Bunyip State Park + Warburton

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.

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.

Brown Thornbill, Dyer's Picnic Ground, Bunyip State Park
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 + 1.4x adapter, ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/180 (+fill flash)

Grey Fantail, Dyer's Picnic Ground, Bunyip State Park
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 + 1.4x adapter, ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/180 (+fill flash)

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.

Australian Wood Duck (male), Yarra River, Warburton
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 + 1.4x adapter, ISO 800, f/9, 1/180 (+fill flash)

Australian Wood Duck (female), Yarra River, Warburton
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 + 1.4x adapter, ISO 800, f/9, 1/180 (+fill flash)

The combination of larger birds and greater separation from the background made these shots more successful with the fill flash.

Yan Yean

I spent today with the Melbourne Birdlife Photography group around Yan Yean, on the NE rural fringe of Melbourne.

First stop was Yellow Gum Park, a small reserve surrounding a disused quarry within a bend of the Plenty River (see map). 

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.

Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Yellow Gum Park, Plenty, Victoria
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/1000

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).

Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Yellow Gum Park, Plenty, Victoria
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/1250

Little Raven, Yellow Gum Park, Plenty, Victoria
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/1250

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).

Australian Pelican, Laurimar Wetlands, Doreen, Victoria
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/2000

Australian Pelican, Laurimar Wetlands, Doreen, Victoria
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/4000

Australian Pelican, Laurimar Wetlands, Doreen, Victoria
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8, ISO 800, f/4, 1/8000

Australian Wood Duck, Laurimar Wetlands, Doreen, Victoria
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/640

Hardhead, Laurimar Wetlands, Doreen, Victoria
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/2000

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 Eastern Rosellas in a tree near the picnic ground.

Eastern Rosella, Yan Yean Reservoir Park, Victoria
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/800

Eastern Rosella, Yan Yean Reservoir Park, Victoria
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/640

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 Baillon's Crake 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.

Baillon's Crake, Yan Yean Reservoir Park, Victoria
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/640

Baillon's Crake, Yan Yean Reservoir Park, Victoria
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/1000

A solo Spotless Crake 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.

Spotless Crake, Yan Yean Reservoir Park, Victoria
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/320

Spotless Crake, Yan Yean Reservoir Park, Victoria
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/1250

An Australian Reed-Warbler 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...

Australian Reed-Warbler, Yan Yean Reservoir Park, Victoria
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/5000

...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.

Australian Reed-Warbler, Yan Yean Reservoir Park, Victoria
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/3200

Australian Reed-Warbler, Yan Yean Reservoir Park, Victoria
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/4000

Australian Reed-Warbler, Yan Yean Reservoir Park, Victoria
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/1000

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).

There was also almost no wind allowing some shots of damselflies and dragonflies.

Common Bluetail, (Damselfly), Yan Yean Reservoir Park, Victoria
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/500

Common Bluetail, (Damselfly), Yan Yean Reservoir Park, Victoria
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/160

Wandering Percher, (Dragonfly), Yan Yean Reservoir Park, Victoria
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/3200

So, once again, the Melbourne Birdlife Photography group provided a brilliant day out and I managed to finally photograph two relatively common species (Eastern Rosella and Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike) that had eluded me since starting this blog 5 years ago!

Lake Anderson, Chiltern (Part 1)

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:

 Eurasian Coots and Dusky Moorhens swam around the reeds.

Dusky Moorhen, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/1000

Eurasian Coot, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/1250

There were plenty of ducks: Hardhead, Australian Wood Duck and Pacific Black Duck

Hardhead, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/16, 1/250

Hardhead, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/1600

Australian Wood Duck, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/11, 1/1000

Australian Wood Duck, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/1600

Pacific Black Duck, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/800

Pacific Black Duck, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/640

Pacific Black Duck, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/400

Little Black Cormorants and Great Cormorants were in, on and around the lake.

Little Black Cormorant, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/2500

Little Black Cormorant, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/3200

Great Cormorant, Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/1600

We heard Australian Reed Warblers and Little Grassbirds in the reeds but only Superb Fairy-wrens came out to be photographed.

Superb Fairy-wren (male), Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/1250

Superb Fairy-wren (male), Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/1000

Superb Fairy-wren (female), Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/2000

Superb Fairy-wren (female), Lake Anderson, Chiltern, Victoria
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adapter), ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/1600

Next morning, back at the lake.

Bird Photography Workshop in Newstead

I had the pleasure of attending a bird photography workshop organised by Geoff Park and presented by Chris Tzaros in Newstead this morning. I've been an admirer of both Geoff and Chris's work and a follower of Geoff's great blog, Natural Newstead, for several years. Geoff and I were also at university together more years ago than either of us will admit to so I was looking forward to catching up again.

Chris gave a fantastic presentation on the art and craft of bird photography, sharing his experience as a wildlife ecologist and photographer in a way that was easy to understand and valuable for an audience with a wide diversity of experience in photography and with birds. This was followed by a field trip into the local bush at Rise and Shine Bushland Reserve where Chris and Geoff demonstrated a range of the skills, techniques and approaches to bird photography that had been covered in the earlier session.

Rise and Shine Bushland Reserve, near Clydesdale Victoria
Pentax K-5, Pentax 16-50mm f/2.8 @ 21mm, ISO 400, f/11 1/250

Two bird highlights of the morning were this Spotted Pardalote, which reacted on cue to Chris's demonstration of using playback of bird calls to attract birds closer.

Spotted Pardalote, Rise and Shine Bushland Reserve, near Clydesdale Victoria
Pentax K-5, Pentax 16-50mm f/2.8 @ 21mm, ISO 400, f/11 1/250

We had a long discussion on the pros and cons of playback for bird photography with differing opinions but the emphasis was that any photography (or other activities in the field) should be done with minimum disturbance to the birds and their habitat.

This Australian Owlet-nightjar was spotted by Geoff high up in a tree. It pays to go into the bush with locals who know what to expect and often where to find it. It poked its head out of the hole long enough for most people to practice some of the techniques Chris spoke about earlier in the day. I took a few quick shots to make sure I at least recorded the bird. As this is the first time I have managed to photograph this species, it was worth the time and money for the workshop just for that! I then spent quite a bit of time working out the best angle from which to shoot this little bird, to avoid distracting highlights from sky and over-exposed leaves and branches in the background while still maintaining eye contact with the bird. This was about the best angle I could find.

Australian Owlet-nightjar, Rise and Shine Bushland Reserve, near Clydesdale Victoria
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adaptor), ISO 400, f/5.6 1/400)

Even though I knew I could crop some of the rubbish out later (which I did), I was still not particularly happy with the light background and the very dark hole surrounding the bird so I tried fill flash. This allowed me to close down the aperture to darken the background while still maintaining good exposure on the bird and tree and brightening up the hole around the bird. The smaller aperture also gives a better depth of field allowing more of the bird and the hole to be in focus. The slower shutter speed (controlled by the flash) is compensated for by the high speed flash that freezes any movement.

Australian Owlet-nightjar, Rise and Shine Bushland Reserve, near Clydesdale Victoria
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adaptor), ISO 400, f/8 1/180 (P-TTL flash -1.0 EV)

To my eye the flash is just a little over the top and I would have liked to drop the EV adjustment on the flash another 1/3-2/3 of a stop just to see the result but the bird disappeared back into its hole before I had the chance...so, as with much of wildlife photography, you do what you can to get the best shot possible and take what nature deals up after that :-)

One thing I try to do whenever I am driving around the countryside is to take minor roads wherever I can. As I was driving home late this afternoon, I took the 'scenic route' through Wombat State Forest and came across a flock of Australian Wood Duck in a field on Bradys Lane near Greendale.

Australian Wood Duck, Bradys Lane, near Greendale Victoria
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x2 adaptor), ISO 400, f/16 1/125

A farmer driving by stopped for a chat about the ducks and ibis (there were about 50 Straw-necked Ibis further off in the distance) and then, driving over the next crest, this gorgeous valley was laid out in front of me...you'd never stop for a chat with the locals or to take in a view when you're doing 100 km/h along the main road.

Brady's Lane, near Greendale Victoria
Pentax K-5, Pentax 16-50 f/2.8 @ 45mm, ISO 400, f/11 1/100

...and to reinforce this, I took a slight detour around the back of the You Yangs instead of straight down to Geelong and the sun just peaked around the approaching storm clouds behind me creating this eerie purple-green light just as I was approaching this paddock.

Little River Road, Balliang Victoria
Pentax K-5, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 70mm, ISO 400, f/5.6 1/400

Lake Lorne shore

In addition to the Freckled Ducks featured in the previous post, there were many other species around the shore at Lake Lorne this afternoon.

Pacific Black Duck, Lake Lorne, Drysdale

Australian Wood Duck, Lake Lorne, Drysdale

although some remained in the middle of the lake making photography challenging

Blue-billed Duck, Lake Lorne, Drysdale

Hardhead, Lake Lorne, Drysdale

There were also several Black Swans close to the lake shore

Black Swan, Lake Lorne, Drysdale

and a few shorebirds feeding on the mudflats

Masked Lapwing, Lake Lorne, Drysdale

Black-fronted Dotterel, Lake Lorne, Drysdale

Red-kneed Dotterel, Lake Lorne, Drysdale