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Chestnut Teal (Anas castanea) at Surf beach, Batemans Bay, New South Wales in July 2010

Seagulls off Coogee Beach in Sydney in May 2010

Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus) in Sydney in May 2010

A male red-rumped parrot (Psephotus haematonotus) in Canberra in May 2010

A swan at Point Hut Pond in southern Canberra in June 2010

A Pacific Black duck at Point Hut Pond in southern Canberra in June 2010

That look appears on my face every time I see images from a REAL photographer.

We might have to look at a spring time meeting. I find the birds - you take the photos.

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Here to learn
Here to enjoy

What a great idea Kevin, let's do it. I am out of the country in August but will be back in early September

Kevin, are you able to identify this one I saw in Bruce, Canberra 2 weeks ago. I think it is an Eastern Rosella but it looks different to the ones in my bird guides

I agree with all of you that it is an Eastern Rosella, probably a female.

Tell tale signs are the red head with white face patches and the distinctive red above and below the breast. What is a little different from normal is that: the demarkation from those red areas is not as clear as usual; the yellow is not as pure as normal and there is no shading into green as it goes down. A slight morph, perhaps?

I wonder if the colouring is because of the apparent strong afternoon light? Regardless of that it is the one found on the soup cans

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Thanks, such a beautiful bird. Pity I had the wrong lens with me at the time as I had an unobstructed view of it and the light was perfect!

Yes it was the no shading into green that threw me. I took about 30 shots from different angles and there was definitely no green

I am currently working on the Kingfisher section of my bird collection so thought I might feature one here.

The only Kingfisher in my local area is the Sacred Kingfisher so here is a photo and one of the six stamps featuring this bird.



The photo is from the Australian Bird Image Database and the stamp courtesy of BACK O'BOURKE.

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Hello to all ,

In 2008 I took a trip around Australia , which we are going to do again very shortly and in our travels I shoot to eat and also with the camera which I do enjoy, taking pic`s of the wild life as we go , even the ones we cant eat .
So I will post a few here as I get time, hope you enjoy them.
First of the rank is a Jabaru or I think it`s correct name is a Black necked Stork.



Regards
C . P .

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Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

Here is the same bird, different shot and I`m not sure what bird is taking off behind it .



Also in the same area , Yellow waters national park, is I think a Cerlew , I think there's two types and this may be the Knocked kneed as its in water ???



I`m not a bird expert

Regards

C . P .

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Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

compoundperf wrote:

Here is the same bird, different shot and I`m not sure what bird is taking off behind it .



Also in the same area , Yellow waters national park, is I think a Cerlew , I think there's two types and this may be the Knocked kneed as its in water ???



I`m not a bird expert

Regards

C . P .

Sounds like a good idea to me C . P .

You take as many shots as you like - we will all enjoy them and will also do our best to identify them.

You are right about the Jabiru - it is a name I often use when writing about birds or setting up bird projects. Their southernmost breeding site is near South West Rocks and it was in that area that I developed my strong interest in birds. You are also correct with the proper name, it is Black-necked Stork, but it will always be Jabiru to me.

There are a variety of egrets and ibis in those pictures but the one in flight is almost certainly the Great Egret, distinguishable by its size and yellow bill.

As for the other bird ... it may be a bush curlew or perhaps a night heron. I will get back to you.

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As you indicated C . P . the bird near the water is (or was) a Bush Thick-knee. I have never seen one but that is because I have not looked hard enough as they are endemic to most of Australia.

They were officially called the Bush Stone Curlew, that was changed to Bush Thick-knee and once again it has changed - they are now the Bush Stone-curlew.

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Here is the type 2 Curlew,

This was taken in the Cairn`s Cvp , They where quite prevalent in most of Australia, but due to there defence mechanism { Standing motionless and becoming INVISIBLE } , I believe there numbers are dwindling rapidly as the feral CAT an`t that stupid .
If you have never heard the commotion these can make at night, Well the first time I did you would have thought some one was being Murdered



Regards

C . P .

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Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

Yes that one is the Beach Thick-knee. Not as widespread through Australia as the Bush Thick-knee but is found in a lot of the countries to the north. It is the same height and length as the other but is much heavier and the colouring is quite distinctive.

When I lived in the central west of NSW the night time call of the Curlew could not be mistaken (or forgotten).

After I made my previous post I realised that the library book I have featuring the peregrine falcon has many other birds. It is one of a set of 7 volumes and, lo and behold, it includes a total of 12 pages on those two thick-knees. You have to be keen.

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Hi Kevin,

Yes once you here them you never forget it .
This one is a Sea Eagle, {I think } shot at Shady Camp N . T.



Same spot and some Kites ?



They seem to enjoy the barra heads

Regards

C . P .

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Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

Another Sea Eagle ,

this one I shot , I think around Wyndham or the lower Ord river .



Regards

C . P.

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Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

Now the next one , I will have to tell a bit of a Story.
This bird was shot about 100-150 klm`s east of Telfer on a four day Adventure to the "Rudall River National Park" in the Great Sandy Desert.
After setting out from Port Headland to Marble Bar where a stop over at THE IRON CLAD HOTEL , is a must .
Purely to re-hydrate's one self and the diesel.
Then it was out on the woodie woodie road to camp at Carawine gorge on the Oak Over river , where I nearly cleaned up four of these strange look`n birds , sort of like a emu but smaller , camera safe in the back of cause.
Next day set off up to Telfer mine where you have enter to get on the Rudall river road.
Now heading out the Desert Queen Baths and a quick stop at Christmas pool and a quick beer at an exploration camp we finally arrive at our destination.
Just before arriving at the D.Q.B`S, I saw another one of these strange birds
These are some shot`s start to finish .
Hope it is not to long or boring .







The old fella is still there .

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Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

Carawine at sun rise,




QUICK WASH .



LOCALS.

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Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

PLAQUE AT XMAS POOL



POOL


CAMP AT D,Q. B`S




And finally the bird , or a BUSTARD , Bush turkey I call them , I seen lots but never seem to have the camera .

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Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

Hope you did not mind the story , these last two are the shots of the bath pools .

The second pool is sup-post to be in habited with serpent`s , but just BIG BLACK HEAD PHYTON`S, true .

Lower pool.



Upper pool.



Hope you enjoyed the trip ....

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Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

David, you are right to query whether this thread is the best place for your travelogue.

Might I suggest that there will be enough members interested if you start a new thread here in the Water Cooler and call it My Australian Travel Photos or something similar.

That way this thread can be kept for birds even though you might want to post some images in both threads.

I have seen the Bustards standing motionless on the plains. I am not sure the camofluage works though as they are so big. Have you seen them walk? It is much the same as the curlews with each step very deliberate.

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High Kevin,
Yes , Sorry about that, I might do piece on the trip, as I have some good pics.
Any way back to the birds, I meant the Curlew stood still as I have never seen a Bush Turkey stand still very long , they can fly well and run "VERY FAST" especially if a car load of Black-Fella`s happen to stop .
The amount of camp fires I see with lot`s of there feathers around doesn`t please me

This picture is what I call a Mud Lark, but the poor fella had deformed wings and didn`t fly to well .





Regards

C . P .

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Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

Now Kevin these next ones I have know idea what they are, Cairns area.









Let me know what you think they are
Regards

C . P .

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Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

I have never seen a bird with such a significant deformity. It is officially a Magpie-lark but much of Australia calls it a Mud Lark and I have always called it a Pee Wee. Same bird and we have a pair who inhabit this area and have just started sitting on eggs.

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I don't know about the first photo but the next two are male Figbirds and I suspect the last one is a female Figbird.

If you saw a male further south it would have a dull front but all those to the north and further west have the typical yellow front shown in your photos.

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Indeed, a female Figbird. Could be confused with a female Oriole, but the latter lacks the eyepatch.

Were you looking for captions like "I've been robbed?"

I believe it's an immature night heron rather than a beach thick-knee, which looks like that:



The posture of the night-heron is quite typical, motionless stalking prey on the water's edge.

Definitely not a Beach Thick-knee but how about a Bush Thick-knee

My first reaction was a night heron (as mentioned in my first post) but after looking at numerous photos and books I concluded differently. I am open to persuasion though as I am an enthusiast, not an expert.

I still have the library book with the bush knees, but not the night herons, and will post a scan later in the day.

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Ah or should that be arrrgggghhh - the joys of bird watching.

These images of Bush Thick-knees have helped me to the conclusion that C . P . 's photo is not one of them. Add the posture (thick knee normally very upright and night herons almost horizontal), the eye stripe (dark for the thick knee, light on the bird shown), the legs (yellow in the picture and brown for a thick knee) and the habitat (water, not bush or plain) and I am convinced of what it is not.



The trouble is I have yet to find a picture of a juvenile or immature night heron which is quite like that. I have no experience in the field with thick knees but I have been confused more than once after Nankeen Night Herons have fledged.

If I was formally bird-watching I guess I would place it in the probable category but not as a definite.

Might I add that the more people here to confirm or dispute identifications the better so keep the photos and comments coming in. It is Jeremy's thread but I am sure he would agree with that.

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There are quite of few photos of immature Nankeen night-herons on the web for comparison. One example is:



or this adult in a comparable posture:

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If it erupts, don't blame me!!

That's a really good one, he is even posing for the camera rather than going for the hand feeding!

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'The world is indeed comic, but the joke is on mankind.' -H. P. Lovecraft

And a good morning to all ,

Also Kevin and Abutukit I notice the Curlew has only three toe`s where as the bird in my picture has four .
Still don`t know what it is though .

Regards

C .P .

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Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

Here is a relation of the Fig Bird shown above.

While walking this afternoon I heard the call of an Olive-backed Oriole. After quite a search (no binoculars) I located the bird and was able to observe it for quite a while.



It has a delightful call.

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Hello all ,

Great shot Kevin , cant say I have see one of those .
Here are some shots , I cant remember where I took them N.T. or QLD I think .
Not to sure what it is , and not the best pic`s.







Regards
C . P .

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Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

Indeed a delightful sound of spring. Orioles are notorious for being difficult to locate due to their ventriloquial song quality

Does a daughter count as a "Bird".

The bird is a Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus) aka Rainbow bird

Abutukit, The bird above the Rainbow stamp could be a Tullyband. Experts will soon tell you.

I cannot take credit for the photo. I know a great deal about birds but I usually 'borrow' a photo from elsewhere usually from the Australian Bird Image Database (http://www.aviceda.org/abid/index.php) and that is where this one came from.

The Rainbow Bee-eaters are beautiful birds and quite unmistakeable. Many years ago, late on a spring afternoon, I saw hundreds of them lined up on a wire fence with the sun making their colours glow.

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Hello all,

The Rainbow Bee-eaters are beautiful birds and quite unmistakeable. Many years ago, late on a spring afternoon, I saw hundreds of them lined up on a wire fence with the sun making their colours glow.[/quote]

.... "AND NOT A CAMERA TO BE FOUND ANY WHERE"


Don`t you just hate that .

Regards

C . P .

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Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

Hello all ,

Here is some pic`s of what I think is some kind of Hawk , a juvinile I think .
It landed on the neighbours T V Ariel and was making a Hugh racket over some thing , I could here Mum way up there some where but could not find her .







Regards

C . P .

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Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

Again, stamps to the ID rescue

It is the smallest Australian falcon - the Nankeen Kestrel