Category: White-faced Heron

As it Happened: Ringside Seat

Posted in "Western Treatment Plant", Western Treatment Plant, White-faced HeronTagged , 10 Comments

Wrestling, I have to admit has never been “my” sport. Too much huffing, puffing and sweaty armpits for me.

So you can imagine my surprise when I came across two White-faced Herons in the middle of a ding-dong battle.

A lot of name calling began, as they sized one-another up on the roadside. The bird, that I think, throught it owned the territory arrived with neck outstretched and loud calls to intimidate the pretender.

From there it escalated quite rapidly.

Let Battle Begin
Gracefuness is not an essential sparring technique
It might seem like chest bumping, but its designed to get the advantage
No quarter is given
It’s bar-room brawl scruff of the neck time
In the end, the challenger made one move too many with enthusiasm and less skill
And the old hand was ready to press home the advantage
That beak is good for more than just catching fish
Released, the pretender admitted defeat and flew off. Seemingly none the worse for wear, but perhaps a little wiser.
The local champion flew up and down the pond with neck outstrectched and very vocal. Now everyone knows whose pond it is.

Bathing Beauty

Posted in Werribee Mansion, White-faced HeronTagged , 6 Comments

I have to say, I’ve never seen a White-faced Heron engaged in a bathing session.

That is until today.

Was working with a couple of Nankeen Night Heron juveniles, and somewhere, you know, way over there, was a White-faced Heron. Not that I was really interested at that distance anyway.
Then.

For its own reasons, it waded out into the deeper water, and proceeded to settle down into the water up to the top of its wings.  And then it must have rocked back on its wings/tail and stood vertically.   Most interesting.  Continue reading “Bathing Beauty” →

Studio Werkz

Posted in Australian Wood Duck, Chestnut Teal, Superb Fairy-wren, Werribee Mansion, White-faced HeronTagged , , , , , 4 Comments

When I was a mere broth of a photographer, and just learning the craft, almost all weddings, portraits and product and advertising photography was done in the Studio. Photographers like D’acre Stubbs specialised in getting just the right light on a product, and Wolfgang Sievers made wonderful detailed industrial photos with dramatic lighting.
And I traded my poor old Super Baldar, 120 folding camera for the chance to learn the craft as a trainee.

Continue reading “Studio Werkz” →