The Gap Year and Beyond

The Robins and the Owl

Posted on February 18, 2016 | 2 comments

There is a walk along the inlet from Captain Stevenson’s Lookout around the coast to Bastion Point. It runs along the edge of the camp grounds through tall banksia trees and coastal scrub and into a Pittosporum forest. The track leads on to the new Bastion Point boat ramp facility and the nearby swimming beaches now protected by the new sea wall. I met a couple who were going for stroll along the path who said that a large Caspian tern was fishing with the Silver Gulls in the shallows at the beach. Not having photographed a Caspian Tern before I headed down to find and hopefully photograph the tern. While walking through one of the deeper darker patches of Pittosporum Forest I came across a family of Rose Robins in quite a fluster. Several pink chested males and a number of females and juveniles seemed to flying back and forth across the path and into various low trees and bushes. I stopped to watch for a while and take a few photographs of these elusive tiny birds and noticed a pile of feathers at my feet. It took me a few moments to figure out what they were from – a juvenile Kookaburra. I looked straight up and into the eyes of a large Powerful Owl. This type of Owl prefers a daytime roost in trees located in cool, dark forest gullies. If it makes a kill during the night it hangs onto the kill all day and feeds at the start of the following night. Hanging from the Owl’s talons was the previous night’s kill.

Rose Robin, Pittosporum Walk, Mallacoota

Powerful Owl, Pittosporum Walk, Mallacoota

After taking a few shots of the Owl I walked down to the beach and watched the Caspian Tern dive into the water and catch a good sized bait fish and fly off across the inlet. That left me with the hunting Silver Gulls to photograph. It was a nice change to watch them hunting for fish rather than begging for potato fries and digging through rubbish.

Silver Gull, Bastion Point, Mallacoota

looking for bait fish in the shallows

whoops, cut that a bit fine

shaking off the water…

finally scored a fish…

I found another Antechinus in the forest but I am not sure what sort it is, I think a Brown Antechinus but I will have to research it…going by the girth I am guessing that this is a pregnant female. By this time of year the males have mostly died off after a vigorous mating season.

Antechinus, Pittosporum Walk, Mallacoota

2 Comments

Posted in Bird Behaviour, Birds, Victoria

Tagged Antechinus, Australian Birds, Bastion Walk, Bird Photography, Mallacoota, Nature Photography, Photography, Pittosporum Walk, Powerful Owl, Rose Robin, Silver Gull, Victoria

An old Laneway with new life

Posted on February 17, 2016 | Leave a comment

I had a catch-up with some old work colleagues last week in a part of the city that I rarely visit. On the walk back down Flinders Lane to get to the train station, I noticed some decent street art on a Laneway wall. Flinders Ct is a narrow laneway between Flinders Lane and Flinders St and runs parallel to Elizabeth St. I recognised one of the old factory/warehouse buildings in the middle of the lane and realised that this laneway was one I had explored before when looking for old architecture but at that time there hadn’t been any art work. The work looks fairly fresh and is mostly complete murals. I went back earlier this week and photographed the various walls…I will be adding this new site to my regular survey walks.

Flinders Ct artwork, Melbourne CBD

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Frogmouth, Whipbirds and a Pure White Raptor

Posted on February 16, 2016 | 3 comments

Whenever I visit Mallacoota I try to get to the Double Creek area several times a day. There is always a good variety of bird species (local and migrating through) and several vegetation types to explore from creek side vegetation, wetlands, woodlands, rain-forest and ridge-lines with tall forests. It is a compact site with four paths to wander down.

Along one of the creek sides I found a pair of Leaden Flycatchers singing away declaring their territory while above I spotted a white morph Grey Goshawk. The white/grey Goshawk is the only pure white raptor in the world. I knew that a raptor was cruising above by the danger calls of all the nearby birds. The bird alarm gave me just enough time to get the camera pointed skywards and set for a bright sky. The Goshawk cruised just above the trees.

Male Leaden Flycatcher, Double Creek Nature walk, Mallacoota

Female Leaden Flycatcher

Grey Goshawk, Double Creek Nature walk, Mallacoot

Grey Goshawk (white Morph), Double Creek Nature walk, Mallacoota

I found the Tawny Frogmouth when I stopped at the small carpark to have some lunch and was staring into the trees when I noticed someone staring back….

Tawny Frogmouth, Double Creek Nature walk, Mallacoota

White Browed Scrubwren Double Creek Nature walk, Mallacoota

Lewin's Honeyeater, Double Creek Nature walk, Mallacoota

Lewin’s Honeyeater, trying to stay cool along the creek on a very hot day

Eastern Whipbird, Double Creek Nature walk, Mallacoota

Eastern Whipbird working hard to feed two chicks that were following closely

As I watched the Whipbirds move around the undergrowth I spotted the little Antechinus hunting. It is a fearless tiny marsupial hunter, and given its mouselike size I am always surprised to see them out and about hunting in daylight.

Antechinus, Double Creek Nature walk, Mallacoota

Antechinus, I have not worked out the local species yet – could be Shy, Brown or Swamp.

3 Comments

Posted in Birds, Victoria

Tagged Antechinus, Australian Birds, Bird Photography, Double Creek Nature Reserve, Double Creek Nature Walk, Eastern Whipbird, Grey Goshawk, Leaden Flycatcher, Lewin's Honeyeater, Mallacoota, Nature Photography, Tawny Frogmouth, Victoria, White browed Scrubwren

Sun baking at Double Creek

Posted on February 15, 2016 | 4 comments

On an early morning walk around the Double Creek Nature Walk, near Mallacoota, I came across several birds having a dust bath and soaking in some sun. I watched Eastern Yellow Robins dust bathing followed by a spot of sun baking. It was a prime spot amongst the thick forest and the Robins were moved along by a pair of Lewin’s Honeyeater who spent a bit more time at the baking spot. Normally Lewin’s are a little hard to get near and photograph but as I was slow moving and crouched down they were happy to ignore me and just get on with soaking up the rays.

I have seen several bird species at different locations sun baking: magpies actually lying on their backs in sand on the edge of a golf sand bunker – I thought they were dead until I walked up to have a closer look….not sure who got the bigger fright. I have seen pigeons with a wing in the air lying on the ground and then the Robins and Lewin’s honeyeater at Double Creek. It is not fully understood why birds do this: part of feather maintenance, drying off after a bath (though I watched these birds have a dust bath and not use water), irritating feather mites to help find and remove them, just enjoying the sun on a cool morning. Whatever the reason it was interesting to watch and photograph.

Lewin’s Honeyeater Sun-baking, Double Creek Nature Walk, Mallacoota

Lewin’s Honeyeaters sun-baking

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4 Comments

Posted in Bird Behaviour, Birds, Victoria

Tagged Australia, Australian Birds, Bird Behaviour, Bird Photography, Double Creek Nature Reserve, Double Creek Nature Walk, Lewin's Honeyeater, Mallacoota, Nature Photography, Photography, Sun-baking Behaviour, Victoria

A favourite little friend

Posted on February 8, 2016 | 4 comments

On my yearly trip to Mallacoota I always plan to drive down to Shipwreck Creek and walk the track to Seal Creek. Along the way I expect to see a good range of rare birds, including Southern Emu-wren and the very rare Ground Parrot. I actually did see a Ground Parrot but it flushed and took off in a wild zig zag flight that made it impossible to film: video or photos. I will try again next year. What I managed to photograph was one of my favourite little birds – the Southern Emu-wren: a feisty tiny bird the size of a fairy-wren but with a much longer tail and very small wings that allow for short hops of flight. The Emu-wren requires a good expanse of knee to thigh-high heathland clear of foxes and cats. Very few exist now close to urban areas. I have only seen them at Shipwreck Creek and Cape Howe Wilderness Areas and at Anglesea Heath.

I found these guys fairly early in the morning along the track to Seal Creek but on the way back they had all disappeared back into the heathland scrub. The males will fly up to a dead bit of scrub in the heath and look at the intruders coming into his patch.

Shipwreck Creek, Far East Gippsland

Male Southern Emu-wren, Shipwreck Creek, Far East Gippsland,

Tiny wings and a long tail means that it is not a great flyer…

Showing the delicate feathers of a very long tail

Heathland, Shipwreck Creek, Far East Gippsland

Along with birds it is also full of Tiger and Red Bellied Black Snakes…

4 Comments

Posted in Bird Behaviour, Birds, Victoria

Tagged Australia, Australian Birds, Bird Photography, Mallacoota, Nature Photography, Photography, Seal Creek, Shipwreck Creek, Southern Emu Wren, Victoria

Monochrome Melbourne II

Posted on February 7, 2016 | 1 comment

Another lunchtime walk around Melbourne last week, enjoying the sun, the people and the architecture.

Burke and Wills memorial, Melbourne CBD

Smokers in Presgrave Place, Melbourne CBD

Buskers and tourists, Bourke St Mall, Melbourne CBD

1 Comment

Posted in Black & White, Melbourne CBD, Victoria

Tagged Black and white, Burke and Wills, Melbourne CBD, Melbourne Laneways, Photography, Presgrave Place, Street Photography, Urban Photography, Victoria

Monochrome Melbourne

Posted on February 3, 2016 | 4 comments

A walk around the city on a hot summer’s day, watching the lunch crowds and traders along the small laneways off Flinders Lane and finishing off the walk with a few songs from the buskers in the Bourke St Mall.

Lunchtime traders in Centre Place, Melbourne CBD, 4 Dec 2015

Lunchtime traders in Centre Place, Melbourne CBD – a fantastic spot for good food and a great price from a variety of small hole-in-the-wall shops – also has some interesting artwork and graffiti.

Buskers in Bourke St Mall, Melbourne CBD – these guys were amazingly good, Spanish style guitar with a modern flair. They were feeling the heat of the mid-day sun – but the show must go on…

4 Comments

Posted in Black & White, Melbourne CBD, Victoria

Tagged Australia, Bourke St Mall, Buskers, Centre Place, Flinders Lane, Melbourne CBD, Melbourne Laneways, Photography, Urban Photography, Victoria

The Genoa River Sea Eagles (Part 2)

Posted on February 1, 2016 | Leave a comment

Trying to take photographs of Eagles in flight is a great challenge that can test your camera skills, fieldcraft, manners and reflexes.

The first trip up the Genoa River had resulted in some nice images of an Azure Kingfisher and a few nice images of the hunting and roosting White Bellied Sea Eagles. On my second trip up the Genoa River during my 2015 Dec trip to Mallacoota, I gave myself a better chance of taking a few good images of the diving Sea Eagles. I arrived early and claimed what I had learnt was the best spot to sit on the boat (front left corner), I knew that I had to pan the camera while the eagle made its approach and start shooting early, I had to remember to adjust or verify my settings constantly (sky shots vs shots against the dark water or forest) and I had to shoot rapidly and with a high shutter speed to make sure I got plenty of clear action shots. Generally it worked. Occasionally I forgot to adjust the exposure and IOS settings which resulted in over-exposed images.

I was much happier with the second trip and look forward to going again at the end of this year for more improvements

A majestic female White Bellied Sea Eagle, Genoa River, Gypsy Pt

White Bellied Sea Eagles, Genoa River, Gypsy Pt

Larger Female at right…

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The Genoa River Sea-Eagles (Part 1)

Posted on January 31, 2016 | 6 comments

On my yearly pilgrimage to Mallacoota, I look forward to the certainty of finding and watching White Bellied Sea-Eagles. Even across the other side of the Mallacoota Inlet they are easy to spot with their bright white body, large v-shaped wingspan and easy flight. One of the better places to observe these large Eagles up close, is along the Genoa River where several pairs have claimed feeding and breeding territories. The nests are reused and built upon year after year for decades until it becomes so heavy that it breaks the tree. Access to the Genoa River is via Gypsy Point where a canoe can be hired (or launch your own) or can you join one of the regular boat cruises that head up the river for several kilometres. Each year I join one of the boat cruises and try and photograph these astounding birds of prey. The boat captain has got to know the local eagles and if they are in the area can call them in with a screech and a promise of raw chicken wings.
The photos below are from the first of two boat trips I took – I enjoyed the cruise so much that I booked myself onto another one a few days later. You can never have enough practice in shooting birds of prey in action.

White Bellied Sea Eagle, Genoa River, Gypsy Pt

The White Bellied Sea Eagle has spotted the food and starts its dive keeping its head aligned with the target…

Still watching the target…

Angling to keep facing into the wind for lift…

Lining up, talons starting to unfurl…

Extending legs and talons opening

Legs extended, talons open, eyes fixed on the target…

Impact…

6 Comments

Posted in Bird Behaviour, Birds, Victoria

Tagged Australia, Australian Birds, Bird Photography, Genoa River, Gypsy Point, Mallacoota, Nature Photography, Photography, Victoria, White Bellied Sea Eagle

Observing the little master fisherman…

Posted on January 30, 2016 | Leave a comment

Gypsy Point, on the Genoa River, north of Mallacoota, is a small quiet village visited by people interested in nature and those wanting to get away from it all. I visited a few times during my recent stay in Mallacoota. Not only is it a good location for Sea-eagles it is also well known for a variety of birds, mammals and reptiles. While photographing the Sea-eagles from the small cruise boat, we came across a tiny Azure Kingfisher – a stunning looking little ambush hunter that works its way along the water’s edge, diving from an over-hanging tree branch down into the shallow water and taking small fish, frogs and aquatic insects.
The Kingfisher photographed below was not overly bothered by the boat and kept hunting along the river’s edge while the Captain tried to ease up and allow me a closer view.

Azure Kingfisher, Genoa River, Gypsy Pt

Looking for prey along the water’s edge

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The beautiful colours of the Azure Kingfisher

A journey into the wilderness

Posted on January 27, 2016 | 5 comments

As part of of my recent stay at Mallacoota, I had planned to drive into the Cape Wilderness area and look for the Eastern Bristlebird – a rare bird on the Victorian side of the border. A location known to have a small population is Howe Flat, a coastal paperbark swamp near the wilderness coast. To find your way into the right area you need to drive into NSW and then loop back into Victoria via long narrow bush tracks. The area is not far from Mallacoota as the crow flies but it is on the other side of the inlet with no easy or direct access. It can take several hours of tough AWD/4WD driving through rainforest and tall trees. The last part of the track is quite narrow but winds through some beautiful country. I actually found a Bristlebird on the NSW side of the border while looping back into Victoria They have a distinctive call, but can be quite shy. It ran in front of the car, called a few times and then disappeared.

Arriving at Cape Howe Flat, I found the bird along the track to the coast fairly quickly – it was quite shy and stayed back in the vegetation but I did get a few shots.

It was a long but very rewarding day.

Cape Howe Wilderness vehicle track – I had to drive through several creeks and rainforest gullies to get to Howe Flat.

Cape Howe Wilderness vehicle track

Driving through creeks to get to the Cape Howe Wilderness Area

Cape Howe Wilderness, Howe Flat

Cape Howe Wilderness, Howe Flat, track to the coast and Eastern Bristlebird – the area was a bit swampy, the track under water or muddy in many parts.

Eastern Bristlebird, Cape Howe Wilderness Area

Quite a vocal bird, with a lovely distinctive call

Eastern Bristlebird – a nice view of the layered tail feathers

Cape Howe Wilderness Coast Line

Southern Emu Wren, Cape Howe Wilderness Area

On the way back from the coast, I came across a little colony of Southern Emu Wrens – a very nice surprise. I did not know that Wrens were found here as well.

5 Comments

Posted in Birds, Victoria

Tagged Australian Birds, Bird Photography, Cape Howe Wilderness Area, Cape Howe Wilderness Coast, Eastern Bristlebird, Howe Flat, Mallacoota, Nature Photography, Photography, Southern Emu Wren, Victoria

Marvellous Mallacoota

Posted on January 21, 2016 | 12 comments

As part of my Compass Tour of Victoria over the summer break, I spent 8 days exploring the areas around Mallacoota. It has become one of my favourite places to visit each summer. Mallacoota is a 6 hour drive East of Melbourne. I usually stop along the way to visit various locations good for birds and wildlife. One of the sites is Double Creek Nature Reserve just outside of Mallacoota. The first part of the walk is through a rain forest with a number of resident Lyrebirds. A few were scratching around in the undergrowth when I arrived.

Double Creek Nature Reserve, Mallacoota

Superb Lyrebird, Double Creek Nature Reserve

On arriving at Mallacoota Shady Gully camping ground where I stayed I was talking to one of the managers and heard what I thought was a raptor in the trees bordering the camp ground and the Shady Gully Reserve. The mgr showed me to a small Casaurina tree where a family of rare Glossy Black Cockatoos where feeding. The sound I had heard was the juvenile begging for food. The Cockatoo only eats the seeds of the Casaurina tree.

Juvenile Glossy Black Cockatoo, Shady Gully Reserve, Mallacoota

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Adult Male Glossy Black Cockatoo, Shady Gully Reserve, Mallacoota

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Posted in Bird Behaviour, Birds, Victoria

Tagged Australia, Australian Birds, Bird Photography, Double Creek Nature Reserve, Glossy Black Cockatoo, Lyrebird, Mallacoota, Nature Photography, Victoria

Compass Tour of Victoria

Posted on January 19, 2016 | 2 comments

Over the Xmas break I planned and completed a compass tour of Victoria. It covered Mallacoota and various other spots in the far east of the state, the North East/Central covering the Grampians, Little Desert and Wyperfeld National Park, the far West including Nelson and the The Lower Glenelg National Park as well as a few spots on the way home, and finally the South – Mornington Peninsula. I am finally back at work – resting from all the driving, mozzie bites (and three ticks), early starts and the heat of the desert country. I am already thinking about the end of year trip and what new spots I can discover or visit.

Below are a few photos of the Cabbage Tree Palms from the Cabbage Tree Creek area, located along the Princes Highway on the way to Mallacoota – The Cabbage Tree Palm is Victoria’s only native palm species and are found in a few locations. The picnic ground has a lovely short rainforest walk with many bird and animal species. I saw my first lifer (lifer = first time seeing a bird species) of the trip – a TopKnot Pigeon.

The Topknot Pigeons are often found in this reserve feeding on the fruit of the palm. I saw a flock of around 10 flying across the reserve – they are a very nervous species and will flush and fly off even when I was quite far away. I will have to try for photos the next time I head to Mallacoota.

Cabbage Tree Palm, Cabbage Tree Creek

I did find a curious family of Brown Gerygone along the walk and spent some time photographing them. A tiny bird the size of a thornbill with a melodic song. I managed to see all three main Victorian species in 2015 – Brown, Western and White Throated.

Brown Gerygone, Cabbage Tree Creek

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2 Comments

Posted in Birds, Victoria

Tagged Australian Birds, Bird Photography, Brown Gerygone, Cabbage Tree Creek, Cabbage Tree Palm, Nature Photography, Photography, Victoria

A tiny family

Posted on December 24, 2015 | 1 comment

On a visit to a local wetlands, Karkarook Park, in Heatherton, I came across a tiny Superb Fairy Wren chick that practically ran across my foot as I was walking along one of the paths. It stayed right in the centre of the path and ignored me. I stepped back to watch this little family encounter. There were two chicks being fed by two females while several males watched from nearby branches.

Superb Fairy Wren, Karkarook Park, Heatherton

Superb Fairy Wren that landed on the path at my feet

Mum or an aunt, quickly popped over and with some food encouraged the chick off the path.

Feeding the chick.

A Male Superb Fairy Wren watching on.

1 Comment

Posted in Bird Behaviour, Victoria

Tagged Australia, Australian Birds, Bird Photography, Heatherton, Karkarook Park, Nature Photography, Photography, Superb Fairy Wren, Victoria

The Higher View

Posted on December 22, 2015 | 1 comment

I visit Hosier Lane several times a week to look for new art and I can see and appreciate the constant changes. Sometimes when looking for more obscure pieces I look up and see some large pieces that have lasted a while due to their difficult position and the effort required to climb or build scaffolding to work on them. After I photographed the usual spots I found a way up into the parking building that borders one of the laneways and shot the higher walls. The access gave a new and interesting perspective on the art and laneway.

Hosier Lane Art, Melbourne CBD

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2nd /3rd story view of the laneway walls

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1 Comment

Posted in Street Art, Victoria

Tagged Australia, graffiti, Hosier Lane, Melbourne CBD, Melbourne Laneways, Photography, Street Art, Street Photography, Urban Photography, Victoria

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The Gap Year and Beyond

The Robins and the Owl

An old Laneway with new life

Frogmouth, Whipbirds and a Pure White Raptor

Sun baking at Double Creek

A favourite little friend

Monochrome Melbourne II

Monochrome Melbourne

The Genoa River Sea Eagles (Part 2)

The Genoa River Sea-Eagles (Part 1)

Observing the little master fisherman…

A journey into the wilderness

Marvellous Mallacoota

Compass Tour of Victoria

A tiny family

The Higher View

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