We’ve been cooped up inside since EE’s “Incident” a few weeks back. But with some improvement and a bit of willpower, she decided that a morning visit with Eloise would be therapeutic. And well, who am I to argue with the ‘good doctor’. So a check on the weather, and it seemed early morning would be still, great light and not too hot.
A couple of kind souls offered the advice when we arrived, “Don’t Hurry. She’s not here yet”. And like one of those prophetic statements that just becomes self-fulfilling, it did. While we waited around, EE sitting quietly on her new ‘mobile’ seat, didn’t take long to discover some thing that most others had overlooked.
A family of Spotted Pardalote had nested in the cliff bank, just below the edge, and as there were quite a number of exposed roots offering great perches in the sunshine, the little birds were moving back and forth encouraging their young ones out into the open.
By mid-morning and a reassuring cuppa of Grey of Earl, we pretty much concluded that Eloise was fishing elsewhere this fine morning.
About that time our flickr mate, Derek turned up hoping to try out his new 500mm f/5.6 PF lens, so I had a chance to ooh, and ahhh, and drool just as bit. Hope he has remarkable success with it, and it does look a great lens to walk about with. EE even tried on the mobile and expressed interest. So there goes my bank balance I’m thinking. Mind with the shortage of the lenses worldwide, I should have ample time to save up enough bottletops and bits of string by this time next year for her lens. 🙂
New lenses must be in the air, as I’ve taken control of a 70-200 f/4, for a beaut walkabout narrow landscape lens. It also works a treat on birds, if I can get close enough. Funny how sometimes equipment just ‘feels’ right. I’ve only ever had that happen to a few lenses I’ve owned, but the little 70-200 is sweet. Thinks back to when I purchased a 30-100mm Powerzoom for the Nikon 1 system. I just loved to carry that lens around, but could never get inspired to make great pictures. But it felt like the Tao just flowed from it.
Mike Johnson of the “Online Photographer” has this to say about Laws of Lenses, if you want a bit of a smile. https://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer/2019/02/mikes-seven-laws-of-lenses.html
Sadly our morning ended without the Lady making an entrance.
So to work.
Aah, you guys had a lovely morning, a super collection of special feather moments. My favourite is the pair of cormorants making almost identical wakes in the otherwise perfectly calm water. But who wouldn’t love Pardalotes. The 70-200mm F4 is a fantastic lens. It is so light and perfect. I don’t understand landscape photographers who run out and buy the F2.8 versions… and then pack extra weight when they inevitably stop everything down to F8 or beyond!
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Hi Derek, I’ve had a few f/2.8 70-200s over the years. The focus speed has always been its stand out, and exceptional sharness. I’ve been promising an f/4 for a couple of years and the opportunity came up. I’ll have to get used to stopping it down, so used to using long lenses wide open.
The cormorants were shot with the little hummer.
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A wonderful series of images. A pity that Eloise wasn’t there but great to know the Pardalotes are there. Hopefully I will get a peek tomorrow morn. There have been a couple of Kingfishers ‘opposite’ the car park on the far bank recently too. Maybe I will get lucky. Great to hear that EE was able to be out and about too!
Dave N
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G,day all good. Mr An Onymous spotted the Kingfishers for us the other day, so managed a few good shot. There are also several Cape Barren Geese coming in (from the zoo?) and working in the shallows area.
Hope you score the Osprey.
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Excellent shots of other birds. The pardalotes are the stand out for me. I might even head back down there, either tomorrow or Friday.
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Hello Rodger, yep, thought of you when EE pointed them out. They were in the area near the golfclub.
I reckon its hard to make an awful shot of a Pardy
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Beautiful clear and stunning shots as per usual David. Those Pardie shots are precious. What a wonderful capture of the juvenile, and the expression like it is ready to take on the world and go exploring. If all of our offices could be like yours, working would be so much more pleasurable. That’s one of the best Ibis captures I have seen in a while, such clarity and detail. I find them tricky with light, but you have done well. Enjoy the rest of the week!
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Hi AB, thanks for dropping by. I think we’ve missed the Pardalotes on other occassions. EE isn’t called Eagle Eyed for nothing.:-)
Yep, the white feathers, and dark head are a challenge, and unless the light helps, it usually hinders.
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Beautiful shots of a variety of birds David. So sorry to hear of Dorothy’s problems and do hope they are resolved very soon.
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Thanks Eleanor, Dorothy says, “Hi”. We are dealing with a long term illness, and unfortunately the deterioration of the osteo bone structure just goes on relelentlessly. Spirits all good, and her walker is giving her confidence, hopefully each day brings its gains.
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So sorry to hear that, but I’m glad the walker is helping. Go Dorothy!
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I’ve just went one step back in your blog and I’m glad I did. Sad news about Dorothy but thanks to her marvellous gift of spotting, what others can’t see, the pardalote pictures are a treat.
The cormorants – as per my comments on Flickr – are superb.
I drove across the Big Bridge on Thursday despite my inner voice telling me that Eloise wouldn’t come. I did not see the Pardalotes and the Kingfishers but some of my other shots resemble yours 😉 Still, 3 Red-browed finches in the rising sun were some sort of a consolation prise, I guess.
All the best to you both!
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G,day, Yes, she doesn’t seem to have much in the way of manners sometimes when folk come to visit. :-). And it seems almost impossible to predict her comings and goings.
Not sure if you know, but if you walk the track between the river bank and the golfclub carpark, you’ll lbe able to get access down the river track that runs along the golfclub area. Travel southish, (up stream), and after about 500mm you’ll come to a major righthand bend in the river, just before that are a few ‘shallows’, and it can be a top spot for waders and the like.
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