Sue joined me for a very peasant day at Nurragingy Reserve. The day was forecast to be hot, so we arrived early and left for home in the early afternoon. On this visit it was the newly returned Sacred Kingfishers that were the highlight.
Near the entrance gate, we spotted a number of Stinkhorns – Aseroë rubra –
Near one of the duck ponds, we spotted a very large family of Maned Ducks. I think this was the same family as i had seen on my previous visit, and then I had counted ten chicks. Nice seem to have survived – very impressive.
This Australian White Ibis chick wanted more food from a parent.
And we soon heard the Sacred Kingfishers calling, and it was easy to spot them. There seemed to be two near the one pond.
Here is one calling –
And another Maned Duck family –
White-browed Scrubwren
Tawny Frogmouth
This Tawny Frogmouth was perched in a tree, that we often see it in, but as part of a pair (or three). We thought it likely that the second Tawny Frogmouth was nearby sitting on a nest. Another visiting bird photographer, Elizabeth, had seen one of her previous visit, but despite this, we could not spot it.
Olive-backed Oriole
Sacred Kingfisher
Hardhead
Sacred Kingfisher
More Maned Ducks and their chicks –
Sacred Kingfisher
And another Maned Duck family –
Sacred Kingfisher
White-browed Scrubwren
Water Dragon
Sacred Kingfisher and Magpie Lark altercation –
The Magpie Lark was one of a pair nesting in the tree that the Sacred Kingfishers liked to perch in.
Turtles –
Great Egret in breeding plumage –
Sacred Kingfisher
Another altercation with one of the Magpie Larks –
Sacred Kingfishers
During our visit, we had looked carefully for Azure Kingfishers and Pacific Bazas – but had no luck.