David Jenkins

Woodlands Historic Park robin season

July 24, 2012July 25, 2012Posted in Flame Robin, Redcapped Robin, Scarlet RobinTagged Flame Robin, Red-capped Robin, Scarlet Robin, Woodlands Historic Park1 Comment

With the ongoing closure of the Backpaddock at Woodlands, the opportunities for following Flame Robin families has been greatly diminished. I have to admit defeat at this stage, as here we are getting close to the end of the winter over season, and I really only have a few images that I am satisfied with. Problem is of course not being able to follow the birds as they move across the light Grey Box scrub along the ridge lines in the Backpaddock.
Not that it is doom and gloom as a few parties come out on raiding sessions into the area outside the park, but it’s impossible to predict where and when, so it is pretty much hit and miss.

Also not being able to track the Red-capped Robins movements, it will slow me down a bit when they go to nest, as I don’t have any idea where they are in the territory, and they certainly aren’t going to put up flags. (Not that I am tracking nests, but rather where it is all happening so I can prepare for shots of the fledged young. I try not to disturb the nesting birds as she will get anxious and abandon a nest at any stage. I think her main concern is Cuckoos, but Ravens made havoc of several nests sites last year.)

So here is a compilation of the work from about the past two weeks. Weather has not been kind either.

The female is Primrose, and she has a territory that is outside the backpaddock. She is currently being courted by two males, but I think she seems to favour Lockie, so things will be as previous. I do hope the younger male finds a mate as he seems most capable of defending himself. With all the young that were produced in the area past season, it is a ponder as to where they all go.

The Flame males were beginning to call with their territory call the last few days. They usually are gone in a fortnight or so after that. They go early, and then the females follow about a week or so later. But, I haven’t seen very many females, and am assuming they are up on the grey box ridges.

*** The images in the blog are now part of a gallery. As such if you click on an image it will open them all up in a slide show. That way you can advance through the photos rather then see them one by one and have to come back to this page for a new pic. I think it’s more elegant, and I wish I had figured it out earlier in the blog.

Hope you like it.

Primrose on the fence line near the cemetery

A male Flame Robin who came on a hunting expedition from the closed off Backpaddock area. Usually there would be a number of birds, but he was pretty much on his own.

Interestingly marked young Flame Robin. It must be a juvenile moulting through into its adult colours.

Red-capped Robin Female. This is Primrose, (see the lovely apricot wash on her chest) overseeing a territorial dispute between Lockie, and a would be suitor.

Female Scarlet Robin enjoying a long squishy worm. It gets a good belting on the branch to soften it up. Nice to see both of the Scarlets are still in the area. I’m hoping they stay for the nesting season.

Sunshiny day at WTP

July 19, 2012July 24, 2012Posted in Australian Kestrel, Brown Falcon, Spotted Harrier, Swamp HarrierTagged Brown Falcon, Spotted Harrier, Western Treatment PlantLeave a comment

At last the weather gave a bit of relief, and with an onshore breeze, a resonably low tide at around mid-day, it looked like a good time to re-visit the WTP.
So we loaded up the car, picked up Dieter early in the morning and progressed to see what was happening.

We found a Brown Falcon that has mastered the art of hovering. Mostly Brown Falcons hover like a house-brick, but this one has been able to figure out the technique. We’ve seen it down around the Kirk Point area before exhibiting its skills. A Swamp Harrier had made a kill and had been pursued by a number of Ravens, and had dropped the victim. This Brown Falcon had been somewhat in the middle of it all and was pretty certain that a free feed was waiting somewhere in the grass. It was completely oblivious to our presence and hunted quite close going over Dieter’s head at only a few metres. It was a great few minutes to watch.

Further along we came across a Spotted Harrier, ‘Languidly- that’s how its described in all the books’ making its way along one of the small channels. It passed quite close to the car and seemed un-preturbed by us. It has a primary feather that is loose, perhaps its moulting.

A second Spot turned up with what looks like a Eurasian Coot as its lunch. The coot can weigh upwards of 1 kilo, so it must have been quite an effort to get airborne, and maintain a steady course.

All in all a good day out with the birds and with plenty of Black-shouldered Kites and Nankeen Kestrels on the wing there was always something to be photographing.

Dipped on the Oriental Pratincole, which is always too far away to get great shots anyway.

DWJ-1207-19-DSC_1949 — Hovering Brown Falcon. It skimmed over the waters edge looking for the prey dropped by a Swamp Harrier. It didn’t have any success in the few minutes we watched. Perhaps the mouse or rat escaped for another day.

DWJ-1207-19-DSC_2087 — Spotted Harrier casually making its way along a water channel at WTP

DWJ-1207-19-DSC_2318 — Another Spotted Harrier, this time with takeaway lunch.

Study in High Key

July 12, 2012July 25, 2012Posted in Black-shouldered KiteLeave a comment

One of the great delights of photography is the various elements, lighting, and juxtapositions that provide visual excitement and interest in an image.
One of those that brings life, feeling, brightness and subtly of form is High Key images.

The Black-shouldered Kite lends itself to this form as its delicate grey and white matches the requirements. Then the lighting has to match, and the pose has to be effective and the exposure just about right, and so it goes.

Here is one I prepared earlier. The bird’s brilliant red eye makes a lovely counterpoint for the high key treatment.

Big Birds up at WTP

July 12, 2012July 25, 2012Posted in UncategorizedLeave a comment

It started out as a windy day, and stayed that way.

Good day for big birds we thought as Dieter and I drove down to Werribee. We went too look for the elusive Oriental Pratincole. However the roads were still pretty much awash from the rain of the last few days, and Austin Road, where the best sighting had been made was literally mud from end to end. When a guy in a four-wheel drive arrived and chatted about the bird and how many 4be’s had been down Austin Road on the weekend, that was just about it for my little humble two wheel drive milk and bread pickup vehicle. He also announce, ‘there is no hope of me going down there in this. (referring to the 4Be), so that was enough for us to wander on to other roads that were much better suited to the milk and bread pickup.

To our delight we found a Black-shouldered Kite that was hunting just along the roadside and got some lovely views as it came up to the car, circled around and then continued on down past the car. Wonderful.

I noticed some commotion among the silver-gulls and ducks on Lake Borrie, and a sweep with the binos revealed a White-bellied Sea Eagle on a tree. So far away. Now to get to there we had no option but to go the long way, as the road down along the bay was pretty much closed for the mile and bread van. In the end it took us about a15 minutes to get round near the trees, and lo and behold the Eagle was still in attendance along with a flock of very angry gulls. So we had plenty of time to get some reasonable pics before the poor eagle left the demented gulls to their own business.

White-bellied Sea Eagle being harassed by gull. It had been putting up with attacks for about 20 minutes or more by this stage

Australasian Grebe

July 9, 2012July 9, 2012Posted in Australasian Grebe, Flame RobinLeave a comment

Seems like forever since I had a chance to put up a post. Didn’t think, ” Went out got wet, saw nothing”, was going to be a big hit in the blogging world.

With the Woodlands Backpaddock area being out of bounds to mere humans, and especially photographers, while the great Fox hunt is on, the best I can do is put my nose up against the fence like a little kid in a lolly shop and dream.

The new Eastern Barred Bandicoot programme in the park is in full swing. One of the first jobs is to remove all the ferals that are in there. Notably cats, and foxes. They have done a good job of rejuvenating the fences, so all the remains is to get rid of the last of the more persistent foxes. My guess based on just sitting and watching, is that there is upwards of a dozen in there. And my guess, totally untechnical of course is that some of them are breeding. Which would explain the occasional smaller animals I see. My other non technical guess is my money is on the foxes. The release of the fresh bandicoot families can not go ahead until they are absolutely certain the area is now free of ferals. But how long that will take is anyone’s guess.

Meanwhile the Flame robins are still in the area, but our time begins to run out pretty soon as they will be getting ready to move back to the high country by August.

So. What to do. Down to the Dam area today with my mate Neil A. We found a few Flame males and a couple of Australasian Grebes and I was lucky enough to get a reasonable handheld shot of said Grebe. Really like the reflection, and I added just a brush full of contrast to make it stand out more from the water.

DWJ-1207-09-DSC_1193 — Australasian Grebe and reflection

DWJ-1207-09-DSC_1064 (1) — Male Flame Robin who came to my side of the fence for a little visit.

Looking for Flame Robins

June 25, 2012July 9, 2012Posted in Flame RobinTagged Flame Robin, Woodlands Historic Park1 Comment

Monday dawned all nice and bright. No rain, little wind, a good day for a stroll along Moonee Ponds Creek at Woodlands to look for Flame Robins.

But, by the time I’d arrived and walked into the paddock, the weather turned a dismal shade of grey. So back to the car, put on the Driazabone (they really are!), and put in the wet weather covers for the cameras. Thank you Mr Aqua-shield.

As it turned out, I had only arrived down at the creek, when the first of a number of Flame Robins began hunting in the area near me. In between showers, I managed to find 5 birds, and all of them seemed to be young males in state of moulting through. I didn’t spy any males nor single females.

But the rain set in. Down by the Billabongs is a lovely place, lots of wonderful Red Gums and plenty of shelter from the rain, so I headed there. So did a large and significant sized flock of Yellow-rumped Thornbills, together with their tame, pet Willie Wagtail and a flotilla of Silver-eyes. So we all sat in the shelter of the Red Gums. I had chosen a particularly large tree with a dry side, and plenty of shelter from the wind. I think the birds chose it at as an alternative feeding area.

The rain eased and I took the time to walk around to near the Cumberland homestead site. I could hear the “Mip, Mip” of a Black-shouldered Kite and through the mist eventually I spotted one on a tree, and then another further down the range. They both flew when the rain eased and one came down to a tree near me, but the rain was simply toomuch to pursue the issue any further.

Heading back up the hill toward the old Church site, I spotted the Flame Robins at work in the paddock.

Here is a male who posed long enough for me to get organised.

dwj08 — Young Flame Robin in moult. He is hunting down along the Moonee Ponds Creek, near the Billabongs area at Woodlands.

Just little wanders

June 24, 2012June 24, 2012Posted in Flame Robin, Redcapped Robin, Scarlet RobinTagged Flame Robin, Redcapped Robin, Scarlet Robin, Woodlands Historic ParkLeave a comment

Had a wander over the weekend with the organised Beginners Group of Bird LIfe Asutralia (Melbourne Group). Titles get so long these days, and the acronyms are dreadful, but by the time I get it all typed I’ve forgotten what it was I was going to ramble on about.
Oh, yeah, we went with the beginners group to Woodlands. Now as the National Parks people are on strike, the gate at Somerton Road is closed. Which in some way s me thinks is a good thing. But with nearly twenty cars parked along the road it did look to say the least a bit dangerous. And as Somerton Road is apparently the extension of some race track or other, speeds along the road are simply overwhelming at times, with some of the best passing manoeuvres that would do credit to Mark Webber at Albert Park F1, are taken with out much concern for the narrowness of the roadway. Anyway I digress.

The weather was pleasant if just a bit overcast and after a stroll around the Moonee Ponds Creek tracks, – Note: the river was in a flood, probably 1 1/2 meters or more deep.- we decided to move around to the Providence Road carpark and spot Robins. And on this day, the resident Tawny Frogmouths had moved to a new tree and were not to be found. I was pretty much accused of climbing up in the morning and moving them. <ggg>

The gate to the Backpaddock is now closed, so we made do by following the kangaroo tracks down toward the Dam area. Now the robins were pretty much on strike too, it seems. However I broke away from the main group and with a little bushcraft, and determined perseverance and highly developed robin finding skills. And let’s face it. LUCK, I found the pair, Lockie and Primrose. They were taking a bit of a stroll down toward the dam as there were some nice wet patches of run-off water from the previous couple of days. Next, call up the group, so some thirty birdwatchers descend on 10 square metres of robin feeding territory and the fun begins. “There on the tree just on the left of the other tree, near the branch sticking out behind the wattle, near the laid over stump, about a metre off the ground, oh, never mind it’s flown away.” Much too much fun.

Some of the beginners did however manage to get a good views of Lochie and another male, and Primrose seemed completely unpreturbed by it all and just continued to feed. So after about twenty hectic minutes with the binoculars and pointing just about everybody had seen some good robin views.

We then moved back to the cars and had another great view of several of the Flame and Scarlet robins in the paddock near the cemetery. Enough for all, so lunch was at the Woodlands Homestead. Then a bit of a walk around Woodlands Hill, but no raptors were up.

Dorothy and I went back for another look in the pm, and found some Flame Robins and Lochie and Primrose again. Here he is in the sunshine.

dwj10 — Here he is again with a nicer background. He is my second most favourite of the Red-caps because he is very relaxed with me most of the time.

Hello, and aren’t you looking super?

June 19, 2012Posted in Eastern Yellow Robin, Flame Robin, Redcapped Robin, Scarlet RobinTagged Eastern Yellow Robin, Scarlet RobinLeave a comment

No one can say that the weather has been photographically kind over the past few days. Its not just the risk of taking the cameras out in the rain, or the chance of getting wet, its just the light is so weak that the exposures are wide open, slow shutter speed. Even on a tripod, the chances are the bird is breathing in and out faster than the shutter speed, so, its a blurry pic.

Stay home, do other things, play with last years images and hope for a break.

So with high hopes we set out early this morning, sun looked good, and the weather man gave us a 50/50 chance. Should be good.

But! The gate to the Woodlands Backpaddock is locked. Work is going on to remove the feral invaders, and keep the feral photographers out.

Sadly we traipsed back towards the car. But on the way, we found a lovely looking Female Scarlet Robin, so of course we stopped to play. She and her mate were a bit skittish at first but after a little bit we managed to meet on sort of mutual terms and were able to get reasonably close. Good light and the rest was easy.

After all that excitement we travelled on a bit further and found an Eastern Yellow Robin. Very impressive, and again a bird that once it settled down was not to fussed by being chased by a photographer.

Looks like we’ll be travelling a bit further to keep up with the Yellow Robin and fill in time till the gates are re-opened.

DWJ-1206-19-DSC_9577 — Female Scarlet Robin hunting

DWJ-1206-19-DSC_9733 — Scarlet Robin Male

dwj09 — Find of the day. Eastern Yellow Robin in a small clump of Black Wattle

WTP evening

June 12, 2012August 22, 2012Posted in UncategorizedLeave a comment

Getting a bit cold for an evening drive, so we thought we’d start early. Like after lunch!

It’s a long way to WTP, if the weather is only so so, and if its not being very helpful, the best idea we reckon is to stay home. But throwing out best advice out the window, we went anyway. Hadn’t been for a couple of weeks, and wanted to see who things were going.

Along the Spit area, a Horsfield Cuckoo sat on a post and piped for us, it was answered by at least two other birds, and we have just recently spotted about six or seven sitting on the fence rails. This one co-operated and sat in the very weak sunshine, which was good as it meant no harsh shadow detail loss.

Further along were several Red-capped Plovers and a number of Red-necked Stints in the shallows at the Murtcain Outlflow.

Down along the Beach Drive near Lake Borrie we came across an ambitious White-bellied Seaeagle taking home a duck dinner. It was pursued by a pack of very angry Silver Gulls, and perhaps it wasn’t duck on the menu afterall?

As we were leaving with the sun well and truly set behind the You Yangs, right on the Paradise Road exit gate, Dorothy spotted a Flame Robin taking its evening bath and then a few minutes to dry out all the feathers. Made a great end to a day.

seaeagle — White-bellied Sea Eagle escaping with someone’s relative

Flamerobinbath01 — Male Flame Robin taking an evening bath

Flamerobinbath02 — Male Flame Robin after a bath

Off the the land of Goschen again.

June 7, 2012June 11, 2012Posted in Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, White-browed Honeyeater2 Comments

Down the blog in early February you’ll find a report of a day that Dieter and I had in Goschen in the hot summer sun.

Dorothy and I travelled back to Swan Hill for a family gig this past week. (see her blog for details), and I managed an early morning run down to Goschen again. But this time it’s winter! One of the nice things about the inland winter is that while the frosts may hit the ground, given a clear day, the sunlight is both warming and photographically super.
So I lucked out. Goschen Reserve is about 15 mins drive from Swan Hill and I left right on sunup. So by the time I got to the reserve the light was running in a beautiful horizontal line along the ground. Which meant that if I could find some birds, I would have great front light with the shadows running away behind the birds.

And find them I did. Or better yet, they found me. Most of the time I sat on an open track near the old tennis court and really let them come around me.
White-browed Babblers, raucous and active led the charge. Not to be outdone the Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters were in abundance. So to Brown Treecreepers and regular assortment of other honeyeaters and some Striated Pardolottes, one who had a lisp and its voice was a definite, “Whip, whip” sound. A number of parrots, including Rosellas and Red-rumped, and some Mallee Ringnecks, all seemed to have plenty to keep them and me occupied. The small families of Brown Quail would take off at the slighest movement in their direction. I noted that they always flew directly away from me, which made a picture next to impossible as the focus just couldn’t react fast enough. Must try that again sometime.

The problem was not how or where to photograph, but rather which one to click on next.
Sadly by midmorning, the sun had departed behind some low clouds, and I had a hasty retreat to make to get to the next family event.

The land of Goschen still holds plenty of attraction. Must try and get a visit in during Spring time if I can.

DWJGoschen001 — White-browed Babbler with Spider snack

DWJGoschen002 — Lisping Striated Pardolotte

On a Road, 40 Years Ago

June 5, 2012Posted in UncategorizedLeave a comment

This is not a post about birds, or my photographic life. It is about life, and humanity and how a thoughtful, aware and intuitive photographer has dealt with an extraordinary subject with a great concern and tenderness. Well worth the read just to see McNally at his finest.
It is to direct you to the Joe McNally’s Blog and look at the post

On a Road, 40 Years Ago

Foggy Morning with Robins

June 4, 2012June 4, 2012Posted in Flame Robin, Redcapped RobinTagged Flame Robin, Red, Woodlands Historic Park2 Comments

The lack of posts here has little to do with enthusiasm and much to do with the weather. When its been good weather, I have been elsewhere, and when I’m all set to go to the paddocks, the weather turns viral.

But I loaded up the Driazabone (and they are which is why they are so good), and headed out. The weather went from inclement to downright foggy. I had trouble seeing cars coming along the track to the forest.

And it really didn’t get much better. However a good trusty tripod is such a good thing, even if its a bit heavy. Or gets left behind in the marshes and requires a return trip just to retrieve the missing tripod in the middle of the night. (Don’t ask, just put it down to old timers forgetfulness).

I’ve taken of late to shooting from the tripod with it very low to the ground, legs stretched out and laying behind it. It gives the feeding birds an interesting perspective and makes the depth-of-field, both a challenge and an opportunity. Harder to nail focus on small birds, but when it does the soft backgrounds don’t get in the way. The robins on the moss beds are standing on a very narrow sharp area and everything else is out of focus. Old bones do creak a bit when I get up to move but.

The wonderful thing about mist for a photographer is soft delicate light that comes from it all, and the lovely moody effects it adds to landscapes. It’s a bit tough through when the bird is about 8 metres away and the mist makes the image all soft and fuzzy.

But as a photographer mate says, “The light now melds over everything it touches”, and he’s right. No harsh shadows, no contrasts, soft muted colours and light that edges its way around three dimensionally. Super.

The robins have indeed become conspicuously absent the past few times. The much anticipated flock hasn’t eventuated and its really small isolated families that move rapidly from place to place. But there are a few gems among them.

redcap 07 — Male Red-cap in the soggy grass. He is a bit wet from hunting about, and very wary of me.

flamerobin — Another “Fatboy”. This male was on his own. He found a super big purple worm, but took off with it before I had a chance to get some eating shots. I found him on a branch looking decidedly overweight.

redcap 06 — Another Red-capped Male. I had to walk a long way in to find him and again he was very wary of me. But the light just enveloped him.

Young Miss Heartbreaker

May 28, 2012May 28, 2012Posted in Flame Robin, Redcapped RobinTagged Redcapped Robin, Woodlands Historic ParkLeave a comment

After a busy weekend away from birding we were both looking forward to going back out to Woodlands today. The weather didn’t promise much and didn’t deliver much either. But on the upside we didn’t get any showers so that helped.

Once we were inside the Backpaddock a family of Flame Robins came by, but quickly disappeared and we lost them. Mr Mighty made an appearance but for some reason we didn’t get close enough for much worthwhile photography. After waiting fruitlessly for some other action we toured about the pathways and I found Little Miss Red red-capped Robin. Perhaps she should be called Little Red-riding Hood.

The sun graciously shone through some cloud and a little bit of extra light helped on the moss beds. She seemed to be unattached today and was with a small family of female and juvenile Flame Robins.

But as always at the moment, the Thornbill flock flew in, and then out and everyone was gone. There is plenty of activity, just not sufficient time to get some great photos.

redcapped Robin1 — How does she look. Red-riding Hood, with her little red-breast feathers and her brilliant orange red cap.

Flame Robin1 — Female Flame Robin. She seemed to be calling to the family group because they took too flight and followed her departure.

Guess who’s turning all the boy’s heads?

May 24, 2012May 24, 2012Posted in Flame Robin, Redcapped RobinTagged Flame Robin, Redcapped Robin, Woodlands Historic ParkLeave a comment

This little miss, has turned up over the past week or so, we spotted her in the rain, and all remarked about the ‘redness’ of her cap.

The last few days there have been a three male suitors down in the same area. Very territorial and each of them, trying to drive off the other two. Today, one of them seemed to at least have the dominance and after a few verbal battles and some branch dancing, he moved her up the paddock away from the other two males. Nothing left for them, so they squabbled amongst themselves.

After about five minutes a little grey/brown streak zoomed down the forest and back out among the boys. With some suitable tail-wagging and some scolding tic tics, she got them all going again. One seemed to win out and again two males were left to themselves.

Something new going on all the time.

Mr Mighty and his lady are back feeding in their old quarters from last year. He doesn’t seem to take part in the domestic worries across the forest.