Over the weekend, there were reports of a Red-backed Kingfisher at Yarra Bend Park on the opposite bank of Dights Fall. I got the alert but did not read it carefully enough and so missed it on Sunday. On the morning of Monday. 2 September 2024, I decided to try my luck and sure enough it appear after about half an hour of waiting.

The Red-backed Kingfisher is an unusual species for Melbourne. It is usually found in arid regions of Australia. For some reason, this one came to Melbourne as a vagrant.

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

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

Top-right: Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S, Nikon Z TC-1.4X @ 1120mm 1/800s f/9 ISO1000

Right: Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S, Nikon Z TC-1.4X @ 1120mm 1/800s f/9 ISO1600