I spent an hour or so in the afternoon along the Hawthorne Canal photographing some of the resident birds. I was on the lookout for the Sacred Kingfisher and the Brown Goshawk. The Goshawk was probably in a nearby tree, judging by all the other birds flying over and trying to dislodge something from the tree. I was poised ready with my camera in case it shot out, but it must have headed off in the opposite direction, away from me, as the cacophony of alarm calls headed that way.
The Sacred Kingfisher was easier. I spotted it as soon as I arrived at the footbridge near Hawthorne Light Rail Station. It was perched in a Casuarina watching the water.
It soon dived and headed downstream.
It flew under the bridge.
When I located it, it was perched and had caught a nice crab. A Noisy Miner was watching with interest.
The Noisy Miner flew off and the Kingfisher started to prepare the crab for swallowing.
The Kingfisher then moved to a higher perch.
Another flight downstream.
It settled on a branch and then more watching.
I saw it dive down all of a sudden and it flew to the stonework on the side of the canal and grabbed some prey. It then flew upstream.
Its hard in these small photos to see what it has caught. It has a crab, and the crab has a leaf in one of its claws.
It flew upstream with the crab out of sight, and I did not spot it again during my visit.
While walking upstream on the lookout for birds, I spotted a Striated Heron perched in a Casuarina about a metre above the water.
It then moved almost out of sight and started preening.
My last bird was this colourful Rainbow Lorikeet –
