Back to Sterling's Crossing

Several weeks ago I dropped in at Toorbul hoping to find the Oriental Plover which had been sighted for a few weeks at the roost. Luck was not on my side. The only birds sighted on the flats or on the shore were Black-winged Stilts and a few Australian Wood Ducks. This was a beautiful spot though. I was surprised by the number of kangaroos that were throughout the town. There would have been over 100 kangaroos along the esplanade either on the ocean side or in people's yards. Most of them were very approachable as well.

A Black-winged Stilt

Over the last few months I have noticed more Sulphur-crested Cockatoos in the area than usual and they are in bigger flocks as well. Sulphur-crested Cockatoos are common throughout the area but are often seen in pairs and small flocks of less than 10. There are a couple of flocks of them in the area that have 30 to 50 individuals in them at present.

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

Another Sulphur-crested Cockatoo from the flock

This Sulphur-crested Cockatoo was keeping watch while the others were feeding

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

Several weeks ago I went with a friend to Sterling's Crossing again. I use to love going here due to the variety and quantity of bird life. On this occasion it was extremely cold even though there wasn't a cloud in the sky but most noticeable was how the area had changed over the last year. Non-native weeds have spread significantly throughout the area. Brazilian Nightshade and Lantana was everywhere. I know birds can live in Lantana, but it smoothers the native vegetation and limits variety within the ecosystem. The numbers of birds was down drastically and so was the variety of species that was seen. No pigeons of any type were heard, only one pitta called a few times. The only species that seemed to be in better numbers than normal were the Bellbirds. They seemed to be causing other problems though. A huge amount of gum trees in the area were dead. This is often the result of too many Bellbirds in an area.

Good numbers of Little Lorikeets were seen in the tree tops. They are difficult to photograph due to their small size and their position in the massive gums.

Little Lorikeet

Large-billed Scrubwrens were in good numbers also in the more tropical sections at Sterling's Crossing. These very active birds provided a challenge to photograph.

Large-billed Scrubwren

Grey Fantails were common in the open woodland as well.

Grey Fantail

After a few hours the New Holland Honeyeaters came out into view. They were very active but most were higher in the trees. Last time they seemed more relaxed. This time they were chasing other birds away from the areas where they were feeding, including other New Holland Honeyeaters. As these birds can nest any time of year it is more difficult to determine if this behaviour was due to nesting but it is very likely.

New Holland Honeyeater

Another New Holland Honeyeater

The same New Holland Honeyeater from above

The Eastern Spinebill below was one of two that were seen while we were at Sterling's Crossing. A terrible photo though as I didn't get time to adjust the settings before it was gone.

Eastern Spinebill

We decided to walk down the dry creek bed to see what other birds could be seen sunning themselves. Few other birds could be seen. Just as we were about to turn back a bird with a different call caught my attention. We soon realised it was a Rose Robin! This is the first time that I have seen these birds before so I was really excited. We could actually hear about eight or more calling to each other. I was surprised by the difference in call to many other robins but most of all was the size difference. I assumed most robins were about the same size. The Rose Robins are significantly smaller than most robins I have seen and they are in fact the smallest of all the Australian robins. They are curious about people like most robins are but they do not come as close. They are definitely more cautious and prefer to stay hidden amongst the thicker foliage. We spent a few hours attempting to obtain a photo of them but these were the best I could get.

Rose Robin

The same Rose Robin from above

Another Rose Robin

A male Rose Robin

Even though this area has changed significantly over the last 12 months (for the worse) I will be back to see if the numbers of birds and the species of birds increases again. Hopefully more factors effected the birds that were seen other than the changes in the environment.


More updates and pics coming soon.

 

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Australian Birds Photography: KEUNEA PHOTOGRAPHY 

Birding around Imbil and Stirlings Crossing

Yesterday I went out to Imbil for a quick trip with my mate. We saw many birds while we were out there. It was a beautiful morning but within a few hours the light started to deteriorate due to the clouds coming in but that was ok as we couldn't stay for long anyway. I was surprised by the number of birds that we saw. Some of them I haven't seen often and/or I don't have decent photos of them. We saw a few Eastern Spinebills, New Holland Honeyeaters, Brown Honeyeaters, heaps of Grey Fantails and all the common garden type birds. I was very surprised to hear about six Noisy Pittas calling out in the area. We also heard many lorikeets, the most common of which were the Little Lorikeets. We managed to get a few photos for the morning but I wasn't happy with the quality at all. Most of the birds either didn't sit still once we sighted them or they were too high in the trees to be able to obtain a decent photograph.

Eastern Spinebill

New Holland Honeyeater

Grey Fantail

As I was turning off into my driveway I heard the resident Striated Pardalote that nests in the bank of the drain. Regularly he can be seen and heard calling out in the gum tree just above his burrow.

Striated Pardalote

The Striated Pardalote again

Coming down the drive I noticed this Whistling Kite circling the track. Even though they are common in the area I don't often see them on the property.

Whistling Kite

I decided to go back to have a look in the general area around Imbil last night for some night birds. I thought that due to it having many similarities to the Kenilworth area I might be lucky enough to spot a Marbled Frogmouth or a Masked Owl. That didn't eventuate but I did spot several Barn Owls and a few Tawny Frogmouths.

Barn Owl

The Barn Owl preening

The Barn Owl trying to ignore me

Tawny Frogmouth



Close up of a Tawny Frogmouth

 

 

 

More updates and pics coming soon.

 

If you're interested in my blog check out my site below by clicking on the link.

Australian Birds KEUNEA PHOTOGRAPHY

Several Photographic Firsts for Me

Over the last few weeks I have been going with a friend to do most of my bird watching. We have done a few trips at night to look for owls and we have had a few trips during the day to get decent photos of a few scrub birds that we have been chasing.

About 2 weeks ago I noticed the Varied Sittellas had returned to my property. I have never seen them here at this time of year before. Usually they are present here just before the wet season starts and usually only stay for a few weeks. There must have been 30 or more. I rang my friend who has never seen them to come over. We both got some good photos of them, considering their size and location in the trees.

Varied Sittella

Another Varied Sittella

The Varied Sittellas are usually found in this type of tree

After photographing the Sittellas for a while we went for a quick walk around the property. We didn't get far and it started raining. Before we left to go back to the house I got this quick photo of a Brown Honeyeater.

Brown Honeyeater

We decided to go for a drive towards Pomona. As we were driving into town this Pied Butcherbird was seen on the power lines. A terrible photo but the best I could get in the late and overcast conditions in a hurry. It's funny, I see certain birds like this and don't bother taking a photo generally as they are so common. I'm going to start taking photos of these common birds too.

Pied Butcherbird

We headed towards some of the creeks and tributaries that feed into Six Mile Creek just out of Pomona as we knew there were Brown Thornbills and other small scrub birds. We both wanted to get a good photo of the Brown Thornbill. The sun came back out, but it was getting quite late to get good photos. Before we saw the Brown Thornbills we saw some Brown Gerygones. I was pleased with this sighting as it was only the second time I had seen them and the first time I had photographed them. They came quite close and we got a few good snaps. The Brown Thornbills came out in large numbers but it was too dark to get any decent shots.

Brown Gerygone

Another Brown Gerygone

The same Brown Gerygone from above

Another photo of the same Brown Gerygone

A few nights later I went back out around my property to have a look around for the Masked Owl I had heard a week or so prior with my friend. I didn't find the Masked Owl but I did hear it clearly again, and it was quite close. I did find a Barn Owl just near the shed and a few other birds like Purple Swamphens, King Quail, Plumed Whistling-Ducks, Laughing Kookaburras and Pacific Black Ducks.

Barn Owl

Laughing Kookaburras roosting at the top of a big gum tree

Unfortunately the Collared Sparrowhawk has been harassing my aviary birds again. As soon as you go outside he takes flight and stays at least 60 meters away at all times. This photo is poor quality but good enough to identify it.

Collared Sparrowhawk

Last weekend another friend and I went out to look around Kandanga. We didn't actually go out looking for birds but we did see and hear heaps of birds. Just as we were about to leave I noticed the camera in the back of the car and a few seconds later a Fan-tailed Cuckoo called out in the tree above us. Within minutes we could hear and see about 6 of them moving around in the trees. I have seen them before but this is the first time I have photographed them also.

Fan-tailed Cuckoo

Last weekend my friend and I went back to the same spot to get a good shot of the Brown Thornbills. We saw a few Brown Gerygones again but the Brown Thornbills were in fairly large numbers. We left it a bit late again so the lighting wasn't as good as we had hoped.

Brown Gerygone

Brown Thornbill

A pair of Brown Thornbills displaying

This weekend I went back to the creeks and tributaries that feed into Six Mile Creek to get some good shots of the Brown Thornbills. This time it was mid morning so I had plenty of good light available. I saw a few Brown Gerygones again but the Brown Thornbills are very aggressive towards them, and as soon as they came out from the foliage they were chased off by the Brown Thornbills.

Brown Thornbill

The same Brown Thornbill

Another Brown Thornbill

The same Brown Thornbill from above

Brown Thornbill

While I was watching the scrub birds all around me, a Willie Wagtail came in and landed close by. It was enjoying the warm sun. It must have felt unthreatened by me and within a minute it decided to sun itself for a few minutes before taking flight to catch more of the plentiful insects that were flying around.

Willie Wagtail

Willie Wagtail sunning itself

The next visitors to make their way to me were several Fan-tailed Cuckoos. They were taking advantage of all the caterpillars in the trees. As soon as I moved to get a closer shot they flew deeper into the scrub, but before they flew off I managed to get a few decent shots.

Fan-tailed Cuckoo having a caterpillar for breakfast

Another Fan-tailed Cuckoo with the same type of caterpillar

Fan-tailed Cuckoo roosting in the tree

Fan-tailed Cuckoo

Another Fan-tailed Cuckoo roosting in the tree

Willie Wagtail looking for insects

After a while the Brown Thornbills seemed to move away from the area where I was sitting. As a result the Brown Gerygones moved into the area. They too were feeding on the bounty of caterpillars in the trees.

Brown Gerygone feeding on a caterpillar

The Brown Gerygone after eating his meal

Brown Gerygone

Another Brown Gerygone

When I got back home I had a quick look around before I had to leave again. Heaps of birds were out today. There were dozens of Grey Fantails and Eastern Yellow Robins, many Striated Pardalotes, White-browed Scrub-wrens, Red-browed Finches and many others.

Grey Fantail

Red-browed Finch

Eastern Yellow Robin

Eastern Yellow Robin looking for insects

Eastern Yellow Robin

Another Eastern Yellow Robin

A few friends and I have made a few trips in the last few weeks to a private property just outside of Pomona. On the first night we didn't see much and just before we were about to leave a small bird flew close to our head. We heard it call not long later and it was a Owlet Nightjar. Within minutes we heard about 4 calling out. We only saw one in the torch beam but before we could get a photo it had flown off. That night we did hear a Masked Owl calling out too, but it was a long way off.

The following trip we heard numerous Owlet Nightjars. They stretched the entire property. At one time we could hear 6 calling out. It may have been the same birds following us along the whole property or they may have been much more numerous. We saw them dart out just above our heads several times but were unable to get a photo. Finally we heard one calling, then it flew and we heard it land in a tree nearby. We were lucky enough to be able to get a few very quick photos before it flew off again. They are very difficult to photograph at night as they don't like the torch shining on them at all and they seem to be able to throw their voice quite a distance which makes them hard to pinpoint.

Once we finally got a photo we were very excited as it is the first time we've seen them, other than flying and it is the first time I have photographed them. Just as exciting was the fact we heard the Masked Owl again, a little closer than last time and we heard the very distinctive Powerful Owl calling out. I couldn't believe my ears. My friend was sure to. It sounded like it was a long way from us though, which is highly possible as their call can be heard from over 1km away. We heard it call several more times over the next hour or so, each time getting closer to our position. We will definitely be back to see if we can get some better photos of the Owlet Nightjar and to hopefully locate and photograph the Powerful Owl and Masked Owl. Unfortunately the scrub on this property is very dense and hard to move through and we don't have access to it on a regular basis. Hopefully my friends can organise for me to get to the property again in the near future.

Owlet Nightjar

Owlet Nightjar again

 

 

More updates and pics coming soon.

If you're interested in my blog check out my site below by clicking on the link.

Australian Birds KEUNEA PHOTOGRAPHY