Western Treatment Plant – Page 5 – Birds as Poetry —— Just because I WANDER doesn't mean I'm LOST

Fire, smoke, an open paddock, simply add birds for action

April 29, 2014May 8, 2014Posted in "Western Treatment Plant", Australian Hobby, Australian Kestrel, Black Kite, Black-shouldered Kite, Brown Falcon, Flame Robin, Werribee, Western Treatment Plant, Whistling Kite2 Comments

One part of the family was off to Sydney for a holiday. So how about we leave our car with you and go to Avalon airport? Now the cool thing about saying yes to the request of course is that Avalon is but a mere 5 minutes from the WTP. And well, we’d have to come back that way after all the farewells, and book ins and security checks, and stuff.

So we found ourselves on the Beach Road in the middle of the afternoon on a not too brilliant for photography day. The folk at the farm had taken the opportunity of the change in the weather to conduct some control burns in some of the bigger fields. And off course the raptors simply couldn’t resist the chance of fried or roasted or bbq locusts, mice, grasshoppers, lizards and the like.

As we travelled down the Beach Road, the sky was awash with larger birds. Perhaps as many as 20 Whistling Kites, twice that number of Black Kites, at least two Australian Kestrels, and an assortment of Ravens, several squadrons of Australian Magpie and innumerable Magpie Larks.

From a photography point of view, the light was wrong and the birds too far away, but the old D2xS on the 300mm f/2.8, stepped up to the challenge. So the big birds swept over the still smouldering ground, or made a landing and picked up a morsel or two. Their friends sat on the fence line and the Whistling Kites kept up a constant call. In the end, we just watched, and enjoyed them enjoying themselves.
A Black Kite became a target for a rather aggressive Whistling Kite and a sky wide battle ensued. At first the Whistling Kite was much faster, could turn quicker, gain height faster and generally outfly the Black Kite. Quite a number of direct hits from above, below and the side ensued. In the end, I decided that perhaps the Black was just taking it all and wasn’t really concerned by the output of energy by the Whistling Kite. It ended by the Black gaining height and just sailing away. The Whistler settled down for a rest on the fence.

On the other side of the road a Black-shouldered Kite busied itself in finding mice for its evening snack.

We also found a large family of Flame Robins. The males looking a treat in the sunshine. But far too far away to do them justice.
As we drove around Lake Borrie on the return home a pair of Cape Barren Geese were feeding in an open area. Really perturbed by our audacity to encroach on their feeding spot, the male gave me a lecture and wing-waving display. I apologised and we parted in good company. Just have to be more careful about sneaking up on him.

With the light finally drifting into greyness, it was considered time for home.

A burst of late evening sunlight highlights the maize against the brilliant dark sky.

Red burst from a Flame Robin male, one of 4 males and about 6-8 female/juveniles in the area.

Two Black Kites. They are at completely different heights.

Australian Kestrel turning for another sweep over the still smouldering paddock.

Whistling Kite, vs Black Kite. Probably not as one sided as it at first appeared.

Completely uninterested in the bbq, this Black-shouldered Kite stuck to its larder. A mouse.

Cape Barren Goose. He is giving me a lecture on my tardiness in being in his territory.

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.

Taking the early morning run to Western Treatment Plant

February 3, 2014February 3, 2014Posted in Brolga, Cape Barren Goose, Golden-headed Cisticola, Spotted Harrier, Swamp Harrier, Uncategorized, Werribee, Western Treatment Plant, Whistling KiteTagged Golden-headed Cisticola2 Comments

With the weather man predicting only more heat wave conditions, and the WTP being closed on Total Fire Ban days because of OHS issues, and good on ’em as far as I’m concerned. Don’t want to be driving around in the heat trying to find birds hiding from the heat

We found a bit of a break in the hot days, and decided and early morning start was the best thing. Rather than cover the usual spots we headed down to southern end, known among birders as 29 Mile Road, T Section or the Spit. Also Murtcaim(n) and Pond 9. The Brolgas had been seen among the ponds there and we thought it a good look see.

Here’s the way the day progressed.

Found one of the Spotted Harriers up in the early morning mist. That’s Avalon Aircraft Repair workshop in the distance.

The second young one also put up, and we got some good views even if the light was against us.

Golden-headed Cisticola came by to be sure we weren’t thinking of taking over its territory, and gave a us a good lecture just to prove its point.

We did manage to find the Brolga engaged in team precision preening, but they were too far away, and the heat haze even in the early morning was a curse.

A strong breeze really surprised these Golden-headed Cisticola, nearly blowing it off the rail. The leaning into the wing and wide stretch of the legs was all it could do to prevent it being swept away.

Another great find were a pair of Cape Barren Geese, they did a great little head nodding performance before taking to the air. I always feel a bit sad when I’ve partly been the cause of a bird taking flight.

No such feeling with Swamp Harriers. This bird had no intention of letting us get close under any circumstances and led us on a merry chase along one of the bunds, flying a brief spell, sitting until we caught up, and then wafting on down the road a hundred metres of so.

At the moment, there is alway a Whiskered Tern or two to keep photographers amused and waste lots of time trying to nail that elusive best tern shot. Its not that the birds don’t try hard enough.

And that pair of Geese just would not sit still when we were around.

My bird id skills let me down sometimes and the little grass birds are a good example, but this is a Horsfields Bushlark (I hope). It adopted a different technique to stay on the post, by crouching down.

Back along the Point Wilson Road, one of the young Spotted Harriers had returned to the nest tree for a bit of a spell.

And down along the rocks, the Sharp-tailed Sandpipers were ready to get down to work when the tide lowered a bit.

By late mid morning, the temp was up, the heat haze was reducing very expensive lens to the quality of my Mum’s Box Camera and coffee and a toasted cheese and tomato sandwich (not a bad alternative to a poi.), at the Highway Lounge. How could I resist