David Jenkins

Update: Redcapped Robin young

January 24, 2012January 27, 2012Posted in Redcapped Robin, Scarlet RobinTagged Red-capped Robin, Scarlet Robin1 Comment

Went back to check on the Scarlet Robin, and was pleasantly surprised to hear her early morning call in the forest. Despite a lot of looking, I was not able to locate her, as she was moving about in among the denser grey box undergrowth.

I continued on to an area I have reported on ealier, where a Redcapped Robin male went to a lot of trouble to convince me there were not nests up in that area. See here

After locating a small flock of Yellow-rumped Thornbills, I was settling to to photograph them when off to my left a Redcapped Robin male, turned up. And in a few moments a very young juvenile. All lovely striated waiting to be fed.

It didn’t take the male to long to fulfil that request, and then the young bird was left in a dead, fallen wattle, and the male disappeared. The young one amused itself taking food off the ground and generally exploring the branches. After about 10 minutes the male returned and offered up a nice looking orange coloured bug. Then they both flew over my head, and away. I scouted round for a few minutes and then found a second juvenile, this one seemed to be a bit more advanced. The male turned up, shared some food, and then gave a call and the two juveniles followed him across a clearing. And so did I. There was another old wattle there and again he left them and disappeared, coming back occasionally with food.

He seemed to have a scheme on feeding as the first young on the scene did not get the goodies, but he seemed quite particular about which one should be fed.

Then with another call they followed him to the next tree, and a third young one joined them! So they have had a very successful time. Now he was as busy as a one-armed paper-hanger as he tried to keep them together, find food and move them about the clearing. No sign of the female. Perhaps she was off shopping? Or perhaps she has taken the challenge of another clutch. Time will tell.

There are a few more photos from the event here.

Juvenile Redcapped Robin Woodlands Park Jan 2012 — A lovely little redcapped robin, one of a family of three

Little Eagle aerial performance

January 22, 2012January 22, 2012Posted in Little EagleTagged Little EagleLeave a comment

This morning while we were out looking for the elusive, but very vocal Scarlet Robin, we were entertained by a pair of Little Eagles in the air. It would be nice to think that they were at play, but it seemed a very dangerous game they were engrossed in.

The pair are a light morph and a dark morph. Each seemed to be about as aggressive. It just depended on who got the height. There was lots of crossing one another’s paths, plenty of frontal attacks and several passes with long claws extended. This shot is about half way through the confrontation and shows the darker bird on its back talons extending up.

It might be courtship, or the two young at play, or perhaps a younger bird being chased away. In the end the lighter one took a thermal to a height and then speared away to the south. The darker bird circled a little longer, and then we lost it among the trees. However it did show up at the carpark later, but on its own.

Much to learn.

Two Little Eagles in aerial combat — Two Little Eagles that are hard at work vying for best position for attack.

Scarlet Robin female

January 20, 2012January 22, 2012Posted in Scarlet RobinTagged Scarlet Robin, Woodlands2 Comments

I have been looking for redcapped robins at Woodlands Park for the last few weeks, there is still a little activity, but they are quite furtive at the moment.

On a very overcast Friday, heard a familiar redcap “tic” and went to look. To my surprise I found not only a female Redcap, but a Female Scarlet Robin, in moult. Her distinctive call took me a few minutes to figure out, as I would not expect them for another 6-8 weeks at the earliest. So It was great to see this one bird. It stayed close to the recapped robin and they ‘tic-ed’ at one another to stay in contract.

What I am unsure of course, is it a visitor, or did it stay over in the park for summer, (I haven’t heard it previously), or is it a juvenile that is on the move to a territory. Things I guess I’ll never know.

The only pair that wintered over did have a juvenile with them initially in May last year, but I only saw it for a few weeks.

A subsequent trip out on Sunday, confirms it is still there, and as vocal as ever, so that is a good sign.

Spot the Harrier

January 16, 2012January 16, 2012Posted in Spotted HarrierLeave a comment

On a bit of a spur of the moment decision we decided on a trip to the WTP.

We left a little later in the afternoon and the cloudy old morning gave way to lovely filtered sunlight and it was one of those times when it is a joy to be a photographer.

We made a quick detour down through 29 Mile Road and Avalon airfield and were impressed to find a Whistling Kite making its way along the tree lined fences.

We went back up to the 15 W roadside, and after a little bit of hunting about, found not one but two Spotted Harriers in the late evening sunshine.

One took off to harrass the Australian Shelduck populations, the other continued to hunt in the nearby paddocks.

A number of Ravens took exception to this and harassed it mercilessly. Then all of a sudden, it turned what can only be described as a cartwheel, long legs swinging out to pendulum around and attack the ravens. Now we have used the word “languid” to describe its usual flight, but this was far from that and would best be described as “Rapid”. In moments it closed the gap to the ravens, who, clever creatures that they are, sensed a change of fortune and with tail between legs headed for the nearest shelter. A casuarina just across the road. They all arrived just about the time the harrier did, and it made a near vertical ascent to the top of the tree,and hovered in the breeze for a minute or two before wheeling about, and using the breeze, landed on a fence post just opposite the casuarina. If the distance had been a little further, no doubt the Harrier would have caught up with them. No noise from the ravens It preened for a few minutes and the took off to resume its hunt. The ravens slipped quietly out the other side of the tree and went off to find other things to do.

Had we been a few minutes earlier we might have placed ourselves with the light behind us rather than having to shoot into the light, but the spectacle was worth it anyway.

In a few minutes a prey was located and there was merry dance around the bushes and finally it settled in to eat.

Harrier lifting off to hunt — After a bit of a preen this Harrier took to the evening air to continue its hunt

More pics of the evening here.

Young Little Eagles in a fair breeze

January 9, 2012January 16, 2012Posted in Little EagleTagged Little Eagle, Willie WagtailLeave a comment

Over the past few months it has become one of my challenges to find where a pair of Little Eagles had nested this season. I had a rough idea, but heavy chain fences and hard to get to locations had pretty well extinguished any chances of finding the location. Over the past few weeks things have changed a bit as the young are now on the wing.

Lots of activity in the air today, and we spotted 4 birds. One was definitely an older bird with lighter colouring and a tail that looked in need of a few feathers. One other bird was a bit more elusive and could well have been a young bird or perhaps the other of the parent pair.

Two of them were young birds, lovely rich cinnamon and ginger colours. They are masters of the air already and in a good breeze, they manoeuvred over our location in fine style. The camera says that the closest I recorded was 35 metres, like it just passed overhead. One made a pass over some small dense scrub at the end of a dam, and went down to just over the scrub height. All hell broke loose as the various inhabitants including ducks, grebes, cormorants and a few assorted cuckoos, wagtails and the like took off in all directions with honks, squawks and chatter. It took a trip around the dam to gain height and had a second go, fluttering down like a leaf swaying from one side to the other just loosing height, but this time the wagtail contingent were ready and it got a right royal chattering and dive bombing from the squadron.

A couple of other shots are in the Little Eagle page here.

Little Eagle in flight over Woodlands — A very brown Little Eagle in flight over dam

Little Eagle in Falling Leaf pattern. Legs are down for control — Little Eagle loosing height by falling as a leaf from side to side, legs are down for control.

A post of Pelicans or a Port of Pelicans

January 5, 2012January 5, 2012Posted in Australian PelicanTagged Australian PelicanLeave a comment

Mostly Pelicans get ignored. Big bird that they are, but after all, seen one, seen ’em all.

Or so I thought. Now, the question is if we have a ‘flock’ of sheep, and a ‘murder’ of crows, what collective noun do we use to describe a number of pelicans. Well search as I might, it is one of those things that no-one has ever gotten around to.

Till now. So I pondered pelicans sit on posts, so a Post of Pelicans? Or you find them near the beach, how about A Port of Pelicans? And so I’ve taken a step into the universe of naming things and chosen “Port” Sort of fits ah?

Which brings us to photographing them. Well, first, as Mrs Beeton would say, “Find your Pelican”, and Western Treatment Plant has more than its fair share of the great lumbering feathered comedians.

Here is one image, but hit the link, you need to see a Port to get a view of their antics.

They may be ungainly on land, but given just the slightest of breezes, these big behemoths of the air make it all look too easy. A wing twist and a turn, drop the legs and water ski to a stop. If its done right, end up on dry land with out getting a feather wet. And all with that big long beak hanging out the front.

If we keep our heads down, perhaps he won't take our picture — Keep a low profile, we could be mistaken for magpies

Take this link to the Port of Pelicans

Well, the process does work. Redcapped Robin Juvenile

January 4, 2012January 4, 2012Posted in Redcapped Robin, Superb Fairy WrenTagged Redcapped RobinLeave a comment

I was woken this morning by a clap of thunder, and looking out – the sky could only be described as dark and gloomy. But, I had planned a trip to Woodlands, and I started to get the gear into the car and rain fell. Not that pitter patter raindrops of the songs, these were great big blobs, that went not gently on the car, but sounded like hail. And created great big pools where they landed. “Might put the rain jacket in,” I thought.

As I drove toward the park, it started to rain, not drizzle or occasional shower, but serious-soak the ground-rain. And it didn’t look like it would let up anytime soon. By the time I got to the last roundabout near the park the road was awash. But I pushed on.

At the park it wasn’t much better and the idea of sitting in the car was the go. Twenty minutes or so and it let up, and the sky just looked leaden. No point in coming all this way and not at least having a look.

The park along the road is very quiet at the moment, hardly any bird activity, and I wanted to go down through the fenced off “Back Paddcok” to have a look a kilometre or so in as last year many of the fledged robins ended up down there for awhile.

By the time I got into the area, the rain was over, the sky even looked like it might clear up, and so I found a spot near a likely feeding area and waited.

A few freshly fledged Willie wagtails kept me company and amused with their chasing games antics. A flock of Yellow-rumped Thornbills fed their way through and a large group of Weebills all chattering away. And about then the sun emerged and so did all the young Superb Fairy Wrens, so they have had a good year, I stopped counting after about 10, and mostly because I had lost track of who was who.

Then to my complete surprise and delight, a whirr of feathers and a juvenile Redcapped Robin landed on the branch about 5 metres away. All in is lovely striated white, brown and grey. It was completely unconcerned by my presence or the shutter going crazy. And then the sun came out.

It also had a friend, and they preened and fed and did bird things on the bush for about 10 minutes and then it was all over. The news from all this of course is that all the hard work of the past few months has paid off for the robins and mum and dad can take a well earned rest knowing they have done their bit for the species.

Rather glad the weather improved.

D200, 500m F/4, ISO400, F/4.5, 1/250, WB Auto

And a very busy little Fairy Wren. I think it wanted to show off its catch more than anything else.

D200, 500mm F/4, ISO400, F/4.5, 1/1600, WB Auto.

Territorial Disputes

December 30, 2011December 30, 2011Posted in Redcapped RobinTagged Male, Mt Terrick Terrick, Redcapped Robin, Woodlands Historic ParkLeave a comment

Out in the forest this morning and came across a mixed flock of wagtails, thornbills and a number of redcapped robins.

First time I have been able to locate them all together since the nesting season. Two males were particularly interesting as one smaller one, seemed to want to try its luck on the larger (older) bird. Where they were was sort of at what I think is the border of two territories. And while it is hard to tell who is who, I suspect that the larger bird is the male of the territory. He was in the company of the only female present a bit earlier.

There is an excellent series of article on the net. Papers by Damien K. Dowling, of Melbourne University. And in the paper “Breeding biology of the red-capped robin”, AJZ 2003,51,533-549 he describes the behaviour of males in territorial conflict. His work was done around Mt Terrick Terrick Park, and is a great read on details of nesting and behaviour and success rates.

Today’s males preformed lots of dancing back and forward on a branch, it looks a bit like it is choreographed, and they seem to know their parts well. In the end, one did the fly away, by slow retreat and in the eventually I lost sight of it completely. Hopefully it will find a reasonable amount of space in the forest, and at least one new territory will be established.

The pair in the area seem to have finalised this year’s breed. Both birds are beginning to look worse for wear feather wise and the moulting probably is only a month to six weeks or so away.

Red-capped Robin males in territorial discussion. Dominate male in rear.

Male Red-capped Robin territory dispute resolution

Spot the odd one out

December 29, 2011December 29, 2011Posted in Spotted HarrierTagged Spotted Harrier, wagtails, Western Treatment PlantLeave a comment

We found a Spotted Harrier at the Treatment plant yesterday pm.

It was hunting along a fence line and in the light breeze seemed even more casual. My bird reference book calls it flight “languid” and I think that is stretching it.

It seems to have the ability to turn on a blink of an eye and to be able to fold up the wings and then sway its legs down all in one movement which is hard to describe, but seems so effective in putting it on the spot it’s looking for.

I’ve put a few other pictures here on a page.

The local vigilante committee of Willie Wagtails made it easy to locate the bird everytime it went to ground. Relentless little pursers that they are.

Also found a couple Spotted Crakes in one of the water channels down near gate #2. Would have been able to improve the shots as they didn’t seem to be fussed by us sitting but the arrival of a 4WD and slamming of doors sent them both packing back into the grass on the edge.

Here’s a pic

Dorothy also found 4 more off in the distance on a shallow pond in the same area, but too far to photograph.

No nests here I’m telling you

December 19, 2011December 30, 2011Posted in Redcapped RobinTagged Redcapped Robin, Woodlands Historic ParkLeave a comment

Found this little fellow out and about looking for tucker. He was in an area that has not been a redcap territory for a couple of years. However I think the rain, and the long grass is the large open areas has made his hunting a bit difficult on the ground and he has moved operations into the lighter grey box forest areas where there is quite a bit of open forest floor. Once he spotted me, we went on a bit of a round circuit of the area, so I am pretty sure his lady has a nest in the area as well.

But to assure me that there were no nests he did a lot of elaborate cleaning and constant moving about. His feathers seem now to be getting a bit worn for wear and he is looking a bit on the scruffy side.

Be interesting to see if he maintains the new territory or moves back when the grass dies down over summer.

80-400mm ISO800 f/8 1/800th.

Red capped Robin Male — Male Redcapped Robin in cleaning mode.

He’s back

December 16, 2011December 17, 2011Posted in Redcapped RobinTagged Swamp Wallaby, Woodlands Historic ParkLeave a comment

Well he actually hasn’t been away, just been busy with nesting duties I suspect.

Also haven’t able to get into the Fenced off Backpaddock because of “Park Maintenance Operations”. But today the gate was unlocked and I sallied forth.

This is the Map shelter bird. He has been conspicuous by his absence – or lack of showing- the past 5-6 weeks, but he seemed to be on food duty today, and I found him about 3 times, so that was good.

In this shot he has just helped himself to a rather large bug and after beating the stuffing out of it, he flicked it down in one gulp. I think he is licking his beak with his tongue.

One of the things the Parks folk have done is re-set the fence line up near Gellibrand, taking it right through some Swamp wallaby territory. The little wallabies are now on the outside of the secure fence and open to predators and what not. All except this little one, who seems to now be cut off from its family in the rocks on the outside. Not sure how many are affected.

Joe McNally, on being Thankful

December 13, 2011December 13, 2011Posted in PhotographersTagged Joe McNally, ThankfulLeave a comment

Joe McNally is a great photographer. Undeniable. Joe McNally is a great instructor. Just ask anyone who has been a student. Joe McNally writes a cool blog. Check it out.

This is an except from his thoughts on being thankful about being a photographer, it will make you grab your camera and go out and photograph something.

If it doesn’t, sell your gear buy golfclubs, you ain’t got it.

Thankful

So, there you are!

December 9, 2011December 9, 2011Posted in Redcapped RobinTagged Redcapped Robin, Woodlands Historic ParkLeave a comment

This is a female Red-capped Robin on her nest. I have been trying to find some sign of them over the past few weeks, without much success. Which is probably a good thing as they have been busy at work.

By a little bit of chance I heard the distinctive call of the male, and followed up to find both male and female on the side of a track, and he was feeding her. It stopped me in my tracks, and as it happened the nest was in the tree next to where I stopped.

It took me a few minutes to work out that she was trying to get back into the nest, and then I moved away about 50 metres. She immediately settled down on her clutch.

This is her second brood this year, and she successfully got 2 chicks off in late October.

Recap Robin on nest — This a female red-capped robin hard at work on her next litter

Rufous Whistler

December 5, 2011December 5, 2011Posted in Rufous WhistlerTagged Male, Rufous Whistler, Woodlands Historic ParkLeave a comment

This dapper looking chap is a male Rufous Whistler.

There are quite a number of pairs of birds in the Woodlands area this year. Their piercing cry reverberates all around the park. Most times they are quite furtive, but this fellow let me follow him about until he got into an open area so the light was fine and I could get a clear shot.