“Western Treatment Plant” – Page 4 – Birds as Poetry —— Just because I WANDER doesn't mean I'm LOST

Evening around Werribee Treatment Plant

February 27, 2014Posted in "Western Treatment Plant", Australian Hobby, Brown Falcon, Red-capped Plover, Werribee, Western Treatment Plant, Whistling Kite2 Comments

It only took a glance at the weather map in the paper, while I was at the coffee shop to conclude, “Golden Light Night Tonight”.

So a quick chat with EE and we were ready to go by mid afternoon. I think the gear being loaded in the car was about as much persuasion as it took.

True to form the sky was a beautiful blue, the light was golden and the birds in the late evening light were active.

I could go on about it, but the pictures probably are better at telling the story.

Enjoy. We did.

A very well fed Brown Falcon was enjoying the quiet while its meal went down.

Swamp Harrier has just seen me and swung around to fly away.

On Beach Road, an Australian Hobby has taken up residence for the moment.

On a beach full of waders I found some Red-capped Plovers hard at work.

See, this is why we used to call them 'Spur-winged Plovers' — See, this is why we used to call them ‘Spur-winged Plovers’

A Whistling Kite in brilliant yellow light.

From the Bird Hide. Extreme low tide meant a huge feeding ground for the hungry waders.

To the WTP on a whim

February 12, 2014February 12, 2014Posted in "Western Treatment Plant", Brolga, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Spotted Harrier, Swamp Harrier, Western Treatment Plant, White-bellied Sea-eagleLeave a comment

Sometimes the best ideas are those that come with out lots of planning and forethought. Just go out and do it.

With a small cool change coming in, and the wind shifting in from the south, we packed the picnic, grabbed some Earl Grey, and phoned the WTP birding line and booked for an evening down by the sea

To our delight the young Spotted Harriers were still on the roadside, and parking carefully to avoid any likelihood of mishaps with trucks at 110kph, we took our time to get the best lighting on the bird perched on the top of the cyprus tree cones. Then tired of begging, it took advantage of the strong breeze and launched, drifted upwards to the top of the treeline and then without a wing flap, sailed along the treeline and back. Not exactly hard photography as it turned in the evening light. The great tail moving one way or another like a large oar or rudder to keep it almost stationary in the air. With barely a wing flap, it simply enjoyed the moment. So did we.

When we got to The Spit, Murtcaim (n) we found a number of Swamp Harriers at play. Interesting to watch their games from a distance, but not much hope of being able to get close enough of great shots, but highly entertaining none the less.

Further down the road we came upon a pair of Brolga, but they were just too far away to do any real work, so we headed back to Lake Borrie. And then first came upon some Yellow-billed Spoonbills, and a Great Egret sitting on a fence rail. While EE got moved for a clear shot of the Egret, all the seagulls in the world- or at least the 10,000 or so on the seaside took to the air with a broadcasting squawk.

A White-bellied Sea eagle had made a sneak attack along the grasslands, and had swung up over the hapless gulls. Each gull to itself seemed to be the answer, and someone’s relative went home for dinner with the eagle. I managed to find the camera by the time the action was all over.

Probably enough excitement for a mere whim.

Young Spotted Harrier expecting dinner to arrive soon.

Time to stretch those wonderful wings in the evening breeze.

One of many White-fronted Chats that seem to work as a flock at the moment

Waiting for its turn at the Swamp Harrier Games.

This one drifted almost up to our camera position.

Knocking one another of fence posts must be a raptor game, they all seem to indulge in it.

Cautious Brolga checking that the right protocol distance is being maintained.

Great Egret to wing.

Bulking up for the trip to the summer breeding grounds, the waders, mostly Sharp-tailed Sandpipers here, are hard at work getting as many calories as possible.

White-bellied Sea-eagle with its own method of calorie collection.

An evening at the WTP

February 5, 2014February 5, 2014Posted in "Western Treatment Plant", Black-shouldered Kite, Brolga, Royal Spoonbill, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Swamp Harrier, Western Treatment Plant, Yellow-billed Spoonbill2 Comments

With the hot weather just making day trips so hard for photography, hard on the birds, hard on the photographer and hard on great images, we’ve been a bit subdued of late.

A small dry cool change wafted through and we took the chance to go back out on the Murtcain(m) to see if we could sight those elusive Brolgas.

The evening light played such a fine tune over the scene, and the breeze from the ocean was really refreshing. The birds seem to enjoy it too.

Black-shouldered Kite on a high vantage point.

Juvenile Black-shouldered Kite, with its wonderful brown ginger markings.

Yellow-billed Spoonbills settling in for an evening meal.

Swamp Harrier, all a bustle as it turns its body to keep up with the intended target

Royal Spoonbill who stopped in the middle of a preen for a bit of a dance in the water.

Not to be outdone, a Yellow-billed Spoonbill perfuming in the water. Perhaps the cool breeze gave them pleasure too.

Oh, so elusive Brolga. Late evening stroll.

Black-shouldered Kite hunting right on sundown. It lifts its head to be sure there is no sneak attacks. — Black-shouldered Kite hunting right on sundown. It lifts its head to be sure there is no sneak attack.

Dancing with Brolga

January 14, 2014January 15, 2014Posted in "Western Treatment Plant", BrolgaTagged Brolga, WTP6 Comments

Over the past couple of weeks, the Brolgas that are down in the WTP have been a bit more open and readily noticeable. Either because of their walking along the roads along the bunds, or by flying in from seemingly nowhere.

At first I took to them as photo challenge. Big bird, easy to spot, fairly photogenic.

However after a couple of weeks of working with them, I am enamoured. These wonderful creatures with personalities all their own have walked, sung, and danced their way deep into my heart.

Not that its a two sided partnership. They are very people averse and make their feelings on the subject well know, both vocally and by voting with their feet, or wings.

We had decided EE, Mr An Onymous and I to take advantage of the cool of the morning as being the best way to get the best light and to make a concerted effort to locate the Brogla. Now like all birds, they don’t leave signs, or calling cards, so we left an hour or so after sunup and began our quest.

By mid-morning the score was photographers 0 Brolga 3. Then as we were going along the bund to Murtcaim(n) outflow, we saw the Helmutmobile on the other side of the pond, and on the road in front of him. A pair of Brolga. Apparently on a shopping expedition, or perhaps a philosophical stroll in the morning. As Mr An has rightly pointed out, they walk fast on those big legs. And it was as much as I could do to follow along on the opposite bank, as they headed on down to the other end of the pond.

At one point we (both) came upon a mob of Black Swans in the pond, and they were startled either by me, or more likely on reflection, the Brolga. Much wing clattering, foot splashing and eventually they got airborne.
The Brogla stopped, turned their heads, and I thought “Oh, No, they’ll fly too!” But instead they set up a constant calling and looking in the direction of the Swans, and I think I learned some Brolga speak. “Well, Look at those silly swans, we sure scared them. ”

See Helmut’s shot of the Swans in complete disarray on the wing.

Here. http://www.flickr.com/photos/88560281@N06/11941596805/

Another view is here.

Satisfied that honour had been done, they turned and walked nonchalantly off down the road.

I moved to the end of the road, and the pool. There is a road running along there and I figured, they will either turn left and be gone down the road or they might just as well turn right and walk pretty much right past me. However, like all good stories, there was a third possibility that I hadn’t counted on. They walked over the roadway, down the bank on the other side and disappeared into the grass. Brolga 4.

We stopped at the Murtcain(m) outflow, but the tide was in and the best we could do was a nice cuppa and a chat.

When silently as stealth bombers, 3 grey shapes came over the paddock, dropped into the lagoon and immediately started walking. They were much to far out for anything really decent, Brolga 5.

However not to be outdone, I walked down to the end of the roadway and slipped along the roadside trying to get as close, and hoping they would feed across toward my position. Photographer 1.

What happened next was the highlight of my day, probably my month, and might even be my year. (I don’t aim high!).

One of the three, the smallest, stopped walking. Turned about and danced. Now most have heard of the prowess of these birds as exceptional dancers. Don’t believe it. They are much much more than exceptional. To see a video is one thing. To see the elegance, lightness, the subtly of turn, and the wing movements is nothing else other than breathtaking. Its ability to step, and twist and turn and jump in a co-ordinated manner can’t be explained and a few still shots, don’t even begin to touch the scope of the repertoire. Photographer 2.
And it was doing it for itself. The other two took no part and took no notice.

I’ve concluded they do it because its fun. They enjoy it, and it’s an expression of being alive. I know anthropomorphism is frowned upon. I don’t care, I think they have emotions and this one wanted to enjoy the moment.

The heat haze over the water affected most of the shots, but none the less, its only encouraged me to continue working with these birds and hopefully they will grace me with another performance.