I arrived at Nurragingy Reserve at Doonside nice and early on a cool and very misty morning.
It was quiet on the bird front so I wandered around getting some photos of the gardens in the mist. It was certainly nice and atmospheric.
I was a little surprised to see one of the Azure Kingfishers out and perched above one of the pools hunting for fish.
It dived a few times, but seemed to have no luck catching things, from what I could see. I was able to get some photos of it before it gave up and flew away. I looked for it at a few other places – but could not spot it.
I then walked around the perimeter trail. Again – nice misty conditions and apart from a few spiderwebs and trees in the mist, little in the way of birds.
Back at the main ponds, I took a sequence of photos of a Kookaburra taking off.
the Azure Kingfisher was not back, so after looking around a bit more, I set off around the perimeter fire trail again. Again, very little to in the way of birds. the Sun was starting to drive off the mist.
I did spot a Butcher Bird with a small skink –
Back at the main ponds, I photographed some of the Grebes –
And I did a short walk around some of the other ponds. All I photographed was an eastern Rosella –
I then bumped into Johan, another bird photographer I had seen in the Reserve a few times before. He had seen the two Azure Kingfishers at one of the pools. We went there, and soon could see one of them. This pool had better light for photography, but it was more difficult to get close to the bird. Here are two photos of it with small fish –
I then went back to the pool I had seen the first Azure Kingfisher. It was there, but not for long.
I then started out agin on the perimeter walk. This time things were better. Here are some of the birds I photographed.
Eastern Yellow Robin
Grey Fantail
Golden Whistler (male and female)
Eastern Spinebill
Back at the main ponds I photographed an Egret –
And not far away were some Rainbow Lorikeets and also the smaller Musk Lorikeets –
Then, the first Azure Kingfisher returned. Again, it did not stay for too long, but the light was now slightly better and I was able to get some reasonable photos, but none of it catching fish or flying.
It was then time to head off home.