Snap Happy Birding

is there a better way to ... say goodbye?

2014-08-29T15:05:00.001+10:00

I'm not sure how best sums up the times of late when I've considered putting Snap Happy Birding, (and Snap Happy Online), to rest.

Deep breath here, gosh, for a time I was counting the posts, thinking that I would need to come up with something a little special for post 1,000 when it ventured into cyberspace. Instead, now on post #958, I'm closing the door. Somewhat reluctantly, and very gently too, so you can barely hear it.

Know that I've totally loved taking snapshots for the purpose of sharing. Most who visited my blogs are from overseas, and like you, I find it interesting to see and compare notes, from the other side of the world, whatever the topic may be.

Many of you have stopped by on a very regular basis, and I've always appreciated that, and of course, the comments you left behind. Your names and faces are indelible in my mind, as if you live locally. I visualize your part of the world also since you've shared this too.

An interesting journey; I've learnt a lot from each of you on your own blogs. Thank you so much, I've enjoyed your friendly banter, and I'm sure that when I hit POST on this, that I will think of something much more suited perhaps, and well-put, for my finale' post.

did you know?

2014-08-20T17:04:00.002+10:00

It's often late at night when I'm in the kitchen making a hot milk and honey drink, and, a good sprinkling of cinnamon on top. I really love that night-cap in the midst of cold winter nights.

And while I'm doing that, the radio is switched on, and I listened recently with interest to a talk-back caller saying to the host, "guess what I'm knitting?". Bootees? Socks?? A long pause, so tell us??

The answer was, jumpers for penguins!

For penguins caught up in oil-spills; after they have been cleaned, they get their very own jumper. It doesn't have to be khaki, or even black and white ------- it can be ANY colour. Just imagine seeing these little penguins waddling around in their brightly coloured knitteds. That makes me smile.

You can see one, and read all about this project here from the Penguin Foundation, at Phillip Island in Victoria. Good news is, they currently have enough to fill the wardrobes of all penguins anticipated to need a jumper for a while.

Quaint story isn't it?

Eastern Yellow Robin

2014-08-18T18:57:00.001+10:00

On a cold, windy and drizzly rain night along the east coast of Australia, I'm posting something cheery.

Like many things in life, it's pretty hard to ... nail a favourite. Your favourite colour, favourite flower, favourite bird?

The Eastern Yellow Robin is indeed a charmer; I guess it's that little dash of sunshine in the shadows that does it for me.

I could've cloned out the broken stick, but hey - that's how it was, nature isn't always perfect. And the camera angle can't always be spot-on with just precious moments to capture the moment, agree? Do you discard these images every time? I liked that E.Y.Robin had it's tail fanned out some and a sparkle in the eye too. If I'd have managed a second hit right there without the broken twig, I'd have discarded this one, but since I didn't .....it's a keeper (record-shot) to share.

more from the Central Coast lagoons, and beyond

2014-08-16T18:26:00.003+10:00

Continuing on from yesterday's post and by now, the morning that had started out grey and threatening rain, is starting to brighten up with some welcome sunshine.

Black Cormorants

Pelicans

Do you know what it is flying overhead? I can't be sure, so I'm not saying.

There were a number of Darters taking time out in these Casuarinas.

Late addition: Thanks for Christian Perrin's comment "I think the raptor is a Whistling Kite judging from the silhouette and habitat. The long, unforked tail is another indicator".

up the timber and gravel steps, takes you over to the Captain Cook Lookout

walking by one of many hundreds of Wattle species growing around Australia; our national floral emblem.

and Hardenbergia too - sometimes known as Happy Wanderer

lots of Silver Gulls down there. Then it was off again to another spot to have lunch.

Dusky Moorhen was there

and Mallards, lots of them. A little bit of bling to sign off with.

Sharing with Saturday's Critters

Coastal lagoon meeting point

2014-08-15T18:14:00.002+10:00

Here was the 8.30 a.m. meeting point for a small group of birders. It had been showering the night before and earlier on during the morning as I drove on down the coast, and we all were hopeful that the skies would clear up.

Within the next fifteen minutes someone spotted a White-Bellied Sea-Eagle. It was way over the other side of the lagoon there, and being hassled by a crow.

How brave, or indignant of the crow! Gosh, you'd think the beak of a W.B.S-eagle could snap a crows neck in half!

Purple Swamphen

missed getting a shot of this Egret in flight ... before it made it here. I'm forever hopeful of one of those jaw-dropping-extended legs-gliding-in-flight photos!

a visitor heading our way at morning-tea-break

then after another short drive, a brief stop off here to sight albatross ... way out

...to be continued

Kookaburra, Eastern Rosella, and Red Wattlebird

2014-08-12T17:49:00.001+10:00

a breezy morning, and Kookaburra was on duty

perched on the weather-vane atop the arbour in back garden

Amazing how they will spot the movement of a worm or grub moving under the surface of the soil. I'm hoping it visits regularly as the weather warms up and this Whip Snake I've spotted a couple times over, is likely to awake from hiding spot! Another pair of eyes watching out; ideally those of a kookaburra, would be rather handy from my point.

another was sitting in the cold shade in the bush corridor outside the fence, with feathers fluffed and keeping its feet warm.

I'm not sure why the change of head position, it seemed relaxed this way for some time, maybe it had a stiff neck? Doing a little pilates?

Eastern Rosella pair are about again as spring approaches; not so easy to nab a photo of them, they're very wary

then the Red Wattlebird appeared

Sharing with Our World Tuesday
and
Wild Bird Wednesday

Waterbirds..

2014-08-09T21:53:00.004+10:00

Australian Wood Duck female

Chestnut Teal

Australasian Grebe

Mallard I'm assuming, even though not showing the recognizable white collar; maybe females?

Pacific Black Duck

Pied Oystercatcher

Sharing with Saturday's Critters and I'd Rather B Birdin

Royal Spoonbill with video

2014-08-07T21:06:00.002+10:00

It was a not-in-the-wild photo opportunity for this one, but it was so special to watch this beautiful wetland bird up close.

the 'textured' pattern showing on the bill may be the vibration-detectors that are actually inside - these water-birds can feed day or night with this inherent asset.

I was surprised to learn that this bird weight approx. 78 grams. With a bill like it has I might’ve thought it’d be much heavier.

mighty good sized koi-carp too!

Reading: Royal Spoonbill

Crested Pigeon, Spotted Dove, and a sprinkling of local botanicals

2014-08-03T17:56:00.000+10:00

...it was just before 9.30 am as I wandered about the resort perimeter at Alice Springs N.T., in search of birds. Well, there was nothing to find it seemed, that morning. Perhaps it was just a litle too cold, even though the sun was shining. It would take a while before the 1 degree celcius start, gained any momentum.

Almost ready to give up, when I caught sight of this Crested Pigeon landing well ahead, so a great opportunity to aim my camera ..

growing nearby, Eremophila

about to be, gum-blossoms

like these, a little tired...

that end up looking like these .. quaint gum-nuts

still here preening

and ..Wattle

...looking like, a Spotted Dove up there on the power line

soaking up the warmth of the morning sunshine

Sharing with I'd Rather b Birdin'

White-plumed Honeyeaters, and Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater

2014-07-29T19:24:00.001+10:00

White-plumed Honeyeater on Callistemon (Bottle-brush)

Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater

looking like a young one

photographs taken in this location, Alice Springs, N.T.

Sharing with Wild Bird Wednesday

Port Lincoln Ringneck

2014-07-26T20:41:00.003+10:00

After walking about the Bush Telegraph Station at Alice Springs, N.T. this post (Snap Happy Online), I ventured outside the boundaries to the 'waterhole' behind; looking for birds.

well there's a spot of water there...only just

fact-sheet on the Port Lincoln Ringneck is here

Alice Springs Waterhole, dry...how dry?

this dry

and another

one of the many wonderful hanging artwork by students of the School of the Air, in Alice Springs. Well done Darcy! Their website is here.

Sharing with Saturday's Critters

Lets stop for wetland birds

2014-07-22T14:48:00.002+10:00

Here's a good little spot to pull up a while; can see a White Ibis out there .. what else?

One advantage of a grey day was the lovely light and reflectons on this little wetland area

Masked Lapwing

Great Egret

White Ibis

not sure if this one's still in action but it made for a nice prop

walking through the Samphire. It's a delicacy; have you tried it? When I first recognised it growing on another walk near to home in February 2012, I wrote this post

Little Pied Cormorant

Swans, Chestnut Teal, White-faced Heron

Sharing with Wild Bird Wednesday

The second half now, of The Boys Walk, Cooranbong

2014-07-20T11:26:00.002+10:00

beautiful trees; interesting textures, and lovely lichens beside the creek

Superb Fairy Wren

noxious weed (native to S.E. Africa) with a pretty yellow flower, is known as Fireweed

and another of the Eastern Yellow Robins, which proved to be our bird of the day

they sure make my day!

checking some thing out ...first time I've ever seen one on the ground like this

oh!

Good on you little Eastern Yellow Robin!!

Sharing with The Bird D'Pot

while birding along The Boys Walk, Cooranbong, N.S.W.

2014-07-16T06:44:00.003+10:00

It was just jesterday morning, with a cool start and grey skies, but what better to warm the cockles of your heart, than to spot a beautiful little Eastern Yellow Robin, first up.

walking the track, a 2 km. route, with the occasional jogger, and cyclists to contend with. They hadn't been expecting two women standing on the pathway just around the bend, binoculars fixed to their eyes and cameras at the ready. All cheery, g'days exchanged.

Dora Creek

then a clearing came up through the trees on one side, with Straw-necked Ibis out there

Grey Fantails were flitting about catching insects on the fly and then landing back on the fence, just long enough for a photo shoot

out on another clearing, quite a number of Superb Fairy Wrens; delightful little birds. Of course I want to capture the blue-boy!

but not complete without the Jenny-wren (female)

Sharing with Wild Bird Wednesday

Birding at Myuna Bay #2

2014-07-15T16:20:00.001+10:00

...it's all so easy to walk by a tree and not notice that a certain bird is sitting in it. I'm so used to trying to find little birds hiding behind the tracery of branches and foliages instead!

Take this eucalypt (gum) tree; on the right side of the trunk, just before the first long branch on that side ... there's a little broken stub of a branch, and there's something perched there. Now who would've known, so OUT THERE?! Someone in our birding group that day spotted it; well done I say! Shall we look a little closer at it then?

Tawny Frogmouths ..they make me smile; quirky little beings with their beak pointing to the sky trying to make out it's just another branch, and they do camouflage SO well, don't they?

Read about (and hear), the Tawny Frogmouth on this Birds in Backyards fact-sheet here

while standing on the opposite side of the channel, over there near the top of the pine tree is a nest.

it was Whistling Kite

one sitting at the nest and the other flying overhead

stretched to the max., it appears two to the left of the trunk, and one sitting up a little higher, at right

... and while sitting in the sun with morning cuppa by the bay, Silver Gulls paddled in circles

Birding at Myuna Bay, N.S.W.

2014-07-14T21:37:00.006+10:00

Starting point at 8.30 a.m. on a very chilly morning; much closer to home-base this one.

Pied Butcherbird - has a SUPER song. Rather flute-like and it just echoed sweetly in the air. You can hear it here on the Birds in Backyards fact-sheet (see side-bar for audio).

just a little higher, and in the same tree .. a Great Egret. A strange combo, but it worked!

Sydney (sp) Wattle

..a bit fuzzy around the edges but these little boys move so fast, there was just one chance to hit the shutter while it was still in the viewfinder. Superb Fairy Wren.

back out on the roadway, powerlines above, and a Bar-shouldered Dove

Welcome Swallows

Silver Gull

...more from Myuna Bay next post

Red-backed Kingfisher

2014-07-09T17:51:00.002+10:00

Seen while at Kings Canyon Resort, N.T., another cold morning start and it was sitting high, getting buffeted by winds while grabbing some sunshine.

The growths on the Desert Bloodwood tree branch are known as Bush Coconuts by the indigenous. They would break them open, and inside is an insect. This is 'bush tucker' useful for hydrating. Sharing this fact sheet from the Desert Park, N.T., with images of the insect too.

I was never going to pick up a photo of the Kingfisher without a twig in front of it; I was just thrilled to see it at all and to get some record-shots. Tail up...

tail down

...are you feeling s-l-e-e-p-y? Don't drop your guard....

oooops, lights out for a moment.

Sharing with Wild Bird Wednesday and I'd Rather b Birdin'

Orange Chat

2014-07-06T19:58:00.001+10:00

At the Desert Park in Alice Springs N.T. were several large, walk-in aviaries. These Orange Chats were fabulous to see. Sure, I'd love to have see them out in the wild, but I didn't.

on the move

searching

I went back again on our tour 'free day' to see them again. In the early morning sunshine, preening...

up close on the ... Australian Bustard

2014-07-02T08:04:00.003+10:00

only photo opportunity was through a glass window

such a wonderful opportunity to see these amazing birds up so close though

wishing I could read the body language here

Australian Bustard seen at Desert Park, Alice Springs, N.T.

Sharing with Wild Bird Wednesday

Brown Falcon

2014-06-30T17:19:00.004+10:00

Location: Desert Park, N.T.

Setting the beautiful scene, the backdrop is the MacDonnell Ranges, Northern Territory, and on that dead tree at the fore, a little left of centre, near to the dark shadow, a Brown Falcon will fly ..

no smoke and mirrors here; this is why ... a tasty, meaty morsel reward

Later addition since some have thought I was feeding this raptor. No, not me -- this was the handler from the bird presentation. Note location at top of post "Desert Park, NT", as in previous post for the Barn Owl, Bush Stone-Curlew, and Tawny Frogmouth.

and now, Brown Falcon, it's your turn to make an exit, right of stage...

Barn Owl, Bush stone-curlew, and Tawny Frogmouth

2014-06-28T22:05:00.002+10:00

Photos taken at the bird presentation at Desert Park, N.T.

Barn Owl

as close as I'll ever get to a Bush stone-curlew! This one was happy to walk around amongst everyone while the handler was happy to throw the occasional meal-worm along the way

and, lucky me, I happened to be sitting right under a sleepy Tawny Frogmouth!

Sharing with Saturday's Critters and I'd rather b birdin'

Western Bowerbird with video

2014-06-24T21:31:00.001+10:00

Sighted recently, at Olive Pink Botanic Garden, Alice Springs, N.T.

Miss Olive Pink, "in 1956, at the age of 72, was successful in having the Australian Arid Regions Flora Reserve" gazetted. You can download the brochure with information of this notable woman and her determined efforts against the odds of droughts, feral grazing animals etc.

walking through this landscape, myself and another couple, had met up with a hobby photographer and his wife, carrying the big tripod and massive 600mm camouflage-covered lens on his shoulder. Of course we chatted a while, and he mentioned to us about the bower "over that way".

and while admiring the bower with white plastic collectibles and a single quandong fruit,

I couldn't have been more amazed .. when it flew in!

the first time I've ever seen this beautiful bird. How lucky can you get?!

just 68 seconds worth, and he was off

Fact sheet from Birds in Backyards on the Western Bowerbird

Sharing with Wild Bird Wednesday

Spinifex Pigeon and White-necked Heron

2014-06-23T16:48:00.001+10:00

this Pigeon was quite people friendly, seen near the information centre/parking area...

when the group returned to the coach after walking this beautiful location, at Ormiston Gorge, N.T.

also, White-necked Heron

and another Spinifex Pigeon at Kings Canyon, N.T.

with a snippet location shot from a Kings Canyon walk

and...for more recent locations about N.T., please just check in at Snap Happy Online

Whistling Kite

2014-06-21T11:04:00.000+10:00

I think this is the Whistling Kite; I'm looking for affirmations on this one. (Confirmed, see later photo).

It would be great to think I just happened upon this snapshot in the wild, it certainly looks to be doesn't it? Instead, it was a grand photo opportunity during a free-flight raptor show at the Alice Springs Desert Park, N.T.

with a magnificent backdrop of the MacDonnell Ranges

New addition: This photo taken by Paul Fergus, tour participant who also went home, referenced his photos, and found this to be the Whistling Kite; thanks Paul for your feedback, and sharing your super photo.

Have I whet your appetite with majestic scenery? The first of photos taken on my recent trip have been uploaded to Snap Happy Online. Hope you'll follow me there, and see what I saw for you too, the wonderful scenery and places of interest, from the Red Heart of Alice Springs to Uluru, in the Northern Territory.

Sharing with Saturday's Critters and I'd Rather B Birdin'

Woodswallows bird art

2014-06-20T17:31:00.001+10:00

While I was away, an email arrived from Laure' Felita. I've long enjoyed reading Laure's posts on her Painted Thoughts Blog. If you have a smidgin' of drawing, sketching or painting in you, you're sure to find this blog inspirational.

Last month I shared this post, a row of White-breasted Woodswallows, showing more and more little Woodswallows, joining the queue. Within a comment on Laure's blog I offered her the challenge of painting them some time.

Her response was immediate and enthusiastic .... and here's how Laure' has portrayed the sweet little birds in watercolour.

Thanks again Laure', I'm always admiring your artwork and really appreciate you taking time out to create this lovely art with your paintbrush.

I've just jumped over to Laure's blog and see she has written up a post telling all re the process of this art. Read it on Artistic License, Colorful Black and (Erk!) Ink Blobs You already know it has a happy ending.