Golden bird of the Western Remnant

Posted on 31 May 2025 by E Y

Golden Whistler (Male) [Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/800s f/6.3 ISO500]

Golden Whistler (Male) [Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/800s f/6.3 ISO900]

Golden Whistler (Male) [Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/800s f/6.3 ISO1400]

Female Golden Whistlers are frequently spotted around Trin. From time to time, male Golden Whistlers do present itself.

On 19 May 2025, I was fortunate enough to have a male Golden Whistler follow me as I traversed the Western Remnant. I have been photographing these birds when I have the chance but I have that had a photograph of a male bird that I was happy with until that moment.

This particular bird seems very curious about me. At some point, he even stopped to take a good look at me before he continued to hunt for insects. From what I can see he was a prolific and effective hunter.

He was later joined by a female Golden Whistler but she did not seem as eager to pose for me as the male bird. That is interesting because often find that the female bird has a smaller circle of fear.

The male bird followed me as I walked the length of the path at the Western Remnant as back. Previously, I had a female Golden Whistler doing just that and this time it was the first time a male bird has done the same. Moments like this is well-worth cherishing. In the past, I had the Brown Thornbill, Eastern Yellow Robin and Scarlet Robin expressing curiosity about me. These moments had allowed me to take some very interesting pictures. I hope that I will have an opportunity to pique the interest of a male Rufous Whistler some time in the future. Yes, I have yet to take a decent picture of a male Rufous.

A visitor from Tasmania

Posted on 6 May 2025 by E Y

Striated Pardalote (Yellow-tipped) [*Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/500s f/6.3 ISO*180]

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.

Crimson Rosellas visit the Western Remnant

Posted on 29 April 2025 by E Y

Crimson Rosella [*Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/500s f/6.3 ISO*1250]

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.

A Brown Thornbill pose for a photograph

Posted on 30 March 2025 by E Y

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

Portrait of a Black-faced Cuckooshrike

Posted on 28 March 2025 by E Y

On 21 February 2025, I encountered 3 Black-faced Cuckooshrikes at the Western Remnant. I managed to take a photograph of what looked like a juvenile bird as it has downy looking feathers.

These birds usually perch in tall trees and are quite difficult to photograph at eye-level. As the path of the Western Remnant is elevated, I managed to photograph this particular bird at close to eye-level. The only issue is the featureless blue sky. I guess you can’t have everything.

Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/800s f/6.3 ISO100

Grey Fantail

Posted on 15 August 2024 by E Y

This photograph of a Grey Fantail was taken on 6 August 2024 at the Western Remnant of Royal Park. According to someone more knowledgeable than myself, this particular Fantail came all the way from Tasmania to make Victoria its winter home.

Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/500s f/6.3 ISO1400.

Brown Thornbill of Royal Park

Posted on 9 August 2024 by E Y

These photographs of a Brown Thornbill was taken at the Western Remnant of Royal Park on 2 August 2024. Brown Thornbills are insectivores and one of the smallest birds in Australia. They are fairly common but difficult to photograph as they are very energetic and will not remain in one place for very long.

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

Eastern Rosella observed at the Western Remnant

Posted on 7 August 2024 by E Y

This picture of the Eastern Rosella was one of three taken on 1 August 2024 at the Western Remnant. While you will not see these Rosellas every time you visit Royal Park, they do visit from time to time. They are one of the most colourful birds in Australia.

Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/500s f/6.3 ISO90.

Portrait of a Pied Currawong

Posted on 5 August 2024 by E Y

This portrait of a Pied Currawong was taken at the Western Remnant of Royal Park on 31 July 2024.

As I recall, that morning was very foggy. It started with a couple of Australian Magpies congregating at the Western Remnant. They were later joined by one then four of these Pied Currawong. I managed to get a clear shot of this particular Currawong.

Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/320s f/6.3 ISO2500.

New Holland Honeyeater

Posted on 29 June 2024 by E Y

The photograph is of a New Holland Honeyeater taken on 31 May 2024 at the Western Remnant of Royal Park.

This bird is one of the most common birds in Melbourne. They feed on insects and nectar. As the photograph depicts, the face of the bird has quite a bit of pollen which suggests that they act as pollinators as well.

Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/800s f/6.3 ISO1100

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