Birds are not fond of dogs but I can take Chewy for a walk—they recognise he’s on a leash and are quite unworried. What is it about a camera? The moment I point a camera at them they scatter.
Or maybe, from a distance they consider safe…I’ll just get one in focus…and at the very instant I press the shutter it flies off…and I have a picture of a fuzzy blur in perfectly defined foliage.
Occasionally you do get a willing subject some place where they are used to people, but mostly you have to trick them. Some of my best pictures have been taken from the car.
For me, this has been a year of overseas visitors—my sister from Canada, and friends from NZ and the USA. Consequently, I just have to take them to as many of my favourite places as possible to share them with me. Hence multiple “not to be missed” photo opportunities...
Birubi Point at Anna Bay NSW…late afternoon…Ibis and Sooty Oystercatchers wade for food and Crested Terns scan the shallow water and swoop from the rock when they spot some tasty morsel.
Or maybe, from a distance they consider safe…I’ll just get one in focus…and at the very instant I press the shutter it flies off…and I have a picture of a fuzzy blur in perfectly defined foliage.
Occasionally you do get a willing subject some place where they are used to people, but mostly you have to trick them. Some of my best pictures have been taken from the car.
For me, this has been a year of overseas visitors—my sister from Canada, and friends from NZ and the USA. Consequently, I just have to take them to as many of my favourite places as possible to share them with me. Hence multiple “not to be missed” photo opportunities...
Birubi Point at Anna Bay NSW…late afternoon…Ibis and Sooty Oystercatchers wade for food and Crested Terns scan the shallow water and swoop from the rock when they spot some tasty morsel.
Next—National Parks…
In some parks the birds are semi-tame. I think they recognise people as ‘harmless’ and just get on with their life without concern about cameras. The Kookaburra was photographed at Blue Mountains N/P [Glenbrook Section] and the Lyrebird at Fitzroy Falls N/P
In some parks the birds are semi-tame. I think they recognise people as ‘harmless’ and just get on with their life without concern about cameras. The Kookaburra was photographed at Blue Mountains N/P [Glenbrook Section] and the Lyrebird at Fitzroy Falls N/P
I took the picture of the Eastern Spinebill at the Creek below the “sawn rocks” at the Sawn Rocks section of Kaputar N/P. He was shy—when I tried to get closer he took off. Willie Wagtail was at the escarpment of Kings Tableland at Wentworth Falls. He or she was not shy but flitted about with the rapidity of its species so was easy to ‘capture’.
Cockatoos are very common, but also very wary. There are always sentinels on duty. These three were all that remained of a large flock feeding on the verge of the Narrabri-Bingara Road.
Others ‘through the car window’ include the Dotterel on Bingara Common; and the Welcome Swallow taken through the front windscreen. Now why would a Swallow cross the Daintree River on a ferry in the rain???? [The expression ‘madder than a cut snake’ comes to mind!]
Tea Gardens on a warm winter’s day… I took a walk along the river bank. The birds had put on their best photogenic manners. I’ve selected two very special ones—a pair of Masked Lapwings [rarely will this species let you close enough to photograph them], and a pelican in flight [just one of a series of pictures of this spectacular bird].
Tame birds… The King Parrot photographed at Willow Tree…I think he was on day release from the backyard aviary over the fence from the café. As for the Butcher Bird...I’ve often heard that clear beautifully melodic voice, but this is the first time I had the opportunity to watch one. It seemed very interested in watching me...or maybe my snack from the “Hard Croc Café” at the Australian Reptile Park near Gosford.
The Red Wattlebird was feasting on new spring blossom in Uralla and the Pied Currawong was in the Japanese Gardens in Cowra.
Finally the emus.
The time after the “Big Wet” a few years ago, I took pictures of emus in ‘Emu Heaven’—lush green outback near Menindee. It was such a weird experience to travel through the ‘desert’ transformed by rain—the bone-dry Menindee Lakes now ‘fish soup’—the Darling River up to bridge level.
Now the west is back in drought. My sister and I were astounded to see a large group of emus at the far end of a field near Walgett. I stopped the car and we got out. They were coming towards us! Another weird experience—in a parallel universe.
The time after the “Big Wet” a few years ago, I took pictures of emus in ‘Emu Heaven’—lush green outback near Menindee. It was such a weird experience to travel through the ‘desert’ transformed by rain—the bone-dry Menindee Lakes now ‘fish soup’—the Darling River up to bridge level.
Now the west is back in drought. My sister and I were astounded to see a large group of emus at the far end of a field near Walgett. I stopped the car and we got out. They were coming towards us! Another weird experience—in a parallel universe.
Expressing for me the austere heart-breaking, irresistible appeal of the outback.