We had an invitation for lunch with our Ballarat connection, so decided to leave a little earlier, spend a few minutes around the Ballarat Lake, while we had the opportunity. As the day would have it, it was porridge skies, but sometimes, as I’ve discovered lately those softer melded light conditions are really good for detail of bird feathers. Mind, I’m partial to a run of sunshine too. 🙂
As they say,—have you ever wondered who ‘they’ are?—obviously not ‘us’,—anyway as ‘they’ say, what we found were the ‘usual suspects’
The highlight of the hour or so was several Great Crested Grebes. And we did spend quite a bit of time photographing insane Corellas as they flew about in large, super-noisy flocks. I’ve never been sure as to what puts them into a frenzy, but once started its self-multiplying and they just keep going until everyone runs out of energy.
So here in no particular order.
Lake Wendouree has no end of Black Swans, and there always seems to be new clutches on the way. This one is quite advanced and good to see those feathers taking shape.
A Masked Lapwing has decided to take a snooze on the side of the track. Totally unphased by passing foot traffic.
Always good to find these birds. Dreaming of seeing, and photographing them dancing.
And here they come. This is the 4,234 trip up and down the lake, calling raucously as they go.
With so much action its hard to keep just one in frame. This is a Long-billed Corella
And a Little Corella zipping between the trees
They’ve seen it all before. This time they are just going to sit and watch it all happen.
Too good not to share another one
Never cease to be amazed that such a big bird can balance so well on one leg and nap at the same time.
Maned Ducks have such distinctive markings on their backs and folded feathers. Something we often miss with the front
No matter the place, or the occasion, a Pacific Black Duck knows how to work a space.
My little pond was all quiet when I began my Tai Chi routine this morning.
And to be honest, I wasn’t expecting a duck to turn up.
Just as well.
As
A few minutes into my routine, a flurry of feathers went by my head and “Sploosh, Sploosh” I suddenly had two Pacific Black Ducks in the pond, just in front of my feet.
Quite took me back. I didn’t quite know how to react and as my fone was just out of reach on the ground, I simply stood and watched.
They paddled about, and began a pretty energetic feeding routine, so I took the chance to ease of over, grab the fone and here is a short piece of video.
Short of upgdrading my wordpress, this link will have to do for today
The Carpenters may have sung about Rainy days and Sundays, all those years ago, but the past couple of days have made a tremendous change on the countryside around us.
Many paddocks that were dry and barren, or had a blush of winter grass on them, are now shiny, polished lakes, with several cms of water covering the lower surrounding areas.
Not much fun for our favourite pastime, so EE and I have been a bit housebound of late.
It’s not so much the rain. I’ve been wet before and understand the process, in much the same way birds do. You get wet, and then you dry out. No point in arguing with the obvious. As my long ago bushwalking leader used to say, “If you want to stay dry, STAY home.”
It’s the wind. Hurts the eyes, makes the cold colder, drives the rain through the best wet weather gear and is just plain uncomfortable to stand around in peering through a wobbling viewfinder. Not to mention the(lack of) wisdom of taking expensive camera gear out in those conditions.
And don’t even think of hiding under trees in such weather. The news has had to cover several unfortunate incidents regarding uprooted trees.
So better to stay at home, drink warm cacao in hot almond milk, and dream of better days.
But you can, as EE says, Only take so much indoors. We looked at the weather, and as she has an arrangement with several pairs of birds at the moment, it was time to go see if the rain had washed out their hopes of an early clutch.
First casualty we found was a pair of Masked Lapwings that had taken up a nesting site on the lawn of a nearby shopping centre. The sheen of water across the nest site, and lack of parents anywhere pretty much confirmed the worst for that pair. Not that they’ll be setback. She’ll be back as soon as the water recedes.
But all the birds with tree based nests were ok it seemed. One small area of trees, that used to surround a small wetland is quite the maternity centre at the moment, and there are lots of anxious males sitting around wondering what to do.
Ravens, magpies, Pacific Black Ducks and Chestnut Teals, Black-shouldered Kites. A pair of White-faced Herons, although to give full disclosure, its hard to say they are actually sitting at this stage.
One of the more interesting sightings was a Fan-tailed Cuckoo pair. They are giving a pair of Red Wattlebirds shivers. Lucked out trying to find the nest, (if its there yet), but the Cuckoos seemed to be relentless in the area, and the Wattlebirds were seriously aggressive, but really couldn’t see off the determined Cuckoos. Be interesting to see what happens.
Here is a visual diary of the morning out.
Australasian Pipit. They nest in the grass. Apparently they will nest anytime season is conducive.
Proud Dad, waiting, waiting, waiting.
Another male, hoping to lead me away from his brood
With plenty of time on his hands—paddles, he is practicing his one legged stand
Another ‘busy’ Dad
One of a pair that were eager to appear as if they were feeding off the fence, but most likely they were watching a pair of very nervous Red Wattlebirds.
A Black-shouldered Kite, contemplating taking up diving lessons to find mice.
Birds as Poetry —— Just because I WANDER doesn't mean I'm LOST 