I spent another nice day at Nurragingy Reserve at Doonside photographing some of the resident birds. It was warm weather with the possibility of rain, and I was not sure how many birds would be out and about. I think the Kingfishers dominated the day.
I am always on the lookout for the beautiful Azure Kingfishers when I am at the Reserve, but the last few visits the Sacred Kingfishers have been the ones I have most photographed. When I arrived, I looked around to see if I could spot any Azure Kingfishers at locations I had seen them before – but had no luck. I could hear the call of a Sacred Kingfisher however, and soon spotted it.
On past visits, I had seen a pair of these birds. This time I could only see and hear one. Perhaps the second was sitting on eggs?
I then started walking through the Lorikeet Wetland area. Here I spotted a Grey Butcherbird –
As I was walking along to get to the perimeter fire road walk, I could hear a commotion going on. Noisy Miners and other birds were very unsettled. I thought a raptor may be around. I was right – I soon spotted a Pacific Baza.
It soon few off, but I was able to see where it went.
Later, I could see two Bazas – but they were hidden behind vegetation while I watched them.
The perimeter fire road was fairly quiet – I think due to the heat. I did spot another Sacred Kingfisher. It was a juvenile –
Back at the far side of the Lorikeet Wetland area, I could see a Dusky Moorhen with a chick.
Here are two turtles in the long pool –
And near the creek I spotted an Olive-backed Oriole that I could hear –
I was again looking for Azure Kingfishers, and I had a glimpse of one flying at high speed along the creek. I later spotted one perched on a rock in the pond near the Chinese Garden.
It soon flew off. Here is a Little Black Cormorant –
I then spotted an Azure Kingfisher at the small pond.
At one stage there were two of them – but I was not able to photograph them together.
Checking the other ponds, I spotted a turtle –
And there were some young Australian Wood Ducks –
The single Sacred Kingfisher was back at its perch –
I then walked along the long pool to begin a a second loop of the perimeter fire road. On the way I saw a few lizards –
And saw a black coloured bird on a nest. The nest looked a little small for the bird. I thought at the time that the bird was a Raven, but I was wrong – it is a White-winged Chough.
This time I spotted some of the usual small birds along the fire road. Here is a White-browed Scrubwren –
And an Eastern Yellow Robin –
And a Spotted Pardalote –
I also spotted a Goanna (Lace Monitor) –
Near the main ponds, I found some Bird’s Nest Fungi (Cyathus stercoreus) –
Back at the pond near the Chinese Garden, the Azure Kingfisher was back, but not for long –
And here is a Little Black Cormorant –
And hidden away, were some Dusky Moorhen chicks –
It then started raining, and I found some shelter in the Chinese Garden. A Dusky Moorhen was stoically sitting on a nest in the rain.
Later when it stopped raining, it got up and had swim. I could see that there were no eggs in the nest!
An Azure Kingfisher was also still out hunting –
This had been a very good visit.