After going the NPA for a morning trip at Tempe, caught a bus to Barton Park and spent the afternoon wandering around looking at the birdlife.
There were many nice birds around, but my particular focus was the juvenile Black-shouldered Kite. It was out and active, learning how to hunt. As soon as I arrived at the Landing Lights Wetland, I spotted the Kite perched on a light pole up in the sporting field. I made my way up.
I then waited for it to take off. While waiting a Superb Fairywren posed for a photo –
The Kite then took off – but away from me, and it joined one of its parents (I assume). They flew off.
I looked around to see if the Brown Goshawk was in the area – but had no luck spotting it. Some Galahs flew past –
I then went back down to the Wetlands. On my way, I saw a Willie Wagtail driving away at Raven –
I then photographed the Pied Stilts –
Next some more bird skirmishes. First a Willie Wagtail during away a Pied Currawong, and then a Pied Currawong driving away a Raven.
I was then encouraged to leave the area by a Pied Stilt flying around me and calling out. It must have had a nest nearby.
I went back up to the higher area. The Juvenile Black-shouldered Kite was back. I got a nice series of photos of it –
It then dived on some prey –
It stayed out of sight for a while, so I don’t know if it caught anything. Not long after it hovered for a while and then flew off.
Next I photographed some of the Fairy Martins enjoying washing in a large puddle. After their wash they would sit on the wire fence to dry out.
Back at the Wetlands, some last photos –
This time a Pied Stilt was driving away a Raven instead of me. Some last photos of a Pied Stilt hiding one leg so it can stand on the other. A lot of birds do this to retain heat. Their legs and not covered by feathers unlike to rest of their bodies.
