Tag Archives: Elster Creek

Cockatoos and Corellas

Posted on November 20, 2016 | 2 comments

A sunny late afternoon walk along the creek produced the usual array of local birds, many with new families. We watched a pair of Long-billed Corellas feeding on grass seeds and later found a snoozing Cockatoo. It turned out to be One-eye, the partner to an escaped or released Cockatoo still wearing  a cage leg ring. This couple has now bred in the same tree two years in a row and currently there are several chicks inside the big gum where we found One-eye.

Long billed Corella, Elster Creek, Elsternwick, Victoria 19 Nov 2016

Long billed Corella, Elster Creek, Elsternwick, Victoria 19 Nov 2016

Long billed Corella, Elster Creek, Elsternwick, Victoria 19 Nov 2016

II

Sulphur crested Cockatoo, Elster Creek, Elsternwick, Victoria 19 Nov 2016

Sulphur crested Cockatoo, Elster Creek, Elsternwick – the cockatoo was fast asleep, enjoying the evening sun. 

Sulphur crested Cockatoo, Elster Creek, Elsternwick, Victoria 19 Nov 2016

We have named this local Cockatoo, One Eye. 

Sulphur crested Cockatoo, Elster Creek, Elsternwick, Victoria 19 Nov 2016

III

2 Comments

Posted in Birds, Victoria

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

A Spring walk to the beach.

Posted on November 8, 2016 | Leave a comment

Nothing like a walk on a lovely spring’s day after so much bad weather. I am pretty lucky that I can walk out my back gate down the local creek and to the Elwood beach. Along the way I can find all sorts of interesting things to photograph. On this occasion I found a juvenile Little Raven waiting patiently to be fed, a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike hunting for food in a large Plain Tree and a beautiful Silvereye at Point Ormond. I am so focussed on the birds that I often forget to take a few landscapes for the context…I promise I will next time…

Silvereye, Point Ormond, Elwood, Victoria, 1 Nov 2016

Silvereye, Point Ormond, Elwood

Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Elster Creek, Elwood, Victoria, 1 Nov 2016

Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Elster Creek, Elwood

Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Elster Creek, Elwood, Victoria, 1 Nov 2016

II

Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Elster Creek, Elwood, Victoria, 1 Nov 2016

III

Little Raven, Elster Creek, Elwood, Victoria, 1 Nov 2016

A young Little Raven waiting for a feed.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in Birds, Victoria

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,

On the lookout

Posted on October 19, 2016 | Leave a comment

Elster Creek runs through the local golf course. Over the last few years the number of local Eastern Rosellas has started to increase and now we actually have a pair nesting in a new breeding box built by a local naturalist Gio. So many mature trees with hollows have been cut down that the Rosellas and many other hollow nesters don’t have anywhere locally to breed. Gio has been building boxes for several years and has come up with designs to suit various species as well as stop the possums from taking the box for their own. He trials the possum proof designs on his own backyard fence.  The rosella is a favourite for photographers but can be a challenge as they are quite timid and flighty around people. I found the one below acting as a lookout for a group feeding on pine cone seeds in a confer.

Eastern Rosella, Elster Creek, Elsternwick, Victoria, 18 Sept 2016

Eastern Rosella, Elster Creek, Elsternwick, Victoria

Leave a comment

Posted in Birds, Victoria

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Spring is here…

Posted on September 4, 2016 | 4 comments

I enjoyed a walk to the local lake and along the Elster Creek with some of the local birders late Saturday afternoon. Many of the resident birds are starting to nest and raise chicks. It is a noisy, busy time with much activity. Several neighbourhood locals are keeping an eye on the breeding swans and sadly the cygnet count has already gone from 6 to 3 in a few weeks. I daresay the foxes at the golf course are also raising young.

Elster Creek, Elwood, Victoria

Spring along Elster Creek, Elwood, Victoria

Elsternwick Lake Swamphens, Elsternwick, VictoriaElsternwick Lake Swamphens, Elsternwick, Victoria

Elsternwick Lake Swamphens, Elsternwick, Victoria

Elsternwick Lake Swan family, Elsternwick, Victoria

Elsternwick Lake Swan family

Elsternwick Lake cygnet, Elsternwick, Victoria,

one of the cygnets

Elsternwick Lake Swan, Elsternwick, Victoria

A watchful parent…

Elsternwick Lake Little Pied Cormorant, Elsternwick, Victoria

Elsternwick Lake Little Pied Cormorant

4 Comments

Posted in Birds, Victoria

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

Pirate Kite of Ormond Point

Posted on August 31, 2016 | Leave a comment

When looking for birds to photograph you sometimes find other odd things to watch. In the open area below the navigation tower at Point Ormond I enjoyed the skill of this kite flyer with his pirate ship kite. Considering its complex form and all the moving bits it flew remarkably well. The Point is a well known area for kite flying though lately the flyers have been squeezed out of the larger open ground due to it becoming the landing zone for a local parachuting business.  I like the idea that the pirate ship was probably breaking the local council rules…

Pirate Kite, Point Ormond, Elwood Beach, Victoria

Pirate Kite, Point Ormond, Elwood Beach, Victoria

 

Pirate Kite, Point Ormond, Elwood Beach, Victoria

II

Leave a comment

Posted in Elwood, Victoria

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

Snacking on seeds

Posted on August 30, 2016 | 4 comments

Stalking Eastern Rosellas can be tough. They spook easily and fly just out of reach for a good photograph. Once in a leafy green tree they can be just about invisible even with the bright red head and chest. Locally their numbers have been building. I am hoping the increase is from the breeding locals rather than Rosellas migrating through. A local naturalist has been building nest boxes suitable for Rosellas but unattractive to possums. On this walk along the creek several Rosellas were feeding on the seeds of a Desert Ash.

Eastern Rosella, Elster Creek, Elsternwick, Victoria

Eastern Rosella, Elster Creek, Elsternwick, Victoria

4 Comments

Posted in Birds, Victoria

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

The White-browed Scrubwrens of Point Ormond

Posted on August 29, 2016 | Leave a comment

At Elwood’s Point Ormond is a section of old seaside vegetation. Much of the area has been cleared with just a few scraps of native vegetation left. In this small pocket beneath the Point and its navigation tower, live a few species of birds – Superb Fairy-wrens, Brown Thornbills and White-browed Scrubwrens, with many other species stopping by for a feed and rest while migrating elsewhere – Rainbow Lorikeets, Black Faced Cuckoo-shrikes, Pink Robins, Grey Fantails, Singing Honeyeaters and Silvereyes to name a few. On the last few visits we have been watching a nest of Scrubwrens and the busy parents feeding their chicks. A visit on the weekend seemed to indicate that the chicks had fledged and had moved from the nest but were still being fed by the parents.

White-browed Scrubwren, Point Ormond scrub, Elwood, Victoria

White-browed Scrubwren – looking for juicy morsels for the chicks

White-browed Scrubwren, Point Ormond scrub, Elwood, Victoria

The Scrubwren returning a grub to its chicks..

Leave a comment

Posted in Bird Behaviour, Victoria

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Finally a Nankeen Night-Heron

Posted on August 27, 2016 | 5 comments

The Nankeen Night-Heron has been a bit of a hoodoo bird for me. While I have seen the species at various places during the day and locally at night I have not seen it well enough to photograph and add to my local birds page. Finally today while walking down the creek with a local birder friend, Dave, we found an adult Night-Heron (with head plume) on its daytime roost high in one of the pines along the canal part of the Elster Creek. It seemed to be very curious about us and intently watched everyone who walked by. It is an nocturnal bird that hunts in the shallow waters and edges along the creek.

Nankeen Night Heron, Elster Creek, Elwood,Victoria

Nankeen Night-Heron, Elster Creek, Elwood, Victoria

Nankeen Night Heron, Elster Creek, Elwood,Victoria

II

Nankeen Night Heron, Elster Creek, Elwood,Victoria

III

Nankeen Night Heron, Elster Creek, Elwood,Victoria

IV

5 Comments

Posted in Birds, Victoria

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Alert but not alarmed…

Posted on May 24, 2016 | Leave a comment

On the weekend I met up with my local “gang” of birders and we wandered up  Elster Creek to the Golf Course lake and had a look around…besides finding a turtle (my first Eastern Long Necked), we also watched the feeding antics of the local Little Corellas feeding on the ripe seed cones of a tall skinny conifer. They use their feet like we would use our hands. I noticed that when the Noisy Miners (a local, aggressive Honeyeater) screeched out their alarm calls the Corellas stopped feeding and quickly looked skyward but did not seem overly concerned (did the alert suggest a certain generally non-threatening predator?)…I have seen a number of bird species do this…I am convinced there is a common bird language.

Little Corella, Elster Creek, Victoria

Little Corella enjoying a seed cone from a Conifer…

Little Corella, Elster Creek, Victoria

Watching us watch him…

Little Corella, Elster Creek, Victoria

Looking skyward when the alarm call goes out from a different bird species…

Eastern Long necked turtle, Elster Creek, Victoria

Eastern Long necked turtle, Elster Creek, Victoria

Leave a comment

Posted in Animal, Bird Behaviour, Birds, Victoria

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

A Boobook Owl hunting in the veggie garden

Posted on May 21, 2016 | 4 comments

After an afternoon of wandering around Elster Creek and Elsternwick Lake with the local birding gang , I went home and was reviewing the images of the day when an sms came in from Gio (a local naturalist) that he had found a Southern Boobook Owl at the local school above their veggie patch. Postponing dinner, gearing up and heading out in a rush I found Gio, and soon after the Boobook high up in the Red Gum. I have seen a few owls and Tawny Frogmouths locally lately and will hopefully see many more. It is a good sign of a healthy environment.

Southern Boobook, Elster Creek, Elwood Victoria

Southern Boobook, Elster Creek, Elwood Victoria

Southern Boobook, Elster Creek, Elwood Victoria

II

4 Comments

Posted in Birds, Victoria

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

The Roost Tree

Posted on May 10, 2016 | 5 comments

While heading downstream along my local creek I noticed a lump on a dead branch of a Willow Tree that did not quite look right. Moving closer I realised it was one of the local nocturnal Tawny Frogmouths on a daytime roost. It was difficult to photograph but I found a way to get closer by walking into the parking area of one of the apartment blocks nearby. As I moved around the tree I found the partner of the Frogmouth that I had seen from across the creek. It was tucked into a little branch shelter and just about invisible. This species are masters of camouflage and often roost in the open. They are rarely noticed and survive well in an urban space. Even when discovered that can just watch you or move into their camouflaged pose (I am just a branch stump) or just go back to sleep. They are territorial and will roost in a close-by series of trees in a neighbourhood.  It is surprising how many pairs there are in Elwood considering it is an inner city suburb. Always a welcome find…

Elster Creek Tawny Frogmouth, Elster Creek, Elwood, Victoria

An football sized object in the tree that did not quite blend in…

Elster Creek Tawny Frogmouth, Elster Creek, Elwood, Victoria

Elongated branch stump pose

Elster Creek Tawny Frogmouth, Elster Creek, Elwood, Victoria

II

Elster Creek Tawny Frogmouth, Elster Creek, Elwood, Victoria

III

Elster Creek Tawny Frogmouth, Elster Creek, Elwood, Victoria

IV

Elster Creek Tawny Frogmouth, Elster Creek, Elwood, Victoria

Expressive and curious eyes

Elster Creek Tawny Frogmouth, Elster Creek, Elwood, Victoria

The partner on the other side of the tree. 

5 Comments

Posted in Birds, Victoria

Tagged , , , , ,

Exploring Elster Creek at night

Posted on May 9, 2016 | 5 comments

One night a few weeks ago I wandered along the local creek looking for Tawny Frogmouths and Boobook Owls. I have been spending more time lately improving my night and flash photography with my Canon Speedlite Flash units. To get close enough and take a picture of an owl at night I need to become much better at getting into position and using the flash (let alone actually finding the owls). Along the creek to the golf course where the owls had been spotted were many possums – the smaller Ring Tailed and larger Brush Tailed. Using a red coloured flash light and walking quietly I was able to get quite close to the possums and practice my focussing and shooting using the flash. I got mixed results and my owl shots (I actually found a Boobook on a fence at the lake) were terrible…hopefully I will get a second chance…meanwhile I will keep practicing on the local possums…

Ring Tailed Possum, Elster Creek, Elwood, Victoria

Ring Tailed Possum, Elster Creek, Elwood, Victoria

Ring Tailed Possum, Elster Creek, Elwood, Victoria

II

Ring Tailed Possum, Elster Creek, Elwood, Victoria

Demon eyed Ring Tailed Possum

Brush Tailed Possum, Elster Creek, Elwood, Victoria

Brush Tailed Possum, Elster Creek, Elwood, Victoria

5 Comments

Posted in Animal, Victoria

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Urban trees bringing in the country cousins….

Posted on April 27, 2016 | Leave a comment

Over February and March many of the large Sugar Gums and Red Flowering Gums along Elster Creek were in full bloom. This brought in many additional nectar loving birds to the area. Musk Lorikeets turned up in large numbers to join the local populations of Rainbow Lorikeets and around 10 Little Lorikeets joined in the flowering frenzy. Each species make distinctly different calls when flying and feeding. It was great to stand near the trees and learn and pick out the different calls.  I had never seen Littles in the area before and it was wonderful to be able to add the new species to my local lists and even photograph them (though that did take quite a few walks along the creek to finally get them).

Play to listen to Little Lorikeets. (plus a bit of Rainbow Lorikeet and a begging Noisy Minor chick)

Musk Lorikeet, Elster Creek, Elwood, Victoria

Musk Lorikeet, Elster Creek, Elwood, Victoria

Musk Lorikeet, Elster Creek, Elwood, Victoria

II

Musk Lorikeet, Elster Creek, Elwood, Victoria

Spot the second one?

Musk Lorikeet, Elster Creek, Elwood, Victoria

IV

Little Lorikeet, Elster Creek, Elwood, Victoria

Little Lorikeet – a very small bird with fantastic camouflage and a bzzzt type call

Little Lorikeet, Elster Creek, Elwood, Victoria

Little Lorikeets  – well suited to life in the green foliage of gums, following flowering trees around Victoria – who knows how they realise trees are flowering so far from their usual haunts…

Leave a comment

Posted in Bird Behaviour, Elster Creek, Victoria

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Preening along the creek…

Posted on March 29, 2016 | 2 comments

While walking along Elster Creek, I photographed a flock of Australian Wood Ducks that have been in the area over the summer. Wood Ducks breed in large numbers with parents and the occasional aunt raising up to 16 chicks. The one photographed below was grooming its finer down feathers. I thought the wind was blowing the feathers forward but as I photographed the duck it raised and lowered the feathers at will as it preened.

Australian Wood Duck, Elster Creek, Victoria

Australian Wood Duck, Elster Creek, Victoria

 

2 Comments

Posted in Bird Behaviour, Birds, Black & White, Victoria

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Meeting the new Neighbours

Posted on November 24, 2015 | Leave a comment

I have been hearing Black-Faced Cuckoo Shrikes for a few weeks now and seen them flying over Elster Creek and along my street with what seemed to be mouthfuls of food. Last night I finally found, a few hundred meters down the road, their nesting/roosting area, a juvenile and its parents. A return visit this evening and I found two juveniles and short while later two parents turned up with the evening meals. This is not a very common bird for the inner suburbs – it is much more common in the drier country to the north. While I was photographing the Cuckoo Shrikes a new neighbour drove up and started to chat about what I was doing (nearly getting run over by the cars coming home from work). As it turned out Mady has a pet Rainbow Lorikeet called Arcus (Latin for Rainbow). She brought her out and I took a few photos (after Arcus took a climb around my neck and shoulders and bit my finger)

Black Faced Cuckoo Shrike chicks, Elster Creek

Black Faced Cuckoo Shrike chick waiting patiently for a parent to bring a meal

Black Faced Cuckoo Shrike chicks, Elster Creek

Juvenile Black Faced Cuckoo Shrikes

Black Faced Cuckoo Shrike chicks, Elster Creek

A bit of a stretch of the wings while waiting

Black Faced Cuckoo Shrike, Elster Creek, Elwood

A meal finally brought in after a few hours of waiting…

Mady and Arcus, Spray St, Elwood

Mady and Arcus – both new to the area…

Mady and Arcus, Spray St, Elwood

Arcus likes to get into places like eyes, mouth and nostrils…

Mady and Arcus, Spray St, Elwood

Mady and Arcus III

Mady and Arcus, Spray St, Elwood

Mady and Arcus IV

Mady and Arcus, Spray St, Elwood

Arcus seemed curious when Mady’s hair blew around…

Leave a comment

Posted in Bird Behaviour, Birds, Victoria

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,