Another photograph of the Black-chinned Honeyeater taken at the waterhole in Chiltern on 9 May 2024.
At that time of the year, the Ironbark are flowering. That attracted a lot of Honeyeaters to the area. These include Black-chinned Honeyeater, White-plumed Honeyeater, Fuscous Honeyeater, Yellow-tufted Honeyeater and a lot more. The area was also dry which explains why the waterhole is popular with the bird.
Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S, Nikon Z TC-1.4X @ 1120mm 1/1000s f/9 ISO1600
Another observation in Chiltern on 9 May 2024. It was the first time we have ever seen a White-bellied Cuckooshrike. This is not a bird we even thought existed and was a complete surprise when it appear at the waterhole.
Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S, Nikon Z TC-1.4X @ 1120mm 1/800s f/9 ISO1250
Another photograph from Chiltern on 8 May 2023. This time, it is the photograph of the White-napped Honeyeater. We have previously observed this bird in the Grampians and we have only seen it once at Royal Park Trin Warren Tam-Boore.
Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S, Nikon Z TC-1.4X @ 1120mm 1/800s f/9 ISO1250
This is an photograph from our recent trip to Chiltern on 8 May 2024. We have previously travelled to the outskirts of Melbourne to photograph this bird but after having walked 8km, the result was a sighting of one bird and a blurry picture. In Chiltern, they are virtually everywhere!
Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S, Nikon Z TC-1.4X @ 1120mm 1/800s f/9 ISO2800
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)
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)
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
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
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
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