Around the Banyule flats #1

Over the past few weeks I've headed out around my local area to see what I could find. I'm out there most days walking the dog but it's a little tricky finding birds with Tesla in tow.

So the cuckoo still isn't my favorite bird (see the last post) but I do love this shot!

Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Cacomantis flabelliformis

There was much debate whether this next shot was of an Australian Raven or Little Raven. In Australia there are 6 members of the Corvidae family - 3 crows and 3 ravens - and they all look exactly the same! The easiest way to distinguish is by their call. Unfortunately for me this one wasn't too keen to talk. After that you can check the range they live in which narrowed it down to 2. Australian Raven's have throat feathers (hackles) that are much longer than the other species. Once again, a little hard to see when they are not raised during calling. Anyway, a few people have suggested that from the hackles and distribution this is a Little Raven. I'm going to go with that!

Little Raven, Corvus mellori

After taking photos of the raven, I turned around to see a flash of colour bomb the bushes beside the river and return to a branch high up in a gum tree. A Sacred Kingfisher had just caught some lunch.

Sacred Kingfisher, Todiramphus sanctus

Masked Woodswallow, Artamus personatus

We have flocks of Sulphur Crested Cockatoos around our place and I've always seen one or two Corella's in with their flock. I finally got a close up of one the other day and was so suprised by the length of its beak! I guess it's not called a Long-billed Corella for nothing!

Long-billed Corella, Cacatua tenuirostris

Before this birding obsession, I spent a lot of time in the bushes searching for bugs and insects - trying to get that perfect macro shot (that might have to be another blog one day). So every now and then when I come across a great opportunity I pull out the macro lens.

Cape White Butterfly (male), Belenois java

Over at the wetlands I was able to tick off another duck species - the Hardhead. These ducks are the only true 'diving ducks' of Australia - meaning that they feed by diving under the water. They can swim up to 40m underwater and stay submerged for up to a minute.

Hardhead, Aythya australis

Pacific Black Duck (duckling), Anas superciliosa

Pacific Black Duck, Anas superciliosa

There are so many pairs of brilliantly coloured Rainbow lorikeets around. This is my new favorite shot of one.

Rainbow Lorikeet, Trichoglossus haematodus

They are monogomous and pair for life.

There are also lots of Nankeen Night Herons that live along the Yarra river. I've seen lots of them from a kayak but could never get a good shot from the boat with my smaller, waterproof camera. I was fortunate to get this shot on a walk near one of the swampy areas. It's the first time I've seen the 3 white feathers protuding from their head, which are grown for the breeding season.

Nankeen Night Heron, Nycticorax caledonicus

The Eastern Long-necked turtle is common in the Yarra river and nearby wetlands but I've only ever seen them from a distance. The other day on my walk I came across 2 sitting in the grass. It's a type of side-necked turtle, meaning they bend their long necks sideways to hide in their shell rather than retracting straight back. After a short time this turtle relaxed and brought it's head out of hiding for these shots.

Eastern Long-necked Turtle, Chelodina longicollis

White-faced Heron, Egretta novaehollandiae

Grey Teal, Anas castanea

Galah, Cacatua roseicapilla

The gum trees are in flower at the moment and full of squawking parrots. I've always assumed that they were Rainbow Lorikeets as they are so common and it's really hard to actually see the birds so high up in the trees. The other day I spent about half an hour staring up into a tree to confirm my thoughts and give myself a sore neck. Well the sore neck was worth it because I found myself looking at a flock of Musk Lorikeets!

They moved around quickly and were difficult to get a shot of (unlike the one from my Adelaide post) but I've included these because I noticed something a little different with this one. It seems to have a deformity around it's beak and forehead. Does anyone know what this might be?

Musk Lorikeet, Glosopsitta concinna

 Now I just have to wait for the weather to improve so I can get back out there again :-)