Australian Wood Duck (male) Chenonetta jubata October 23rd, 2019 Wheelers Hill, Victoria, Australia Canon EOS 1D X Mark II Canon EF 600mm f4L IS II USM Canon EF 1.4x III Extender This male Wood Duck was standing watch over his ducklings as they fed on a patch of grass.
Orange Chat (male) Epthianura aurifrons October 22nd, 2019 Lake Tyrrell, Sea Lake, Victoria, Australia Canon EOS 1D X Mark II Canon EF 600mm f4L IS II USM lens Canon EF 1.4x III Extender One good Chat deserves another! This male Chat was busily feeding young & would return to the same location with a successful catch. However he would always chose a different perch which was quite frustrating! Thankfully I happen to pick the right one for this snap as he brought in a fat juicy moth for his offspring. Despite knowing the general area the young were, I did not see nor hear them as I sat quietly waiting for the parents to return with prey.
Black-faced Woodswallow mating Artamus cinereus October 20th, 2019 Lake Tyrrell, Sea Lake, Victoria, Australia Canon EOS 1D X Mark II Canon EF 600mm f4L IS II USM lens Canon EF 1.4x III Extender One of the other bird species that we found at Lake Tyrell were these subtly beautiful Black-faced Woodswallows. Several pairs were constructing nests in the small trees & dense shrubs that are dotted around the lake. I noticed one of these birds frequently return to this particular branch while it was hawking insects. On this occasion, another bird flew in to a nearby branch & both began what I now know is a type of mutual mating dance (I witnessed it 3 times over my visits to the lake). Both were very slowly moving their wings & tail about in an almost synchronised manner for around 20 seconds or so when suddenly the male flew in & the pair mated. The whole affair was over in a matter of seconds but I managed to snap a couple of frames in time.
