Altona

I took the scenic route via Kororoit Creek and Altona Beach on the way home from Melbourne this afternoon. I parked just next to the ford on Racecourse Road (see map) and walked along the south bank of Kororoit Creek.

There were several species of duck feeding near the ford but this Grey Teal was the most cooperative.

Grey Teal, Kororoit Creek, Altona

A heavy overcast sky made the light quite dull and what sun was shining through the clouds backlit the bird so I tried fill flash. I only got one shot off before the bird swam past and all I could see was its rear end swimming downstream. I'm reasonably happy with this one as it shows off the plumage, white neck band and gives a catch light in the eye without looking too unnatural.

Grey Teal, Kororoit Creek, Altona

A Little Pied Cormorant was roosting close-by,

Little Pied Cormorant, Kororoit Creek, Altona

while an Eastern Great Egret was fishing on the other side of the creek

Eastern Great Egret, Kororoit Creek, Altona

There was no way of getting closer to the egret without getting wet and scaring off most of the birds so I found a suitable location and waited for the bird to get closer to me. Sometimes this is a dismal failure but on this occasion, the egret fell in with my plan and walked diagonally across the creek in front of me

Eastern Great Egret, Kororoit Creek, Altona

stopping on a rock for a quick shake and ruffle of the feathers

Eastern Great Egret, Kororoit Creek, Altona

before resuming its fishing expedition

Eastern Great Egret, Kororoit Creek, Altona

eventually succeeding!

Eastern Great Egret, Kororoit Creek, Altona

Several Royal Spoonbill and Australian White Ibis were roosting on the rocks a little further downstream.

Australian White Ibis, Kororoit Creek, Altona

Royal Spoonbill + Australian White Ibis
Kororoit Creek, Altona

The dull light meant I was shooting at a relatively slow shutter speed so when the spoonbill took off, all I could capture was this rather ethereal flight shot.

Royal Spoonbill, Kororoit Creek, Altona

Having exhausted the birdlife on this part of the creek, I headed back to the car and drove along the Esplanade towards Altona Beach. I spotted a small group of black birds foraging among some offshore rocks that were exposed by the low tide, so I stopped for a closer look. They turned out to be...not your typical shore bird...

Little Raven, Altona Beach

A pair of Chestnut Teals was swimming around nearby

Chestnut Teal (female on left, male on right), Altona Beach

and the female posed briefly for a portrait, allowing a comparison with the Grey Teal (with characteristic white throat) taken earlier at Kororoit Creek

Chestnut Teal (female), Altona Beach

Grey Teal, Kororoit Creek, Altona

Crake Hunt, part 3

The great crake hunt continued this afternoon on my way home from Melbourne.

First stop was a walk around the wetlands at Truganina Park in Altona. I found one Buff-banded Rail among the usual Purple Swamphens and Dusky Moorhens in the reedbeds but no crakes.

Buff-banded Rail, Truganina Park

There had been reports of Baillon's and Australian Spotted Crakes at the T-Section of the Western Treatment Plant in the last few days so that was my next stop and within 15 minutes had found both in relatively clear view.

One Australian Spotted Crake came out foraging at the edge of the reeds only about 20 metres from where I was standing

Australian Spotted Crake, Western Treatment Plant

and there were at least four Baillon's Crakes a bit further away in the same reed bed. Unfortunately, they were backlit making it difficult to get any decent photographs but managed one with three birds in the one shot.

Baillon's Crake, Western Treatment Plant

Newport, Altona and 13th Beach

I had the pleasure of attending a bird photography workshop run by Paul Randall (check his website wingsonwire.com) this morning at the delightful Newport Lakes Reserve (see map). This is the first time I've been here and it's a fantastic place. It's an old bluestone quarry that has been revegetated, mostly with indigenous flora, and there have now been 100+ bird species seen in the small reserve. Paul's workshop was great and I did manage to get one shot before the session as a pair of Grey Teals followed me around the South Lake.

Grey Teal, Newport Lakes Reserve

I am pleased with this shot, not because it's the best shot of a duck I have but it was early in the morning and overcast so was very dark and the bird was swimming fairly fast and close to me (this is almost full frame). This was shot at 1/30th of a second on 600mm worth of lens (300mm with 2x converter) and it's pretty sharp. I also like the subtle pastel tints in the otherwise grey water.

However, the weather turned for the worse at the end of the session so I opted to head off home via Williamstown and Altona beaches. Driving along The Esplanade at Altona Beach, I noticed a large mixed flock of birds roosting on the rocks just offshore between Cresser and Frazer Reserves (see map) so stopped for a closer look and found Little Pied Cormorant, Silver Gull, Pacific Gull, Crested Tern, Common Tern and Sooty Oystercatcher. I waded out into the shallow water to get closer to the roosting birds and they allowed me to get very close.

Sooty Oystercatcher, Altona Beach

I had to wait more than 10 minutes focussed on this bird, waiting for it to do something moderately interesting. A black bird shot in grey light from behind was not going to make a great photograph but eventually the bird turned its head side on and yawned. A throw away record shot turned into a keeper with a little patience and a tripod (there's no way I could maintain the concentration on the bird with finger on the shutter if hand-holding for 10 minutes and this yawn lasted less than a second).

Several Common Terns allowed me to get as close as the lens I was using would allow and still fit the birds sensibly in the frame.

Common Tern, Altona Beach

On the way home, I stopped at 13th Beach and Black Rocks to see if I could find the Pacific Golden Plovers. No luck with the PGPs but there was no shortage of wading birds with Red-capped Plover, Hooded Plover, Double-banded Plover, Ruddy Turnstone and Red-necked Stint as well as the usual Silver Gull, Pacific Gull and Crested Tern.

The Ruddy Turnstones were feeding on the edge of the sand dunes (something I have not seen before) but were easily spooked by people and dogs walking along the beach, giving a good opportunity for some flight shots

Ruddy Turnstone, 13th Beach

The Red-necked Stints were less easily spooked and remained feeding low on the shore, some with plumage starting to live up to their name.

Red-necked Stint, 13th Beach

Truganina Park, Altona

On the site of the former Altona Landfill Tip, Truganina Park is being rehabilitated as a recreation area. Of particular interest to birders are the small wetlands on the northern edge that have been created by restructuring a storm-water drain.

Access is from Andrew Park Drive (off Queen St) through HD Graham Reserve (View Map).

Driving home from Melbourne this evening I dropped past to see if there was any activity just before sunset. A walk along the edge of the wetland looked promising until a rain storm had me scurrying back to the car but not before snapping a few shots of this Purple Swamphen.

Purple Swamphen, Truganina Wetlands