I carry a bit gear when I am bushwalking looking for birds and good photo opportunities. All sorts of bits and pieces hanging off me can occasionally squeak while I walk and has often fooled me into thinking that a small bird is near by. On this occasion I was wandering down Konardin Track (Hattah Kulkyne National Park) and had gone off-track a bit watching two bright pink Major Mitchell Cockatoos. I heard a very light squeak and dismissed it as my gear. As I moved around an area to check for emu-wrens and sometimes just standing still to see if I could hear anything else, I heard the squeak again and this time thought my nose was whistling as I was breathing. I stood still, I froze and then held my breath but soon heard three quick squeaks. That’s it! There is something here with me amongst the spinifex and mallee bushes. I stayed still and prepped my camera very carefully. From the corner of my eye a female Chestnut Quail-thrush popped into the open and started to feed along the ground. Even when scared this species seems to bolt along the ground and hide rather than fly away from an area. As I took a few photos another came into my vision and followed the first. It got a little too close to the first and there was a stand-up altercation, the pair separated a bit and continued to feed. The bird was also lifer 342, and I did my little lifer jig (accompanied by lots of squeaks and rattles).
- Follow The Gap Year and Beyond on WordPress.com
Top Posts & Pages
-
Recent Posts
- Boobooks in the canopy
- More hungry than timid
- Tiny occupants
- A new grassland grows
- Acrobatic antics for a good feed
- Inspecting a hollow
- Safe and warm….
- The little hunter returns
- Wait…..what??
- Nesting Tawnys at the new Elster Creek Wetlands
- Soon to find true form
- Oops a bit too close…
- Not so Common Bronzewing
- Pass friend and be recognised
- Checking out the competition
Recent Comments
Malt Padaderson on Boobooks in the canopy Malt Padaderson on Boobooks in the canopy aussiebirder on Boobooks in the canopy Mike on Boobooks in the canopy aussiebirder on More hungry than timid Categories
Archives
Links
Tags
ACDC Lane Australia Australian Birds Australian Pelican Bassian Thrush Bird Photography Black and white Black Swan Braeside Park Brown Falcon Brown Thornbill Crimson Rosella Duckboard Place Eastern Yellow Robin Elster Creek Elsternwick Lake Elwood Elwood Beach graffiti Greens Bush Grey Fantail Grey Kangaroo Hosier Lane Jawbone Flora and Fauna Reserve Little Pied Cormorant Little Wattlebird Mallacoota Melbourne CBD Melbourne Laneways Moorooduc Quarry Moorooduc Quarry Flora and Fauna Reserve Mornington Peninsula Mornington Peninsula National Park Nature Photography New Holland Honeyeater Photography Pooh Farm Rainbow Lorikeet Ring Tailed Possum Rutledge Lane Spotted Pardalote Street Art Street Photography Sulphur Crested Cockatoo Superb Fairy Wren Tawny Frogmouth Urban Photography Victoria Werribee Western Treatment Plant
Great photos from your last 2 posts Malt. Photographing birds is always full of surprises. I think that is one of the things I enjoy most about it. As always, love following your travels to interesting locations.
LikeLike
Thanks for the comments Dianne, it was a very good trip into the mallee country. I was quite lucky to pick up so many lifers and actually get some images…
LikeLike
Reminds me of my few trips into Mallee, thanks so much. Cos I used to visit Adelaide quite often I went to the Brookfield Conservation Park, once getting lifted out by helicopter because I lost my way! Just love the ecosystem with Hairy-nosed Wombats, Quail-thrush…
LikeLike
Thanks for the comments Mike, other than a trip to Gluepots north of Renmark I have not explored much of the SA mallee, on my to do list
LikeLike