I spent a pleasant day at Nurragingy Reserve wandering around seeing what birds were present. When I go there, I usually look out for the Azure Kingfishers, and it’s been a while since I have spotted any. This visit I did at least see one (or more) of them – albeit only brief glimpses. But I did manage to get a few photos at least.
But it was a Sacred Kingfisher that I spotted first after being alerted to its presence by its call.
Checking out the ornamental ponds, I spotted this Australian Darter –
And there was a Little Pied Cormorant, also drying its wings.
There was only a single Australasian Grebe –
I had looked at the usual places for Azure Kingfishers – the long skinny pool and along Eastern Creek without spotting any. Walking past the model train area, I was walking back to the long skinny pool when I spotted an Azure Kingfisher in one of the small ponds.
I tried to get a closer view, but by the time I was closer, the bird had flown away, and I had no idea which way it had gone.
So, back to the long skinny pond.
White-faced Heron
Little Pied Cormorant
Then I spotted an Azure Kingfisher in another of the small ponds. This one near the Lorikeet Picnic Area.
I was hoping to get a better view from the other side of the pond. On the way, I saw this Great Egret –
When i got to the far side of the pond, the Azure Kingfisher was still in roughly the same spot, which was still quite distant. And it didn’t stay long.
Whether this was a second Azure Kingfisher or the same one I had seen earlier I am not sure.
I then set out along the perimeter fire road. Along the creek, I spotted a pair of Crested Shrike-tits –
I some same small birds, but they were hard to photograph – being up high and quite distant. Here is a Red-browed Finch –
Back at the long skinny pool, I had a much better view of an Azure Kingfisher –
It then flew to a perch in the open area.
I got a few shots before it flew off into the scrub in the middle.
Meanwhile, a Sacred Kingfisher was still around at the other end of that pond.
I stayed in tuatara for a while, and spotted this Satin Bowerbird –
And a few more shots of the Azure Kingfisher.
I missed it’s dive, but I did get some photos of it leaving the water with small fish.
Then a Turtle climbed out onto the log for a rest or a bask in the sun.
More shots of the Sacred Kingfisher –
in the main duck pond, a Turtle was having chat with a Little Pied Cormorant –
I was going to get some photos of the Darter catching fish, but it had finished, and was again drying its wings –
And the Grebe was still around –
Another Little Pied Cormorant was in the pond –
And then a Square-tailed Kite flew past – high overhead.
No more Azure Kingfishers. I waited quietly at the long skinny pool again – but only spotted a Sacred Kingfisher and an Eastern Rosella –
It had been a reasonable day. I was hoping to spot some more small birds, but was quite happy to see at least one Azure Kingfisher.