Australian birds

Tawny Frogmouth

Tawny Frogmouth Podargus strigoides November 5th, 2016 Chiltern, Victoria, Australia Canon EOS 1D X Canon EF 500mm f4L IS II USM lens Canon 580EX II flash

Turquoise Parrot

Turquoise Parrot (male) Neophema pulchella November 5th, 2016 Chiltern, Victoria, Australia Canon EOS 1D X Canon EF 500mm f4L IS II USM lens Canon EF 1.4x III Extender One of those amazing experiences where you just happen to chance upon a very rare find - in this instance, a Turquoise Parrot nesting hollow.

Turquoise Parrot

Turquoise Parrot (female) Neophema pulchella November 6th, 2016 Chiltern, Victoria, Australia Canon EOS 1D X Canon EF 500mm f4L IS II USM lens Canon EF 1.4x III Extender A female Turquoise Parrot perched on an old tree stump hollow that she was nesting within.

Brolga family

Brolga pair with chicks Grus rubicunda Vulnerable in Victoria September 3rd, 2016 Werribee, Victoria, Australia Canon EOS 1D X Canon EF 500mm f4L IS II USM Canon EF 1.4x III Extender One of the most amazing birding moments I have experienced, these beautiful Brolga parents attending to their chicks. We waited patiently behind some reeds for this little family to make their way back to their nest to roost for the night, & our patience was rewarded.

Red-necked Stint

Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis September 3rd, 2016 Werribee, Victoria, Australia Canon EOS 1D X Canon EF 500mm f4L IS II USM lens Canon EF 1.4x III Extender A perfect rock perch for a Stint.

Fairy Martins

Fairy Martins at nest Petrochelidon ariel September 3rd, 2016 Werribee, Victoria, Australia Canon EOS 1D X Canon EF 500mm f4L IS II USM Canon EF 1.4x III Extender Canon 580EX II flash with extender Fairy Martins often nest in communal nesting sites. This particular site is a lone building at the WTP where the martins have constructed these fantastic mud nests all around the outside of the building under the eaves.

Crimson Rosella

Crimson Rosella Platycercus elegans August 6th, 2016 Launching Place, Victoria, Australia Canon EOS 5D Mark III Canon EF 500mm f4L IS II USM Canon 580EX II flash with extender

Australian Brush-turkey

Australian Brush-turkey Alectura lathami May 23rd, 2012 Canungra, Queensland, Australia Canon EOS 7D Canon EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM Canon 580EX II flash with extender

Common Bronzewing

Common Bronzewing Phaps chalcoptera August 6th, 2016 Launching Place, Victoria, Australia Canon EOS 5D Mark III Canon EF 500mm f4L IS II USM Canon 580EX II flash with extender

Galahs

Galah pair Eolophus roseicapilla June 19th, 2011 Healesville, Victoria, Australia Canon EOS 7D Canon EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM lens Canon 580EX II flash with extender A pair of Galah, female on the left (red eyes) & the male on the right (black eyes).

Hoary-headed Grebe

Hoary-headed Grebe Poliocephalus poliocephalus July 16th, 2020 Lysterfield, Victoria, Australia Canon EOS 1D X Mark II Canon EF 600mm f4L IS II USM lens Canon EF 1.4x III Extender Canon 600EX II-RT flash with extender These subtly beautiful little Grebes are a regular at Lysterfield, but rarely seem to come in close to the shore. Thankfully, on this day, this lone bird was feeding within reach.

Australasian Grebe

Australasian Grebe Tachybaptus novaehollandiae July 1st, 2020 Lysterfield, Victoria, Australia Canon EOS 1D X Mark II Canon EF 600mm f4L IS II USM lens Canon EF 1.4x III Extender I was pretty surprised to see this little Grebe pop up from a dive with such a big fish. It swam straight to the shallows & wrestled it down in a few seconds. Impressive!

Pacific Black Duck

Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa July 1st, 2020 Lysterfield, Victoria, Australia Canon EOS 1D X Mark II Canon EF 600mm f4L IS II USM lens Canon EF 1.4x III Extender A watchful eye while preening

Little Pied Cormorant

Little Pied Cormorant Microcarbo melanoleucos July 1st, 2020 Lysterfield, Victoria, Australia Canon EOS 1D X Mark II Canon EF 600mm f4L IS II USM lens Canon EF 2x III Extender Canon 600EX II-RT flash with extender Another local from Lysterfield, which feels like the only place I have visited in 2020. And since Stage 4 lockdown, I even miss the only place I could get to to shoot birds!

Australian Wood Duck

Australian Wood Duck (female) Chenonetta jubata June 27th, 2020 Lysterfield, Victoria, Australia Canon EOS 1D X Mark II Canon EF 600mm f4L IS II USM Canon EF 1.4x III Extender This lovely lady was busy ensuring that every feather was preened & looking its best.

Red-capped Robin

Red-capped Robin (female) Petroica goodenovii June 19th, 2020 Terrick Terrick National Park, Terrick Terrick, Victoria, Australia Canon EOS 1D X Mark II Canon EF 600mm f4L IS II USM lens Canon EF 1.4x III Extender Canon 600EX II-RT flash with extender And the not so cooperative female Red-capped Robin.

Red-capped Robin

Red-capped Robin (male) Petroica goodenovii June 19th, 2020 Terrick Terrick National Park, Terrick Terrick, Victoria, Australia Canon EOS 1D X Mark II Canon EF 600mm f4L IS II USM lens Canon EF 1.4x III Extender Canon 600EX II-RT flash with extender On a short trip up to Terrick Terrick National Park before lock down, we had a very cooperative pair of Red-capped Robins. This male was certainly a poser.

Pacific Black Duck

Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa June 14th, 2020 Lysterfield, Victoria, Australia Canon EOS 1D X Mark II Canon EF 600mm f4L IS II USM lens Flapping about at bath time.

Little Black Cormorant

Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris June 14th, 2020 Lysterfield, Victoria, Australia Canon EOS 1D X Mark II Canon EF 600mm f4L IS II USM lens Canon EF 2x III Extender Usually I'm not a huge fan of the 2x converter, as the AF slows right down. However, it is a very useful tool for closer stationary birds to get in nice & close without compromising much on details at all.

Musk Duck

Musk Duck (male) Biziura lobata June 13th, 2020 Lysterfield, Victoria, Australia Canon EOS 1D X Mark II Canon EF 600mm f4L IS II USM lens Canon EF 1.4x III Extender The striking male Musk Duck with his leathery, pendulous lobe.

Gang-gang Cockatoos

Gang-gang Cockatoos Callocephalon fimbriatum June 12th, 2020 Viewbank, Victoria, Australia Canon EOS 1D X Mark II Canon EF 600mm f4L IS II USM lens A family of Gang-gang Cockatoos preening in the early rays of a cold Winter's morning. A flock of about 20 of these Cockatoos perched in a couple of dead trees just as the sun cleared the nearby horizon. This family of two adults & two immature males were busy preening themselves & each other for several minutes as they warmed up in the sun.

Gang-gang Cockatoo

Gang-gang Cockatoo (female) Callocephalon fimbriatum June 10th, 2020 Viewbank, Victoria, Australia Canon EOS 1D X Mark II Canon EF 300mm f2.8L IS USM lens Canon 600EX II-RT flash A female Gang-gang Cockatoo making a mess feasting on Hawthorn berries.

Eurasian Coot

Eurasian Coot Fulica atra June 5th, 2020 Lysterfield, Victoria, Australia Canon EOS 1D X Mark II Canon EF 600mm f4L IS II USM lens I've been having a lot of fun with the local Coots over the past couple weeks, trying to shoot them as they come steaming in along the water. Really puts the camera's autofocus to the test!

Musk Duck

Musk Duck (female) Biziura lobata June 5th, 2020 Lysterfield, Victoria, Australia Canon EOS 1D X Mark II Canon EF 600mm f4L IS II USM lens Shake it off.