZD5C49HVB00CTCOZy94gqDzyQjiZ5-5ZrrtPebVmGpsv_lFRwYD70xjUiPz2cr1XG7L_aycO7RAH3-nvWAvFtc5sGZNbOs5yxsY6o/s1600/AustralasianDarter_Balyang02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFoPLSAQFEkn441f3vyx050BqsCy5q2MdfnZEzQ4ZD5C49HVB00CTCOZy94gqDzyQjiZ5-5ZrrtPebVmGpsv_lFRwYD70xjUiPz2cr1XG7L_aycO7RAH3-nvWAvFtc5sGZNbOs5yxsY6o/s640/AustralasianDarter_Balyang02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australasian Darter, Barwon River, Geelong<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/800</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstg_h_Yr-cR1EWBHDt8yh452nZ1QHeCfyejoJie_o9fI2bLtc8p0aZeZRnNt2zLJA26pF9bmNWgvz6cUA6qRxca1f5IHW-BrwkgElqh2djvC5iNDCd0J4x2ezuUalp9GwyouymgCRp1U/s1600/AustralasianDarter_Balyang03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstg_h_Yr-cR1EWBHDt8yh452nZ1QHeCfyejoJie_o9fI2bLtc8p0aZeZRnNt2zLJA26pF9bmNWgvz6cUA6qRxca1f5IHW-BrwkgElqh2djvC5iNDCd0J4x2ezuUalp9GwyouymgCRp1U/s640/AustralasianDarter_Balyang03.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australasian Darter, Barwon River, Geelong<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/1000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
and nesting in the trees along the west bank.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzSmsLSSsT1409lyH3hRvJBzRgof2mCDW0MiHg3c1LQiPvFnUt_kDpIpXqH3gjliMZy_27dDWI9NRtJRDG_AvbSVgH-rm7wQUxZXyhc9UtVN0ImqBXXi0lfEeAmoqGoglaqKP565yhI8/s1600/LittlePiedCormorant_BarwonRiver04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzSmsLSSsT1409lyH3hRvJBzRgof2mCDW0MiHg3c1LQiPvFnUt_kDpIpXqH3gjliMZy_27dDWI9NRtJRDG_AvbSVgH-rm7wQUxZXyhc9UtVN0ImqBXXi0lfEeAmoqGoglaqKP565yhI8/s640/LittlePiedCormorant_BarwonRiver04.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Pied Cormorant, Barwon River, Geelong<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8, ISO 400, f/8, 1/1250</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnQzcPLlbluaQDRUygakWcITwd5psRy16FbpW7A1KfAFFGYzQlwnDVO0Osovbk1y2qpAEpTTumr0MLkh3M9OdpRQk-Yr9KuFL_6JaxLKYX-KA5BQM96E_VTz8BUKS1CGG0qy-UqymdVQ/s1600/AustralasianDarter_Balyang06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnQzcPLlbluaQDRUygakWcITwd5psRy16FbpW7A1KfAFFGYzQlwnDVO0Osovbk1y2qpAEpTTumr0MLkh3M9OdpRQk-Yr9KuFL_6JaxLKYX-KA5BQM96E_VTz8BUKS1CGG0qy-UqymdVQ/s640/AustralasianDarter_Balyang06.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Pied Cormorant, Barwon River, Geelong<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/11, 1/500</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1_Y4P8aWD_JkkwIPj6HmNllIYGI2DGKBOGulQaQElAnUg1DhRBm341VyrDCw9l-Myzbg36CUHPpCre7g6X1gMSSMHfXVxcyVrL5viqOP2iugoyRk55JTTweSg9bN7DZomDJD3JR1j-xg/s1600/LittlePiedCormorant_BarwonRiver03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1_Y4P8aWD_JkkwIPj6HmNllIYGI2DGKBOGulQaQElAnUg1DhRBm341VyrDCw9l-Myzbg36CUHPpCre7g6X1gMSSMHfXVxcyVrL5viqOP2iugoyRk55JTTweSg9bN7DZomDJD3JR1j-xg/s640/LittlePiedCormorant_BarwonRiver03.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Pied Cormorant, Barwon River, Geelong<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/1600</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHgjp8c83PExBahImd4_TCfl-pccPGDXYyq1FxT3H127GFkqqzk02dtr0Y41jo1RVv3PareNMxUBAYpDYfIXvg47aWE-GqysJ7WCNm4E3E27YwH97UFlrPg5iVGYcqdGYHJm44yrNSLfw/s1600/LittlePiedCormorant_BarwonRiver02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHgjp8c83PExBahImd4_TCfl-pccPGDXYyq1FxT3H127GFkqqzk02dtr0Y41jo1RVv3PareNMxUBAYpDYfIXvg47aWE-GqysJ7WCNm4E3E27YwH97UFlrPg5iVGYcqdGYHJm44yrNSLfw/s640/LittlePiedCormorant_BarwonRiver02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Pied Cormorant, Barwon River, Geelong<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/2000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
An <b>Australasian Darter</b> nest was also in this cluster of cormorant nests<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguS3jEI97JaF6yjwCh13dj49f5X76MstSs-aIpUy2pxWwxS0wtLYOFctPDb5m2vF2fAS8jmJb45PRyIjRs_v6vRi4HKEhEhkxlaUgR1eGJfV3FCzFO2aSMYul5l05TKtzxZloxgJ7VP-c/s1600/LittlePiedCormorant%252BDarter_BarwonRiver01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguS3jEI97JaF6yjwCh13dj49f5X76MstSs-aIpUy2pxWwxS0wtLYOFctPDb5m2vF2fAS8jmJb45PRyIjRs_v6vRi4HKEhEhkxlaUgR1eGJfV3FCzFO2aSMYul5l05TKtzxZloxgJ7VP-c/s640/LittlePiedCormorant%252BDarter_BarwonRiver01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Australasian Darter (juveniles), Barwon River, Geelong<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/11, 1/800</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
with four young darters squirming for room</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsR2aTyvDc9y7lDn52Mcwi2WUxkfdosGaBWECS61cwmilJcJ-ep4vbDsuEHUDWhHjptaPsyGy4PS1VBTHNQHQS46X5d80Nbsklcq_6xTvsVV54Rk3dX40AqmD3gGKfzudHmh7gHhP3-R0/s1600/AustralasianDarter_Balyang04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsR2aTyvDc9y7lDn52Mcwi2WUxkfdosGaBWECS61cwmilJcJ-ep4vbDsuEHUDWhHjptaPsyGy4PS1VBTHNQHQS46X5d80Nbsklcq_6xTvsVV54Rk3dX40AqmD3gGKfzudHmh7gHhP3-R0/s640/AustralasianDarter_Balyang04.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australasian Darter (juveniles), Barwon River, Geelong<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/11, 1/320</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
under the not-so-watchful eye of Dad.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2h95XIqcgmQKw1p8Rl0eXcsdJuEbSw4UFV_OrAchITH4KEDXJrGh3VX8oZYBx4_AHrZxlIGw8rsmFoPisWuu2LkWzDEIoghGg2dTSF9TsiZ5auD-TKcJdVIHENOp6FNCHRoq65hl3mA/s1600/AustralasianDarter_Balyang05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2h95XIqcgmQKw1p8Rl0eXcsdJuEbSw4UFV_OrAchITH4KEDXJrGh3VX8oZYBx4_AHrZxlIGw8rsmFoPisWuu2LkWzDEIoghGg2dTSF9TsiZ5auD-TKcJdVIHENOp6FNCHRoq65hl3mA/s640/AustralasianDarter_Balyang05.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australasian Darter (adult male + juveniles), Barwon River, Geelong<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/11, 1/500</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It's amazing how much difference there is in size within clutches like this.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSC7SLet_UER7gkQhB7TFSBlfwa40Q3eJY6nW9r5LdRenRJPBIEJ27llAJRfSJRcfRb3oyFQW8kib8Jkt5eAkGN7UzL9cOf5lgjSTqs6pFaQprrCMkZb5wX0m0gfyzU9YYUeh9miN3WHg/s1600/AustralasianDarter_Balyang07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSC7SLet_UER7gkQhB7TFSBlfwa40Q3eJY6nW9r5LdRenRJPBIEJ27llAJRfSJRcfRb3oyFQW8kib8Jkt5eAkGN7UzL9cOf5lgjSTqs6pFaQprrCMkZb5wX0m0gfyzU9YYUeh9miN3WHg/s640/AustralasianDarter_Balyang07.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australasian Darter (juveniles), Barwon River, Geelong<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/11, 1/250</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Ian Smissenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07795090037606105126noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551542359419385423.post-24784173385442825212015-11-01T20:00:00.000+11:002015-11-02T01:56:06.320+11:00Ricketts Point...for Bob<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This afternoon I had the great pleasure of attending the launch of the book: <i>Teacher Inside Out</i> written by Bob Whiteway. Bob taught high school for 40 years, including the 6 years I spent at Beaumaris High School in the 1970s. He has been an active environmentalist and advocate for marine conservation for many years and was instrumental in the creation of Ricketts Point (in Beaumaris) as a marine sanctuary (see <a href="http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/01/22/1042911435669.html" target="_blank">The Age article</a> from 2003). As I've noted in <a href="http://smissen.blogspot.com.au/search/label/Ricketts%20Point">several other posts</a>, I grew up in and around this beautiful beach so, in Bob's honour, I spent a couple of hours there late this afternoon photographing the usual avian suspects.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Hh7xb9s0oArgf_EPaR5W0Mm2-6U0ONf9PfzHBSPbErObcaOWHEVuOPRx3OeYQIaUVo6HGHUI5BQ3EuQ9SZzm1j-8_j78vqKKhBI83DgbRbe5b9k91B-ToLxV7gOpkjyeAZjeyhasXlE/s1600/AustralianPelican_RickettsPoint01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Hh7xb9s0oArgf_EPaR5W0Mm2-6U0ONf9PfzHBSPbErObcaOWHEVuOPRx3OeYQIaUVo6HGHUI5BQ3EuQ9SZzm1j-8_j78vqKKhBI83DgbRbe5b9k91B-ToLxV7gOpkjyeAZjeyhasXlE/s640/AustralianPelican_RickettsPoint01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australian Pelican, Ricketts Point, Beaumaris<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/11, 1/200</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLYVdXBtt2NFOh-3QZaXlmtXbmUFrCiHk6YrfKKFtkdDXLwUJR1gutQsd6n8FQyIgOdQQ7EG0WXd0jOhUhzRYq0o7P73rHTHBZdGsdXjiZE6eie1QbTmw8QwWqhbBYtle0UYbqYDpzw_s/s1600/AustralianPelican_RickettsPoint02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLYVdXBtt2NFOh-3QZaXlmtXbmUFrCiHk6YrfKKFtkdDXLwUJR1gutQsd6n8FQyIgOdQQ7EG0WXd0jOhUhzRYq0o7P73rHTHBZdGsdXjiZE6eie1QbTmw8QwWqhbBYtle0UYbqYDpzw_s/s640/AustralianPelican_RickettsPoint02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australian Pelican, Ricketts Point, Beaumaris<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/11, 1/400</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFvvv95CNuobubHN8GJS9jIxpVM7PC-zWlL1FeVOqNLeQ2boVp5BgUyyJWPxjM4TChyPtEBNnpECDb362b-7Al7aEEeSnSUMynkBGLSqSVBEEtQN9Dx5MyRvPPOHHc19oJogvbZNb71M/s1600/AustralianPelican_RickettsPoint03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFvvv95CNuobubHN8GJS9jIxpVM7PC-zWlL1FeVOqNLeQ2boVp5BgUyyJWPxjM4TChyPtEBNnpECDb362b-7Al7aEEeSnSUMynkBGLSqSVBEEtQN9Dx5MyRvPPOHHc19oJogvbZNb71M/s640/AustralianPelican_RickettsPoint03.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australian Pelican, Ricketts Point, Beaumaris<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/4, 1/5000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMqPD97n8vRrWjyU5fdk9yUlpTbkHukydL91m4kqLDjStOm8O1cjUWNfzbEuuoH6yjV1n1TXq8jqU55RsnsklQHz1W8CDbRdGxqtpD4ariZbcOoVkvkMDzXgwgu3_ITZM9rPbBRf5BRBI/s1600/AustralianPelican_RickettsPoint05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMqPD97n8vRrWjyU5fdk9yUlpTbkHukydL91m4kqLDjStOm8O1cjUWNfzbEuuoH6yjV1n1TXq8jqU55RsnsklQHz1W8CDbRdGxqtpD4ariZbcOoVkvkMDzXgwgu3_ITZM9rPbBRf5BRBI/s640/AustralianPelican_RickettsPoint05.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australian Pelican, Ricketts Point, Beaumaris<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/11, 1/400</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimmkZkm01iF8raT_Qpk34PosCEkW7QEcH-VWfPyOT02rrfjJUHR9hpMlNLBt13peogvOrUeh7Kh72AGKeRXxujF19JJAVOPY-DVmc8eSKDpyySMZ-DIYdM0Eq46Ghb2aOY8ZB82Vstt1U/s1600/BlackSwan_RickettsPoint01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimmkZkm01iF8raT_Qpk34PosCEkW7QEcH-VWfPyOT02rrfjJUHR9hpMlNLBt13peogvOrUeh7Kh72AGKeRXxujF19JJAVOPY-DVmc8eSKDpyySMZ-DIYdM0Eq46Ghb2aOY8ZB82Vstt1U/s640/BlackSwan_RickettsPoint01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Swan, Ricketts Point, Beaumaris<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/4, 1/2500</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQJ1u5dRMRQCaeOfZfXaDxs6BTPhyphenhyphenHOOiCsQEn86WIuf7rBRuJJj7KlId7K4sl8Yz8B457T1vNng9_isDAkk0dYyix-2s20XKpZ5fdMxH6OJN60L2AkdqcG0Sy8bWOdKC1-UtDJeyWuWk/s1600/BlackSwan_RickettsPoint02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQJ1u5dRMRQCaeOfZfXaDxs6BTPhyphenhyphenHOOiCsQEn86WIuf7rBRuJJj7KlId7K4sl8Yz8B457T1vNng9_isDAkk0dYyix-2s20XKpZ5fdMxH6OJN60L2AkdqcG0Sy8bWOdKC1-UtDJeyWuWk/s640/BlackSwan_RickettsPoint02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australian Pelican, Ricketts Point, Beaumaris<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/4, 1/2500</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAU_9rOiqeu9t05fSrfdZ53bdMSGewKqG3clGBN8QCuJDr359xyLRMTV5LwzaXuLQiI6OHucxuZFSg3W3IxGk7MMxnWIrWvnP-ayWnx094jfI8mOgcfJu_sRQynmOlLTfATTvQovPkvgc/s1600/BlackSwan_RickettsPoint03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAU_9rOiqeu9t05fSrfdZ53bdMSGewKqG3clGBN8QCuJDr359xyLRMTV5LwzaXuLQiI6OHucxuZFSg3W3IxGk7MMxnWIrWvnP-ayWnx094jfI8mOgcfJu_sRQynmOlLTfATTvQovPkvgc/s640/BlackSwan_RickettsPoint03.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australian Pelican, Ricketts Point, Beaumaris<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/4, 1/3200</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg09MXzvW4ElTFsRSep2qXQfeV6CK8DdOa64Pum0WEyY3p2WvaXKq3CPzY3vnZp_d6RQtGoTYFsun-VHFlspQ_583VhN7tJd514iHj8IvJ4HOGySatcyCSo5vzAbmL871wlzIftmhWOblQ/s1600/BlackSwan_RickettsPoint04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg09MXzvW4ElTFsRSep2qXQfeV6CK8DdOa64Pum0WEyY3p2WvaXKq3CPzY3vnZp_d6RQtGoTYFsun-VHFlspQ_583VhN7tJd514iHj8IvJ4HOGySatcyCSo5vzAbmL871wlzIftmhWOblQ/s640/BlackSwan_RickettsPoint04.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australian Pelican, Ricketts Point, Beaumaris<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/4, 1/2500</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuC50NL5bSumBkMQNP_D_yLeGrk6unVoAWsj0BtewlXP0NNUg-eYLuFtMek79p9fb-_QAqSM0Gl-vZROAsz_Z0B1DLVSAJLPzPERQcU7sWjg71EIX1RE6I3v62eVhOIDF9tpd3gbgzUq4/s1600/LittlePiedCormorant_RickettsPoint01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuC50NL5bSumBkMQNP_D_yLeGrk6unVoAWsj0BtewlXP0NNUg-eYLuFtMek79p9fb-_QAqSM0Gl-vZROAsz_Z0B1DLVSAJLPzPERQcU7sWjg71EIX1RE6I3v62eVhOIDF9tpd3gbgzUq4/s640/LittlePiedCormorant_RickettsPoint01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Pied Cormorant, Ricketts Point, Beaumaris<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/11, 1/200</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD339IRr_KwBe-1WeLwFpCvYCifPuV2wT9SBnt6YMimOY70i9yKzPuAdE8bjOnqVYYaZCCAy1o1T1icN82FzLBG0JzItigIipG37npnW4t9vfHvLpqecG8nkhyizVYQBmJ1o8-lwmi72g/s1600/LittlePiedCormorant_RickettsPoint02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD339IRr_KwBe-1WeLwFpCvYCifPuV2wT9SBnt6YMimOY70i9yKzPuAdE8bjOnqVYYaZCCAy1o1T1icN82FzLBG0JzItigIipG37npnW4t9vfHvLpqecG8nkhyizVYQBmJ1o8-lwmi72g/s640/LittlePiedCormorant_RickettsPoint02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Pied Cormorant, Ricketts Point, Beaumaris<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/4, 1/2000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZq7r7caYVb1iH3tT5yA7bsof5H1jDOAFmCxyaYgwTkvb_9ho3lPK4k0GBVpDk6zNhJqqfD9xRfwTSSu_vlZDxmZFTqm-a0oqijuJnlc3ZVu_9HVqM_OwnU3_gXZV2fIScf96YoQTXtQ/s1600/PacificGull_RickettsPoint01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZq7r7caYVb1iH3tT5yA7bsof5H1jDOAFmCxyaYgwTkvb_9ho3lPK4k0GBVpDk6zNhJqqfD9xRfwTSSu_vlZDxmZFTqm-a0oqijuJnlc3ZVu_9HVqM_OwnU3_gXZV2fIScf96YoQTXtQ/s640/PacificGull_RickettsPoint01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pacific Gull (immature, 1st year), Ricketts Point, Beaumaris<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/4, 1/2000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPYAhn8bWQBTCrsi8ODcfVXYuf-XyTm8TkXlcBgT354A0Q7ga9NAUiW6eAvMQMrVoO8VdNxJUVewXObDU-lRFVtVmew_7NBa0_S2m5ivgtARELEs8qpd_-NTzpM3DpDBMsYj8GXNdd2w/s1600/PacificGull_RickettsPoint03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPYAhn8bWQBTCrsi8ODcfVXYuf-XyTm8TkXlcBgT354A0Q7ga9NAUiW6eAvMQMrVoO8VdNxJUVewXObDU-lRFVtVmew_7NBa0_S2m5ivgtARELEs8qpd_-NTzpM3DpDBMsYj8GXNdd2w/s640/PacificGull_RickettsPoint03.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Pacific Gull (immature, 1st year), Ricketts Point, Beaumaris<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/4, 1/1250</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEAuezvkedmnNXmhY5A3LdW4Kew6Rj6SwB19-_LO17U7aiRuL-DZ3mivuoq7kXto564rz2LaGPhU7trJXmoal2mqNWHsyGyFAERmLoMMSYsGWnb_wQC6bnVNlOCVQ-07AGmSMMkJngyHs/s1600/PacificGull_RickettsPoint04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEAuezvkedmnNXmhY5A3LdW4Kew6Rj6SwB19-_LO17U7aiRuL-DZ3mivuoq7kXto564rz2LaGPhU7trJXmoal2mqNWHsyGyFAERmLoMMSYsGWnb_wQC6bnVNlOCVQ-07AGmSMMkJngyHs/s640/PacificGull_RickettsPoint04.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pacific Gull (adult), Ricketts Point, Beaumaris<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/4, 1/1250</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKibRLIsTGhm4bZwCLR6wxcFiQOO4tXL0x5UbkOryYtDZDLmoejANK_jjQIESKsWkScv4OtQFY1sFkIbcfUlr6WjfP7RTcmlZ4PQj7rNmgByvOJOcfL7AajqaFTGngGEE8HldYCWbjuQ/s1600/PiedCormorant_RickettsPoint01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKibRLIsTGhm4bZwCLR6wxcFiQOO4tXL0x5UbkOryYtDZDLmoejANK_jjQIESKsWkScv4OtQFY1sFkIbcfUlr6WjfP7RTcmlZ4PQj7rNmgByvOJOcfL7AajqaFTGngGEE8HldYCWbjuQ/s640/PiedCormorant_RickettsPoint01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pied Cormorant, Ricketts Point, Beaumaris<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/4, 1/4000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4TuhSI7Jic_4D0KmXoxfvPltq3br_H6yV_7_yJJ2qi3vYWZzbiu7UT38gtAxgXo4ICZv5jL4MaqC-c2pj6ZxmC6y9PWoXHvybxXC_hyameUbhFAGW6NFE83qnQL3cJPwERUAh0pp4Po/s1600/PiedCormorant_RickettsPoint04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4TuhSI7Jic_4D0KmXoxfvPltq3br_H6yV_7_yJJ2qi3vYWZzbiu7UT38gtAxgXo4ICZv5jL4MaqC-c2pj6ZxmC6y9PWoXHvybxXC_hyameUbhFAGW6NFE83qnQL3cJPwERUAh0pp4Po/s640/PiedCormorant_RickettsPoint04.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pied Cormorant, Ricketts Point, Beaumaris<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/4, 1/2000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZLuVl0dCHl6SXj3dehvwaLHs9D8UceE5syXmWXS491h5XODbRIuxxA-0hBKzZn5NELvQO6EaJBFDvOZGDzTfrrBlTpUcqR69uSxLzDrrUzAlYy17AI7kDCB9B0UmxBjlZCVxd3WFRTs/s1600/PiedCormorant_RickettsPoint05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZLuVl0dCHl6SXj3dehvwaLHs9D8UceE5syXmWXS491h5XODbRIuxxA-0hBKzZn5NELvQO6EaJBFDvOZGDzTfrrBlTpUcqR69uSxLzDrrUzAlYy17AI7kDCB9B0UmxBjlZCVxd3WFRTs/s640/PiedCormorant_RickettsPoint05.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pied Cormorant, Ricketts Point, Beaumaris<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/4, 1/4000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4BXZEpoZwOOwUwc1ch9JzPnrRtfjKxB8RfsqsyDNsYdKcPzCA3MryiZrzTFUczurub1C3b4nMNYn5bTAxpQ3lZW1KEugu1IgSiULvYrHzfZWPSHOIbOfxzKbgXWLTuQ3aJ5mxxBhjwY/s1600/SilverGull_RickettsPoint01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4BXZEpoZwOOwUwc1ch9JzPnrRtfjKxB8RfsqsyDNsYdKcPzCA3MryiZrzTFUczurub1C3b4nMNYn5bTAxpQ3lZW1KEugu1IgSiULvYrHzfZWPSHOIbOfxzKbgXWLTuQ3aJ5mxxBhjwY/s640/SilverGull_RickettsPoint01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silver Gull, Ricketts Point, Beaumaris<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/800</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdcdFJcxweAbUBPWgRoIohvlBgdtM49ndOVWTPdlqkAa1o-mdoMISBTWuAqyprHFsDFCkaTIiUCyUCmaqfe-LxifVYGl-s0-XnjiaBAw_7YNafQPDJhc-Fps6NR_Xz7npbGK3B597LGHQ/s1600/SilverGull_RickettsPoint02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdcdFJcxweAbUBPWgRoIohvlBgdtM49ndOVWTPdlqkAa1o-mdoMISBTWuAqyprHFsDFCkaTIiUCyUCmaqfe-LxifVYGl-s0-XnjiaBAw_7YNafQPDJhc-Fps6NR_Xz7npbGK3B597LGHQ/s640/SilverGull_RickettsPoint02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silver Gull, Ricketts Point, Beaumaris<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/4, 1/8000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Ian Smissenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07795090037606105126noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551542359419385423.post-62813919560073253692015-10-17T20:00:00.000+11:002015-10-19T10:44:49.720+11:00Yan Yean<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I spent today with the Melbourne Birdlife Photography group around Yan Yean, on the NE rural fringe of Melbourne.<br />
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First stop was Yellow Gum Park, a small reserve surrounding a disused quarry within a bend of the Plenty River (<a href="https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Yellow+Gum+Park/@-37.6692359,145.0880599,15z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x6ad6490b6e191e51:0xf045676053293a0" target="_blank">see map</a>). </div>
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I arrived early enough to spot a few kangaroos still hanging around. These two were photographed from the car as there was very little cover to try and stalk them on foot.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-yUGXrM-GKnbnihzK78ZfmCCA3Y5GeeTAffBLpdPyqMcCS_FU4DOJoeJftFKqzi0XcZynsQ1GNjR5Y_CARJitfk98MF55Oi3madE-r36OXXRNhi0Lujo6ey8ZciKZZA_SSH0xKskwN6E/s1600/EasternGreyKangaroo_Plenty01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-yUGXrM-GKnbnihzK78ZfmCCA3Y5GeeTAffBLpdPyqMcCS_FU4DOJoeJftFKqzi0XcZynsQ1GNjR5Y_CARJitfk98MF55Oi3madE-r36OXXRNhi0Lujo6ey8ZciKZZA_SSH0xKskwN6E/s640/EasternGreyKangaroo_Plenty01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Yellow Gum Park, Plenty, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/1000</td></tr>
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Many of the eucalypts were in flower and there seemed to be a lot of birds singing in the treetops and around the river but they remained aloof and elusive but I did manage to get a couple of shots (both from the car park).</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6GhvzwukM-COZL64t-ZR3YQb3LhIDsogzcHpJOCgvN2eSqwbmSKJvH_I_bkLcuHcn5r0TGhHpN2iTMUpqkD1vdBvMg9ZYrZAG6shYVJJEZKeh4ViY7CFOYug9EMBhJRlyw8wIfFa85D0/s1600/Black-facedCuckoo-shrike_Plenty01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6GhvzwukM-COZL64t-ZR3YQb3LhIDsogzcHpJOCgvN2eSqwbmSKJvH_I_bkLcuHcn5r0TGhHpN2iTMUpqkD1vdBvMg9ZYrZAG6shYVJJEZKeh4ViY7CFOYug9EMBhJRlyw8wIfFa85D0/s640/Black-facedCuckoo-shrike_Plenty01.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Yellow Gum Park, Plenty, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/1250</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqNKPo6PU-4qc94OZ8H6NqUvUCALvTCqM4FdW8Suz8IcsurpXlfzpLCLMNOPNcbDJ587Xy5ASf8OWRVEPPF7HBcDtDtqMiz9aouQfcp1qzCm40rF19u3qJdK3nuP2vqi8kWlFaluIAyDY/s1600/LittleRaven_Plenty01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqNKPo6PU-4qc94OZ8H6NqUvUCALvTCqM4FdW8Suz8IcsurpXlfzpLCLMNOPNcbDJ587Xy5ASf8OWRVEPPF7HBcDtDtqMiz9aouQfcp1qzCm40rF19u3qJdK3nuP2vqi8kWlFaluIAyDY/s640/LittleRaven_Plenty01.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Raven, Yellow Gum Park, Plenty, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/1250</td></tr>
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Next stop was Laurimar Wetlands in Doreen, where there were plenty of waterbirds to be found and photographed. As one of our bunch quipped: "If there's nothing to be found in the bush, go to a shopping centre" (the wetland is right on the edge of the Doreen shopping centre).</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMO_8h6sUhj2mTu-CrJhDn4KiilJYpk6iTPxlFlQi1vaj4mKzHwj619fwxcieaUU-A6wj0evXTGR9140sbNtU2SpOydMi55iKcFvrHKqd7mHi-EVQKtOW0AzkyAQ6sG3I0rh38s6gij-w/s1600/AustralianPelican_Doreen01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMO_8h6sUhj2mTu-CrJhDn4KiilJYpk6iTPxlFlQi1vaj4mKzHwj619fwxcieaUU-A6wj0evXTGR9140sbNtU2SpOydMi55iKcFvrHKqd7mHi-EVQKtOW0AzkyAQ6sG3I0rh38s6gij-w/s640/AustralianPelican_Doreen01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australian Pelican, Laurimar Wetlands, Doreen, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/2000</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3klEwWC6he56jqH1N8gpUkqEGbBEU2JBChKSe1m1N7K7i6tutsw3YOHgaNQK2mGWEnwSwVAzzGwiIsUAB9SFq3WO3teF9HwS39AqyVJqyfJlBt7NFJ3FdJa_oIozYQHsRxFWrhfyQyZw/s1600/AustralianPelican_Doreen02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3klEwWC6he56jqH1N8gpUkqEGbBEU2JBChKSe1m1N7K7i6tutsw3YOHgaNQK2mGWEnwSwVAzzGwiIsUAB9SFq3WO3teF9HwS39AqyVJqyfJlBt7NFJ3FdJa_oIozYQHsRxFWrhfyQyZw/s640/AustralianPelican_Doreen02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australian Pelican, Laurimar Wetlands, Doreen, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/4000</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOoaoGB_mZ2H_QVOaebjHh5j9Q40zNeHzDJlz73VpyEwl4E9lWT3hTnZdu_ZCj2rkMRO9xcSE3nni0RGMqfnIBwxcVm_YLSLfFAz57KwiPdsO9xKuZBZrrCgw0XhgAhdQ0YSV7RGGAb7g/s1600/AustralianPelican_Doreen03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOoaoGB_mZ2H_QVOaebjHh5j9Q40zNeHzDJlz73VpyEwl4E9lWT3hTnZdu_ZCj2rkMRO9xcSE3nni0RGMqfnIBwxcVm_YLSLfFAz57KwiPdsO9xKuZBZrrCgw0XhgAhdQ0YSV7RGGAb7g/s640/AustralianPelican_Doreen03.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australian Pelican, Laurimar Wetlands, Doreen, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8, ISO 800, f/4, 1/8000</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1wyY2EL15pTo7SouqupV98DGBi1l4rEUpy_adW1W-R_9OTfWR0RgFinuYa_Mbra20z6VXHc4EAe6qAr5bfBTL2Vz9wn69DANcXRL5lT-iy2yaBqv1od4X2n6Kf4qvb8jhidCGzSFIg4k/s1600/AustralianWoodDuck_Doreen03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1wyY2EL15pTo7SouqupV98DGBi1l4rEUpy_adW1W-R_9OTfWR0RgFinuYa_Mbra20z6VXHc4EAe6qAr5bfBTL2Vz9wn69DANcXRL5lT-iy2yaBqv1od4X2n6Kf4qvb8jhidCGzSFIg4k/s640/AustralianWoodDuck_Doreen03.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australian Wood Duck, Laurimar Wetlands, Doreen, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/640</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirueCldbsKhUzKWDh0-8LUjd8QK45IEpJ0aTkzxwyVSZfKq8FhyphenhyphenIOY01xK_J6OCNu-nmWcDBxyIS-CeMP_l3uMBElgbioQvkTvJ4Q_wmRew9N-BkfTieDD4AkYM51uW87Dc293Deb205k/s1600/Hardhead_Doreen01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirueCldbsKhUzKWDh0-8LUjd8QK45IEpJ0aTkzxwyVSZfKq8FhyphenhyphenIOY01xK_J6OCNu-nmWcDBxyIS-CeMP_l3uMBElgbioQvkTvJ4Q_wmRew9N-BkfTieDD4AkYM51uW87Dc293Deb205k/s640/Hardhead_Doreen01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hardhead, Laurimar Wetlands, Doreen, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/2000</td></tr>
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We then headed for the Yan Yean Reservoir Park for lunch and more birding in the afternoon. Several species of parrots were heard and seen, including Rainbow and Little Lorikeets, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, Galahs and Long-billed Corellas and one group found a pair of Gang-gang Cockatoos. I only managed to photograph these <b>Eastern Rosellas</b> in a tree near the picnic ground.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitcmwD23aEdmTA_gOwAw_lCJziMgSYXDnUDpN4mg2oCYen5TfJ_McNk4arXe0LiXyvGjg_FwfdURrkVWKsHeAl8WM_9rVasY9Z8LLQgM1vHyjg7gyejzSg-JgwHHrZmIO4DpVKMTmNdP0/s1600/EasternRosella_YanYean01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitcmwD23aEdmTA_gOwAw_lCJziMgSYXDnUDpN4mg2oCYen5TfJ_McNk4arXe0LiXyvGjg_FwfdURrkVWKsHeAl8WM_9rVasY9Z8LLQgM1vHyjg7gyejzSg-JgwHHrZmIO4DpVKMTmNdP0/s640/EasternRosella_YanYean01.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eastern Rosella, Yan Yean Reservoir Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/800</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9CBOyUp_wrlk7opW-i5iJ58DMfOeBfRe_DRFXNWkwpuol8y7U4LyEYle9T3vTlZhZOMasBdqBfcKE9QwddGprxnJr6daExXqoBktt8uT-Ngvb7ZNYA8k5Z4sPKHAyXLtC2Mp-TfzK6sM/s1600/EasternRosella_YanYean02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9CBOyUp_wrlk7opW-i5iJ58DMfOeBfRe_DRFXNWkwpuol8y7U4LyEYle9T3vTlZhZOMasBdqBfcKE9QwddGprxnJr6daExXqoBktt8uT-Ngvb7ZNYA8k5Z4sPKHAyXLtC2Mp-TfzK6sM/s640/EasternRosella_YanYean02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eastern Rosella, Yan Yean Reservoir Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/640</td></tr>
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The afternoon highlight, though, was the wetland between the dam wall and the road, which, among the usual ducks, grebes, moorhens and swamphens, provided sightings of two species of Crake. Two <b>Baillon's Crake</b> were foraging among the reeds and while easily spotted, they remained difficult to photograph as they were constantly on the move and views usually obstructed by reeds.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYH-qeWK4Ueb916GvB2PFPi_AwyMz8G11Mdv_ax3wv_vh0PvP7Zts_1e_Pl9YSS4O2TOKUkWekvEAQSxbLczyz-YQVoH1Gb_rUqT1vLonXNVvzVFk6PX6hE7wUYb0zVhCwPczk9wn3D-Y/s1600/Baillon%2527sCrake_YanYean01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYH-qeWK4Ueb916GvB2PFPi_AwyMz8G11Mdv_ax3wv_vh0PvP7Zts_1e_Pl9YSS4O2TOKUkWekvEAQSxbLczyz-YQVoH1Gb_rUqT1vLonXNVvzVFk6PX6hE7wUYb0zVhCwPczk9wn3D-Y/s640/Baillon%2527sCrake_YanYean01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baillon's Crake, Yan Yean Reservoir Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/640</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvN8wzbhn0so4eZyoBmhlRDf4waxfwNye02IYf_ODEx4kCkwWv52kEAVtDh2Lmute0q8nXdqF37Gmqaei7uIpNqJT_gyAarO78r_Zotocx27jag-fS2qeSY26nJy0yfLNp4EMeKgf8LYM/s1600/Baillon%2527sCrake_YanYean02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvN8wzbhn0so4eZyoBmhlRDf4waxfwNye02IYf_ODEx4kCkwWv52kEAVtDh2Lmute0q8nXdqF37Gmqaei7uIpNqJT_gyAarO78r_Zotocx27jag-fS2qeSY26nJy0yfLNp4EMeKgf8LYM/s640/Baillon%2527sCrake_YanYean02.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baillon's Crake, Yan Yean Reservoir Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/1000</td></tr>
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A solo <b>Spotless Crake</b> was foraging along the far bank of the wetlands allowing good views, albeit in and out of shadows and a fair distance away but it's always good to see these secretive little birds.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbOtCdbIAKQGnOp_IgMDmhORtGHDT48IdsYRU8hLAkQAUk-FIsbNEytF149CBd4EvyAPUpEpMZrmnzgLZwPiHQOC8ZsjKIa0cXzQXI_NfxgKLfPh4Q0RkUwp905ng7ATqcv7OoK8EfaFE/s1600/SpotlessCrake_YanYean01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbOtCdbIAKQGnOp_IgMDmhORtGHDT48IdsYRU8hLAkQAUk-FIsbNEytF149CBd4EvyAPUpEpMZrmnzgLZwPiHQOC8ZsjKIa0cXzQXI_NfxgKLfPh4Q0RkUwp905ng7ATqcv7OoK8EfaFE/s640/SpotlessCrake_YanYean01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spotless Crake, Yan Yean Reservoir Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/320</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgXWsVotzq-AF6EG0H9nkspTITHoaZc4HKtaGie9LX0XXQbE9MnZ2EG5ixPo68H0n-54hlyFuXXysVmZZVemoJ_lfDTfVXQjnKVvSt7_ZaAMBcjANl9S3c9NcEZmBgUR-qxS-3ktsYlg/s1600/SpotlessCrake_YanYean02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgXWsVotzq-AF6EG0H9nkspTITHoaZc4HKtaGie9LX0XXQbE9MnZ2EG5ixPo68H0n-54hlyFuXXysVmZZVemoJ_lfDTfVXQjnKVvSt7_ZaAMBcjANl9S3c9NcEZmBgUR-qxS-3ktsYlg/s640/SpotlessCrake_YanYean02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spotless Crake, Yan Yean Reservoir Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/1250</td></tr>
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An <b>Australian Reed-Warbler</b> was calling loudly from among the reeds and many of us stopped to see if we could capture an image. This is often the best you see of this species...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo_pmao68gZGUu1DVBzKqQuUsqMkIy-kYOKLLr1cB_DNpv3tp-Snun1CMkUvcMf8sCLhLMPC1zz3oG7bVRAn98JbLu8pQNpZfqOTe2fR9tS8mzUyBrQEC9GOvhJOw2r0gvIlsagwJNJHk/s1600/AustralianReed-Warbler_YanYean05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo_pmao68gZGUu1DVBzKqQuUsqMkIy-kYOKLLr1cB_DNpv3tp-Snun1CMkUvcMf8sCLhLMPC1zz3oG7bVRAn98JbLu8pQNpZfqOTe2fR9tS8mzUyBrQEC9GOvhJOw2r0gvIlsagwJNJHk/s640/AustralianReed-Warbler_YanYean05.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australian Reed-Warbler, Yan Yean Reservoir Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/5000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
...but with some persistence, you can eventually get some better views as these birds often start singing from low down among the reeds and then come up to the tops of the reeds to continue their calling.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNHD47FQ1jeW4XymhffuDu2tgTcerGdBeNqLSvnIrTQGo2Y_Gn4yV9gldKDq3Tk63EFHxJu6zritexQyjuKjCQLWGWI02fSkAFuMvI1g6fpZqzZIV-hMBPIbRCpru9eA0Ghx7KyJcqRcw/s1600/AustralianReed-Warbler_YanYean01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNHD47FQ1jeW4XymhffuDu2tgTcerGdBeNqLSvnIrTQGo2Y_Gn4yV9gldKDq3Tk63EFHxJu6zritexQyjuKjCQLWGWI02fSkAFuMvI1g6fpZqzZIV-hMBPIbRCpru9eA0Ghx7KyJcqRcw/s640/AustralianReed-Warbler_YanYean01.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australian Reed-Warbler, Yan Yean Reservoir Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/3200</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQL6egOYxzWQdLRDRzv_zpsMKqIGaKjHYu8FxpO7Jd6bqRRiznuHUn__gU6WwWv74h-ZJb8_kNeHm51pyRYrnaJSgGDIN0ritzZcvP7euWG7a6xCMq59eQjhxb5kloIkZDYFnZB7EkAGI/s1600/AustralianReed-Warbler_YanYean02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQL6egOYxzWQdLRDRzv_zpsMKqIGaKjHYu8FxpO7Jd6bqRRiznuHUn__gU6WwWv74h-ZJb8_kNeHm51pyRYrnaJSgGDIN0ritzZcvP7euWG7a6xCMq59eQjhxb5kloIkZDYFnZB7EkAGI/s640/AustralianReed-Warbler_YanYean02.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australian Reed-Warbler, Yan Yean Reservoir Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/4000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxonXn1aDat8qAWT7PpCt_uTKrHVE2buOqsNdFvVpE1pWKqUWI2MpD-C6qcv1UBwF10PtDsKDcjbl1EClSQydCBZIz2_Gizp3f0WKYAPNYRvU32a_cwxmhI_rH18CtqwOJUcoxZ560uH4/s1600/AustralianReed-Warbler_YanYean04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxonXn1aDat8qAWT7PpCt_uTKrHVE2buOqsNdFvVpE1pWKqUWI2MpD-C6qcv1UBwF10PtDsKDcjbl1EClSQydCBZIz2_Gizp3f0WKYAPNYRvU32a_cwxmhI_rH18CtqwOJUcoxZ560uH4/s640/AustralianReed-Warbler_YanYean04.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australian Reed-Warbler, Yan Yean Reservoir Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/1000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I even managed to remember to switch over to video and capture the song (along with some other birds and Pobblebonk frogs in the background).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxk0j_gx6WKoVMDKaK58fXdqCxZRumzCaTPMAZwjLvSJvLnCCPcZ4k_ctk8-IZjPCrkuimHSQgMOM9sWRfF-w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br /></div>
<br />
There was also almost no wind allowing some shots of damselflies and dragonflies.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoabsHHMCd_6HgP_DHBF0co6pc942t_ZMLoZJK0LLnN4PffO_SdbwHEOHds-atEmM0A9Av_-cb4qhfqO7AdtV54It_xNB9UVUJixB5ciSx2y4e7N1UpZpY7oTWRzzfxPQQU5eZpXEcuQo/s1600/DamselFly_YanYean01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoabsHHMCd_6HgP_DHBF0co6pc942t_ZMLoZJK0LLnN4PffO_SdbwHEOHds-atEmM0A9Av_-cb4qhfqO7AdtV54It_xNB9UVUJixB5ciSx2y4e7N1UpZpY7oTWRzzfxPQQU5eZpXEcuQo/s640/DamselFly_YanYean01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Bluetail, (Damselfly), Yan Yean Reservoir Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/500</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1MlzZkfnSlzv0lGyVQVeMLP0XLl7UNiRjhlLGOAuWEunzMOeXMXRUCUbVG9bht7CSyR8NyNZhhcHgol7bEGdMt0xZq1IXbCT0OfDjOklIFtCA9vr5XD3Pt6G54iTPNNp2kBT9xgU6T4/s1600/DamselFly_YanYean02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1MlzZkfnSlzv0lGyVQVeMLP0XLl7UNiRjhlLGOAuWEunzMOeXMXRUCUbVG9bht7CSyR8NyNZhhcHgol7bEGdMt0xZq1IXbCT0OfDjOklIFtCA9vr5XD3Pt6G54iTPNNp2kBT9xgU6T4/s640/DamselFly_YanYean02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Bluetail, (Damselfly), Yan Yean Reservoir Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/160</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyexarpSJU0Bb-IDFs4i7dLsbAbR89GUspTOZ9CPge_6NuRGuLvIblfCiCGIPLJEWIAxk6g6swtvVZsTdbOBHot9GJUeyu2G7jl8y7ZuMzyCGwp-DYAmpqJopnEuKxgM1s2m3oQr2c8zw/s1600/DragonFly_YanYean01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyexarpSJU0Bb-IDFs4i7dLsbAbR89GUspTOZ9CPge_6NuRGuLvIblfCiCGIPLJEWIAxk6g6swtvVZsTdbOBHot9GJUeyu2G7jl8y7ZuMzyCGwp-DYAmpqJopnEuKxgM1s2m3oQr2c8zw/s640/DragonFly_YanYean01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wandering Percher, (Dragonfly), Yan Yean Reservoir Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/3200</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div>
<div>
So, once again, the Melbourne Birdlife Photography group provided a brilliant day out and I managed to finally photograph two relatively common species (<b>Eastern Rosella</b> and <b>Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike</b>) that had eluded me since starting this blog 5 years ago!</div>
<div>
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</div>
</div>
</div>
Ian Smissenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07795090037606105126noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551542359419385423.post-85348373778908466612015-09-20T21:46:00.000+10:002015-12-21T13:31:09.767+11:00Regent Honeyeaters Revisited<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
First stop for the afternoon was along Ryan's Road near the old Barnawatha sewerage ponds. There was not much about except for a few <b>Fairy Martins</b> and <b>Welcome Swallows</b> high in a tree by the track<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghv5UgNcHRDdUmtIxUlpixn-Zvltw2NHSqzfFlvh35wY3iE1Ce9MLyBS-BCL3y_u2q72mvsbHSJ5nH2OfKA2UiL1tI-NQEfwOI-ZstItPkRFKyy_D7TlZUtTsy4E9IkGhlvqujLuDbYKI/s1600/FairyMartin%252BWelcomeSwallow_RyansRdChiltern01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghv5UgNcHRDdUmtIxUlpixn-Zvltw2NHSqzfFlvh35wY3iE1Ce9MLyBS-BCL3y_u2q72mvsbHSJ5nH2OfKA2UiL1tI-NQEfwOI-ZstItPkRFKyy_D7TlZUtTsy4E9IkGhlvqujLuDbYKI/s640/FairyMartin%252BWelcomeSwallow_RyansRdChiltern01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fairy Martin + Welcome Swallow, Ryans Road, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/4000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
so I headed back to the location where we'd found Regent Honeyeaters yesterday for one last look before the drive home.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
First bird found was a <b>Restless Flycatcher</b>.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5IMemeHwrzY6VZt683PKysH_lgOhf8EmRZKx918NAiRKXMlXfbaIzA6NbXgKOlfcm6zOfyzsWZ1Jr2SMNZwxMLDjJx4GzEbFZi-UmwwWv3KIso7nhHNaTt9THYBzLBk8fXiV4-DBHEbs/s1600/RestlessFlycatcher_CyanideRdChiltern01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5IMemeHwrzY6VZt683PKysH_lgOhf8EmRZKx918NAiRKXMlXfbaIzA6NbXgKOlfcm6zOfyzsWZ1Jr2SMNZwxMLDjJx4GzEbFZi-UmwwWv3KIso7nhHNaTt9THYBzLBk8fXiV4-DBHEbs/s640/RestlessFlycatcher_CyanideRdChiltern01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Restless Flycatcher, Cyanide Road, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/800</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5UpjO5vRmGUdwqRoszHwRw3Bc6dK1drLJtYoQorHdBUqNVJs4s7ccCc775C7MvaJavVnn8O-MFMPuE85cCM9mGRNAfdy11g0s5Jiy70Tn63hd8ipKrNibrPmWue_RjHPe-nwDu8-312c/s1600/RestlessFlycatcher_CyanideRdChiltern02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5UpjO5vRmGUdwqRoszHwRw3Bc6dK1drLJtYoQorHdBUqNVJs4s7ccCc775C7MvaJavVnn8O-MFMPuE85cCM9mGRNAfdy11g0s5Jiy70Tn63hd8ipKrNibrPmWue_RjHPe-nwDu8-312c/s640/RestlessFlycatcher_CyanideRdChiltern02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Restless Flycatcher, Cyanide Road, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/1600</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
but it wasn't long before several (it's always hard to count individuals when they are moving around so much) <b>Regent Honeyeaters </b>came back to the same location as yesterday.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-b1k3y2lFBOGSJrEHX_gQ4A_h0BrkRtRorezVcNAHbYQoYRt5Etmal49fQ362sCqFqkfPdJQ5RBYXyXzbyVCrYhKF2fFp3_ENdxLxrvdUeolKmkNG71zyYrN7R-YK51fuceB9Q9GNaA/s1600/RegentHoneyeater_CyanideRdChiltern09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-b1k3y2lFBOGSJrEHX_gQ4A_h0BrkRtRorezVcNAHbYQoYRt5Etmal49fQ362sCqFqkfPdJQ5RBYXyXzbyVCrYhKF2fFp3_ENdxLxrvdUeolKmkNG71zyYrN7R-YK51fuceB9Q9GNaA/s640/RegentHoneyeater_CyanideRdChiltern09.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Regent Honeyeater, Cyanide Road, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/500</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt4q0Ucj2eHE74XaGAS2qeJjdmek455tX5QIMaC_iJGi1AMNI4uoUGOyXZk4h4GM7zzg7AvMoJ0EpQHWsvjVjebFq46skBNVzJzkS5qYc-Kecw57Hbgs1SFENkE-UNeZe2AYYEcLdJJW8/s1600/RegentHoneyeater_CyanideRdChiltern10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt4q0Ucj2eHE74XaGAS2qeJjdmek455tX5QIMaC_iJGi1AMNI4uoUGOyXZk4h4GM7zzg7AvMoJ0EpQHWsvjVjebFq46skBNVzJzkS5qYc-Kecw57Hbgs1SFENkE-UNeZe2AYYEcLdJJW8/s640/RegentHoneyeater_CyanideRdChiltern10.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Regent Honeyeater, Cyanide Road, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/2500</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsjG9ia_thYEABuzCOab1diGA7U2kxrAVOKo8K8HZtbdK6HBka5wrDUMtZWbsSdFo6QZH62btzsM0e_N-6LpIoyDVghI1S4TyUnvBXquVORGDMqVEsYWsRKeFu6OKtqgo0pnqbaa0uBk/s1600/RegentHoneyeater_CyanideRdChiltern11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsjG9ia_thYEABuzCOab1diGA7U2kxrAVOKo8K8HZtbdK6HBka5wrDUMtZWbsSdFo6QZH62btzsM0e_N-6LpIoyDVghI1S4TyUnvBXquVORGDMqVEsYWsRKeFu6OKtqgo0pnqbaa0uBk/s640/RegentHoneyeater_CyanideRdChiltern11.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Regent Honeyeater, Cyanide Road, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/500</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2NxtecqKlXhgR5VI7IOAOH1PciEz1H0aI6QlCQW8Rw8sAx1WgFZKeHRloafzj46TZmFIyzYhUy-rdaolwIkrkV6-GUOYJPeW2jvuyItXGsTmdcubA_h1n4ZFRBJEDOlM2eYNvbLXFAR8/s1600/RegentHoneyeater_CyanideRdChiltern12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2NxtecqKlXhgR5VI7IOAOH1PciEz1H0aI6QlCQW8Rw8sAx1WgFZKeHRloafzj46TZmFIyzYhUy-rdaolwIkrkV6-GUOYJPeW2jvuyItXGsTmdcubA_h1n4ZFRBJEDOlM2eYNvbLXFAR8/s640/RegentHoneyeater_CyanideRdChiltern12.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Regent Honeyeater, Cyanide Road, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/400</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtK_1uASjp8vcanuqdcyOVvju7Cwiu8zWJCoJOViZz4Oc-iiEHtWJuEwTDxtMKveYmg7AZug1F-N6QMmBTlrCF17T8AadzwrV9dEhuSbHkRP7ML2qbDBF0dIvAmxmEboIYW3u57vfMg9Y/s1600/RegentHoneyeater_CyanideRdChiltern13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtK_1uASjp8vcanuqdcyOVvju7Cwiu8zWJCoJOViZz4Oc-iiEHtWJuEwTDxtMKveYmg7AZug1F-N6QMmBTlrCF17T8AadzwrV9dEhuSbHkRP7ML2qbDBF0dIvAmxmEboIYW3u57vfMg9Y/s640/RegentHoneyeater_CyanideRdChiltern13.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Regent Honeyeater, Cyanide Road, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/800</td></tr>
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<br />
and to top off the day, I managed to find a handful of <b>Little Lorikeets</b> feeding and calling high up in the treetops - not a great shot but it was good to see and hear these beautiful little parrots.<br />
<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1sOSWN0vq4JjaAjMDrOe3M4KFWBVUKgCTCKizFmpwoJ-58PbgjB2WQWnkxDqUIxgdhp5UXsS9aySfTv-KSKENQOnkWjaglmL8HlcgzGM7RVGHrMpBHF8pCDcIhYaYLJ214waBiVfJb3A/s1600/LittleLorikeet_CyanideRdChiltern01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1sOSWN0vq4JjaAjMDrOe3M4KFWBVUKgCTCKizFmpwoJ-58PbgjB2WQWnkxDqUIxgdhp5UXsS9aySfTv-KSKENQOnkWjaglmL8HlcgzGM7RVGHrMpBHF8pCDcIhYaYLJ214waBiVfJb3A/s640/LittleLorikeet_CyanideRdChiltern01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Lorikeet, Cyanide Road, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/2000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
A great weekend spent with fantastic people in a beautiful part of Victoria and some wonderful birds to boot with 9 species added to this blog. First time I have seen Regent Honeyeaters for 30 years and first time photographing them so that alone was worth the trip. Can't wait to get back to Chiltern!<br />
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Ian Smissenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07795090037606105126noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551542359419385423.post-395259402577065592015-09-20T14:00:00.000+10:002015-09-25T21:48:43.472+10:00No.1 and No.2 Dams, Chiltern<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
No early morning photography at the lake this morning as I opted to pack up most of the camping gear to be ready for a quicker getaway this afternoon. However, this female <b>Australian Magpie</b> kept me company while I ate breakfast so I couldn't resist getting a shot.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA8V8olBFXoHP-bDzhthA6IkeCdOrRqsAjI1gd0cFgwg0Eh25VYb1nK13VeUznwcemZiHce_3ruWYvupdraejKjH6JDMsiz776xZr7oVQJHs5OJx7hS7vGM1SHzEIblFbQyKmqxadlCVk/s1600/AustralianMagpie_LakeAndersonChiltern03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA8V8olBFXoHP-bDzhthA6IkeCdOrRqsAjI1gd0cFgwg0Eh25VYb1nK13VeUznwcemZiHce_3ruWYvupdraejKjH6JDMsiz776xZr7oVQJHs5OJx7hS7vGM1SHzEIblFbQyKmqxadlCVk/s640/AustralianMagpie_LakeAndersonChiltern03.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australian Magpie (female), Lake Anderson Caravan Park, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8, ISO 400, f/4, 1/1600</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
First official birding stop for the day was Chiltern Valley No. 2 Dam (a small pocket of Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, a few kilometres west of Chiltern) but, on the way, I spotted a handful of <b>Australian White Ibis </b>sitting on nests on a small island in a farm dam.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3A-0_fkF6dn5rG6DQ1EgOTpueLopjGNc4QGHva25zDMBADvaEl59UF67fXUj71VVWW4-6f2heS0UCsgtu8dHL1t_0DW9cHfB-FFCtUWODNCELmkQ6-Ddb9qALhxC-IkCMBeiNI9X1VY/s1600/AustralianWhiteIbis_WenkesRdChiltern01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3A-0_fkF6dn5rG6DQ1EgOTpueLopjGNc4QGHva25zDMBADvaEl59UF67fXUj71VVWW4-6f2heS0UCsgtu8dHL1t_0DW9cHfB-FFCtUWODNCELmkQ6-Ddb9qALhxC-IkCMBeiNI9X1VY/s640/AustralianWhiteIbis_WenkesRdChiltern01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australian White Ibis, Wenkes Road, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/2000</td></tr>
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When we arrived at No. 2 Dam, we walked around to the bird hide but there was very little activity on the dam, except for the arrival of this <b>Australian Pelican</b>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-LQfCMNwOgBEGDAdtzEWsBJGHfoDzJXRB4geThb5wXA-bYze3GoXc67g3dCftdOn7Mrg1KXgyO4HYoKHsST3nbAm0wclI8bPe-yPPVgAEdhWTHBfIU29iqUZhgayeCWIdgPoVp8EMFAY/s1600/AustralianPelican_No2DamChiltern01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-LQfCMNwOgBEGDAdtzEWsBJGHfoDzJXRB4geThb5wXA-bYze3GoXc67g3dCftdOn7Mrg1KXgyO4HYoKHsST3nbAm0wclI8bPe-yPPVgAEdhWTHBfIU29iqUZhgayeCWIdgPoVp8EMFAY/s640/AustralianPelican_No2DamChiltern01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australian Pelican, No. 2 Dam, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/5, 1/1600</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The surrounding bush was similarly quiet but this <b>Eastern Yellow Robin</b> landed in a tree almost immediately above my head - not the best angle but you have to take what you can get.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA2-hY81KSYMyLKmT6ZkA5anJsvXZO9obX797GW2u1IgjGoz_vPZoCMbxs2K6VyoJWreU_4DPDLSa3DR650-b0fsDBncqz-Kf5lKy3NjIhYWWZf0ZrCMNpr-NrHlLUzu8NbcesGrGjPtc/s1600/EasternYellowRobin_No2DamChiltern01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA2-hY81KSYMyLKmT6ZkA5anJsvXZO9obX797GW2u1IgjGoz_vPZoCMbxs2K6VyoJWreU_4DPDLSa3DR650-b0fsDBncqz-Kf5lKy3NjIhYWWZf0ZrCMNpr-NrHlLUzu8NbcesGrGjPtc/s640/EasternYellowRobin_No2DamChiltern01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eastern Yellow Robin, No. 2 Dam, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/2000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Back at the car park we spotted a <b>Whistling Kite</b> circling overhead<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOp4Up4XP-qrd9lIUlg1YUCjJuEeRtQbNljjC7UvseDsp6zycYqVr1M8rxWDSIjO7FgDaGaAlYdpDoa8h1302Il2Y79JX3CC-muWlHztpEYflpfWLL0prjp2hj_5UDcvtuPIT78mAY8wc/s1600/WhistlingKite_No2DamChiltern02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOp4Up4XP-qrd9lIUlg1YUCjJuEeRtQbNljjC7UvseDsp6zycYqVr1M8rxWDSIjO7FgDaGaAlYdpDoa8h1302Il2Y79JX3CC-muWlHztpEYflpfWLL0prjp2hj_5UDcvtuPIT78mAY8wc/s640/WhistlingKite_No2DamChiltern02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whistling Kite, No. 2 Dam, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/4, 1/8000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEUppXc6gwPW-mpaTVwJEQwpyHtEQ_Id3QeY5vEELI2dacUYPym6aO7Pw5XHDA7RXCTTpaVG9RJXOZniSBuefbWltLmu7sAvBg-ZTrIqyCjlNk2s9OxeG1mkAybBRJfR0SShH4j89jf6Q/s1600/WhistlingKite_No2DamChiltern01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEUppXc6gwPW-mpaTVwJEQwpyHtEQ_Id3QeY5vEELI2dacUYPym6aO7Pw5XHDA7RXCTTpaVG9RJXOZniSBuefbWltLmu7sAvBg-ZTrIqyCjlNk2s9OxeG1mkAybBRJfR0SShH4j89jf6Q/s640/WhistlingKite_No2DamChiltern01.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whistling Kite, No. 2 Dam, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/4, 1/6400</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
but the highlight of this location was spotting a <b>Yellow-footed Antechinus</b> running along a log and climbing a tree. I almost always have the camera with long lens attached to a tripod but this morning because we were walking to a bird hide (and tripods, crowds and bird hides are a bad combination), I was hand holding the camera...highly serendipitous because there is no way I would have caught this little marsupial if I had to set up the tripod.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGh2lJeEHJPZlLYQGkFG7nWS0u7Uli6tjXSxfUfsbmcjHpJHzbooXJhdt4BzWN19_s8-tRRbjExgAxIs5mOxrBahhTATJ3m48hvP6ssKd1FyQEmwywosr3BndXae0kslb0kIAZdeZNgMk/s1600/Yellow-footedAntechinus_No2DamChiltern01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGh2lJeEHJPZlLYQGkFG7nWS0u7Uli6tjXSxfUfsbmcjHpJHzbooXJhdt4BzWN19_s8-tRRbjExgAxIs5mOxrBahhTATJ3m48hvP6ssKd1FyQEmwywosr3BndXae0kslb0kIAZdeZNgMk/s640/Yellow-footedAntechinus_No2DamChiltern01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-footed Antechinus, No. 2 Dam, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/4.5, 1/2000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO88c1gTr3ffjkJbMv4DiDA_zdkbFWwLLPLxK7oZTKqXy5rfpLhLNqtXejGcw-pOJ8vLt0tTU_SlpS2mvLsOdYrGifzG6gYs-b7Pel41-htQuaqOTvftvW9_YMP2rMT1FkkXYUYzoi0EU/s1600/Yellow-footedAntechinus_No2DamChiltern03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO88c1gTr3ffjkJbMv4DiDA_zdkbFWwLLPLxK7oZTKqXy5rfpLhLNqtXejGcw-pOJ8vLt0tTU_SlpS2mvLsOdYrGifzG6gYs-b7Pel41-htQuaqOTvftvW9_YMP2rMT1FkkXYUYzoi0EU/s640/Yellow-footedAntechinus_No2DamChiltern03.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-footed Antechinus, No. 2 Dam, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/4.5, 1/5000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Next stop was No. 1 Dam, a small picturesque lake surrounded by eucalypt woodland.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbQBUL2VU3yHG9G9vuQVdjVa9Yfeaht5YF7dyABSr3KDrmMxI0vxUyvpAzTbkucQBp4KeGMErM_PI-B-lHJ_DLovL_W68rR1cBjUohd9WmoPn46q89mlSkqCn4JWK5i-5oT3Z0ru6tBw/s1600/No1DamChiltern01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbQBUL2VU3yHG9G9vuQVdjVa9Yfeaht5YF7dyABSr3KDrmMxI0vxUyvpAzTbkucQBp4KeGMErM_PI-B-lHJ_DLovL_W68rR1cBjUohd9WmoPn46q89mlSkqCn4JWK5i-5oT3Z0ru6tBw/s640/No1DamChiltern01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No. 1 Dam, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Pentax 16-50mm f/2.8 @16mm, ISO 800, f/11, 1/200</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Circling overhead was another (or maybe the same as the two dams are only about 2 kilometres apart) <b>Whistling Kite </b>but this time much higher up.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRG8NA_ZOZfizZDoMF2BzqPMukTJ3gSTc0-16aiiB3IkYaAmy_2hwWOvNmtUidseMSS8aGnr1s_iPWZkeiki7_45dlZzr_daJ_iH6qcFAjpOXx-6wvwPD0zUkHxX-QNllxARh7E182KQ0/s1600/WhistlingKite_No2DamChiltern03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRG8NA_ZOZfizZDoMF2BzqPMukTJ3gSTc0-16aiiB3IkYaAmy_2hwWOvNmtUidseMSS8aGnr1s_iPWZkeiki7_45dlZzr_daJ_iH6qcFAjpOXx-6wvwPD0zUkHxX-QNllxARh7E182KQ0/s640/WhistlingKite_No2DamChiltern03.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whistling Kite, No. 1 Dam, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/9, 1/2500</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
A pair of <b>Red-rumped Parrots</b> landed on a stump just offshore from the bank near where we were standing and gave us great views, including the female checking out a hole in the stump.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-Sr3ylzfR4UP5HZw8qJ9XZYEEg1KiB8Ja1beXLv0UUzeCvZMRnBx5n40EGQ-JiVQVcjrZ4EPac3kZPnEzSMzZZ058hkpVzAlxOqX-8hu2tv_cAvEVqZVhR-q12TyRjK0xG5H0Yreogc/s1600/Red-rumpedParrot_No1DamChiltern01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-Sr3ylzfR4UP5HZw8qJ9XZYEEg1KiB8Ja1beXLv0UUzeCvZMRnBx5n40EGQ-JiVQVcjrZ4EPac3kZPnEzSMzZZ058hkpVzAlxOqX-8hu2tv_cAvEVqZVhR-q12TyRjK0xG5H0Yreogc/s640/Red-rumpedParrot_No1DamChiltern01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-rumped Parrot, No. 1 Dam, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/250</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIFyW8UhGkp-xII-4_T3XkOrkpAi9GrF2rRKqLj7pDl_GMkMSvO6u_xbJHzeLO5tCzekIN3noEibxz8WZKDdqpLiIfE9CEX1BNBsrmt3HwI2OVd4-YscrbwVcGUuXl8n4VqFybBpZOpDw/s1600/Red-rumpedParrot_No1DamChiltern02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIFyW8UhGkp-xII-4_T3XkOrkpAi9GrF2rRKqLj7pDl_GMkMSvO6u_xbJHzeLO5tCzekIN3noEibxz8WZKDdqpLiIfE9CEX1BNBsrmt3HwI2OVd4-YscrbwVcGUuXl8n4VqFybBpZOpDw/s640/Red-rumpedParrot_No1DamChiltern02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-rumped Parrot, No. 1 Dam, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/320</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-kmXXwo5B2OCKalcupkLDytD8Ao6B518sIQfDBYmNtEwgp9MXVUIGBxQu3MjECYbg5ZdcmRQDfLnuF8uoq-uDqrxg1rmSu9f5qZ3mNGVgqt-6M56WlZJlup_8acTj-jKQcYeX3yVkkMM/s1600/Red-rumpedParrot_No1DamChiltern03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-kmXXwo5B2OCKalcupkLDytD8Ao6B518sIQfDBYmNtEwgp9MXVUIGBxQu3MjECYbg5ZdcmRQDfLnuF8uoq-uDqrxg1rmSu9f5qZ3mNGVgqt-6M56WlZJlup_8acTj-jKQcYeX3yVkkMM/s640/Red-rumpedParrot_No1DamChiltern03.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-rumped Parrot, No. 1 Dam, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/500</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIH-Mzxq4C3PYe-DIJQNmjq70Mw0hf5ZBjYSMhuLMPxkWgtXh51Ak6bh93sx4uuyWkKVS4mh1GZQFKWwkM7aaJdo3CU9CmVfmI2u-3Pb1kUJPOmTKnlAVN_OAFEOnDkqwiQUj7S_It69Q/s1600/Red-rumpedParrot_No1DamChiltern04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIH-Mzxq4C3PYe-DIJQNmjq70Mw0hf5ZBjYSMhuLMPxkWgtXh51Ak6bh93sx4uuyWkKVS4mh1GZQFKWwkM7aaJdo3CU9CmVfmI2u-3Pb1kUJPOmTKnlAVN_OAFEOnDkqwiQUj7S_It69Q/s640/Red-rumpedParrot_No1DamChiltern04.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-rumped Parrot (female), No. 1 Dam, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/800</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This afternoon, <a href="http://smissen.blogspot.com.au/2015/09/regent-honeyeaters-revisited.html">Regent Parrots revisited</a>.</div>
Ian Smissenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07795090037606105126noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551542359419385423.post-9063626885738168642015-09-19T20:00:00.000+10:002015-09-25T18:20:18.181+10:00Lake Anderson, Chiltern (Part 3)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The late afternoon light was again spectacular and several of our group again took up spots on the north bank of Lake Anderson to photograph the incoming and outgoing birds.<br />
<br />
A <b>Masked Lapwing</b> was standing sentinel on the small island in the middle of the lake and caught the sidelight of the setting sun.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFo5C84t9hNUqkCMvKVIMpb01FzM4DgaXTDntUES_WKewDFqfTg7KWuc2L5RPSbadMOfUlJwA9OXNfOHNckbHuRETnGnRkYdblz0_LoYy80SpAvW6w_XDyRk4zt4GKxa-vltbjH9NIY4/s1600/MaskedLapwing_LakeAndersonChiltern01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFo5C84t9hNUqkCMvKVIMpb01FzM4DgaXTDntUES_WKewDFqfTg7KWuc2L5RPSbadMOfUlJwA9OXNfOHNckbHuRETnGnRkYdblz0_LoYy80SpAvW6w_XDyRk4zt4GKxa-vltbjH9NIY4/s640/MaskedLapwing_LakeAndersonChiltern01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Masked Lapwing, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 1600, f/8, 1/4000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
A <b>Blue-faced Honeyeater</b> flew across the lake and I managed to get one shot in frame and in focus.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLjomvGK-qtiqp-Ah7zmNl2eG-nKT-LDhSBj0oj9YQMVRk3i4JTC2gt-g5hmcGsOSMWqIwfJONAPgGVgeZlK9A5AGabVwx8cEm0uwNcFkpjd2qHs1ZSuZ83dM99bIV7NIterfn5tBYTzc/s1600/Blue-facedHoneyeater_LakeAndersonChiltern01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLjomvGK-qtiqp-Ah7zmNl2eG-nKT-LDhSBj0oj9YQMVRk3i4JTC2gt-g5hmcGsOSMWqIwfJONAPgGVgeZlK9A5AGabVwx8cEm0uwNcFkpjd2qHs1ZSuZ83dM99bIV7NIterfn5tBYTzc/s640/Blue-facedHoneyeater_LakeAndersonChiltern01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue-faced Honeyeater, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 1600, f/8, 1/2500</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
There was not much else happening in there air so I waited for these coots to get into a pleasing pose while they swam around in the reflections of the reeds.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYeekS8MLlhLEiw_KOElTp33KbAqxJq8xm_Zk_AmJ7FXBUIfc0oKxZF4rNPhy_Ujs-HuvhZsFrd1zfwdeDU9LunXfnT0NUWBrkyPa3Kk6tfBByBWd39TCz7zC295uFWKMxKuqsfPYSG1o/s1600/EurasianCoot_LakeAndersonChiltern02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYeekS8MLlhLEiw_KOElTp33KbAqxJq8xm_Zk_AmJ7FXBUIfc0oKxZF4rNPhy_Ujs-HuvhZsFrd1zfwdeDU9LunXfnT0NUWBrkyPa3Kk6tfBByBWd39TCz7zC295uFWKMxKuqsfPYSG1o/s640/EurasianCoot_LakeAndersonChiltern02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eurasian Coot, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 1600, f/8, 1/4000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Eventually, a few <b>Pacific Black Ducks</b> flew in just in time to make the most of the last few minutes of the light.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SQhYb6-NGGq1W4DkyyZNhl10oDkyUjtANbkE300bbRnMiUDunnF4CghJZuptbI7txDutWlQa2-7UBKUjIbDx3iH9bCJ8mpd4OFGQ9rXThFS9BsqEktO4EbSO0Q6KuwrNx-ARNBCom5M/s1600/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SQhYb6-NGGq1W4DkyyZNhl10oDkyUjtANbkE300bbRnMiUDunnF4CghJZuptbI7txDutWlQa2-7UBKUjIbDx3iH9bCJ8mpd4OFGQ9rXThFS9BsqEktO4EbSO0Q6KuwrNx-ARNBCom5M/s640/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern19.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pacific Black Duck, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 2500, f/8, 1/1250</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibOxU0pkZ3NX6QiQhJWdgB64DCxhpJa0trnO4MwWdjtxWLOp4COH3f0X7wHy0K4afgNGzWS81iLevmkyQUv8Oh9bs18ESNz6TZTm3GZr-fXVpmGBhBGkw1bI4CNeMo11fA9R0EMQ9-Log/s1600/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibOxU0pkZ3NX6QiQhJWdgB64DCxhpJa0trnO4MwWdjtxWLOp4COH3f0X7wHy0K4afgNGzWS81iLevmkyQUv8Oh9bs18ESNz6TZTm3GZr-fXVpmGBhBGkw1bI4CNeMo11fA9R0EMQ9-Log/s640/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern20.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pacific Black Duck, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 2500, f/8, 1/1250</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZuFKv7UEIu6aalcr_d2iNVth_2X5oFaQ5vUkcUgYh0CyBPd1fQvtGITFS2zt3KOHcWo3lmDeJB2T6HpYiXnRg0aFzZHidfh4ZnUZcDNI78imEiitbWH1MWw7DVRXKvJSDDsmjqfs-H4/s1600/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZuFKv7UEIu6aalcr_d2iNVth_2X5oFaQ5vUkcUgYh0CyBPd1fQvtGITFS2zt3KOHcWo3lmDeJB2T6HpYiXnRg0aFzZHidfh4ZnUZcDNI78imEiitbWH1MWw7DVRXKvJSDDsmjqfs-H4/s640/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern21.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pacific Black Duck, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 2500, f/8, 1/1250</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBbV7cIKAm1pInh_yMGdk2yMpyB-xPFSClj9xVjhbqO20RI1on7rkAHef31kE67TwBC53QBVlTu_tMupY5egHrxGO37LcwV_IoyjmK1kbnZ0HdK3aCyiGCPi1zcQwa71kT5kIDDDE2xJ0/s1600/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBbV7cIKAm1pInh_yMGdk2yMpyB-xPFSClj9xVjhbqO20RI1on7rkAHef31kE67TwBC53QBVlTu_tMupY5egHrxGO37LcwV_IoyjmK1kbnZ0HdK3aCyiGCPi1zcQwa71kT5kIDDDE2xJ0/s640/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern22.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pacific Black Duck, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 2500, f/8, 1/1000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwRY7yQNJxdu9mpIDNbgkvPdRP42eR6DMBAPN4jP4S_UGm6ttSjepI4dOPNlGxkOD_KZuLItoQvdYWGa-Tmyd9TvXGf-eUdZRFHBRZehpU_I4hHdQI2bFewi2YnC_IolWBSyCz_HEaL9k/s1600/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwRY7yQNJxdu9mpIDNbgkvPdRP42eR6DMBAPN4jP4S_UGm6ttSjepI4dOPNlGxkOD_KZuLItoQvdYWGa-Tmyd9TvXGf-eUdZRFHBRZehpU_I4hHdQI2bFewi2YnC_IolWBSyCz_HEaL9k/s640/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern23.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pacific Black Duck, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 2500, f/8, 1/1000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ZnJ76QIriWjltCOmfgRcRM54LMqTwiSMWVLvUpGDVZmrKaaCYnRXCz-bf2_IRNX_50hAdB9_CSUSfovWWWmuNXIhPp-uCLZLuVg-MVk0EA5TvAezIjKCk6Z1bkWmHx9SKHPF_uo6o7E/s1600/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ZnJ76QIriWjltCOmfgRcRM54LMqTwiSMWVLvUpGDVZmrKaaCYnRXCz-bf2_IRNX_50hAdB9_CSUSfovWWWmuNXIhPp-uCLZLuVg-MVk0EA5TvAezIjKCk6Z1bkWmHx9SKHPF_uo6o7E/s640/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern18.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pacific Black Duck, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 2500, f/8, 1/500</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Next morning, <a href="http://smissen.blogspot.com.au/2015/09/no1-and-no2-dams-chiltern.html">No.1 and No.2 Dam</a>.<br />
<br /></div>
Ian Smissenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07795090037606105126noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551542359419385423.post-17971481001654177002015-09-19T18:00:00.000+10:002018-01-12T13:37:27.515+11:00Bartley's Block, Chiltern<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Bartley's Block is the site of a gold rush era brewery. While there is very little evidence of the old buildings remaining, the site is great for birdwatching as there are open grassy areas surrounded by mixed Acacia-Eucalypt forest with several dams and boggy areas providing water.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0FT_WCk9BMI_3uwgxC-M3bSix2k9l_JoR-61CicEN3rvMyo2XwLoBXQa8MYkwfx4g24V0XMRSpLdH8zGvrFHPdl95ozgAWcvOksYgq1U_0zNNMiAqknZh97B9FoIfesGL_CaV3BzRCI/s1600/BartleysBlockChiltern01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0FT_WCk9BMI_3uwgxC-M3bSix2k9l_JoR-61CicEN3rvMyo2XwLoBXQa8MYkwfx4g24V0XMRSpLdH8zGvrFHPdl95ozgAWcvOksYgq1U_0zNNMiAqknZh97B9FoIfesGL_CaV3BzRCI/s640/BartleysBlockChiltern01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bartley's Block, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Pentax 16-50mm f/2.8 @16mm, ISO 800, f/4, 1/640</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Again, <b>Superb Fairy-wrens</b> seemed to be everywhere and I found this female collecting spider webs (presumably for nesting).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJcA1SETftorRbYxB8nUTuT3m5M4asXl-qCj06e0b5C8b5VIN5WFrrFieBlW6DRrYyYlycDisFsHhor4tLP-hD3xGQ0b7epuznKsykS9SJl2NQzF_lf8yG1i_oOFxdxvzKw81piTR8xSY/s1600/SuperbFairy-wren_BartleysBlockChiltern01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJcA1SETftorRbYxB8nUTuT3m5M4asXl-qCj06e0b5C8b5VIN5WFrrFieBlW6DRrYyYlycDisFsHhor4tLP-hD3xGQ0b7epuznKsykS9SJl2NQzF_lf8yG1i_oOFxdxvzKw81piTR8xSY/s640/SuperbFairy-wren_BartleysBlockChiltern01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Superb Fairy-wren (female), Bartley's Block, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/800</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Yellow-tufted Honeyeaters</b> and <b>Noisy Friarbirds</b> were in the trees right near the car park.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYe9eULlvFTp_wPvJcahpNU_AE3WoPrnquarn-BOwFTzCiojEV9wtPW4-ipR0hv2XClHod8yTC3k_tl2XL-vNcO58Y0QvtlgXleTFvOkKoxqZ4PaIiOXYA02c6XyFEJoFL3LiKqxzSC_E/s1600/Yellow-tuftedHoneyeater_BartleysBlockChiltern01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYe9eULlvFTp_wPvJcahpNU_AE3WoPrnquarn-BOwFTzCiojEV9wtPW4-ipR0hv2XClHod8yTC3k_tl2XL-vNcO58Y0QvtlgXleTFvOkKoxqZ4PaIiOXYA02c6XyFEJoFL3LiKqxzSC_E/s640/Yellow-tuftedHoneyeater_BartleysBlockChiltern01.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-tufted Honeyeater, Bartley's Block, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/1250</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8Ud_O4a04yvol3hB1_4xRBITzIOnc2BpWcd9B2HXrM7C0GhCT_3e1pnDW1mknIj7XeLQBCGX0PhoXfeV9CN_WXstB3xp15toBDdFPGT58OQUa-V8gtRP1DNpf-EUgLgeyHZ69w8fVGc/s1600/NoisyFriarbird_BartleysBlockChiltern01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8Ud_O4a04yvol3hB1_4xRBITzIOnc2BpWcd9B2HXrM7C0GhCT_3e1pnDW1mknIj7XeLQBCGX0PhoXfeV9CN_WXstB3xp15toBDdFPGT58OQUa-V8gtRP1DNpf-EUgLgeyHZ69w8fVGc/s640/NoisyFriarbird_BartleysBlockChiltern01.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Noisy Friarbird, Bartley's Block, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/1600</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiphgJg-ismZ9b0gaWqleKtI8GFa10lxz-XbS0GXUHGB65kAC0DotBMLRpCUD_8kmHu8ncGDjpPMmGgokD-BPFO-ob4LPE8oko3p-6kqsNSbYfuskyBJoZhTIbsQ6yFC6b-ejG6OCz9LH0/s1600/NoisyFriarbird_BartleysBlockChiltern02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiphgJg-ismZ9b0gaWqleKtI8GFa10lxz-XbS0GXUHGB65kAC0DotBMLRpCUD_8kmHu8ncGDjpPMmGgokD-BPFO-ob4LPE8oko3p-6kqsNSbYfuskyBJoZhTIbsQ6yFC6b-ejG6OCz9LH0/s640/NoisyFriarbird_BartleysBlockChiltern02.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Noisy Friarbird, Bartley's Block, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/1600</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We spotted a Bronze Cuckoo perched among the foliage high in a tree near the back of the block and, following a lengthy discussion about whether the bars went all the way across the breast or not, we settled on <b>Horsefield's Bronze Cuckoo</b>.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitcoxxuLUwP15xuDIuq_PoaD2ELkMxwgbMB1b-2__L3DO13XjSG2-n0F4maEE0akyWRL-cBmYQPkfOtn9hpk0BTNg37pjLaRtvxDe7OZtA2DJ0HQYqInaZ3a0H5X4Fmber8Sw5CH0deAw/s1600/HorsefieldsBronzeCuckoo_BartleysBlockChiltern01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitcoxxuLUwP15xuDIuq_PoaD2ELkMxwgbMB1b-2__L3DO13XjSG2-n0F4maEE0akyWRL-cBmYQPkfOtn9hpk0BTNg37pjLaRtvxDe7OZtA2DJ0HQYqInaZ3a0H5X4Fmber8Sw5CH0deAw/s640/HorsefieldsBronzeCuckoo_BartleysBlockChiltern01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Horsefield's Bronze Cuckoo, Bartley's Block, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/2500</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We found another one (or maybe the same one) an hour or so later in a much better location for photographs<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyMsxR3pHM8i69Rf4HQ_lLfPTz80JFPmflCKEbOdOR1Qp96E26PYh3ipeETNh_YqCRHjbuJFWxfG9-I04nKfAPaQOfbI7EnBKFfwQ420o-gcCOFynWVe45K2ofXH7vkmhNCgmQDk4BXCU/s1600/HorsefieldsBronzeCuckoo_BartleysBlockChiltern02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyMsxR3pHM8i69Rf4HQ_lLfPTz80JFPmflCKEbOdOR1Qp96E26PYh3ipeETNh_YqCRHjbuJFWxfG9-I04nKfAPaQOfbI7EnBKFfwQ420o-gcCOFynWVe45K2ofXH7vkmhNCgmQDk4BXCU/s640/HorsefieldsBronzeCuckoo_BartleysBlockChiltern02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Horsefield's Bronze Cuckoo, Bartley's Block, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/400</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
along with a male <b>Mistletoebird</b> in the same tree.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPL8GojdLTxwqb8GfUh4oR78OKylUPjeuWsgMq1MQ-XKpJnm1rHwsQLPT1ATLfcJaOXlHlJ_kHEC7GNoBPyRHa7_l2lESxG9JXAfOTUdbiWM09GJuUdRPYO5wJsKV5r6XolHbAfm5psB4/s1600/Mistletoebird_BartleysBlockChiltern01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPL8GojdLTxwqb8GfUh4oR78OKylUPjeuWsgMq1MQ-XKpJnm1rHwsQLPT1ATLfcJaOXlHlJ_kHEC7GNoBPyRHa7_l2lESxG9JXAfOTUdbiWM09GJuUdRPYO5wJsKV5r6XolHbAfm5psB4/s640/Mistletoebird_BartleysBlockChiltern01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mistletoebird (male), Bartley's Block, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/1600</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Several species of birds were 'hanging out' in this wattle bush but only the <b>Silvereye</b> and <b>White-eared Honeyeater</b> were photographable.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhknSd_FW6fWQkBwyGBCk6NbJd3G3jF1z7t4cNq2KFw28mtgDQKEqJAZR-f8DB_dMFGvy3jIztrDXQPpKYIu12WeE6ggV87R_OrbB6SyA0oUFqMn7w9pUsdliZQ8I8ycih-F9nNy29ro4c/s1600/Silvereye_BartleysBlockChiltern01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhknSd_FW6fWQkBwyGBCk6NbJd3G3jF1z7t4cNq2KFw28mtgDQKEqJAZR-f8DB_dMFGvy3jIztrDXQPpKYIu12WeE6ggV87R_OrbB6SyA0oUFqMn7w9pUsdliZQ8I8ycih-F9nNy29ro4c/s640/Silvereye_BartleysBlockChiltern01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silvereye, Bartley's Block, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/5000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RYOUoBNtsGtwbIoPRgEE30nkuVM3K1PHMoXYOKZGYisVnRYb5jWAUsS-Zk_iCsXxtu082Ml9ZVsb4oK8cvpwWJX7J1EaRk4a_9I_mvW4s_eAUYO42w6fo1hdhEYVpLoLS2deuJUi5PA/s1600/White-earedHoneyeater_BartleysBlockChiltern01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RYOUoBNtsGtwbIoPRgEE30nkuVM3K1PHMoXYOKZGYisVnRYb5jWAUsS-Zk_iCsXxtu082Ml9ZVsb4oK8cvpwWJX7J1EaRk4a_9I_mvW4s_eAUYO42w6fo1hdhEYVpLoLS2deuJUi5PA/s640/White-earedHoneyeater_BartleysBlockChiltern01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-eared Honeyeater, Bartley's Block, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/4000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2l-IoH1Pju9i7YPgfuWxA8BVBwDW6oGtvWfdvCFPnjQ_aqhqIe7jBCyOrgVHUUIMAia-FPvl2dkg9Kh45Q2z2fH4Vp65Lzp27jScAVcttdf2SQDNO0zrT_qD-uwEMzi7r2rv0vih7C-E/s1600/White-earedHoneyeater_BartleysBlockChiltern02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2l-IoH1Pju9i7YPgfuWxA8BVBwDW6oGtvWfdvCFPnjQ_aqhqIe7jBCyOrgVHUUIMAia-FPvl2dkg9Kh45Q2z2fH4Vp65Lzp27jScAVcttdf2SQDNO0zrT_qD-uwEMzi7r2rv0vih7C-E/s640/White-earedHoneyeater_BartleysBlockChiltern02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-eared Honeyeater, Bartley's Block, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/4000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
A tiny <b>Weebill </b>(Australia's smallest bird) was flitting about the foliage in this box tree. After I got this shot, we realised it was in and out of a nest so we left it alone<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeXJYKYMscYtT80KVfwPGMkFHTwU1iezCC4587EDAKiXwxKBug_L1iY9siiBn0eGYf2_4Y60zCwG_Hkc5lgk4JG0urOHE6gMyB88bhb6fHp015O5nqCo_pjm848LkZWHlZrsXMKGb2DcI/s1600/Weebill_BartleysBlockChiltern01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeXJYKYMscYtT80KVfwPGMkFHTwU1iezCC4587EDAKiXwxKBug_L1iY9siiBn0eGYf2_4Y60zCwG_Hkc5lgk4JG0urOHE6gMyB88bhb6fHp015O5nqCo_pjm848LkZWHlZrsXMKGb2DcI/s640/Weebill_BartleysBlockChiltern01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weebill, Bartley's Block, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/5000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div>
and headed back to <a href="http://smissen.blogspot.com.au/2015/09/lake-anderson-chiltern-part-3.html">Lake Anderson for some more evening shots</a>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Ian Smissenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07795090037606105126noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551542359419385423.post-50112819120130572692015-09-19T15:54:00.000+10:002015-12-21T13:22:19.987+11:00In Search of the Regent Honeyeater<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The critically endangered <b>Regent Honeyeater </b>is one of the rarest birds in Victoria. In fact, there are estimated to be only 500-1500 birds remaining Australia-wide. A national recovery program has been established to save this species including a captive breeding program at Taronga Zoo. Birds have been released in the Box-Ironbark forest of Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park in north-eastern Victoria over the last seven years with the latest release occurring earlier this year. This morning we went out to a location near the release site where there had been reports of recent sightings.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLF79amcG55dNmWY6T7b3sYhKvTrLk8otd-Gr4fMbGS4a8-4C0PXE6Mdu5JkwoF1Rp5-A1uyUhmiJ5JxJ_GfnqkOirrnuDcqZgpkpS52ICImcx4Ru3sxAE8pdM4UYsbj8PfrwgzIdX78o/s1600/BoxIronbark_CyanideRdChiltern01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLF79amcG55dNmWY6T7b3sYhKvTrLk8otd-Gr4fMbGS4a8-4C0PXE6Mdu5JkwoF1Rp5-A1uyUhmiJ5JxJ_GfnqkOirrnuDcqZgpkpS52ICImcx4Ru3sxAE8pdM4UYsbj8PfrwgzIdX78o/s640/BoxIronbark_CyanideRdChiltern01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Box-Ironbark Forest, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Pentax 16-50mm f/2.8 @ 16mm, ISO 800, f/4, 1/1600</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The site was dominated by a cacophony of Noisy Friarbirds flying around the treetops (and almost impossible to photograph) and small flocks of <b>Fuscous Honeyeaters</b> flitting around the understorey.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0w57i5KezOecT3UHUyodxMmDbBZ34yj1d01telDEoeVEAe8YWkWQtSpbo1dMOd-v5dg_7NZtmdKBJwjSHx6BisDRafOB_2SrzNUyJEjcK9TawAODY15R_Nd0gMw5Up_GHjPOMNBaE2T0/s1600/FuscousHoneyeater_CyanideRdChiltern01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0w57i5KezOecT3UHUyodxMmDbBZ34yj1d01telDEoeVEAe8YWkWQtSpbo1dMOd-v5dg_7NZtmdKBJwjSHx6BisDRafOB_2SrzNUyJEjcK9TawAODY15R_Nd0gMw5Up_GHjPOMNBaE2T0/s640/FuscousHoneyeater_CyanideRdChiltern01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fuscous Honeyeater, Cyanide Road, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 800, f/11, 1/160</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
including this one doing its best impression of a treecreeper.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuGnLAQV7VWczxlWDmkh6MChzp6h2jM4CxwcS1qBfa3xmXakkm0yjvkBvjqjNejQ5qnorMOwAFR3PSzusp-gDRj9LaLwhRk1FZccm5v0JpIBxiGerXTj2xAU-vn7gIcmzSxUIpCM8W2F8/s1600/FuscousHoneyeater_CyanideRdChiltern02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuGnLAQV7VWczxlWDmkh6MChzp6h2jM4CxwcS1qBfa3xmXakkm0yjvkBvjqjNejQ5qnorMOwAFR3PSzusp-gDRj9LaLwhRk1FZccm5v0JpIBxiGerXTj2xAU-vn7gIcmzSxUIpCM8W2F8/s640/FuscousHoneyeater_CyanideRdChiltern02.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fuscous Honeyeater, Cyanide Road, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 1600, f/11, 1/500</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
There were also several larger birds flying from tree to tree and I caught a glimpse of a mottled black and white belly and got a little excited...but once the bird landed and I got a closer look, it turned out to be an <b>Olive-backed Oriole</b>.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguPtG1YMTlG_bWcLAsi2uTSpJnAuh-PpdhdffI0bnkVek-UKYZLcEwEPgW0c_4n0YUxmvnGP7W7cFlZi2ODMe4-X59FsniKH0i2YHc0I1ObezmbZ21UzehUwadYB2EB_86-Rb5mLRFIL0/s1600/Olive-backedOriole_CyanideRdChiltern01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguPtG1YMTlG_bWcLAsi2uTSpJnAuh-PpdhdffI0bnkVek-UKYZLcEwEPgW0c_4n0YUxmvnGP7W7cFlZi2ODMe4-X59FsniKH0i2YHc0I1ObezmbZ21UzehUwadYB2EB_86-Rb5mLRFIL0/s640/Olive-backedOriole_CyanideRdChiltern01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olive-backed Oriole, Cyanide Road, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 800, f/11, 1/2000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I was happy to see this bird, albeit from directly underneath - not the best view! However, the prime target for the morning remained elusive...until I spotted this bird flying from behind a clump of trees...a few clicks of the shutter, one in focus...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhAnVl489hNwD7tmni22ePMUeFzJsQw_HgYo9fh0anAhX_2YEMFqZItO51XpOig8rILklEuBti-6folTtiuzoi1guva2n5h8FtvAQ9qjH1y7VZgSfr8JGch9ShnCUuAthfvciO39CzF7w/s1600/RegentHoneyeater_CyanideRdChiltern01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhAnVl489hNwD7tmni22ePMUeFzJsQw_HgYo9fh0anAhX_2YEMFqZItO51XpOig8rILklEuBti-6folTtiuzoi1guva2n5h8FtvAQ9qjH1y7VZgSfr8JGch9ShnCUuAthfvciO39CzF7w/s640/RegentHoneyeater_CyanideRdChiltern01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Regent Honeyeater, Cyanide Road, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 800, f/11, 1/1600</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
and then it was gone. Examination of the shot in the camera revealed that it was a <b>Regent Honeyeater</b>...so mission accomplished. For a while I thought this was all I was going to get as the next 15 minutes revealed only a few scant glimpses high up in the trees and behind foliage but eventually at least four birds came closer and stayed (reasonably cooperatively) for a few photographs.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirB-G-eh3UL1YziRxsuzJpJYuD_BS_3T2mPy5ywk8cQDfraJJufM-oZRR5VLgIOrD1uLmU9p-l08LWt-2-NJ7l7jNSgRr0OZgh-aaDr97m2dc_7J-bZAnQSD7xAVmtdLSHVgLC1wInGQs/s1600/RegentHoneyeater_CyanideRdChiltern02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirB-G-eh3UL1YziRxsuzJpJYuD_BS_3T2mPy5ywk8cQDfraJJufM-oZRR5VLgIOrD1uLmU9p-l08LWt-2-NJ7l7jNSgRr0OZgh-aaDr97m2dc_7J-bZAnQSD7xAVmtdLSHVgLC1wInGQs/s640/RegentHoneyeater_CyanideRdChiltern02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Regent Honeyeater, Cyanide Road, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 800, f/11, 1/80</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gjIxrzbhn2b45165TDsbPlzfp1d49FINiAOEU6FyfUptvk6UmYvQOVynOLEwEJepLUe1kZirrrFkgb7enPtdcG5sDNdQy_IX63QXmliGYXbbGMQHIxTJGmt7Y7vWptdMP4o8xt7BHUQ/s1600/RegentHoneyeater_CyanideRdChiltern03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gjIxrzbhn2b45165TDsbPlzfp1d49FINiAOEU6FyfUptvk6UmYvQOVynOLEwEJepLUe1kZirrrFkgb7enPtdcG5sDNdQy_IX63QXmliGYXbbGMQHIxTJGmt7Y7vWptdMP4o8xt7BHUQ/s640/RegentHoneyeater_CyanideRdChiltern03.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Regent Honeyeater, Cyanide Road, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/400</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNm0MmXDOClrKze5oNGYerNCBc7Nxbo8yt0wZYiSiWVhneSc0arr_Zh1EctYZni6qYtQrwskDZW1fhBmIBo0PSDwEw8sMODN1fb3EXdCSvXdTELvNkW4DApsPLxroLVEcBNAH6IKcOLw/s1600/RegentHoneyeater_CyanideRdChiltern04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNm0MmXDOClrKze5oNGYerNCBc7Nxbo8yt0wZYiSiWVhneSc0arr_Zh1EctYZni6qYtQrwskDZW1fhBmIBo0PSDwEw8sMODN1fb3EXdCSvXdTELvNkW4DApsPLxroLVEcBNAH6IKcOLw/s640/RegentHoneyeater_CyanideRdChiltern04.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Regent Honeyeater, Cyanide Road, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/400</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs3ZGgGvYrr1GDhVoCbzFzProTv7MWorJg34yM6IV38r8tfa-W-x9Owx2tzekU2U6qi1dvT2Hk6fO5milCYKdyA6th4OHptYo5rbvC9qW6JN7hHeNO8eDJwg30pqObvBykzBc7jyyx_90/s1600/RegentHoneyeater_CyanideRdChiltern05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs3ZGgGvYrr1GDhVoCbzFzProTv7MWorJg34yM6IV38r8tfa-W-x9Owx2tzekU2U6qi1dvT2Hk6fO5milCYKdyA6th4OHptYo5rbvC9qW6JN7hHeNO8eDJwg30pqObvBykzBc7jyyx_90/s640/RegentHoneyeater_CyanideRdChiltern05.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Regent Honeyeater, Cyanide Road, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/400</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigE5E9LfEj1Ma7cnEokR8TJkqQpmagnf6hTxN78RJv-K4HjyWuKwvxPU_V1q-NLDk0N7TDfnL1g_zPbr22peFqVo-waTsmB1ds7FhUYD_FyVbC-VV9z66q2rByJcFYcr_OwAzEtcktISk/s1600/RegentHoneyeater_CyanideRdChiltern06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigE5E9LfEj1Ma7cnEokR8TJkqQpmagnf6hTxN78RJv-K4HjyWuKwvxPU_V1q-NLDk0N7TDfnL1g_zPbr22peFqVo-waTsmB1ds7FhUYD_FyVbC-VV9z66q2rByJcFYcr_OwAzEtcktISk/s640/RegentHoneyeater_CyanideRdChiltern06.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Regent Honeyeater, Cyanide Road, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/320</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9R-S1DmlfoA9uyT7Ikh4JfU39HPBP94ty8ijrW83wR2OS8jTsH7f_RwIfzJFYfyRIkZigHPhqEy8VO23ibImB19IrKrAmAWnpGl2cEgleKZ5jO0qu9K3xZ0QXNWvnChFE0b0JptBTyNo/s1600/RegentHoneyeater_CyanideRdChiltern07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9R-S1DmlfoA9uyT7Ikh4JfU39HPBP94ty8ijrW83wR2OS8jTsH7f_RwIfzJFYfyRIkZigHPhqEy8VO23ibImB19IrKrAmAWnpGl2cEgleKZ5jO0qu9K3xZ0QXNWvnChFE0b0JptBTyNo/s640/RegentHoneyeater_CyanideRdChiltern07.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Regent Honeyeater, Cyanide Road, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/320</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic4FyItQr1JXVJd4KnZEUKB_RNadA_vnXAI1OHRsEt3QrXoG5czwDsTXzdVCYLhyphenhyphenJp-P3biL7p8mKj9OparbLlu-De_Q03mnDBeLiXvJ8HPmgXhGGvvWISbTfY6zkPe0MJoG6LVXzoZWI/s1600/RegentHoneyeater_CyanideRdChiltern08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic4FyItQr1JXVJd4KnZEUKB_RNadA_vnXAI1OHRsEt3QrXoG5czwDsTXzdVCYLhyphenhyphenJp-P3biL7p8mKj9OparbLlu-De_Q03mnDBeLiXvJ8HPmgXhGGvvWISbTfY6zkPe0MJoG6LVXzoZWI/s640/RegentHoneyeater_CyanideRdChiltern08.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Regent Honeyeater, Cyanide Road, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/160</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It was difficult to leave but lunch beckoned so we headed for Honeyeater Picnic Ground where a pair of <b>Superb Fairy-wrens</b> (the male in final stages of moulting into breeding plumage) displayed right next to the car park. I photograph these little characters a lot (they seem to be ubiquitous across a wide range of habitats in SE Australia) but they are hard to resist.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3C72c9X8Bd1x392tZeeF0hepIaLRZ9MIGUjwUn-uTfWHP5WLmqSk8zO7kBNRsUMCWfdLFftjjH9cMYdROZP9S-h0mCXNLjUCwPQ4NDT4MQzAHUFTIFQPsm5Mo21VfhfHlGMqAyFLjRoQ/s1600/SuperbFairy-wren_HoneyeaterPicnicGroundChiltern01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3C72c9X8Bd1x392tZeeF0hepIaLRZ9MIGUjwUn-uTfWHP5WLmqSk8zO7kBNRsUMCWfdLFftjjH9cMYdROZP9S-h0mCXNLjUCwPQ4NDT4MQzAHUFTIFQPsm5Mo21VfhfHlGMqAyFLjRoQ/s640/SuperbFairy-wren_HoneyeaterPicnicGroundChiltern01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Superb Fairy-wren (female), Honeyeater Picnic Ground, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/125</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlggN637fYycidM179kh7VZVhbvGmurchAmPTT2TyalR4e-BCzp0es52JfR-QikeEAkKAn6-5jVn28LYG_E-Zoxpmsy2jxdkE5cUQ5M6hkzaDG4zSb5buPTpQyKeKpyje70_m5g7PPtI/s1600/SuperbFairy-wren_HoneyeaterPicnicGroundChiltern02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlggN637fYycidM179kh7VZVhbvGmurchAmPTT2TyalR4e-BCzp0es52JfR-QikeEAkKAn6-5jVn28LYG_E-Zoxpmsy2jxdkE5cUQ5M6hkzaDG4zSb5buPTpQyKeKpyje70_m5g7PPtI/s640/SuperbFairy-wren_HoneyeaterPicnicGroundChiltern02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Superb Fairy-wren (male), Honeyeater Picnic Ground, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/250</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDH-7RKYBpcgm-HP2h0poRqMTMzTmUSnOjOUcEdE7zHuT2OMNh1ldI5fjmc1xcy2Dga8w4wNSovEgieKvFleENZP6uCnWSLxmppVMDEk_2OrXCVAcKgR2LJDlnATkJ-u4Opth1wWeUAjI/s1600/SuperbFairy-wren_HoneyeaterPicnicGroundChiltern03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDH-7RKYBpcgm-HP2h0poRqMTMzTmUSnOjOUcEdE7zHuT2OMNh1ldI5fjmc1xcy2Dga8w4wNSovEgieKvFleENZP6uCnWSLxmppVMDEk_2OrXCVAcKgR2LJDlnATkJ-u4Opth1wWeUAjI/s640/SuperbFairy-wren_HoneyeaterPicnicGroundChiltern03.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Superb Fairy-wren (female), Honeyeater Picnic Ground, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/640</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsD2Mol8nuN_pW6uRmgvrk7jl-kXqXAWvXGtBOy1A5yhTYdPhScNIrL2KSm62AFBdVgp2yLf2oG3tGSgc8XVLHINFrjnLXriGpDqbs_MGcPBJ7fi5QlBQ4hmgBrmU_BPnn3Y7FVD0sIsY/s1600/SuperbFairy-wren_HoneyeaterPicnicGroundChiltern04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsD2Mol8nuN_pW6uRmgvrk7jl-kXqXAWvXGtBOy1A5yhTYdPhScNIrL2KSm62AFBdVgp2yLf2oG3tGSgc8XVLHINFrjnLXriGpDqbs_MGcPBJ7fi5QlBQ4hmgBrmU_BPnn3Y7FVD0sIsY/s640/SuperbFairy-wren_HoneyeaterPicnicGroundChiltern04.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Superb Fairy-wren (female)<br />
Honeyeater Picnic Ground, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/640</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
An <b>Olive-backed Oriole</b> sat for a few seconds on a low branch nearby (and was much more photogenic than it's colleague at the previous site).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih99OKzqZR1YYCNeo4S9FP8IhclxynAlNrEs9uYOHD4qyEA7IXsmww1ERNKCUeV2U81xgFSbu_E52iKb7myobsFTOIeE5Ak0GqZ_jWU3c_xVNoT1lm87DgBD2hYFZRcCgGQTHfSapeuSM/s1600/Olive-backedOriole_HoneyeaterPicnicGroundChiltern01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih99OKzqZR1YYCNeo4S9FP8IhclxynAlNrEs9uYOHD4qyEA7IXsmww1ERNKCUeV2U81xgFSbu_E52iKb7myobsFTOIeE5Ak0GqZ_jWU3c_xVNoT1lm87DgBD2hYFZRcCgGQTHfSapeuSM/s640/Olive-backedOriole_HoneyeaterPicnicGroundChiltern01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olive-backed Oriole, Honeyeater Picnic Ground, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/400</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6L7mdAdXnP6PJKT461lCyQwg2e5WdAe9gF_xbTjZa8oT2LURvg8BAJY23CdApkC2ZOZ0aozDtE2Ien6vZ5gotxNsH1rll_iAkJCPJk7rZP5CPk99RoJ0ZVos8Gi88rrznVllptiKNXc/s1600/Olive-backedOriole_HoneyeaterPicnicGroundChiltern02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6L7mdAdXnP6PJKT461lCyQwg2e5WdAe9gF_xbTjZa8oT2LURvg8BAJY23CdApkC2ZOZ0aozDtE2Ien6vZ5gotxNsH1rll_iAkJCPJk7rZP5CPk99RoJ0ZVos8Gi88rrznVllptiKNXc/s640/Olive-backedOriole_HoneyeaterPicnicGroundChiltern02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olive-backed Oriole, Honeyeater Picnic Ground, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/400</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Brown Treecreepers</b> were feeding on the ground in the grass but I couldn't get a good shot until this one posed on a tree trunk.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzyPZExqJLAXNgwQTzJKYpL-pa3YcwsUIaYBhJA2rb_zPeiY98ekgijTEC46g0f0X5t_DxBeuhNem8G1NnqQIKUsXyXihVJUpBCIMEEw5kvlf-qG29S6nF-p4Rp6n2EkeQo0DhLLtgILQ/s1600/BrownTreecreeper_HoneyeaterPicnicGroundChiltern01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzyPZExqJLAXNgwQTzJKYpL-pa3YcwsUIaYBhJA2rb_zPeiY98ekgijTEC46g0f0X5t_DxBeuhNem8G1NnqQIKUsXyXihVJUpBCIMEEw5kvlf-qG29S6nF-p4Rp6n2EkeQo0DhLLtgILQ/s640/BrownTreecreeper_HoneyeaterPicnicGroundChiltern01.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown Treecreeper, Honeyeater Picnic Ground, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/2000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>White-Naped Honeyeaters</b> were feeding on insects high in the treetops - too far away for any good shots (this image is heavily cropped) but great to record them here.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMFPa-fl1OOqJNjuVdVjcVyaSVInxJCidM73pm6YvfLSr2QPZiQXXNd96sKafQT5pVT_fhrCLvk589u7tYs72onYog_iEmDpFMlWpn3r62AvDTD9jKh-4cbBNKviX7OIY9pvGJ7YN9m4/s1600/White-napedHoneyeater_HoneyeaterPicnicGroundChiltern01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMFPa-fl1OOqJNjuVdVjcVyaSVInxJCidM73pm6YvfLSr2QPZiQXXNd96sKafQT5pVT_fhrCLvk589u7tYs72onYog_iEmDpFMlWpn3r62AvDTD9jKh-4cbBNKviX7OIY9pvGJ7YN9m4/s640/White-napedHoneyeater_HoneyeaterPicnicGroundChiltern01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-Naped Honeyeater, Honeyeater Picnic Ground, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/1250</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The most common birds around the picnic ground were the <b>Yellow-tufted Honeyeaters </b>feeding on insects in the Black Wattle.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2j6UgRHTA9GuiBegl3Lm6uY3A3Trbr-xvfNCvbz7kHzrB74nFMaGueqgC1cl6kVnOBmc6HCQMlLEB9l2GeXZGu95X3elIfFg-X7RWKlVRb0IfIYXGeyTKfjE4I5wkbgJadhHZBbWlZik/s1600/Yellow-tuftedHoneyeater_HoneyeaterPicnicGroundChiltern01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2j6UgRHTA9GuiBegl3Lm6uY3A3Trbr-xvfNCvbz7kHzrB74nFMaGueqgC1cl6kVnOBmc6HCQMlLEB9l2GeXZGu95X3elIfFg-X7RWKlVRb0IfIYXGeyTKfjE4I5wkbgJadhHZBbWlZik/s640/Yellow-tuftedHoneyeater_HoneyeaterPicnicGroundChiltern01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-tufted Honeyeater, Honeyeater Picnic Ground, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/1250</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZKZIVOS1k1i3_ZrcSon35Gv1HswpBLxt5uNhZ4K8RTuqoR-1Ox1coCNPXf98V0SnXd0FaaYYhUAmLA1KWTUrpWNCGxVE6jYcZ99Qj_3sbKP7m3IY1Mt2o2GMMBgxfPgfhLCAqL0BkBA/s1600/Yellow-tuftedHoneyeater_HoneyeaterPicnicGroundChiltern02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZKZIVOS1k1i3_ZrcSon35Gv1HswpBLxt5uNhZ4K8RTuqoR-1Ox1coCNPXf98V0SnXd0FaaYYhUAmLA1KWTUrpWNCGxVE6jYcZ99Qj_3sbKP7m3IY1Mt2o2GMMBgxfPgfhLCAqL0BkBA/s640/Yellow-tuftedHoneyeater_HoneyeaterPicnicGroundChiltern02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-tufted Honeyeater, Honeyeater Picnic Ground, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/1250</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih5pX_-EwGt9tYBYC4JgLHPMA502DWiYe1IkcOrqymBYgivhaJDmrmW1cM2ySSOFFlSdhDpxLJvUSN0dXUiRKYmkHswczZtNmAQ_G7WFkGucoN2m2wCiq3GlkUiJmmPbUIJEBWn9-9sAc/s1600/Yellow-tuftedHoneyeater_HoneyeaterPicnicGroundChiltern03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih5pX_-EwGt9tYBYC4JgLHPMA502DWiYe1IkcOrqymBYgivhaJDmrmW1cM2ySSOFFlSdhDpxLJvUSN0dXUiRKYmkHswczZtNmAQ_G7WFkGucoN2m2wCiq3GlkUiJmmPbUIJEBWn9-9sAc/s640/Yellow-tuftedHoneyeater_HoneyeaterPicnicGroundChiltern03.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-tufted Honeyeater, Honeyeater Picnic Ground, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/1250</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGbXBF4jPJfhAmud0dVhiCX2iJUiqIGbCke6qbFYlRRKpQY-DmTkllPuo6yo47hK_jCzUJC7q3AWFIBkPodct5hbPVdRcXDlN6jH2I1Um4doKXSel29ePDl_uEhhpCszAZsXJV_KdoTQI/s1600/Yellow-tuftedHoneyeater_HoneyeaterPicnicGroundChiltern04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGbXBF4jPJfhAmud0dVhiCX2iJUiqIGbCke6qbFYlRRKpQY-DmTkllPuo6yo47hK_jCzUJC7q3AWFIBkPodct5hbPVdRcXDlN6jH2I1Um4doKXSel29ePDl_uEhhpCszAZsXJV_KdoTQI/s640/Yellow-tuftedHoneyeater_HoneyeaterPicnicGroundChiltern04.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-tufted Honeyeater, Honeyeater Picnic Ground, Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/640</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
A great morning! We found the Regent Honeyeaters and Honeyeater Picnic Ground lived up to its name. This afternoon, more bush birds at <a href="http://smissen.blogspot.com.au/2015/09/bartleys-block-chiltern.html">Bartley's Block</a>.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Ian Smissenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07795090037606105126noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551542359419385423.post-31436639704846151672015-09-19T10:00:00.000+10:002015-12-21T13:18:20.200+11:00Lake Anderson, Chiltern (Part 2)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Following <a href="http://smissen.blogspot.com.au/2015/09/lake-anderson-chiltern-part-1.html">yesterday evening's walk around Lake Anderson</a>, a few of us were up early this morning to capture the birds in the morning light and we were rewarded with some great opportunities for flight shots of ducks and cormorants flying into the lake.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJn_pnxJ98JAv0WpCO5t2oOJeiU0_tCzkkB62Sy6sqQZTzjY8yA0mBb-tpOqvfRc1CdpszkWWeMxj_qSnqxHTLiPn0OcG0T3qFT7VcRdOTsS3xbIB1_TI07PH4idSRqiYL_e2ShUOb9JI/s1600/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJn_pnxJ98JAv0WpCO5t2oOJeiU0_tCzkkB62Sy6sqQZTzjY8yA0mBb-tpOqvfRc1CdpszkWWeMxj_qSnqxHTLiPn0OcG0T3qFT7VcRdOTsS3xbIB1_TI07PH4idSRqiYL_e2ShUOb9JI/s640/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern04.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pacific Black Duck, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 1600, f/5.6, 1/400</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi16WJBY2H1NZE4gXpQsOWpueXphdQESXG3bueU4YMXckQJ1uDKLSSM873tAocmtP7TwnLcCVcl4h66Q3M3BXeDSyHvs484O_G_kpam4mdtXgrrq9qhRtPm3b93nltMywWB2b0FNmCZDcY/s1600/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi16WJBY2H1NZE4gXpQsOWpueXphdQESXG3bueU4YMXckQJ1uDKLSSM873tAocmtP7TwnLcCVcl4h66Q3M3BXeDSyHvs484O_G_kpam4mdtXgrrq9qhRtPm3b93nltMywWB2b0FNmCZDcY/s640/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern07.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pacific Black Duck, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 800, f/11, 1/1000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkaKWK0swR0TiuT-dnV9Uz5ky2hy9A2uZfh41hbF8vs_YoMprQv_AILHQL8k04hAkiyZJImJsVctdZpR6-Rz-1bJyNmv7t4ROl55bUEP7cH6pncKq6cesOuqbKYIS4-dAS03GKShq1a0Y/s1600/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkaKWK0swR0TiuT-dnV9Uz5ky2hy9A2uZfh41hbF8vs_YoMprQv_AILHQL8k04hAkiyZJImJsVctdZpR6-Rz-1bJyNmv7t4ROl55bUEP7cH6pncKq6cesOuqbKYIS4-dAS03GKShq1a0Y/s640/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern08.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pacific Black Duck, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 800, f/11, 1/1000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIAOHUuJEgRM8NtcG13ndsjILaCEuPVQ6v5GSbAVZozd3jxg3E-UhkCdGdfi9QwNlnkhmzoDD6xerYUOEreJiGEbBYueh2kE1eDI8_q8EOJEZc94aBtgjDiEm_zUG5zySpuOAbuDLnCRI/s1600/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIAOHUuJEgRM8NtcG13ndsjILaCEuPVQ6v5GSbAVZozd3jxg3E-UhkCdGdfi9QwNlnkhmzoDD6xerYUOEreJiGEbBYueh2kE1eDI8_q8EOJEZc94aBtgjDiEm_zUG5zySpuOAbuDLnCRI/s640/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern09.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pacific Black Duck, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 800, f/11, 1/3200</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHTHGlHJVJM1ZQPQ40VykWIQn5w3SKhQ1Ky5suSnSKFxxjTzBrXt3v67hhJv8dtvM8zKRQsfsEGbOvsDkmcm2mDv2j4-vzcqje4Qc4yvrLLSK2xIfdTr2bp99IH0-nZJ0HGyzRuwMIx7c/s1600/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHTHGlHJVJM1ZQPQ40VykWIQn5w3SKhQ1Ky5suSnSKFxxjTzBrXt3v67hhJv8dtvM8zKRQsfsEGbOvsDkmcm2mDv2j4-vzcqje4Qc4yvrLLSK2xIfdTr2bp99IH0-nZJ0HGyzRuwMIx7c/s640/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern10.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pacific Black Duck, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 800, f/11, 1/3200</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidWfVTMC30ketn_E8Rz2yTlgptstRX87XbgGnGnE8dvHmjKDf9uJ9YZdqI6nNU16eJKOk4hItO_eQ89MWdoYjB1UicHj_lIzaXkjWDByxBROob2A5Z5nXaISETomaKLSE7al25pqZ1oGQ/s1600/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidWfVTMC30ketn_E8Rz2yTlgptstRX87XbgGnGnE8dvHmjKDf9uJ9YZdqI6nNU16eJKOk4hItO_eQ89MWdoYjB1UicHj_lIzaXkjWDByxBROob2A5Z5nXaISETomaKLSE7al25pqZ1oGQ/s640/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern11.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pacific Black Duck, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 800, f/11, 1/2500</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkzmUZqCoSrt26f1NEOhR4EwNSlqpjn9MoQqa1aZrZ5nhSG8qw6AOytb7rJINCK0mrs2ekSrQZFZTmTakyQ5odfNItXljI1z8Eeo_aLt8h3_HDtttP3ooRzYf5s9zhu1st-jCuyvov9E/s1600/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkzmUZqCoSrt26f1NEOhR4EwNSlqpjn9MoQqa1aZrZ5nhSG8qw6AOytb7rJINCK0mrs2ekSrQZFZTmTakyQ5odfNItXljI1z8Eeo_aLt8h3_HDtttP3ooRzYf5s9zhu1st-jCuyvov9E/s640/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern12.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pacific Black Duck, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 800, f/11, 1/4000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUdG0fmhqv3tjEiPjciXo-rF5TC7ksS5drO7jzWCmIEe-8VaQzMQJuI7yr5cOIlFWrsxbyA84rqTbGGltJ9PDhRH9v0w2_eGEqCqXvMOLECJDGEhppZmHXOBoxmnUcKOGnsDvypJCKE8/s1600/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUdG0fmhqv3tjEiPjciXo-rF5TC7ksS5drO7jzWCmIEe-8VaQzMQJuI7yr5cOIlFWrsxbyA84rqTbGGltJ9PDhRH9v0w2_eGEqCqXvMOLECJDGEhppZmHXOBoxmnUcKOGnsDvypJCKE8/s640/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern13.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pacific Black Duck, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 800, f/11, 1/1000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3UJ8AzC9sO3gbHc_VgnqFRbQ8DEB_nTy8tpqn3AgMiR7r1qeSI4oaVAqVsauY2TWhfa3CRnEyZPnTSW4Lox1t_RKgTN8vbtAZuUwfzJdKwXW79ReMrFDwqFfwoHOdoHbeMzsOQgzzMdw/s1600/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3UJ8AzC9sO3gbHc_VgnqFRbQ8DEB_nTy8tpqn3AgMiR7r1qeSI4oaVAqVsauY2TWhfa3CRnEyZPnTSW4Lox1t_RKgTN8vbtAZuUwfzJdKwXW79ReMrFDwqFfwoHOdoHbeMzsOQgzzMdw/s640/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern14.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pacific Black Duck, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 800, f/11, 1/1000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2X1aO5qi4CMGL5jS29X6foxb_tG31z7iy46fRK06XII5-61jGkvxjI_L_L87b10wYTbbApQA9ZuKVkYXUww3E8olLLfU5zeGm5Iz5ZeRfjwWwoly4jErfcNbxR_BqNeRomNArv_lBfMA/s1600/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2X1aO5qi4CMGL5jS29X6foxb_tG31z7iy46fRK06XII5-61jGkvxjI_L_L87b10wYTbbApQA9ZuKVkYXUww3E8olLLfU5zeGm5Iz5ZeRfjwWwoly4jErfcNbxR_BqNeRomNArv_lBfMA/s640/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern15.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pacific Black Duck, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 800, f/11, 1/1600</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The lake was mill-pond calm<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7l9GVN0b9J_nh6qCcPSQLCFT9eY1A8EmlKqTGCCsB8wTcg6oWjPl_iS8_71IIdNwgSugN_bxpxqPTUbbe1k2KkvpFPoSwWeEqOi5jr7KXb6I0NDUBt3otZT15tzTpVUBTQwhMox94iD8/s1600/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7l9GVN0b9J_nh6qCcPSQLCFT9eY1A8EmlKqTGCCsB8wTcg6oWjPl_iS8_71IIdNwgSugN_bxpxqPTUbbe1k2KkvpFPoSwWeEqOi5jr7KXb6I0NDUBt3otZT15tzTpVUBTQwhMox94iD8/s640/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern05.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pacific Black Duck, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/1600</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
but, the serenity quickly dissipated...<br />
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhKYBRcHbvyz4Tpxds9bwsQSDPsSxroZzntFqAVXczpVt7TBuE-NaBEKNlr9q7LNB1zj8jAsj5MfKo8y9SP1_Pk8o38wM-sNvRDl4M1ypIA4xlpxSymoM2eVMcvjI6nt5Uo0j-M2Jr9X8/s1600/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhKYBRcHbvyz4Tpxds9bwsQSDPsSxroZzntFqAVXczpVt7TBuE-NaBEKNlr9q7LNB1zj8jAsj5MfKo8y9SP1_Pk8o38wM-sNvRDl4M1ypIA4xlpxSymoM2eVMcvjI6nt5Uo0j-M2Jr9X8/s640/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern16.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Pacific Black Duck, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 800, f/11, 1/1250</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnX_CIGfy4Vbyy9NSJIcD2pNKcL-l0xfVyMsmH3DOywAIcXLCVfYUZwZLUzBWIL5W0t8g-alKeK1XWP3oBnInaRUUzwvZYNWXYs0zmnyy6RxLMKVo7hFjkbGtrzBMnI8ne_sqEiPOalQk/s1600/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnX_CIGfy4Vbyy9NSJIcD2pNKcL-l0xfVyMsmH3DOywAIcXLCVfYUZwZLUzBWIL5W0t8g-alKeK1XWP3oBnInaRUUzwvZYNWXYs0zmnyy6RxLMKVo7hFjkbGtrzBMnI8ne_sqEiPOalQk/s640/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern17.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pacific Black Duck, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 800, f/11, 1/1600</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWgKW_xYjh15YFlALV2dsiHzNeaCAWtrL5B0mKlaWhsEcLf1jhRJ9Gfm3ShLNR8zoz8wYkWJOi54fWGFT2tX736ZWeIAaeHgzRnn17Z1G4qpw-B7vN7Dji-TPPW-F20u13xE_Sogi2lf4/s1600/Hardhead_LakeAndersonChiltern03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWgKW_xYjh15YFlALV2dsiHzNeaCAWtrL5B0mKlaWhsEcLf1jhRJ9Gfm3ShLNR8zoz8wYkWJOi54fWGFT2tX736ZWeIAaeHgzRnn17Z1G4qpw-B7vN7Dji-TPPW-F20u13xE_Sogi2lf4/s640/Hardhead_LakeAndersonChiltern03.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hardhead, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 800, f/11, 1/3200</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzswWnNtA29l2JG7MbEz5bjsDr5ZIK4HdxYwXNtFhU2cdjJkMDk-8C9fHKBPCv3SO5XQyfks8CgwASotYWtIHWINcmFk61zOgsbNwCMOHKpYbkkboyAwHrAv0PjOplV24W1h1QZdxclSs/s1600/Hardhead_LakeAndersonChiltern04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzswWnNtA29l2JG7MbEz5bjsDr5ZIK4HdxYwXNtFhU2cdjJkMDk-8C9fHKBPCv3SO5XQyfks8CgwASotYWtIHWINcmFk61zOgsbNwCMOHKpYbkkboyAwHrAv0PjOplV24W1h1QZdxclSs/s640/Hardhead_LakeAndersonChiltern04.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hardhead, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 800, f/11, 1/3200</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3VG9MtDZOtx8lXfB0sUBCmEjW-WtwkTszbSMSc1W5upPtbKP4PFLmSS_FmJ8TOSWnltD-1O_6nBj0zL9Puc1XHy_6mkrG_PD-essypVYzeyvjEbLc7HkeXqcFAehPGLUxTj6adgPvOmk/s1600/GreatCormorant_LakeAndersonChiltern03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3VG9MtDZOtx8lXfB0sUBCmEjW-WtwkTszbSMSc1W5upPtbKP4PFLmSS_FmJ8TOSWnltD-1O_6nBj0zL9Puc1XHy_6mkrG_PD-essypVYzeyvjEbLc7HkeXqcFAehPGLUxTj6adgPvOmk/s640/GreatCormorant_LakeAndersonChiltern03.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Black Cormorant, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 800, f/11, 1/640</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfscIU-Y8JRwKXwcx3B8tprX5DLrtFq300SUf5A4mvquHWX8kBTBTmVYb4H2ROjXOLTrOYHwsfOlnOLq8CPT_38jM78JDoYf2Rx0B-W-iwPf7zS1Hx5tEiP5QsVscRxB-ED0YOENzF1bE/s1600/GreatCormorant_LakeAndersonChiltern05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfscIU-Y8JRwKXwcx3B8tprX5DLrtFq300SUf5A4mvquHWX8kBTBTmVYb4H2ROjXOLTrOYHwsfOlnOLq8CPT_38jM78JDoYf2Rx0B-W-iwPf7zS1Hx5tEiP5QsVscRxB-ED0YOENzF1bE/s640/GreatCormorant_LakeAndersonChiltern05.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Cormorant, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 800, f/11, 1/8000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLSN4YV1Xb7Be3W2AXNZTXi51pzR-MzJ9fLnT5KIht44uTKalgHSd024lqpwsiBREwBF6GLqNYsJb6HkusZhsHIAkED_9Q8joUDJ044cYSWFS0vd8RM_AGJ9oxqPg7xKAf8d8pnB6ViNI/s1600/GreatCormorant_LakeAndersonChiltern06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLSN4YV1Xb7Be3W2AXNZTXi51pzR-MzJ9fLnT5KIht44uTKalgHSd024lqpwsiBREwBF6GLqNYsJb6HkusZhsHIAkED_9Q8joUDJ044cYSWFS0vd8RM_AGJ9oxqPg7xKAf8d8pnB6ViNI/s640/GreatCormorant_LakeAndersonChiltern06.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Cormorant, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 800, f/11, 1/6400</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Meanwhile, this male Magpie hung around, swooping and generally harassing us...it's that time of the year...</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBtHW5l5lAAgkOxlxcW4ah1xAch2OKsRtFmZGjrP-M_PM6IQZycBiocN1VLDxdIe101kDCaqz0dSzhEs-Dh52Fw8I92bKhw2JO6hVakfn7mGb7fsHsi6o2sMWoL-x-c15d_-_-t8YNxM/s1600/AustralianMagpie_LakeAndersonChiltern01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBtHW5l5lAAgkOxlxcW4ah1xAch2OKsRtFmZGjrP-M_PM6IQZycBiocN1VLDxdIe101kDCaqz0dSzhEs-Dh52Fw8I92bKhw2JO6hVakfn7mGb7fsHsi6o2sMWoL-x-c15d_-_-t8YNxM/s640/AustralianMagpie_LakeAndersonChiltern01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australian Magpie, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 800, f/11, 1/1000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
...you can just tell his intent from the look in his eyes!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0yvcSgcYLXC8p1MD8l1fLJZkL441nnTeNxeA74BvB62LkpczYBWpl93Ffr6gLrTzQiR-pDSnN9jECnzj4iPgNgNnpl2R72IbPgwp0q3CkI8aHwGbGu6QwO7yRYfq3zdv9U_HGRRDRs0/s1600/AustralianMagpie_LakeAndersonChiltern02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0yvcSgcYLXC8p1MD8l1fLJZkL441nnTeNxeA74BvB62LkpczYBWpl93Ffr6gLrTzQiR-pDSnN9jECnzj4iPgNgNnpl2R72IbPgwp0q3CkI8aHwGbGu6QwO7yRYfq3zdv9U_HGRRDRs0/s640/AustralianMagpie_LakeAndersonChiltern02.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australian Magpie, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 800, f/11, 1/2000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Next, the <a href="http://smissen.blogspot.com.au/2015/09/in-search-of-regent-honeyeater-part-1.html">search for the Regent Honeyeater</a>.</div>
</div>
</div>
Ian Smissenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07795090037606105126noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551542359419385423.post-41844480332270117402015-09-18T22:00:00.000+10:002015-09-25T10:26:50.058+10:00Lake Anderson, Chiltern (Part 1)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The Melbourne Birdlife Photography Group weekend in Chiltern began with a walk around Lake Anderson. The lake acts as a storm water sink and, with a lot of recent rain, the water level was high. This meant that there was no shallow water or mudflats around the banks so no wading birds were present but there were plenty of the usual suspects:<br />
<br />
<b>Eurasian Coots</b> and <b>Dusky Moorhens</b> swam around the reeds.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLYTZzYFCnTrMnWuWhMYOAPZgylBjmCsQB9l4LO9mkZ24PJnnQr0YWVMkIq49mYERJZBegVCo_XMa19V1tL9EuRkLY7ZVl6mL-jVjimCKOor-CYRbhTlIwfqp2JHK1iIvGmsUkt8cIi5I/s1600/DuskyMoorhen_LakeAndersonChiltern01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLYTZzYFCnTrMnWuWhMYOAPZgylBjmCsQB9l4LO9mkZ24PJnnQr0YWVMkIq49mYERJZBegVCo_XMa19V1tL9EuRkLY7ZVl6mL-jVjimCKOor-CYRbhTlIwfqp2JHK1iIvGmsUkt8cIi5I/s640/DuskyMoorhen_LakeAndersonChiltern01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dusky Moorhen, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/1000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTzlJsjSTonzN0b_scPGhY0vF-icRUNrQoqj1WpeyB7iEtVwPor2jcuGbrXIz4baMYE4sx5BxcJsEIYEk83dn0Otl5T4hQAJsPXJrdUd1lRzDNOq5zmp92pkjIMVTkX9KVfnUQGteoWO8/s1600/EurasianCoot_LakeAndersonChiltern01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTzlJsjSTonzN0b_scPGhY0vF-icRUNrQoqj1WpeyB7iEtVwPor2jcuGbrXIz4baMYE4sx5BxcJsEIYEk83dn0Otl5T4hQAJsPXJrdUd1lRzDNOq5zmp92pkjIMVTkX9KVfnUQGteoWO8/s640/EurasianCoot_LakeAndersonChiltern01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eurasian Coot, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/1250</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
There were plenty of ducks: <b>Hardhead</b>, <b>Australian Wood Duck</b> and <b>Pacific Black Duck</b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ70S1xqct1ifYBN-eVjVEHmuQh1311-RHIIJEESxLtm6bnhXmYXgeFgCFtQVIYHtVnUtrXF2XrRpzvt_CTCR2M97O2mH6Qin0CdoYqZp_HcMGB-dyHEidWEOKeDWaehEOxbJAh21682s/s1600/Hardhead_LakeAndersonChiltern01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ70S1xqct1ifYBN-eVjVEHmuQh1311-RHIIJEESxLtm6bnhXmYXgeFgCFtQVIYHtVnUtrXF2XrRpzvt_CTCR2M97O2mH6Qin0CdoYqZp_HcMGB-dyHEidWEOKeDWaehEOxbJAh21682s/s640/Hardhead_LakeAndersonChiltern01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hardhead, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/16, 1/250</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZWR6WcrFeD2iOUOwfJCJDtx4S1S_6BiVEoT_g8VuBEq-c8sZv5CeKAVaEaVido-_iv7s99GATajkgCH-Bdo_8Ni9LfWQdwfO0g-veTbAAIGYAHyCSK5o60hmH3SGg2uTzeQsOoHQKjlQ/s1600/Hardhead_LakeAndersonChiltern02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZWR6WcrFeD2iOUOwfJCJDtx4S1S_6BiVEoT_g8VuBEq-c8sZv5CeKAVaEaVido-_iv7s99GATajkgCH-Bdo_8Ni9LfWQdwfO0g-veTbAAIGYAHyCSK5o60hmH3SGg2uTzeQsOoHQKjlQ/s640/Hardhead_LakeAndersonChiltern02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hardhead, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/1600</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgngKMUMaRkQ2IvQdXX9GFYEe_SUreNPGvhQU9vot_D0x_RC15qiNkjnan2bEpf3EXMA0ywxtLBCysTCFKiD2qwH9SEgscYrdwl4-VpmYvPYmjIylaXhIS5FxI5OYrXn2ZV0n13gWqzgmE/s1600/AustralianWoodDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgngKMUMaRkQ2IvQdXX9GFYEe_SUreNPGvhQU9vot_D0x_RC15qiNkjnan2bEpf3EXMA0ywxtLBCysTCFKiD2qwH9SEgscYrdwl4-VpmYvPYmjIylaXhIS5FxI5OYrXn2ZV0n13gWqzgmE/s640/AustralianWoodDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australian Wood Duck, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/11, 1/1000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJnbaKjjIgxgy0RCLha1Mt-2fpcB7jY-dkI1YO8Y9ONwljHSsZpQVImXroM39ePGJNcVtDOx_Rhwa2AeQYM3_n0D4P0_HMCNzrpDT3sB9uArZ9ZvuLXm0ltRvOjrWtR4cQTg7-CkEoFA/s1600/AustralianWoodDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJnbaKjjIgxgy0RCLha1Mt-2fpcB7jY-dkI1YO8Y9ONwljHSsZpQVImXroM39ePGJNcVtDOx_Rhwa2AeQYM3_n0D4P0_HMCNzrpDT3sB9uArZ9ZvuLXm0ltRvOjrWtR4cQTg7-CkEoFA/s640/AustralianWoodDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australian Wood Duck, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/1600</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCfRqayc8y9Q94_DstO0aZAw6hOg8sBDTutQ_Tc6HO18MQ2uq3JnqUeoFrOVxpUzJ_Ql0E9oBGgLcTIY4hzIZ_czA7lUZmjh7EtoFJXu-TRNnKzuIF1O2U-9ELak7WSTzFbSnfBlKbTdY/s1600/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCfRqayc8y9Q94_DstO0aZAw6hOg8sBDTutQ_Tc6HO18MQ2uq3JnqUeoFrOVxpUzJ_Ql0E9oBGgLcTIY4hzIZ_czA7lUZmjh7EtoFJXu-TRNnKzuIF1O2U-9ELak7WSTzFbSnfBlKbTdY/s640/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pacific Black Duck, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/800</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisVUJ4EHwue9lyGnuWN5a1zytXwybsectXegnw-nIOwQkU5Cy9Q__Or7yHk3iOyVU2XBL5M0NtV0r6Hs5epNC0P9ACJqOtebuDTrkmvjjSgoISBtOeX3CGnBTobRMVPjFsT1texzKZ0NA/s1600/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisVUJ4EHwue9lyGnuWN5a1zytXwybsectXegnw-nIOwQkU5Cy9Q__Or7yHk3iOyVU2XBL5M0NtV0r6Hs5epNC0P9ACJqOtebuDTrkmvjjSgoISBtOeX3CGnBTobRMVPjFsT1texzKZ0NA/s640/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pacific Black Duck, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/640</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9we3vo1PahK97rgGciEhGmMNHNe-2xgexHRN0Ra_vLyijwtWdMBHx3JrABI1QUl6NUp2WLBkmtE8SB3505FLN1VCkPNJ77GGeeCRJ-tOnqcZLiUThIkcE3fAUJYB6u2fzq0b_tGeiAw/s1600/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9we3vo1PahK97rgGciEhGmMNHNe-2xgexHRN0Ra_vLyijwtWdMBHx3JrABI1QUl6NUp2WLBkmtE8SB3505FLN1VCkPNJ77GGeeCRJ-tOnqcZLiUThIkcE3fAUJYB6u2fzq0b_tGeiAw/s640/PacificBlackDuck_LakeAndersonChiltern03.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pacific Black Duck, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/400</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Little Black Cormorants</b> and <b>Great Cormorants</b> were in, on and around the lake.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6lMIU7MjR6z7jADUwoQiIE8viNwiRSV8G3oBN4e-xwu4zwDI3ArJjjRVdixEh2oUWeS6ripJUtmwV71VtwKOiFFBi0FVlIT7yUI1-nzh_AFqwySHe5yLEX1JR7019VTyRIe1qCMFaoE/s1600/LittleBlackCormorant_LakeAndersonChiltern01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6lMIU7MjR6z7jADUwoQiIE8viNwiRSV8G3oBN4e-xwu4zwDI3ArJjjRVdixEh2oUWeS6ripJUtmwV71VtwKOiFFBi0FVlIT7yUI1-nzh_AFqwySHe5yLEX1JR7019VTyRIe1qCMFaoE/s640/LittleBlackCormorant_LakeAndersonChiltern01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Black Cormorant, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/2500</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-0x4m-XvZxXZ-JFUbwow8PDj8bn2DaS0ZhjYW3NBWP11mbF0o1woefy2pD7EDHjCFeYCWGaIY1dbN7AZg4UFJuKB7O0rMAZUZ67F8-enTtMdN94Qr1Zm1nMKQVbrNfqxq4fIalFmYPAk/s1600/LittleBlackCormorant_LakeAndersonChiltern02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-0x4m-XvZxXZ-JFUbwow8PDj8bn2DaS0ZhjYW3NBWP11mbF0o1woefy2pD7EDHjCFeYCWGaIY1dbN7AZg4UFJuKB7O0rMAZUZ67F8-enTtMdN94Qr1Zm1nMKQVbrNfqxq4fIalFmYPAk/s640/LittleBlackCormorant_LakeAndersonChiltern02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Black Cormorant, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/3200</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJOoItcInS_Uq482SfgM9qeUVisaTDgGxgRf3j6HwZNOQISfMuQQPRk3UM7unbF7j7LV3SC8OLWhqrefWiJnD-m-BV051xV1XR7lyQ6H2nub02jWV1oPpHW-MhwpTb6eASX3l_-Vqvjs/s1600/GreatCormorant_LakeAndersonChiltern01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJOoItcInS_Uq482SfgM9qeUVisaTDgGxgRf3j6HwZNOQISfMuQQPRk3UM7unbF7j7LV3SC8OLWhqrefWiJnD-m-BV051xV1XR7lyQ6H2nub02jWV1oPpHW-MhwpTb6eASX3l_-Vqvjs/s640/GreatCormorant_LakeAndersonChiltern01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Cormorant, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/1600</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We heard Australian Reed Warblers and Little Grassbirds in the reeds but only <b>Superb Fairy-wrens</b> came out to be photographed.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT82jlm99eeTTkzr7F2qoHu-woB4O29_0xkwXbdvb2PbSJS1vAzDxo0cacGkdEUTiyKPpxPc6Hcdw4WcIvLTq7hiN5Wejyj_Q4LirA6Xf5fzw7TADLHfb-VAdGa0naD6JFZAkSrIBGCBE/s1600/SuperbFairy-wren_LakeAndersonChiltern01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT82jlm99eeTTkzr7F2qoHu-woB4O29_0xkwXbdvb2PbSJS1vAzDxo0cacGkdEUTiyKPpxPc6Hcdw4WcIvLTq7hiN5Wejyj_Q4LirA6Xf5fzw7TADLHfb-VAdGa0naD6JFZAkSrIBGCBE/s640/SuperbFairy-wren_LakeAndersonChiltern01.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Superb Fairy-wren (male), Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/1250</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn9WcO2n1fOV4IO0CLZJ6Gjmh5PIolFO_gJe-Yf56rIuPhO1wMqflmPKVmxl9RXnApXnoEa2wyMwxhIckQwPs99XhN3if9ekcewbnErwKyF11daqpq1kvAxID7dfxgOLdYd5Y7r_eTcGE/s1600/SuperbFairy-wren_LakeAndersonChiltern02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn9WcO2n1fOV4IO0CLZJ6Gjmh5PIolFO_gJe-Yf56rIuPhO1wMqflmPKVmxl9RXnApXnoEa2wyMwxhIckQwPs99XhN3if9ekcewbnErwKyF11daqpq1kvAxID7dfxgOLdYd5Y7r_eTcGE/s640/SuperbFairy-wren_LakeAndersonChiltern02.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Superb Fairy-wren (male), Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/1000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgH7153WAjKIU6n3JDMDk5N4FElnzF7fYu4xrgaK-Lezci2nsLtXLH5KJibqnpLuK3pyudRB-KSGC3_z-zcHp79QZkZIWt5IC-iLeV2TdnH9eGK2nItE5PNrBuYVmm9mdi9f-vvYhcpl0/s1600/SuperbFairy-wren_LakeAndersonChiltern03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgH7153WAjKIU6n3JDMDk5N4FElnzF7fYu4xrgaK-Lezci2nsLtXLH5KJibqnpLuK3pyudRB-KSGC3_z-zcHp79QZkZIWt5IC-iLeV2TdnH9eGK2nItE5PNrBuYVmm9mdi9f-vvYhcpl0/s640/SuperbFairy-wren_LakeAndersonChiltern03.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Superb Fairy-wren (female), Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/2000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXp59ZYdNqVx0QT_kMZtzgQQXTb6R8U_PUGitLrkMeeIOK3bwPOOdqKQsgfan-N0q14-xm1Zeusv89KhOhkbTQS0wKCOydsko7jg6MTW2MqTqIlBRMjKM_VWKXecsbu3epGygFS66H_FM/s1600/SuperbFairy-wren_LakeAndersonChiltern04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXp59ZYdNqVx0QT_kMZtzgQQXTb6R8U_PUGitLrkMeeIOK3bwPOOdqKQsgfan-N0q14-xm1Zeusv89KhOhkbTQS0wKCOydsko7jg6MTW2MqTqIlBRMjKM_VWKXecsbu3epGygFS66H_FM/s640/SuperbFairy-wren_LakeAndersonChiltern04.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Superb Fairy-wren (female), Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/1600</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: left;">
Next morning, <a href="http://smissen.blogspot.com.au/2015/09/lake-anderson-chiltern-part-2.html">back at the lake</a>.</div>
</div>
Ian Smissenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07795090037606105126noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2551542359419385423.post-36516704365487840872015-09-18T16:41:00.000+10:002018-01-12T13:28:24.509+11:00Wenhams Camp, Warby Ranges<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I spent this morning at Wenhams Camp in the Warby Ovens National Park on the way to Chiltern for a long weekend of bird photography with the Melbourne Birdlife Photography Group.<br />
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<div>
I made sure to arrive early to catch the Eastern Grey Kangaroos that frequent the open grassland adjacent to the picnic and camping ground.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFEXYyKa1JuydZ7W18zIBukJdvQC18cpKUC1vj0j0-PEY76SbOyHbbvMtzTYV1-aBeskffjkTMdnTMr6xIWrx5lDe4TNbAjvS_UDLnsIVz9QPAfVRNl5YLvmwGhVbls59GPUNICOdahXs/s1600/EasternGreyKangaroo_WenhamsCampGround04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFEXYyKa1JuydZ7W18zIBukJdvQC18cpKUC1vj0j0-PEY76SbOyHbbvMtzTYV1-aBeskffjkTMdnTMr6xIWrx5lDe4TNbAjvS_UDLnsIVz9QPAfVRNl5YLvmwGhVbls59GPUNICOdahXs/s640/EasternGreyKangaroo_WenhamsCampGround04.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Wenhams Camp, Warby Ovens National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8, ISO 400, f/4, 1/4000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgylRAb4QK7p7kUZrcZUWLMdwWZI2BivxgtWI8OZStncmlikAHnMZ-7XVwCEbur7x2EJhwTLJcyEqfirVh5j1MBHN_hAE_YCPY1xXjxzlisnZyuYH2dUldz1PbyGpBWQas6P8V5J-p5wjQ/s1600/EasternGreyKangaroo_WenhamsCampGround03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgylRAb4QK7p7kUZrcZUWLMdwWZI2BivxgtWI8OZStncmlikAHnMZ-7XVwCEbur7x2EJhwTLJcyEqfirVh5j1MBHN_hAE_YCPY1xXjxzlisnZyuYH2dUldz1PbyGpBWQas6P8V5J-p5wjQ/s640/EasternGreyKangaroo_WenhamsCampGround03.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Wenhams Camp, Warby Ovens National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8, ISO 400, f/4, 1/3200</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
Many of the females were carrying relatively mature Joeys.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdoytwJH5ZohpMZ7vvCs9zi-CHKfr2lPKJFldlKDObBrCT0EgkEy4okvYfDSmZrjLEwkZNHpr9FXxqp_jJq0bzYrS1F27N6pB96_K93dj6VNN1U65W20lv9XCJGrLb3Q8N82IWfvy0NaM/s1600/EasternGreyKangaroo_WenhamsCampGround01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdoytwJH5ZohpMZ7vvCs9zi-CHKfr2lPKJFldlKDObBrCT0EgkEy4okvYfDSmZrjLEwkZNHpr9FXxqp_jJq0bzYrS1F27N6pB96_K93dj6VNN1U65W20lv9XCJGrLb3Q8N82IWfvy0NaM/s640/EasternGreyKangaroo_WenhamsCampGround01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Wenhams Camp, Warby Ovens National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8, ISO 400, f/4, 1/1600</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrGhPM_T_SN1EXXCxe54Xy6jmHzrFACv9gNNcnWYtLh4q24nr2bgqa8OY4omRJyHQOGv1Pn0jOx1AZe3dZ7RbV4WhCptxEIpdPJ7LGY0NyLC6ahLfQvGZX3ajww8dVfNckMTzzYRGWOv4/s1600/EasternGreyKangaroo_WenhamsCampGround02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrGhPM_T_SN1EXXCxe54Xy6jmHzrFACv9gNNcnWYtLh4q24nr2bgqa8OY4omRJyHQOGv1Pn0jOx1AZe3dZ7RbV4WhCptxEIpdPJ7LGY0NyLC6ahLfQvGZX3ajww8dVfNckMTzzYRGWOv4/s640/EasternGreyKangaroo_WenhamsCampGround02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Wenhams Camp, Warby Ovens National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8, ISO 400, f/4, 1/3200</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
The main avian attraction here was the promise of spotting <b>Turquoise Parrots</b>. "Spotting" was an apt description as the two pairs I found provided only fleeting glances as they flew from tree to tree, usually obscured, at least partially, by intervening branches.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2KBBFmNr-eI0u4Xtt8LTmBo_dEWDUPVNVf8mDI2b5d_E5HJFn5uNMYGkbaj3ZonRhN3mGnSujql2YvAFkGXQoik9OTSHYDfK9T4Hbq862XfLMN2RtymSHlMbRH4dqRT8bO1McwtPmmA/s1600/TurquoiseParrot_WenhamsCampGround01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2KBBFmNr-eI0u4Xtt8LTmBo_dEWDUPVNVf8mDI2b5d_E5HJFn5uNMYGkbaj3ZonRhN3mGnSujql2YvAFkGXQoik9OTSHYDfK9T4Hbq862XfLMN2RtymSHlMbRH4dqRT8bO1McwtPmmA/s640/TurquoiseParrot_WenhamsCampGround01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turquoise Parrot (male), Wenhams Camp, Warby Ovens National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adaptor), ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/1600</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<div style="text-align: left;">
This female has a distinctly orange-red belly unlike the other three birds whose undersides appeared to be uniformly green-yellow.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_jyglGUczJNbC6a263MLh__nlPza23Qj0ndSLSppJUa5kf9ONN5cZ7V-z9wMbxfL94EDpTAkJmIZWBM312YrpkEsQsqObdNUn9smP4vcrNWFMZExu3zFL3vQdpmOwn9t_vJJbWW0G9M/s1600/TurquoiseParrot_WenhamsCampGround03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_jyglGUczJNbC6a263MLh__nlPza23Qj0ndSLSppJUa5kf9ONN5cZ7V-z9wMbxfL94EDpTAkJmIZWBM312YrpkEsQsqObdNUn9smP4vcrNWFMZExu3zFL3vQdpmOwn9t_vJJbWW0G9M/s640/TurquoiseParrot_WenhamsCampGround03.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turquoise Parrot (female), Wenhams Camp, Warby Ovens National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adaptor), ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/1250</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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Eventually, one came out into the open for a few seconds but had its head stuck in a hole.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8CreKNSkp1xHHcrAZQ0yyFFqAEKpCcpiUO_nGvZu0oDzfRXTz_moOcUM4FwjiwRHJVkZIkS_ssTB6DzBY2N2M9cFp86S_PnpWzf4W3at7lEBoSCKGQLhtihEjWXsORriRmZvOtYxaulM/s1600/TurquoiseParrot_WenhamsCampGround02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8CreKNSkp1xHHcrAZQ0yyFFqAEKpCcpiUO_nGvZu0oDzfRXTz_moOcUM4FwjiwRHJVkZIkS_ssTB6DzBY2N2M9cFp86S_PnpWzf4W3at7lEBoSCKGQLhtihEjWXsORriRmZvOtYxaulM/s640/TurquoiseParrot_WenhamsCampGround02.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turquoise Parrot (male), Wenhams Camp, Warby Ovens National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adaptor), ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/640</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I am not sure if this was already a nesting hole or if the bird was just inspecting it but I didn't take the risk of disturbing it any further so I left quietly.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
There were plenty of other bush birds to see including <b>Brown-headed Honeyeaters</b> high in the treetops.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4l9iYXzZymd64xjMzqyZL_MyKdxZI5ADsbsrxvRSeo1FY6iRkLMCWFVMd0SnZbmPR7zeNidDN6b2_0oniYftgKVc7oxROSRLovd6bCtLDSJzp6q-y5C-J1do6MwDoT5BXTbNDoprngo/s1600/Brown-headedHoneyeater_WenhamsCampGround01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4l9iYXzZymd64xjMzqyZL_MyKdxZI5ADsbsrxvRSeo1FY6iRkLMCWFVMd0SnZbmPR7zeNidDN6b2_0oniYftgKVc7oxROSRLovd6bCtLDSJzp6q-y5C-J1do6MwDoT5BXTbNDoprngo/s640/Brown-headedHoneyeater_WenhamsCampGround01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown-headed Honeyeater, Wenhams Camp, Warby Ovens National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adaptor), ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/1600</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Brown Treecreepers</b> and <b>White-throated Treecreepers</b> were doing their thing up and down tree trunks.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTaq9S-CJ_Qs8oJMV4V7SXwEqGFxHb-296uAgiOijRTXXoclXkDxmuDhyr8Wfebh_nDcMFQySJCkAXzCk96jXuX_ivLN6RKHhXqvTji3ygjdPNA46aRSovdahfN-vDPAnGuj6jS7dPG-g/s1600/BrownTreecreeper_WenhamsCampGround01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTaq9S-CJ_Qs8oJMV4V7SXwEqGFxHb-296uAgiOijRTXXoclXkDxmuDhyr8Wfebh_nDcMFQySJCkAXzCk96jXuX_ivLN6RKHhXqvTji3ygjdPNA46aRSovdahfN-vDPAnGuj6jS7dPG-g/s640/BrownTreecreeper_WenhamsCampGround01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Brown Treecreeper, Wenhams Camp, Warby Ovens National Park, Victoria</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adaptor), ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/400</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI83I1pEeOby9vglBM-35WxeBBpwAG-rE8vkJtuoEnZyc6w5Z2IOecfIf4uw6a2o4F8-WVcexajMb-ORh-xROoyYdtkqOu8jDCSxJm_SC_iPGiy7zxBtS4PL9nuaoZm8D3LtZoaIAlfaI/s1600/BrownTreecreeper_WenhamsCampGround02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI83I1pEeOby9vglBM-35WxeBBpwAG-rE8vkJtuoEnZyc6w5Z2IOecfIf4uw6a2o4F8-WVcexajMb-ORh-xROoyYdtkqOu8jDCSxJm_SC_iPGiy7zxBtS4PL9nuaoZm8D3LtZoaIAlfaI/s640/BrownTreecreeper_WenhamsCampGround02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown Treecreeper, Wenhams Camp, Warby Ovens National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adaptor), ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/320</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1RY77rZirGEnV7jMRWzzdOxERetyt8H1vUdXxEdXSWy5p1sUP4q4-vVErbAS7YkARpUmBLkOiirl_crE7fyJoK7na9FDgaISiHbqKSyZoud34bMU4xeMWaC1SdlV39lazZ8_JqHd3KE/s1600/BrownTreecreeper_WenhamsCampGround03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1RY77rZirGEnV7jMRWzzdOxERetyt8H1vUdXxEdXSWy5p1sUP4q4-vVErbAS7YkARpUmBLkOiirl_crE7fyJoK7na9FDgaISiHbqKSyZoud34bMU4xeMWaC1SdlV39lazZ8_JqHd3KE/s640/BrownTreecreeper_WenhamsCampGround03.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown Treecreeper, Wenhams Camp, Warby Ovens National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adaptor), ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/500</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixA6HSps35Rb_5AKKc6O4HWGZz7mBWEQJtwsp5ILV__mSkJJJn6jSDgMIvOzqYK76QN1q8HTDOZ7xS2SVJ-dUHMz0kxBo1_UCpHsQTrfj1lcR_P9DIkyOHL9qCA504zRyY0M1Exa5K08g/s1600/White-throatedTreecreeper_WenhamsCampGround01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixA6HSps35Rb_5AKKc6O4HWGZz7mBWEQJtwsp5ILV__mSkJJJn6jSDgMIvOzqYK76QN1q8HTDOZ7xS2SVJ-dUHMz0kxBo1_UCpHsQTrfj1lcR_P9DIkyOHL9qCA504zRyY0M1Exa5K08g/s640/White-throatedTreecreeper_WenhamsCampGround01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-throated Treecreeper, Wenhams Camp, Warby Ovens National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adaptor), ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/320</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Dusky Woodswallows</b> were flying around the treetops but one perched on a low branch long enough for this shot.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6c106DEfVV8_cGd5Itk0awX2HmaCX7aAPc9Zsrwr5ckNEbZz_8XrhfupLzeOKzR59qEdioJeoblKYmsfYjxKfP_85y-iMwYL-iM8fCCuSbXRQwnFPZyioVZsdxBWL1D6Oq9wQsFbzcps/s1600/DuskyWoodswallow_WenhamsCampGround01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6c106DEfVV8_cGd5Itk0awX2HmaCX7aAPc9Zsrwr5ckNEbZz_8XrhfupLzeOKzR59qEdioJeoblKYmsfYjxKfP_85y-iMwYL-iM8fCCuSbXRQwnFPZyioVZsdxBWL1D6Oq9wQsFbzcps/s640/DuskyWoodswallow_WenhamsCampGround01.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dusky Woodswallow, Wenhams Camp, Warby Ovens National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adaptor), ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/2000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This <b>Jacky Winter</b> had been coming and going from this tree stump for about 15 minutes so I set up nearby to get a shot and just as I was pre-focussing on the stump to be ready for it next time it landed, the bird flew past without landing and I managed to fire off one shot of it in flight and in frame.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm39tbYFAKjj7F0WmayZM-Gv_alUQ6cokGMYLHjax4b31oYLXGRxI9tb48FlWn-E5QOmAuE5EFvt_bo01q8MZAgDKdKXl1nmYiuEgq1QHzB1iXyrL_9pgdcn0KKJ9-AYbEvQSPxc3LMig/s1600/JackyWinter_WenhamsCampGround03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm39tbYFAKjj7F0WmayZM-Gv_alUQ6cokGMYLHjax4b31oYLXGRxI9tb48FlWn-E5QOmAuE5EFvt_bo01q8MZAgDKdKXl1nmYiuEgq1QHzB1iXyrL_9pgdcn0KKJ9-AYbEvQSPxc3LMig/s640/JackyWinter_WenhamsCampGround03.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jacky Winter, Wenhams Camp, Warby Ovens National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8, ISO 400, f/4, 1/4000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It did finally settle on a nearby tree.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kxY3LsU6OaYQDTMfQbU3Ihyphenhyphen_K7f7rBv2MIB5T-BHiAwAZVE2XAs2TME4Ve9mmNIjKW7IV1Y6vZcquQ6RvCRFhpFBtcIhPqSUNWXE1Rlg9ap79GiheNLTUE_XeAvVzmBKipTdkNVgnYw/s1600/JackyWinter_WenhamsCampGround02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kxY3LsU6OaYQDTMfQbU3Ihyphenhyphen_K7f7rBv2MIB5T-BHiAwAZVE2XAs2TME4Ve9mmNIjKW7IV1Y6vZcquQ6RvCRFhpFBtcIhPqSUNWXE1Rlg9ap79GiheNLTUE_XeAvVzmBKipTdkNVgnYw/s640/JackyWinter_WenhamsCampGround02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Jacky Winter, Wenhams Camp, Warby Ovens National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8, ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/640</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
and eventually allowed me very close.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0K3zzxC9axF8JibN3Or5dJJ7cMVp4Vt3oELpej1QsVejDt7UVmq9cNmIHFM_PkaCaDBNxw2CpR_9a8Yod4CONdYHhghGXXbodTgISoC9hkVFNWs6zUiAidcJmq7XmGKo9IqT8QhpYO0/s1600/JackyWinter_WenhamsCampGround01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0K3zzxC9axF8JibN3Or5dJJ7cMVp4Vt3oELpej1QsVejDt7UVmq9cNmIHFM_PkaCaDBNxw2CpR_9a8Yod4CONdYHhghGXXbodTgISoC9hkVFNWs6zUiAidcJmq7XmGKo9IqT8QhpYO0/s640/JackyWinter_WenhamsCampGround01.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Jacky Winter, Wenhams Camp, Warby Ovens National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8, ISO 400, f/4, 1/2500</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Similar to the Turquoise Parrots, this <b>Speckled Warbler</b> spent most of its time flitting from branch to branch, partially hidden by branches and foliage but I did manage a few shots of it mostly unobscured.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBcNeEqMZwTVdKxoLSNa-srCcsWCLhZTPqzUQnRLpI1Nvz1bIHpgtG0ekcUzrsEY3DbDNZLGLYxDT_WUMnbFCDGgj9ud-7V6Qmw1wI0mT9Wk8VsAVrFq06M7rkiw3z9XedyUpa5TeR2Ow/s1600/SpeckledWarbler_WenhamsCampGround01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBcNeEqMZwTVdKxoLSNa-srCcsWCLhZTPqzUQnRLpI1Nvz1bIHpgtG0ekcUzrsEY3DbDNZLGLYxDT_WUMnbFCDGgj9ud-7V6Qmw1wI0mT9Wk8VsAVrFq06M7rkiw3z9XedyUpa5TeR2Ow/s640/SpeckledWarbler_WenhamsCampGround01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Speckled Warbler, Wenhams Camp, Warby Ovens National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adaptor), ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/1600</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe3S3NdirBbhdxago9hbs3Rt8OC-TdOH0cFmdvk9NC2sgFLbs55G4GKwiFacOKHF6dpDznKpd6VZnRaeqPhyphenhyphenHDW_jEmTWP4YH_ecYC6uPq0q49amIKvI4enDuyOIZxP7Ob8Z-mS-I9i68/s1600/SpeckledWarbler_WenhamsCampGround02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe3S3NdirBbhdxago9hbs3Rt8OC-TdOH0cFmdvk9NC2sgFLbs55G4GKwiFacOKHF6dpDznKpd6VZnRaeqPhyphenhyphenHDW_jEmTWP4YH_ecYC6uPq0q49amIKvI4enDuyOIZxP7Ob8Z-mS-I9i68/s640/SpeckledWarbler_WenhamsCampGround02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Speckled Warbler, Wenhams Camp, Warby Ovens National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adaptor), ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/1000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This <b>White-browed Babbler</b> was spooked by an overhead attack from what appeared to be either a Collared Sparrowhawk or a Brown Goshawk. It all happened so quickly, I couldn't identify the attacker but the potential victim remained still in this bush for several minutes.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3xwURe_xB0V44Xh7EdJZXeKtcAxVU9PtyBDJYQA02UKk8mBKjBFBtV_7l4wmA0ThHaHFGkYa47FM2-uLMUl-H2tGKXhIjfOCtfqXNTyCTtIDzb0xt9QBizVOjDXKlW5Na-Cdj4n69gOo/s1600/White-browedBabbler_WenhamsCampGround01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3xwURe_xB0V44Xh7EdJZXeKtcAxVU9PtyBDJYQA02UKk8mBKjBFBtV_7l4wmA0ThHaHFGkYa47FM2-uLMUl-H2tGKXhIjfOCtfqXNTyCTtIDzb0xt9QBizVOjDXKlW5Na-Cdj4n69gOo/s640/White-browedBabbler_WenhamsCampGround01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-browed Babbler, Wenhams Camp, Warby Ovens National Park, Victoria<br />
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adaptor), ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/400</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
All too soon it was time to move on the Chiltern for a <a href="http://smissen.blogspot.com.au/2015/09/lake-anderson-chiltern-part-1.html">walk around Lake Anderson</a>.</div>
Ian Smissenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07795090037606105126noreply@blogger.com0