The Dandenongs - Jan 2015

I took a drive out to the Dandenongs with the intention of walking up and around the 1000 steps. I didn't realise that half of Melbourne would have the same idea! After driving past a line of parked cars that went on for a few k's past the carpark we decided that walking with such a crowd would not be fun so continued on to Sherbrooke forest.

During our walk I heard a pair of Eastern Whipbirds making conversation and managed to get within a few metres of one but still didn't get a glimpse of it after 15 minutes of staring into the bush. I will be prepared to stake it out all day next time!

Further up the track we saw a flash of orange fly past and was able to locate a Rufous Fantail. I managed to get this one shot before it quickly darted off.

Rufous Fantail, Rhipidura rufifrons

This was a new spotting for me and I'm keen to go back and spend more time chasing it for a clearer photo.

Another highlight was getting up close to these beautiful King Parrots and Crimson Rosellas. 

Australian King Parrot, Alisterus scapularis

Crimson Rosella, Platycercus elegans

I think I'll take a deck chair next time so I can outlast the Whipbird in it's hide and seek game!

Rufous Fantail - tick #212

Spotted Pardalote - Oct 2014

This little bird has been on my wish list for a long time now. I always look out for them on my walks and have only seen them once before but they were too high up in the tree to get a decent photograph.
Then one day, back in October 2014, I was looking out my window and there was one of the pretty little birds right in our backyard!

Spotted Pardalote, Pardalotus punctatus

Spotted Pardalote - tick.

Ventnor birds - Nov 2014

There are always plenty of birds to see around Ventnor and here are just a few that I saw on a short walk back in November 2014. 

Superb Fairy Wren (male), Malurus cyaneus

European Goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis

Australian White Ibis, Threskiornis moluccus

Swamp Harrier, Circus approximans

Superb Fairy Wren (male), Malurus cyaneus

Eastern Yellow Robin, Eopsaltria australis

New Holland Honeyeater, Phylidonyris novaehollandiae

Fairy Martins under the bridge - Oct 2014

It's been a while since I've posted photos and I have a bit of a backlog to catch up on. These photos were taken back in October 2014.

Someone had mentioned that Fairy Martins were nesting under the Bourke road bridge so I set off on a nice walk along the Yarra river to hopefully tick off another species.

The birds were easy enough to find but difficult to photograph under the bridge's shadow and with their speedy flying.

Fairy Martin nests under the bridge

Their bottle-shaped nests are made with up to 1000 mud pellets and then lined with dried grass and feathers. They nest in large colonies in caves and rock crevices and more so now on bridges and buildings.

Fairy Martin, Petrochelidon ariel 

Fairy Martin, Petrochelidon ariel

A Blue-tongue lizard was enjoying the hot weather.

On the way home I nearly stepped on these 2 gorgeous ducklings, camoflaged well on the path. I think I saved their lives photographing them because a mountain biker came racing around the corner and had to stop to go around me - he surely wouldn't have seen them otherwise. It was a bit concerning however, that these two ducklings were by themselves, without their mother in sight. 

Australian Wood Duck chick, Chenonetta jubata

The Fairy Martin spotting takes my tally up to 211.