At first glance all seems well, but on a second take, well, its obvious. Timmy doesn’t have a tail. And there-in lies the tale.
Was working with a pair of Willie Wagtails and had been sitting quietly for perhaps 15 minutes or more as they worked out strategy and tactics for building of their new domicile. If all goes well, expect more of that story.
When suddenly up pops Timmy. And at first glance I thought, “Oh, another Fairy-wren”, but then it was obvious that something wasn’t right.
Happen to be reading “blink: The power of thinking without thinking”, by Malcolm Gladwell. A good book for bird photographers as it suggests that the power of making choices in an instant. Actually its more about the power of marketing, and why we all recognise a can of Coca Cola, even if we don’t drink the stuff.
But, it didn’t seem right. So I looked, and sure enough Timmy is Tail-less. Otherwise a perfectly healthy Male, Superb Fairy-wren, and quite able to defend vocally his territory. Also seems to have a flotilla of females in a bush area some 30m from where I was sitting and they all treat him as usual. (That is giving him lectures from bushes).
So what happened to Timmy? Something disastrous, or is he also helping nesting and has lost his tail in the process, or has he had a bad attack of the moults? Or is its even more complicated. Perhaps someone has some info on what might have happened.
In our backyard, there are two resident Blackbirds. For most of the early part of the season, they seemed to be engaged in battles that were more than courtship, and occasionally I’d see quite a few feathers fly, and find a few on the patio. Now, as they settle to nesting, and don’t seem anywhere near as aggressive, I’ve noted that both of them are tail-less.
Other Blackbirds I’ve seen in the area are well tail endowed, so its just this pair.
Did they manage to pull each one’s tail feathers out in the ensuing battles?
Will keep an eye on Timmy, will be interesting to see if he regrows his glory.
What is wrong with this photo?Timmy the Tail-less is however quite well vocalisedTakes a second to grasp what has happenedBut he is quite busy in territorial dutiesAtta boy Timmy. Even without a tail, you are still the champion
I just about know this bird well enough now to give him a name, so Alfred it is. I haven’t really met his lady as she is quite hidden amongst the tree with a nestling.
Alfred has a tree at the end of the Office carpark, and will often be seen looking out over the paddocks. Such was the case on Friday afternoon.
He is pretty dismissive of the human kind and simply sees them as passing traffic. So its not to hard to move around to get a good angle on this lovely bird’s rich coat. Almost from the moment he landed, twas obvious that something had his attention. No preening, just a constant scanning. At first I thought it might be he was a bit wary of the resident Black-shouldered Kites.
However after about 10 minutes or so, he dropped quietly off the tree and whiffled down on to the bike track opposite. After standing on the track for a few minutes, he stepped into the grass and again seem engrossed in an area just near him.
Then.
He struck.
And immediately lifted off with a small snake as prize. Off to the nearest perch, the fence line, and a few minutes to enjoy his meal.
I am pretty certain that I can conclude that not long after he landed in the tree that he spotted the snake, and then worked out a best place strategy for his attack. Then again once he landed on the biketrack there was some fine tuning of his planned approach and then finally the single stroke attack.
As Mr An Onymous said, “What incredible eyesight to spot it from that distance.”
Alfred just sat in the afternoon sun, grinning.
Dropping into his well sited lookoutAlfred and his lovely markings. Looking out over the paddock, I think he has already spotted the snake.Pondering the right moment of attack.Ready to attackOne single movement. Strike, grab and lift off.Closest perch is the best.Now to settle down for a well deserved mealTime for a pose for a photo from his adoring fans and then a break for a little restI reckon he is grinning
Just too much, fine light, a great afternoon and a Brown Falcon that seemed to relish the warm weather.
This is the bird that is one of the pair at one end of the paddock from Kitty and Kalav.
The rich evening light really seems to make your average Brown Falcon glow, and this bird is not average.
But, the Kites, Magpies, Wagtails, Magpie-larks and Ravens all take exception to its presence.
The pair were hunting for mice and had developed, I think, a strategy to deal with the harassment.
While one bird hunted on the ground, (Browns are good at this), the other flew slowly up and down to attract all sorts of attention. Leaving the bird on the ground free to hunt. And, successful she was.
Enjoy
Wing stretch in the sunshineTypical Brown Falcons upright stance.Wagtail sliding down Falcon’s back. A pretty well co-ordinated attack.Two Wagtails were among the team of harassing birdsTree sitting to attract attentionShe gets to leave with her nice mouse dinner. She has just transferred it from beak to leg for the journey back to the nest.
Last Sunday, the weather people, correctly, predicted foggy morning. That was enough to send us to the Office.
Not only did we get some grand misty moody shots, but caught up with Kitty and Kalav – the Brave.
Kitty now has settled on the nest and he is still bringing food on demand.
The Brown Falcon came and gave us quite a lovely half hour or so sitting and preening waiting for the sun to break through.
And some fine little Superb Fairy-wrens stopped by to entertain us.
Art Morris has been writing a bit of late on High Key portraits, and the mist gave both an ideal light and an excellent backdrop to play the little birds against.
Enjoy
To wing. Brown Falcon on a missionA party mouse, bringing its own streamer decorations to the eventThe dramatic pose as the sun broke throughHigh Key WrenGame of hide and seekMore high key.Whistling Kite, waiting for the fog to lift
No one needs to be told that today was a cold day. Oh, 14degrees feels like 3.7, so the weather dude said. 3.7??? Now how can you predict that accurately?
Anyway it wasn’t even close in the strong winds running in to the 50+kph, it felt more like -3.7 say -4, whose going to quibble over whole numbers.
Cold. When the wind rips through a Driazabone jacket, I’m here to tell its COLD.
Had a date with Kalav -the Brave. He was going to be in a lot of trouble hunting in this wind. But, did you notice Brave in there somewhere?
By the time I’d arrived, he’d already decimated one part of the hunting ground and had moved to new premises. Seemed more interested in keeping Kitty well supplied than in a silly old dude in a Drizabone pointing a lens at him.
4 mice, in 10 minutes. And all within a stones throw, (not that I threw stones at him) of where I was hunkered down behind the the fencepost, the only protection around.
Onya bloke. You deserve a rest for a few hours.
Steadying in the wind was a real effortOn targetAt lift offOne foot techniqueTucking up the mouseOh, Kitty, where are you, Kitty, Kitty.
The sun was shining and the clouds, ominous in shape and colour were moving slowly enough for me to conclude that I’d get an hour or so of sunshine. Interested in the Flame Robins at the Office so down I went.
As it turned out the clouds and the rain moved faster than the traffic along the way, but even so, I managed a few minutes in the sun. No Robins.
Just as I was turning for home, out of no where two Little Eagles decided to song and dance across the sky.
I’ve probably said it before but the Office offers one great advantage when the birds are up. On the top of the ridge that overlooks the old river plain, its possible to get eyeball to eyeball, and in this case it was pretty much so. The two battled it out pretty much at viewing height.
Now, I’m not sure if I’m looking at two birds in dispute over a territory arrangement, or a pair with bonding in mind. The amount of wing turn, claw defence and the like, along with the plaintive ”pee, pee” whistle of the birds didn’t help either. In the end I just enjoyed.
Hope you do too.
Lovely dark plumage on this bird. ( a Juvenile perhaps)
Spiralling down from a position of height.
Gotcha
The lower bird has passed right by to take the underside position
Looks dangerous but no contact was made
Much turning and twisting at close quarters
Making a circuit for another pass
Keep up slow coach
One of the advantages of the Office is being able to view almost looking out on the bird.
Taking a rest in the sunshine in a tree right across the river plain.
Was down at the Werribee River Park, otherwise known euphemistically as “The Office”.
Happened to wander, (not necessarily accidentally), while looking for a quartet of male Flame Robins, into a Brown Falcon territory. This pair worked around the area last year and were able to fledge two fine looking young birds.
I first heard this one off in the distance, but then noted it was making a run along the tree line directly toward me. Whether intentionally or not, it used the cover of the tree line to get quite close before launching out into the open straight toward me.
Early on in my bird photography career, I used to have the opportunity to photograph a very comfortable pair of Brown Falcons out on the Cumberland grasslands at Woodlands Historic Park. Often they would sit while I approached, or come in for a closer look as I traversed the grasslands. However all that changed when she went to nest, and I’ve some pretty awesome photos of a Brown Falcon that passed overhead so close I could hear her go by. She also on another occasion fly down behind a stand of trees, picked up speed with the wind behind her and belted out of the treeline about head height,(mine not hers), and I have visions still of a brown streak coming at me at around 70+kph. I took the hint and retreated.
Yet once the young were fledged they again went back to being quite relaxed.
So as this one bore down on me, I had a as Yogi Bera was wont to say, “Here comes that De Ja Vu feeling again.” As it approached I was impressed with the bird’s ability to turn its wings and body in the air, and to keep her head level.
It passed by gaining height as it went over my head, turned and I thought for a moment it might ‘stoop’ me as that is their way of dealing with intruders. But, it was a simple one time pass, and the bird streaked away across the paddock.
Awesome.
As I left I found it sitting on a wire fence, completely ignoring me it went about its hunting business. I’m happy with the ignore, and I hope that it might mean a beginning of working with the bird a little more closely. Time will, as they say, will tell.
Inspite of the huge turn forces, it manages to keep the head level
Re-adjusting its trajectory with some body twisting, but the head stays horizontal.
Still working its way down the tree line
Out of the tree line and running directly toward me.
A quick wing adjustment to keep the trajectory speed
Already its looking for the next move out of the dive.
Pulling up to gain some height
Job done, across the paddock for the next adventure
Lindsay (to his Ozzie Mates), dropped me a note on his scheduled visit and I found a day that looked suitable. Not that we had many options.
So as the Banjo said. We went.
The weather map showed no cloud at all when I checked, but when we got to the Pt Wilson Road it was pretty certain the map was wrong. So we suffered the usual grey sky pics. And kept our eyes up for an elusive Sea-eagle.
Lindsay had about 4 birds that he really wanted and we managed to add Brolga. A pair were sitting in the grass on the far side of a pond, and at first everyone jumped to conclusions “She’s nesting!” but change the ‘n’ to an ‘r’ and you’d be much more likely to be right. So it was. When we swung by on the return journey, they both had moved quite a long way down the bund.
And then we saw them have an altercation with a handful of Cape Barren Geese, and the geese didn’t bother to stick around and argue.
At the moment the Whiskered Terns are hunting prodigiously and obviously productively. So we spent quite a little time working at really close distances with them as they swept along the mouth of the Little River.
And to top it off in the distance a Sea-eagle took off. Too far.
I was using the 300mm f/4 lens and was surprised to remember how fast it was at grabbing focus. I must remember to put it back on the D2Xs and it will really sing.
The sun came out and we had a really fine afternoon and some good results. On the way back we stopped for the ‘traditional’ coffee and Banana Cake at the Highway Lounge, and then as we were near swung into the Werribee River Park, but it was pretty quiet. But on the way out three of the young Kestrels were hunting in the evening sunshine. Lindsay was hanging out the window trying for that ‘best’ shot. The bird obliged by dropping off the post on to the road, but I think the af on the D7000 might have found the roadside more attractive. At least that’s how I interpreted his response.
Here’s a days sample See Lindsay’s Page sometime soon for his version.
We dropped him at the railway station after a day of much mirth and frivolity and some great birding and excellent photo opportunities. Seeya next time mate.
“Is she nesting?” No, afraid not.You don’t mess with the big guy. For some reason the Geese were not welcome in his pondReally soft light helped the Spoonbill shots.Whiskered Tern at touch downLittle wings that have flown so farThe tide was a bit slow turning and these birds were anxiously waiting for the mudflats to be exposed.A Wagtail sees of a Brown FalconPied Oystercatcher on final approachAlways enjoy the flight control of the Silver Gull.Its not obvious, but the Black winged Stilt is moving the Red-necked Avocet along. No room in this pool.The master at work.
Most here would know that I am a Flickr addict. I love to log on, post a picture of two from my latest time out in the field and have developed a good range of Flickr friends who also share their work. But one of the limitations that Flickr has for me as a story teller is the inability to keep a story line intact. No point in posting 15 images there, as after the first couple, most will move on to the next posting. (I speak as much as from personal experience as anything else). There is only so many times you can post, “Oh, great photo of a Little Button Quail”.
Birds as Poetry blog I’ve always wanted to be a visual diary of the birds that we come across. We, being in the first instance, my muse, best friend, partner for life and finest critic, Dorothy she of the EE moniker. We, sometimes includes those who might take the risk and travel about with me. Mr An Onymous, Neil A, Ray, and Richard A (he of the Woodlands List fame) being all well known to the long term reader (whoever you are!)
One of the challenges I guess a bird photographer faces, is that sometimes the light, the bird and the area just don’t come together in a cohesive way, and over on Flickr I created the “Not Terribly Good Club” (apologies to Stephen Pile who created the “Not Terribly Good Club of Great Britain” which eventually had over 30,000 members, and thus failed its own test!) that listing at least gave me a chance to put up work that I’d always hoped would encourage people that sometimes in spite of our efforts the photography process, like any good art reaches into the soul of the artist, but not always does the result achieve the intended result.
Today, I received an email from Earthbound Light by Bob Johnson. Now I’ve never met Bob, but often his writing vibrates with my own thoughts and I think, “I wish I’d said that”.
Been pondering the past few days about how many more, as EE succinctly states, “How many more pictures of a bird on a stick does the world need?” Which has always got me to pondering why take another photo? (not Why take another photo, but rather why Take another photo. ) And I think Bob sums it up beautifully in his blog today. I don’t have permission to quote him directly. (Very conscious of Intellectual Property Rights, and copyright issues), so please feel free to pop over to the page and take a gander.
He talks to the photo moment as: absorbed in my own process and perception. With the resulting image being a sum of what went into the making, the subject, the lighting, the angle of view and the photographer. And I might add the enthrallement of those who view the images as it reaches out to their perception.
What struck me was the concept of the utter simplicity of the present moment, as the shutter is pressed. Only you, and I, will see the bird, the mountain, the party, the moment, in that one single unique way. So does the world need more birds on a stick. Probably not, but the process is to me such an extension of the moment that I observed and absorbed, that at another level, there just cannot be too many birds on sticks or bird in the air images.
Now, if, by some quirk of fate, you’ve read all the way down here, you probably think, “hmm, forgot to take his tablets today,” or more charitably, “I wonder where this is going. ”
I’m hoping it will mean more posting of the story of the birding day in this blog.
Not much rambling of words, but a look into the insight of what ‘we’ saw during the time out. Flickr still gets my attention, but I won’t have the pressure of tying to create a coherent poem out of unrelated photos. Will the quality be better here or there. In other words, do I really hang out to put the best images I can make on Flickr, or include them here to a much smaller audience. (Hmm, yet to tell how I’ll deal with that). But it will mean more shots of what ever Button Quail or its equivalent ‘we’ run across and draws us into their lives for even a brief instant in the universe.
So, here is a few from an hour or so among the birds on the Werribee River Park.
In the words of Bob Johnson, “Next time your out photographing, (Or birding), stop, and pay attention. Thanks Bob.
Snugglepot and Cuddlepie. Two really friendly Supeb Blue-wrens who entertained us with the antics.Just lookin’ for a home. A Brown Falcon that has taken over part of the park as a territory, and wishes everyone to know about it.Late sun glistens on the wings of the vocal Brown FalconSparrows, fleeing from a bathing moment. The approach of the Falcon was enough to set off a Magpie Lark, and its first high-pitched call had the sparrows on the move as one.Two recently fledged Black-shouldered Kites waiting for Dad to move that raucous Brown Falcon on.Precision flying team. Not yet, but they are beginning to learn to hover in light breezes. Part of those games include close passes with one another.
A long time ago, in years, I was a simply a Landscape Photographer. I happened to live quite near the Woodlands Historic Park, just opposite Melbourne Airport. The Moonee Ponds Creek has its head waters in the area, and the Creek at this end is not permanent water, but draws from the surrounding hills and channels the water down toward the Yarra.
The watercourse was, and still is a prefect habitat for the majestic River Red Gum, and there are many fine examples of these trees in the park. Some of them no doubt older than European Settlement. It is pretty awesome to stand under these wonderful trees and ponder all the things that they have seen come and go.
Now, as I mentioned, in days of yore, I would roam these paddocks and valleys in search of the right light, the perfect moment, the touch of mist or the brilliance of the light upon the massive trunks to make great landscapes. I also in those days had a huge tripod, which I seemed quite capable of lugging for miles. Some of you won’t have heard of Filum, but it’s not a four letter word alone, it was the medium of preference for photographers all those years ago. Big filum. Large sizes. No megapixels, and remarkably heavy and slow lenses to use on equally heavy and awkward cameras.
But times change.
I moved to digital very early in the development. (Easy to say, worked for a company that had both a foot embedded in the filum market, and dabbling in the development of digital technologies.)
But my love of light, shapes, tones and textures that make those landscapes work still drove me.
Until.
One morning, about 10 years back, I was returning to the carpark, and stopped to take a break at a park picnic table. A Willie Wagtail flew past. Not the first one I’ve ever seen, but it flew back again. After a few minutes I became aware of a lot of Wagtail chatter going on about 20 m, away and decided to see what it was all about. To my delight, surprise, awe and enchantment, the two Wagtails were hard at work building a nest, and explaining in Wagtailese to one another the finer points of nest building. Nor did they seem at all concerned by my presence. So, wandering back to said tripod, (I was still using for the digital cameras.) I picked my longest lens (a 200mm f/2.8 ) and moved it all close enough to take some shots of this activity.
Willie Wagtails are a remarkable combination of Black and White. The two most difficult tones to reproduce well. As any formal wedding photographer, or rock band enthusiast, or vehicle photographer, or just about anyone who photographs high contrast subject will tell you. Still on the point. I was thrilled to see the nest develop, and came back the following day, sat with the birds and watched them at work. The following day, she had laid an egg, and then next couple of days began the process of hatching the young. In the end, flying 4 big fat juveniles. More to photograph.
Now this monologue better go somewhere. From that moment on, I was hooked on photographing birds. So every word and image you see here, and ever pic thats on Flickr and is in mags, calendars and cards is the result of two squabbling little birds.
The only thing I’ve leaned about bird photography is its obsessive. I no longer even attempt to explain. “Oh, I’m obsessed”, is my standard answer.
Which bring us to a trip along the track at The Office, and a Willie Wagtail that came across the paddock to first harass me, then to settle, and then to follow me down the fence line taking insects as it went. Most every birdo will have come across a bird on a fence. It’s about 3 posts away. Too far for a good shot. You move in. The bird moves 2 more posts. You move in, it moves 2 more posts. etc etc, until 10 posts seperates.
And this Wagtail was no exception. But, by not hurrying, I managed to get the gap down to about 2 posts. Then things changed. The game became: How close can I let this dude get, before I show my disdain and move on. And still I kept advancing on its position, until we were 1 fence post apart. Then for its own reasons, it began to feed in the road and grass verge near me. Still I advanced and in the end, this amazing bird for no reason other than its own, landed by my foot, hunted, and then kind of flew around me, landed and repeated the process. Now it would land on the fence wire and I could move in to fill the frame. “Do you think this side, or that side suits me best?” Should I wag my tail? And so my love for these delightful little birds was rekindled.
Now its true I could fill Flickr with heaps of shots of wagtails, but rather than do that here is a short selection from a delightful 3o mins or so with a very elegant and relaxed bird.
Too close, too close, fly away.Never too sure about you humans. You all look the same to me.At moment of launch.Wow, look at what I caught. Thanks for stirring it up.To deal with these little beasties, one must change the sharp end around. Claws work.Gotta be careful of the sharp bits. Snip, snap.Now you see it now you don’tWell, stir up some more.Is this my best side?
EE and I had a few spare hours on Sunday morning, but as we went to bed, the outside temps, and the icons on the news weather maps didn’t look all that good, so we decided on a long breakfast.
But looking out the window in the morning with blue sky, golden sunshine, the only thing was to bolt breakfast and head out. We decided “The Office” deserved a quick look, and its only a few minutes away, and before you can say, “Let’s go”, we did.
The Werribee River Park, (The Office) is just across a bridge over the Geelong Freeway, and once off the tarmac, its pretty much paddock. Some very old Pines must have been part of a homestead in the area, I suppose, and last week I’d spotted two Black-shouldered Kites sitting together on the tops of the pinecones. So I figured, that they might have been considering a nesting. How wrong was that!
Not only had they considered, but had just fledged in the past couple of days, two really healthy and vocal youngsters. The young sat on old stump of the tree and were fed in the sunshine. Well done Mum.
We’d also noted a pair of Black Kites in the same tree line, and they were still in attendance, no doubt there is a nest in the offing.
After a few minutes with a lone Brown Falcon a bit further on we stopped at the Park carpark. And immediately the harsh screech of a female Black-shouldered kite was joined by the higher pitched screeches of young ones. And then slowly it dawned on me.
I’d been watching and reporting on this pair for the best part of 3 weeks now, and was pretty convinced with all the activity that they were “planning” a nesting. But no. Wrong again!!!
She has just fledged, not one, not two, but three, beautifully marked birds. No wonder the male was so busy catching mice the past couple of weeks. Put mouse in one end, and out pops a beautifully fledged cinnamon and ginger Black-shouldered Kite.
Now all this activity does not go unnoticed by those who make their living by preying on others. A Black Kite swept up from the River flats and hung around the young. At first I thought it might be going to threaten the young, but its true intent was even more devious. Dad flew in with a mouse and the Black Kite began harassing the much smaller bird, for his catch. In the end, better speed, and skilful harrowing, caused the Black-shouldered Kite to drop the mouse. And the Black moved straight on to it as it fell. But now Mum and Dad were free to harass the Kite and in the end it moved away. It tried again later, but both birds were not to be caught off guard again, and Mum took the prize to the nest tree and the young followed her down into the top of the tree where the nest must be concealed. (It’s too far in behind chain fence for me to get a good looksee.)
Then of course, the weather changed, time ran out, and we decided to retreat for the day.
But with 5 young birds in such a small area we’ll no doubt be back. Oh, and we saw the family of Flame Robins, as well, but didn’t get that close.
“OK, you got me out here, how about something to eat”. One young with harassed adult.Just a quick, ‘hitch up” of the mouse for better travelling.The beautiful markings of this fledgling are shown as it tucks into some nice mouse.Yum, the tail is always the best bitThat rich ginger and cinnamon deserve a bit of sunlight to see at their best.Female calling to her young as the Black Kite sweeps by.Dropped it, or Got it, depending on which kite. Not pinsharp, but the mouse is visible in free fallThe probable nest site. She took a mouse under the canopy and two of the young followed.Family portrait.
This past Sunday was one of those great days for photography. Beaut sun, a little cloud, some good breeze for the big birds. I wrote previously about the pair of Australian Kestrels at play, but while all that was going on a small clan of Flame Robins was feeding in the area.
I was sitting on the ground with my feet hanging over the cliffs, like a schoolboy at the pier, watching the work of a Black Kite over the nearby treeline when I heard the familiar “chip chip” contact call of a Flame Robin. There on the roadway behind me were two males, feeding, with several juveniles on the fence line behind.
I moved to a spot next to a melaleuca shrub, and settled in to see if they would approach. And down the road they marched. It gave me the chance to get enough shots to be able to differentiate between them. One became Mr Yellow Feather because his bright yellow chest feather, and the other Mr Red, as he is a brilliant Scarlet red. While they didn’t get very close, it was a start.
I worked out that the turn around time in the feeding is just about 30 minutes, and there was a definite pattern to the moving around, with the exception that bike riders and people with dogs would turn them to fly way down the paddock and be inaccessible So I sat and waited and within the 30 mins they were back. In this clan there are 4 or 5 juveniles, perhaps 3 females, and the two males. One of the females is the Matriarch, and she is the one which controls the clan movement. One chirp from her and they are gone.
Because of the lack of trees in the area, its much harder photographic work than the birds in a Grey Box forest with plenty of perching locations. But they manage. The fence lines are the obvious, and the big patches of grass also work well.
My closest encounter for the day was the Matriarch. She landed in the back of the melaleuca bush behind me and I could hear her distinctly calling to the group, and I may be wrong, but it seemed the conversation went like this.
“See this big dopey photographer, stay away.” “I don’t like the look of that big eye he keeps pointing at us.”. “I’m going to get closer for a better look”. Then an alarm chirrup, and she flew right by my ear, less than a handspan away. Heard the little wings coming, but I’ve learned that its best not to react, as the bird already has the flight path worked out. What I noted was the whirring of the wings was normal flight sound, not the fast pulsing sound of a panic mode.
She landed directly opposite me on the fence and another Chrrriip, which I took to be “He’s probably benign, you can ignore him”, then she hunted on the grass on the far side of the fence. “Benign” is a term that Jon Young uses in his book, ‘What the Robin Knows’ and refers to local birds concluding that the human presence is of no threat, and they will work in settled, not panic mode. A young cheeky juvenile landed near by, and I concluded that the lesson for me was over for the day.
The office. Looking along the wide river cliffs over the river plain below. In the flood of 2011 water was part way up the cliffs.Bold male holding his station as I approached.Mr Yellow Feather on fence.Probably a female or juvenile female.Matriarch in the field.The Matriarch. What she says goes. She has just done a fly-by to determine my danger to her brood.
The Matriarch, satisfied I was no threat she dropped off the fence to hunt. Not big panic wing flap here.Mr Red. Brilliant rich red chest.Mr Yellow Feather, with a hint of his yellow chest feather.Young male, juvenile. Showing his developing feathers.Matriarch, ready to leave and take the clan with her.Mr Red, with a score. He came down the fence line toward me to prepare the bug. I took that as an acceptance. (Of course I could be wrong and it was just a handy perch.)Bug preparation 101. First belt it a few times on something solid. Bits of bug dust going in all directions.
I’ve discovered a new park area (new for me), closer to home. It cuts along the ridge of the Werribee River plain near the Werribee Mansion. Its called the Werribee River Park, and is run by Parks Vic. It butts up to the very eastern edge of the Western Treatment Plant. I’ve looked at the area on a map a number of times and pondered how to get there as it seems to have bike track that connects to the Federation Bike Track that runs all the way back to Altona and beyond. Not wanting to lug all the gear in over 3 kilometres or more I’ve been thwarted by no road access.
But, it seems, wrong I was. A road access to a small carpark at the top of the ridge is indeed available, and as it runs on the WTP boundary, has lots to offer the raptor photographer. And. I may not have mentioned this elsewhere, but it also has a population of Flame Robins in residence for the winter. So what’s not to like.
Access is via New Farm Road, past the Melbourne Water Discovery Centre and over the Geelong Freeway, and just before a very well locked and secure gate a small dirt road marked with an explanatory sign “Werribee River” leads onto the road to the carpark about another kilometre in. Out of the car, and the first thing I discover is a pair of Black-shouldered Kites who are obviously thinking seriously about a nesting run.
I suspect that the run of very warm weather has helped the mouse population and Mrs Mouse has seen it as her bound duty to extend the population as much as possible. To of course the great delight of the Kites.
Had an hour or so to myself and decided to see what the afternoon sunshine would bring. No great load up here, simply put in the lens and camera, drive for 15 mins and sit in the carpark. About as hard as bird photography can get.
Said pair are quite along in the relationship, the female has probably completed the nest. I would hazard a guess at its location from her perching positions. He on the other hand now has to prove his ability to provide food. So while she sits high on the tallest dead limb, offering him her screeching cry for both encouragement and direction, he sets out to provide the snacks.
The river has cut through the old sand here and at this point is several hundred yards wide, and the cliffs are 20 m or so high. The grassland is an obvious place for Mrs Mouse and her tribe and so the Male is readily able to fly along the old river flat and hunt. When he is over the plain he is probably not much more than 30m or so over the ground, which for a photographer on the top of the bank is such an advantage as he is directly in front or below my camera line.
All I have to do is wait. And not for long. I reckoned he was getting a mouse about every 10 minutes. His hunting time was down to a minute or less. And out of about 8 strikes I saw he was successful on 6 of them.
So he hunted and I watched. Swinging the 300mm around became a bit of a chore, so next time, the tripod and Wimberley head will be part of the deal.
Enjoy.
Evening sunshine gives nice shadows for him to work in.I noticed he always works with the light over his shoulder. My Mum’s best advice to budding photographers.The legs down are part of the balance and positioning.Closing in.That little dude is down there somewhere.All concentrationTurning into the light to come round for another run.Another one bites the dust.All feathers and legs at work gaining the balance for the stationary head.No, I’m not on the tucker list.So great to be able to almost reach out and touch him.
Birds as Poetry —— Just because I WANDER doesn't mean I'm LOST 