Monthly Archives: June 2024

The critically endangered Swift Parrots

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Swift Parrot
Swift Parrot

It is reported that there are only about 500 Swift Parrots in the wild. In our last trip to Chiltern on 9 May 2024, there were about 20 to 30 of them at the watering hole we visited. Seeing so many parrots in one spot gives one a false impression that these parrots are common. I have been told that the 500 figure is very credible.

These parrots breeds in Tasmania and migrate to the mainland in Winter. The lost of habitant and predation by introduced species have contributed to their decline. Hopefully, these magnificent creatures can recover from this predicament.

Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S, Nikon Z TC-1.4X @ 1120mm 1/800s f/9 ISO4000 (left) ISO1800 (right)

Black Swans at Royal Park

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Black Swan

Black Swan

A pair of Black Swans appeared at Royal Park (Oak Street Wetland) on 31 May 2024 for two days. They then disappeared and appeared again in the next few days. It is not clear if they will stay. They appear to be used to people. I suspect that they must have came from a park where they have been given food.

Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ f/6.3 1/800s ISO320 (left) ISO360 (right)

Turquoise Parrot at a waterhole

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Turquoise Parrot

Another photograph taken at Chiltern on 9 May 2024. This is one of many Turquoise Parrot taking a sip at a waterhole. This one, in particular, had a brilliant turquoise face which attracted me to take this photograph.

Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S, Nikon Z TC-1.4X @ 1120mm 1/400s f/9 ISO2200

Grasshopper on Kangaroo Paw

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Common Bandwing Grasshopper on Kangaroo Paw

Soon after planting our Kangaroo Paw in our backyard, we discovered this Common Bandwing on 8 May 2023. It stayed for a couple of days and disappeared. It looked like it took a bite of the Kangaroo Paw but didn’t like it very much.

Nikon D850, AF Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4D IF-ED, Nikon SU-800 + 3 x Nikon SB-R200 (R1C1), Wimberley F-2 Macro Bracket, Crafty Bells bonnet diffuser @ 1/250s f/18 ISO400

Little Eagle soaring over Royal Park

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Little Eagle

I was very fortunate to have witnessed two Little Eagles (light morphs) soaring over the Skink Habitant at Royal Park Trin Warren Tam-Boore on 31 May 2024. One of them came very close and banked right, thereby, catching the sunlight and provided me with an opportunity to capture the photograph above.

Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/5000s ISO1600

Fuscous Honeyeater

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Fuscous Honeyeater

This is another picture taken on 9 May 2024 on our trip to Chiltern at a waterhole. The Fuscous Honeyeaters are one of the many species of birds that use the waterhole for hydration. This photograph depicts what appears to be an adult and its young.

Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S, Nikon Z TC-1.4X @ 1120mm 1/400s f/9 ISO1250

Black-chinned Honeyeater

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Black-chinned Honeyeater

This photograph of a Black-chinned Honeyeater was taken on our recent trip to Chiltern on 9 May 2024. It was taken at a waterhole where bird can be observed coming for a drink throughout the day. A this time of the year, the Ironbark was blooming and the most abundant birds are native honeyeaters. These bird can virtually be found everywhere!

Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S, Nikon Z TC-1.4X @ 1120mm 1/800s f/9 ISO2500

Superb Fairywren

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Superb Fairywren (Male)

This photograph of a male Superb Fairywren was taken on 18 Dec 2024 at Royal Park Trin Warren Tam-Boore. I like this shot because it features the bird in the foreground but more importantly, the habitat is portrayed in layers. Some will argue that the blade of grass in the foreground is distracting but I think it adds to the authenticity of image as it depicts the bird in its natural surroundings.

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