Striated Pardalote (Yellow-tipped) [Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/500s f/6.3 ISO180]
On 3 May 2025, a Striated Pardalote with a yellow dot on its wings was spotted in the Western Remnant. Victorian Striated Pardalotes (sub-species Ornatus and Substriatus) usually have red spots on their wings. This particular sub-species is call Striatus. It breeds in Tasmania but migrates to Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland in Winter.
I have known this sub-species of Striated Pardalote do visit Trin, however, this is the first time that I have actually spotted one. I would have preferred that it posed for me longer but I am relatively happy with this photograph as it depicts why it is a Striatus and I managed to capture quite a bit of detail. Besides, the sun was getting high in the sky making the light rather harsh.
Silvereye [Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/500s f/6.3 ISO6400]
On 1 May 2025, I observed a flock of Silvereyes at Trin Warren Tam-boore. It is good to see that the Silvereye population is increasing again.
I managed to take this photograph of a Silvereye as it contemplated consuming the berries from a shrub. It did ended up consuming quite a bit of berries.
I was fairly close to the Silvereye which helped render the background into a pleasant blur. I have not had much success with photography in this particular spot in the past but I am glad it worked out this time.
Crimson Rosella [Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/500s f/6.3 ISO1250]
28 April 2025 was a partly cloudy day and the morning was a bit crisp as autumn is slowly but surely setting in.
We were wandering at the Western Remnant of Royal Park when a couple of Crimson Rosellas made their presences known. I followed the Rosellas with my camera and managed to take this beautiful shot of one of the birds as it perched on a tree branch overhanging the railway cutting.
With the railway cutting rendered as a pastel peachy grey by the lens, the bright colour of the Rosella stood out complimented by the green leaves. This is possibly the best photograph of a Crimson Rosella that I have taken so far.
The sub-species Albiscapa of the Grey Fantail arrived at Trin late March – early April. This particularly sub-species spend their summer in Tasmania and their winters in the mainland.
The way to identity the sub-species is to wait until it fans its tail. In this sub-species, there is very little white on the tips of the tail feathers.
Grey Fantails are not the easiest birds to photograph, as they are frequently on the move and never stay still for very long. On 10 April 2025, one particular bird was kind enough to pose for me. Furthermore, it was at a location on a dead tree with background that is sufficient far away. This created a photographic opportunity that allow me to isolate the subject.
Although there were two Grey Fantail at the same location, these photographs are of the same bird. The other Fantail was more reserved and did not pose for photographs.
While I wished that more birds would pose for me, I understand that finding birds out in the open without protection of trees and shrubs is not in the nature of these animals. So, to me, this is a very special occasion. The bird allowed me to approach within 6 to 8 metres of it. As such, the photographs contained very imitate details.
First: Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/500s f/6.3 ISO1400
Second: Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/500s f/6.3 ISO1600
Third: Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/500s f/6.3 ISO2200
Fourth: Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/500s f/6.3 ISO2000
On 8 April 2024, as I approach the bird hide from the Skink Habitat, I spotted a large white bird in the pond. I had originally thought that it might be a Great Egret. On reaching the bird hide, it was obviously a Yellow-billed Spoonbill. What a surprise! This is the first time I have observed a Yellow-billed Spoonbill at this location.
While at the bird hide, I managed to take a few photographs. It then flew into Trin. When I followed it, I was pleasantly surprised to see another Royal Spoonbill. Whilst I have previously seen a Royal Spoonbill at Trin, it is still very rare. To have two species of Spoonbills in Trin at the same time must be very special indeed.
First: Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/800s f/6.3 ISO220
Second: Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/800s f/6.3 ISO400
On 19 March 2025, I was observing 2 Grey Fantails and a Brown Thornbill doing their thing at the Western Remnant of Royal Park. The Thornbill grabbed hold of a thin branch of a shrub right in front of me. I managed to capture this rather pleasing portrait of the Brown Thornbill.
Brown Thornbills are one of the smallest birds in Australia. Like many small birds, they never stay still at one place for very long. As a result, they are very difficult to photograph. All things considered, I am rather happy that this particular Thornbill stayed in the pose long enough for me to take this image.
Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/500s f/6.3 ISO500
On 14 March 2025, a female Scarlet Robin was spotted at the Skink Habitat at Trin Warren Tam-boore, Royal Park.
From the side of my eye, there was a splash of orange-red colour. I originally thought that it may be a Mistletoebird but on closer look, it appeared to be a Robin. The colouration of the breast suggested that it was a female Scarlet Robin. I tracked her around the Skink Habitat and she eventually settled down and allowed me to take this photograph.
I often find Scarlet Robins easier to photograph than Flame Robins. They have a curious nature and has a smaller circle of fear. This is also the first time that I have observed a Scarlet Robin so close to Trin.
I am hoping that the sighting of this bird marks the beginning of the winter migration of the Robins to Melbourne.
Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/800s f/6.3 ISO1000
These photographs were taken at the oval next to Royal Park Trin Warren Tam-boore on 14 December 2024.
It was a reasonably cloudy morning but the harsh sun shone through the cloud, creating a less than soft light on the Galahs. Still diffused but slightly harsh.
I was lucky enough to be able to get a photograph of a Galah with its crest up. This does happen often.
First: Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/800s f/6.3 ISO90
Second: Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/800s f/6.3 ISO140
After a few weeks of absence, it looked like the Galahs are back at Royal Park Trin Warren Tam-boore. These photographs were taken on 11 December 2024.
The first image was taken at the oval next to Trin while the second was taken at the Skink Habitat.
While a common bird, they are quite pretty and add colour to the city park on a dull summer day. Their calls are not as rough as the Sulfur-crested Cockatoo but I wouldn’t described them as particularly musical. The way to identify the sex of the Galah is the colour of their eyes. The males have dark brown eyes while the females have pink eyes.
First: Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/800s f/6.3 ISO220
Second: Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/640s f/6.3 ISO140
