Author: David Jenkins

I’m getting tired of starting each post with,”Its been quite awhile since I uploaded a new page.” And even if I wasted half a page explaining the ins and outs of the delays, let’s face it, like apathy, no one cares. 🙂

The problem for me with a blog like this is if I don’t get the time on the day, then several go by, and a new project has emerged and the blog is left in the dust.

So, just as well I decided to send postcards!

EE and I took advantage of the early morning sunshine and headed to the You Yangs.  Couple of things stood out for us.  We’d been discussing the fact that neither of us had made any reasonable shots of Scarlet Robins for quite a long while.  Not just because we were spending time in the wrong areas, but well, the birds had been around either.

So you might well imagine, (if you will), our delight, surprise and excitement when we pulled into the carparking area and had to shoo a pair of Scarlets out of the way so we could park the vehicle.  Gotta think a day when the birds meet you in the carpark is going to be a good day.

Continue reading “Postcards from the You Yangs” →

******  If you have an aversion to Silver Gulls, or stories about Silver Gulls, then ClickAway NOW.  You have been warned.**********

We have just returned from a few days ‘holiday’ down the coast.  Accommodation within walking distance of the beach, in the company of some friends from our village.

The smell of sea air, the splash of the waves, all very rejuvenating.  These days I’m not a great swimmer,  would have once, thought it just the best way to spend a holiday, tearing up and down the beach, rolling in the waves, getting sand in between my toes, and going home with a dripping towel.  And an ice-cream. Let’s be practical, a great day out.

But these days, I’m much more inclined to watch it all happen.

As it turned out the bay we were staying near was quite wide, and very shallow for much of the day.  The waves must run in from both points and wash the sand into the middle of their force, and a lovely inverted “Y” sand bar has formed between the forces.  I went down to look.

The tide was at low-level, and there was only a few centimeters, (inches) of water washing over the bar. It ranged in width from a few metres close in, to around 15 or more further out, then tapered down again at the end of the bar.

The enclosed part of the “Y”, of course was closed in by the beach proper, and the water in the pool of the “Y”, was only being replenished by the gentle wash of the wavelets over the sandbar, and was being warmed by the sunshine.

Too much fun.  So off came the shoes and socks, up rolled the trousers and wading into the luke warm water was, I must admit, enjoyable.

Continue reading “Standing About in the Water” →

Not much of a subject really in a bird blog.  Is it?

For quite awhile I’ve had a disclaimer on this blog of our birding practice(s).

I’ve been challenged, (accused is too strong a word-but you have to sit in my seat to appreciate the difference), that we (EE and I) take ‘liberties’ with the birds we photograph.

Here is the summary of what I’ve said previously.

Addendum: Just to be very clear.  These birds are not baited, called in, or in anyway interfered with.   We don’t use: hides, camo gear nor setup stations.  We mostly sit, and work for acceptance. We are simply recording the activities of a very relaxed and completely confident bird.  We strive for connection and if a bird exhibits any ‘stress’, we leave it in peace.  No photo is worth stressing the bird.
Now you know!

Long term readers will be familiar with my quotes from Jon Young’s “What the Robin Knows!”.  Short version   Jon Young strives for and encourages “Connectedness”.
“One day I will see a bird and a thin thread will form between me and the bird. If I just see it and don’t recognise it, no thread is formed.  If I go again and again, the thread is strengthened each time. It will eventually grow in to a string, then a cord, then a rope. This is what it means to be a Bushman, we make ropes of connection to all aspects of the creation” Introduction, page xxv.

We strive to keep that connectedness, in some very special instances the birds respond in a most enchanting way.  For those, we are able to raise great stories.

Brad Hill, is a Canadian photographer, and I follow his work regularly.

He has posted recently posted a timely  “Code of Ethics for Bird Photographers”. Thought you might like a different perspective.  See it here  http://www.naturalart.ca/voice/photography_ethics.html

Oh, and here is a bird that had developed connectedness with me.
Her name was Primrose.  A lovely female Red-capped Robin at Woodlands. Most days as we walked past, she would deliberately come out for a visit.

The header photo is from the Kestrel Series and there are several blog posts back a year or two about that extended moment.  Her name was Elizabeth— Jane Austin fans will understand.

Keep takin’ photos.  We do.

Given our somewhat fling of success the previous evening, EE decided that an early morning start to have a look and see if we could locate the Nankeen Night-herons and Sacred Kingfishers would be a good use of our time.  And as my poor old foot had survived the first outing, it might be good of course, to well, test it a bit further. Thanks.  Such is the medical profession. Of which EE is not one. 🙂

It did seem quite bright sunshine and blue sky as we loaded Sir Perceval, and head out.  But as soon as we were past the halfway point, the clouds rolled in, and was that rain I detected on the windscreen.  “Oh, Jane said on the telly news that it wouldn’t rain today”, she confidently replies.
Oh! Good!

It seems to me, and I might of course be speaking out of turn, but the weather tv folk must always be talking about a specific house in a specific (unspecified of course) neighborhood, and the rest of us can just take pot luck.  I’m also of the opinion, and I could of course be speaking out of turn again, but it seems to me, that said weather spruikers are probably less accurate than the other dudes who do the ‘Your day by the Stars’, readings— Just sayin’.

Highlight of the day was two Wedge-tailed Eagles either in dispute or play. Regrettably little sunshine and too far far away.  But an amazing sight. Continue reading “Office Addendum” →