I spent a nice day devoted to bird photography. I started at the Landing Lights Wetland at Barton Park, then later went to Tempe and walked home via the Cooks River.
Barton Park
The Landing Lights Wetland was fairly quiet. The lighting was dull and there was a breeze which rippled the water – less than ideal for photography of the water birds.
Pied Stilt
White-faced Heron
The top area was also fairly quiet. There were plenty of Ibis –
New Holland Honeyeater
Red-browed Finch
Going down to the end of the Spring Street Canal I spotted the Osprey.
It was flying around hunting for fish.
Unfortunately it flew away and didn’t dive. I later saw it flying with a nice fish from a long way off.
Superb Fairy-wren
Cooks River
I then had lunch and caught a bus to Tempe. I started walking through Gough Whitlam Park. Here are a pair of Rainbow Lorikeets foraging on the grass.
At the outlet of the Billabong, I spotted a Striated Heron. It was concentrating on catching fish.
It decided to move to a higher vantage point.
Then a big yawn!
Next, it decided to move even higher.
Just then a Sacred Kingfisher flashed past. It was followed by second one. They perched in a nearby tree, so I walked closer. I was only able to get a poor photo of one, before they flew back downstream.
I left the Striated Heron and walked downstream to see if I could locate the Kingfishers. No luck.
Willie Wagtail
Walking back, the Striated Heron was still in the same place, so I watched it again, hoping it would dive for fish.
In total, I watched the heron for about 40 minutes and during this time, it didn’t dive for a fish. I decided to continue upstream.
White-faced Heron
I could not spot the local pair of Tawny Frogmouths.
Magpie Lark
I continued upstream to where the Striated Heron nest site was. Would the juveniles still be around? I soon spotted one.
This one was hunting on the mudflats.
Abot 50 m upstream, I spotted the second juvenile.
Back to the first one –
The second one then flew downstream to where the first one was.
Its good to see these Herons can now fly. The first one flew short way downstream.
And the juveniles have the stretchy neck of the adults –
The bird suddenly ducked down. An Ibis flew past.
Its good to see these two birds doing well.