Balyang Sanctuary and the Barwon River

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 one of my earliest posts 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.

As I was preparing the camera and tripod, an Australasian Darter 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.

Australasian Darter, Balyang Sanctuary, Geelong
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/8, 1/640

There were several species of ducks on the lake, including a pair of Chestnut Teals that cooperated long enough for me to get a shot of each.

Chestnut Teal (male), Balyang Sanctuary, Geelong
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/320

Chestnut Teal (female), Balyang Sanctuary, Geelong
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/400

However the most interesting birds on the edge of the lake were Red Junglefowl (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.

Red Junglefowl (Domestic Chicken), Balyang Sanctuary, Geelong
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/1600

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.

White-faced Heron, Balyang Sanctuary, Geelong
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/4, 1/1600

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.

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Balyang Sanctuary, Geelong
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/11, 1/400

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Balyang Sanctuary, Geelong
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/11, 1/125

Rainbow Lorikeet, Balyang Sanctuary, Geelong
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/11, 1/125

But not all the parrot action was in the nest holes...

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Balyang Sanctuary, Geelong
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/2500

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Balyang Sanctuary, Geelong
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/2000

and the highlight was this pair of Long-billed Corellas.

Long-billed Corella, Balyang Sanctuary, Geelong
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/400

Long-billed Corella, Balyang Sanctuary, Geelong
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/500

Long-billed Corella, Balyang Sanctuary, Geelong
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/500

Long-billed Corella, Balyang Sanctuary, Geelong
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/8, 1/500

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.

Eurasian Coot, Barwon River, Geelong
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/1000

Cormorants and darters can be found perching along the river

Australasian Darter, Barwon River, Geelong
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/800

Australasian Darter, Barwon River, Geelong
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/1000

and nesting in the trees along the west bank.

Little Pied Cormorant, Barwon River, Geelong
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8, ISO 400, f/8, 1/1250

Little Pied Cormorant, Barwon River, Geelong
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/11, 1/500

Little Pied Cormorant, Barwon River, Geelong
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/1600

Little Pied Cormorant, Barwon River, Geelong
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/2000

An Australasian Darter nest was also in this cluster of cormorant nests

Australasian Darter (juveniles), Barwon River, Geelong
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/11, 1/800

with four young darters squirming for room

Australasian Darter (juveniles), Barwon River, Geelong
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/11, 1/320

under the not-so-watchful eye of Dad.

Australasian Darter (adult male + juveniles), Barwon River, Geelong
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/11, 1/500

It's amazing how much difference there is in size within clutches like this.

Australasian Darter (juveniles), Barwon River, Geelong
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 (x1.4 adapter), ISO 400, f/11, 1/250

Lorikeets go to University

Visiting Deakin University's Waurn Ponds (Geelong) campus last week, I couldn't help but notice the high-pitched chattering of a flock of small lorikeets in the the car park. I was without camera so could not capture the activity but I made sure to have the camera in the car this morning and made a brief detour on the way through Geelong to see if they were still there...

…and they were. At least twenty Purple-crowned Lorikeets were feeding among the eucalypts in the car park. Like most parrots, they are extremely affectionate birds.

Purple-crowned Lorikeet, Waurn Ponds

It was impossible to count and difficult to photograph them because they were rarely still and most often sitting or feeding in the tops of the trees and among the dense foliage.

Purple-crowned Lorikeet, Waurn Ponds

Occasionally one or two would come out to provide a better view.

Purple-crowned Lorikeet, Waurn Ponds

The resident Red Wattlebirds were persistently and aggressively defending their territory, taking the odd moment to grab feed of their own

Red Wattlebird, Waurn Ponds

and even squabbling among themselves.

Red Wattlebird, Waurn Ponds

Also feasting on the flowers were several Rainbow Lorikeets,

Rainbow Lorikeet, Waurn Ponds

In this one, the bird took off just as I hit the shutter.

Rainbow Lorikeet, Waurn Ponds

They are seriously quick because the next frame is completely empty (@7fps). I also like this shot because it shows the difference between the take-off techniques of parrots from passerines. Shots I've taken of small passerines show they jump into the air before opening their wings, where this bird is clearly still holding onto the branch while it's wings appear to be in full flight.

Rainbow Lorikeet, Waurn Ponds

The other common residents, New Holland Honeyeaters, hung around, unusually quiet…probably happy to not be the the primary focus of the wattlebirds.

New Holland Honeyeater, Waurn Ponds

Bellarine Peninsula

Having been away for the last few weeks, it was a joy to get out birding today. The weather was not great - dull, overcast and windy - so just did a quick run around some of the usual spots on the Bellarine Peninsula.

First stop was Lake Lorne in Drysdale. Lots of waterbirds here but difficult to photograph due to poor light so spent time trying to get some of the common bush birds.

Magpie Lark, Lake Lorne Reserve, Drysdale

Several of the gums are in flower so there were a lot of lorikeets around and I managed to find one tree with low hanging flowers so I could photograph the birds from eye-level

Rainbow Lorikeet, Lake Lorne Reserve, Drysdale

It started to drizzle with rain so I headed across the Peninsula for 13th Beach-Black Rocks to check on the waders. Only the usual suspects but they were busy feeding and allowed me to get quite close

Red-necked Stint, 13th Beach

Double-banded Plover, 13th Beach

Red-capped Plover, 13th Beach

Last stop was Pt Henry where a Little Egret was close enough to see some detail in the plumage

Little Egret, Pt Henry

 and two Crested Terns held a territorial dispute over a rock

Crested Tern, Pt Henry

Lorikeets and Terns at Ricketts Point

Travelling interstate and overseas for work for the last 5 weeks, I have been reading with envy the postings from many Melbourne birdos reporting the various species of terns frequenting the beaches of Beaumaris and Mordialloc.

So, it was with some anticipation that I visited both locations this afternoon on a brief trip to Melbourne. First stop Mordialloc jetty and no luck - plenty of terns but all Crested Tern on both north and south sides of jetty. Better luck at the second stop at Ricketts Point in Beaumaris (access to Ricketts Point is from Beach Road just NW of the intersection with Reserve Road - see map).

There were approx. 200 Crested Tern on and around the rock platform.

Crested Tern, Ricketts Point, Beaumaris

Among the largest group was a single "odd one out" that is either an Arctic Tern or Common Tern. Unfortunately, the mid afternoon sun was not in the best position for viewing or photographing this bird and the whole flock was scared off by a dog before I could try and approach it any closer. In flight, the bird did appear to have the Arctic Tern's distinctive black tips to primaries.

Stop Press 28 Oct:
I've had some offline feedback that it might be a White-fronted Tern - which I now think it is based on the head (minimal dark colour in front of the eye) and wing plumage - happy to be convinced otherwise though :-)

Which Tern? Ricketts Point, Beaumaris

I hung around for another 20 minutes in the hope that the terns would return to the same reef but, alas, no...

On leaving the car park, I heard lorikeets across Beach Road and as there had been a report of a pair of Scaly-breasted Lorikeets earlier in the week, I stopped for a closer investigation. There were at least 10 Rainbow Lorikeets (difficult to count exact numbers as they were in almost continuous movement within and among the Coast Banksia trees).

Rainbow Lorikeet, Ricketts Point, Beaumaris

There was a Scaly-breasted Lorikeet among the Rainbows

Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Ricketts Point, Beaumaris

but the bird it spent most time with appeared to be neither a Rainbow or Scaly-breasted, appearing to have hybrid features of both: the blue head but duller than Rainbow and scaly breast as well as back.

Hybrid Rainbow and Scaly-breasted Lorikeet?

I have not seen this before so any ideas appreciated.