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.
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| 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.
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| Grey Teal, Kororoit Creek, Altona |
A Little Pied Cormorant was roosting close-by,
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| Little Pied Cormorant, Kororoit Creek, Altona |
while an Eastern Great Egret was fishing on the other side of the creek
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| 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
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| Eastern Great Egret, Kororoit Creek, Altona |
stopping on a rock for a quick shake and ruffle of the feathers
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| Eastern Great Egret, Kororoit Creek, Altona |
before resuming its fishing expedition
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| Eastern Great Egret, Kororoit Creek, Altona |
eventually succeeding!
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| Eastern Great Egret, Kororoit Creek, Altona |
Several Royal Spoonbill and Australian White Ibis were roosting on the rocks a little further downstream.
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| Australian White Ibis, Kororoit Creek, Altona |
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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.
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| 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...
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| Little Raven, Altona Beach |
A pair of Chestnut Teals was swimming around nearby
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| 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
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| Chestnut Teal (female), Altona Beach |
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| Grey Teal, Kororoit Creek, Altona |
