Australian Magpie

Posted on 18 October 2024 by E Y

The Australian Magpie is one of the most common bird found in Australia. They have a unique song that reminds me a lot of the flute. It is always pleasurable to be woken up in the morning by the song of the Magpie.

I regard the Magpie as one of the more intelligent bird in Australia. It can come very close a humans especially when there is food to be had. However, they can read human beings very well and react quickly if they sense that the human they are dealing with has ill intentions. During the Australian spring they have been known to swoop at people, especially cyclist who ride at great speed, and other animals to protect they nest and young.

This particular Magpie was photograph at the oval at Royal Park Trin Warren Tam-boore on 30 September 2024. This particular Magpie has been tagged for a study.

Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/500s f/6.3 ISO1000

Buff-banded Rails of Trin Warren Tam-boore

Posted on 16 October 2024 by E Y

The Buff-banded Rails are fairly common in Melbourne parks and nature reserves that has a water feature. Royal Park Trin Warren Tam-boore is home to at least 3 such rails.

These Rails are cryptic and very secretive. One would have thought that they will be used to humans being in a park but they have an irrationally large circle of fear.

In the morning of 30 September 2024, I was fortunate enough to observe 3 of them. 2 were close to the car park at Trin while the third one was found calling near the drain.

These photographs would have benefited from the use of a 1.4X teleconverter but in order to seize the opportunity I was presented with, I have to go without. The result isn’t too bad but I would have loved to have captured more details.

Top Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/800s f/6.3 ISO900

Bottom: Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/800s f/6.3 ISO2500

White-browed Scrubwren reveals itself

Posted on 14 October 2024 by E Y

The White-browed Scrubwren is one of the most common birds in Australia. It inhabits most of the local parks and nature reserves. Royal Park Trin Warren Tam-boore is no exception. It is host to a number of family of this species of bird. I find the Scrubwrens to be one of the most difficult species to photograph. They are usually undercover and rarely be in a position where it lend itself to good isolation. On 30 September 2024, I was fortunate enough to have photograph this Scrubwren. I would count this photograph as my best one of this species.

Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/800s f/6.3 ISO1250

The happy Willie Wagtails of Trin Warren Tam-boore

Posted on 12 October 2024 by E Y

The Willie Wagtails seems to be in a singing mood today (26 September 2024) at Royal Park Trin Warren Tam-boore. We can hear them everywhere we go. They have such a beautiful song too. The 2 photographs are of different birds.

Left: Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/500s f/6.3 ISO720

Right: Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/800s f/6.3 ISO1250

Common Starlings still in non-breeding plumage

Posted on 10 October 2024 by E Y

On 18 September 2024, a large flock of Starling was perched on a tree in the Skink Habitat of Royal Trin Warren Tam-boore. I managed to isolate 2 birds and took this photograph while they were looking in the same direction. It appears that they are still in there winter (non-breeding) plumage. I suspect they will soon change their coat.

Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/800s f/6.3 ISO1000

Yet another Australian White Ibis

Posted on 8 October 2024 by E Y

Normally, we will see Australian White Ibises flying over Royal Park Trin Warren Tam-boore. On occasion, they do land on the oval next to Trin. This picture was taken on 18 September 2024. It was an overcast day which makes it ideal to photograph the White Ibis. White Ibises are high contrast subjects which takes it very difficult to photograph in bright sunlight.

Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/320s f/6.3 ISO800

Grey Fantails from the main land

Posted on 6 October 2024 by E Y

As the Tasmanian Fantails leave for Tasmania, the Grey Fantails that replaces them are from the main land. These Fantails can be seen Trin Warren Tam-boore in greater numbers now. These photographs of a Grey Fantail was taken on 18 September 2024 at the Western Remant.

Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/800s f/6.3 ISO2200

Superb Fairywren in breeding plumage

Posted on 4 October 2024 by E Y

As we approach the breeding season, the Superb Fairy at Royal Park Trin Warren Tam-boorie are in full breeding plumage. They are also seemed to show themselves more these days.

These photographs of a calling Fairywren was taken on 18 September 2024. They are one of my favourite photograph subjects. These are probably some of the best photographs I have of this species. I like the them because it depicts the bird in its environment with blurry front and background giving the photographs a dreaming look. I like to take more of this type of photographs.

Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/800s f/6.3 ISO450

Australian Ringneck at the Red Cliffs Lookout

Posted on 2 October 2024 by E Y

I have taken many photographs of the Australian Ringneck (Mallee subspecies) during this trip. However, many did not turn out well. This photograph was taken on the last day of the trip (7 September 2024) during sunset at Red Cliffs Lookout.

Red Cliffs Lookout is an excellent location for bird photography in the evening. There is a resident pair of Singing Honeyeaters. One can also expect to see Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters, White-browed Babblers, Red-rumped Parrots and Greater Bluebonnet.

If I had a few more days in this location, I reckon I can get decent photographs of these birds. It will have to be another trip.

Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/800s f/6.3 ISO140.

White-plumed Honeyeaters at the Red Cliffs Lookout

Posted on 30 September 2024 by E Y

White-plumed Honeyeaters are very common in city parks. However, they are also one of the hardest birds to photograph.

This pair of White-plumed Honeyeaters was taken at the Red Cliffs Lookout on the evening of 7 September 2024 (the last day of our trip) as the sun sets. Hence, the warm tones.

Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/800s f/6.3 ISO125.

The Yeo Family

What are they up to?