Tag Archives: Victoria

Croft Alley: a colourful, hidden gem

Posted on May 11, 2015 | 4 comments

Paynes Place is a nondescript, bin strewn laneway in Melbourne’s China-Town off Little Bourke St. There is however a large mural at the end of the lane. Turning the corner, a small walkway called Croft Alley leads you down past restaurant back doors and overflowing, smelly rubbish bins to wonderful walls of ever-changing street art with amazing colours. Turning another corner, and walking to the very end, you find the entrance to strange bar with a science lab theme called the Croft Institute. There is quite a bit of intact art in Croft Alley without the crowds that often fill up the more famous Hosiers Lane. ( I still haven’t had a good look at Hosiers due to a fashion shoot, a TV presenter filming, tour groups and an impromptu macarena dance outbreak with about 50 people.)

Chinatown BW, Melbourne CBD, 27 April 2015

Paynes Place, Chinatown, Melbourne CBD

Croft Alley Chinatown

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4 Comments

Posted in Architecture, Laneways, Melbourne CBD, Victoria

Tagged Australia, Chinatown, Croft Alley, graffiti, Melbourne CBD, Paynes Place, Photography, Street Art, Street Photography, Urban Photography, Victoria

Urban Melbourne: Laneways, Decay & Colour

Posted on May 10, 2015 | 2 comments

Across the road from where I now work are many laneways leading into and around Melbourne’s Chinatown District. While the street facade can be newer and full of shops, the side lanes leading to the backstreets can expose the history and patina of the older buildings. This is the historical, original side of Melbourne I quite enjoy trying to find. My lunchtimes are now spent exploring the laneways and looking above the street level. While there are not many birds, there are many other interesting subjects to find.

Urban Decay, Melbourne CBD, 27 April 2015

Urban Decay, Melbourne CBD – off Bourke St

Urban Decay II

Turn any corner in a laneway and you could find colourful street art..

Graffiti dog, Melbourne CBD

2 Comments

Posted in Architecture, Melbourne CBD, Street Art, Victoria

Tagged Architecture, Australia, graffiti, Photography, Street Art, Street Photography, Urban Decay, Urban Photography, Victoria

An autumn evening along the Rosebud Foreshore

Posted on May 5, 2015 | 2 comments

As the final site of a weekend of birding down the coast a few weeks ago, I walked along the Rosebud foreshore beach just enjoying the company of friends and a nice Autumn evening. I took the camera along just in case something interesting was discovered. I practiced shooting on several birds and tried to sneak up on a few others ( a bit tricky with friends, kids and dogs everywhere)

Rosebud Foreshore, Victoria 12 April 2015

Rosebud Pier, Victoria

Silver Gulls, Rosebud Foreshore

A White Faced Heron was hunting in the water with a technique that I had seen Silver gulls use in a similar way – it would lift its leg out of the water, slowly move it forward and down and then wiggle it agitating the sand. It would then pounce on anything that moved.

White Faced Heron

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White Faced Heron IV, Rosebud Foreshore, Victoria 12 April 2015

I noticed a Black Shouldered Kite patrolling the beach and the nearby scrub looking for mice. A large Silver Gull took a dislike to the Kite and tried to chase it off. The Gull is a master of flying in all conditions and I expected it to move the Kite away from the area but the Kite just kept turning at the last second and the gull would over-shoot. The Silver Gull did not give up easily and it was beautiful to watch the unconcerned Kite twist and turn away from the chasing Gull. It made the larger Gull look clumsy.

Gull and Black Shouldered Kite, Rosebud Foreshore, Victoria 12 April 2015

Silver Gull and Black Shouldered Kite, Rosebud Foreshore

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Little Wattlebird, Rosebud Foreshore, Victoria 12 April 2015

Little Wattlebird feeding on the nectar of a Banskia flower.

2 Comments

Posted in Bird Behaviour, Birds, Victoria

Tagged Australian Birds, Bird Photography, Little Wattlebird, Nature Photography, Photography, Rosebud, Silver Gull, Victoria, White Faced Heron, White Shouldered Kite

“Birds are the magicians of the nature! They are here, they are there and they are everywhere!”

Posted on April 30, 2015 | Leave a comment

“Birds are the magicians of the nature! They are here, they are there and they are everywhere!” – Mehmet Murat Ildan

An overcast and at times drizzly morning was my initial reward for an early start exploring a new site on the Mornington Peninsula. I was down the coast for the weekend and decided to have a look at a Flora and Fauna Reserve that I had always driven past to get to Green Bush but had never visited. Behind a two car carpark, an ordinary gate and piles of dumped rubbish was a pretty good native bushland reserve and a great display of small birds, along with the local regulars. I knew I was in for a treat by the shear number of birds especially the smaller ones that I could hear and eventually found as I walked around the reserve. They moved in early morning feeding flocks and were not too bothered by me, at times coming down quite close to check me out.

Golden Whistler, Peninsula Gardens, Rosebud South, Victoria 12 April, 2015

Golden Whistler, Peninsula Gardens, Rosebud South, Victoria, April, 2015

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Spotted Pardalote, Peninsula Gardens, Rosebud South, Victoria

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Spotted Pardalotes gathering nesting material even though it is very late in the season, Peninsula Gardens, Rosebud South, Victoria

Grey Shrike Thrush, Peninsula Gardens

The large number of birds was I think due to a lack of visitors and a good variety of low and mid canopy native vegetation, much of it flowering like the banksia below. There were many tall Grasstrees in the reserve and a number of these were flowering as well.

Banksia, Peninsula Gardens – many of the smaller honeyeaters were squabbling over these large nectar rich flowers

Grass Trees, Peninsula Gardens

Baby-sitting a Crested Shrike Tit

Posted on April 29, 2015 | 5 comments

A few weeks ago I spent the weekend down the coast and visited old haunts and a few new ones. I stopped by Greens Bush with not too much hope as it was overcast and quite dark in the forest. I heard some unusual calls and soon found a family of Crested Shrike Tits moving through the canopy along the creek. It was the first time I had seen this species at Greens Bush. They were at a decent height and moving around quickly. I decided to cheat and used my Bird App to play their calls to see what they would do. They come straight down from the canopy to look for the stranger. I set up my iPhone on a branch around head height and moved back to try and entice the birds into the area for a few shots.

Crested Shrike Tit, Greens Bush, Victoria

Crested Shrike Tit looking for the strange bird

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I noticed a strange thing – one of the young birds, which was closest to the iPhone, started making the sign for “please feed me, I am hungry, please feed me” . It crouched down and shuddered its wings. After a few minutes it flew next to the iPhone and just sat there while its parents moved off back into the canopy and further along the creek. The juvenile was just happy to stick around and listen to the playback calls. I was playing the Crested Shrike Tit group feeding call so it was quite comforting and non-threatening. (After watching and taking photos for a few minutes I retrieved the phone and let the Shrike Tit rejoin its family).

Juvenile Crested Shrike Tit, Greens Bush, Victoria

joining in the chorus of recorded Crested Shrike Tits feeding…

Grey Kangaroo, Greens Bush, Victoria 11 April 2015

Grey Kangaroo, Greens Bush, Victoria – I always see a Grey Roo at Greens Bush

5 Comments

Posted in Bird Behaviour, Birds, Victoria

Tagged Australian Birds, Bird Photography, Crested Shrike Tit, Greens Bush, Grey Kangaroo, Nature Photography, Photography, Victoria

“Even in the midst of the storm the sun is still shining.”

Posted on April 27, 2015 | 2 comments

“Even in the midst of the storm the sun is still shining.” Dayna Lovely

The Port Phillip Bay coastline is always an interesting place for a walk in any conditions. This is another image from the 18 April series. I had low expectations of any decent shots due to the light and rain squalls but a break in the weather and a burst of sunlight can produce some interesting options. After this shot was taken, wild weather come up from the South and we had to make a dash for home with cold arctic winds giving us a push along…

Jacobs Ladder over Port Phillip Bay, Victoria 18 April 2015

2 Comments

Posted in Photography, Victoria

Tagged Australia, Elwood Beach, Jacobs Ladder, Landscape Photography, Photography, Port Phillip Bay, Victoria

The Tagged Tern of Stone Pier

Posted on April 26, 2015 | 4 comments

This Crested Tern appears to be a regular visitor to the Elwood Beach Stone Pier. I saw him when I visited the beach recently to take shots across Port Phillip Bay. The Tern is tagged with a metal band. It must be a good hunter – whenever it went up to look into the water for fish, several waiting Silver Gulls followed it very closely – hoping to steal his catch. I failed miserably to take any flight shots as he was just too close for my lens (and skill level) and I was shooting wildly, staggering around the pier like a drunken sailor. After a while he rested on the stone wall and waited in hope that a fisherman would throw some bait his way.

Tagged Crested Tern, Elwood Beach, 18 April 2015

4 Comments

Posted in Birds, Victoria

Tagged Australian Birds, Bird Photography, Crested Tern, Elwood, Nature Photography, Photography, Victoria

Sailing Boats off Brighton Beach

Posted on April 25, 2015 | 9 comments

Even when the light is average and the camera and lens being used are setup for shooting birds you can still take images that can test your ability to find something unusual. On a recent walk along Elwood beach with a friend I took a series of shots of the dark clouds and gloomy weather with the occasional burst of sunlight breaking through. I had previously rejected these images but after seeing Ron’s treatment of similar images I thought I would revisit them. Using Lightroom and tweaking the levels I gave these yachts off Brighton’s coast a bit of an other worldly look…

Click on the image for a larger view:

Yachts racing on Port Phillip Bay off Brighton and Elwood Beach.

9 Comments

Posted in Elwood, Photography, Victoria

Tagged Australia, Brighton, Elwood, Photography, Sailing Boats, Victoria, Yachts

Something a bit different…Jacobs Ladder

Posted on April 22, 2015 | 2 comments

On the weekend I walked down to the beach with my photography mate and neighbour Ron. We watched the weather come across the bay and took photos of the Jacobs Ladder that was created by a break in the clouds and the sun coming through over Williamstown.

Jacobs Ladder over Williamstown from Elwood Beach – 18 April 2015

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Posted in Elwood, Photography, Victoria, Williamstown

Tagged Australia, Elwood, Jacobs Ladder, Nature Photography, Photography, Victoria, Williamstown

The wary ablutions of a Welcome Swallow

Posted on April 21, 2015 | Leave a comment

On a recent walk to the local lake I was walking along the edge for a while and watching for the Spotless Crake that has taken up residence on the small island in the lake. Standing still for a while I happened to look up and on a branch of a dead tree overhanging the lake I noticed a Welcome Swallow. It had just landed and was now grooming in the late afternoon sun-light. It made fast motions and was quite aware of everything around it including me. Butcherbirds were calling so it knew that a possible predator was in the area. The swallow would be very hard to catch in the air but possible to take when on a branch. I have not taken any decent shots of a Swallow in the air so took advantage of one that remained fairly still for a few minutes.

Welcome Swallow, Elsternwick Park Lake, Victoria, 6 April 2015

With fast grooming motions

it gave attention to every long feather

stopped for another quick look around for danger

waggled its tail feathers

gave special attention to the flight feathers

every feather inspected and put back into position

all done…and now another quick flight to catch a snack over the water…

Gang Gangs of Anglesea Heath

Posted on April 20, 2015 | 1 comment

There is something special about Gang Gang Cockatoos. They are rarely seen, sound like creaky hinges and are not as raucous or as gregarious as other cockatoos. They are usually found higher up in the taller trees. I have only seen them a few times in my life and the first was when I was 19, camping on my own at the Cathedral Ranges north of the Black Spur. The male’s bright red head had always made an impression on me. It was many years before I saw another one.

On the last day of birding on my recent Easter trip to the Bellarine region of Victoria, I got up early and drove down the coastline to Anglesea Heath. It is a vast region of heathland, scrub and trees. It has many tracks to explore and I gave the Liberty Outback a real bush bashing. In the middle of the park is a coal mine and a power station – quite strange to find and hear. Where I stopped the car to look at the power station and view a roadside sign and map, I noticed bits of seeds and leaves dropping onto me and the car. In the tree above me was a small flock of Gang Gang Cockatoos – several females and at least one brightly headed male. The male was taking a nap while the girls chewed on the gum nuts. They were not very far off the ground and I had a good chance to take a few pics between the branches. They were not bothered by me at all.

Gang Gang Cockatoo, Angelsea Heath, Victoria, 4 April 2015

Napping male Gang Gang Cockatoo, Anglesea Heath, Victoria, 4 April 2015

Female Gang Gang Cockatoo, Anglesea Heath, Victoria, 4 April 2015

Female Gang Gang Cockatoo II, Angelsea Heath, Victoria, 4 April 2015

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1 Comment

Posted in Birds, Victoria

Tagged Anglesea Heath, Australian Birds, Bird Photography, Gang Gang Cockatoo, Nature Photography, Photography, Victoria

Birds of the Bellarine

Posted on April 19, 2015 | 2 comments

The second day of my Easter trip exploring the Bellarine Peninsula took me to several coastal parks and bushland reserves and while the number of birds were not large the photo opportunities to get closer to the regulars was quite good.

Black Wallaby, Ocean Grove Nature Reserve, Victoria 4 April 2015 – feeding on new grass growth after a bush fire in the area.

The Lookout – Red Browed Finch, Ocean Grove Nature Reserve, Victoria 4 April 2015

Silvereye, Lake Connewarre, Victoria 4 April 2015

A careful selection

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I just want to sing ! – Superb Fairy Wren, Lake Connewarre, Victoria 4 April 2015

Welcome Swallow, Edwards Point Wildlife Reserve, St Leonards Victoria 4 April 2015

A squadron of Pelicans flew over me as I walked along the Point – there were 6 large birds flying in perfect formation gliding along the coast.

Australian Pelican, Edwards Point Wildlife Reserve, St Leonards Victoria 4 April 2015

Red Browed Finch, Edwards Point Wildlife Reserve, St Leonards Victoria 4 April 2015

Opposite my accommodation in Queescliff was a park overlooking the beach and the heads at the entrance to Port Phillip Bay. In the park are some large mature trees planted by the early settlers of the area. The trees are stunning and beautifully shaped by pruning and the wind. The one below reminded me of a giant bonsai. I spent some time one evening in nice late afternoon light walking around it and using my wide angle lens trying to capture the feeling. I failed miserably – I never thought that taking a photos of trees would be so much harder than birds.

Conifer, Queenscliff, Victoria 4 April 2015

Pine, Queenscliff, Victoria 4 April 2015

While I was staying at Queenscliff there was a full eclipse of the moon that lasted for several hours and finished with a rare blood moon. While I did not stay up for the full blood moon (too cold and I had an early start the next day), I did get a few early eclipse shots trying out various settings. I got very few clear shots due to clouds but was happy enough with the one below.

Lunar Eclipse, Queenscliff, Victoria 4 April 2015

2 Comments

Posted in Animal, Birds, Victoria

Tagged Australian Pelican, Bellarine, Bird Photography, Black Wallaby, Lunar Eclipse, Nature Photography, Red Browed Finch, Silvereye, Superb Fairy Wren, Trees, Victoria, Welcome Swallow

The Lonsdale Lakes of Bellarine

Posted on April 18, 2015 | Leave a comment

Over Easter I explored the Bellarine Peninsula, south of Melbourne and the other side of the opening of Port Phillip Bay. I have not been down this way before for photography and birding so it was all new. I researched some tips from John (my birding mate) and hit a few sites over several days.

The first area was the Lonsdale Lakes starting at Lake Victoria. It is a flat area with wide mud banks and a fairly shallow lagoon. It is quickly drying out but obviously still has a good food supply for the various species I came across: Swans, Stilts, Red Necked Stints, Red Capped Plovers, White Faced Herons and Gulls.

The vegetation long the lake side and paths is low scrub, shrubs, grasses and salt -bush and various succulent type plants -all very tough and hardy for dry, salty and windy conditions. It is quite attractive in the right light too with many shades of green…

The path along the lake’s edge

Lake side vegetation

Red Capped Plover – a tiny young bird in a wide expanse, well camouflaged when hiding beside a small rock

Red Capped Plover

Red Capped Plover II

Red Capped Plovers

Red Capped Plover III

Red Necked Stints flying in

Many Black Swans were feeding in the shallow water and flying over to fresh feeding grounds

I watched this White Faced Heron for a while and took a few shots as it fed in the mud along a nearby creek. At one point it stood quite still, did a full body shake and then went back to feeding. It might be part of a grooming action or just bringing in more air under its feathers as the day got later and cooler.

White faced Heron

White faced Heron II

White faced Heron III

White faced Heron IV

Colours are the smiles of nature….

Posted on April 16, 2015 | 3 comments

Colours are the smiles of nature ~ Leigh Hunt

And when it comes to colourful birds there aren’t many, if any, in my area that can beat a Rainbow Lorikeet. They are a gregarious species that have become the main parrot of the Melbourne Suburbs. Not that many years ago they were found further out in the country-side but the last big 12 year drought ended a few years ago and the result was an influx of birds and some decided to stay. The Rainbow Lorikeet has grown in numbers and now can be found in most areas. Even with all the colours, excitable chatter and feeding noises, once they are quiet and sitting in a gum they are invisible. Their colours are rich underneath but from above are an almost uniform green: good for camouflage and hiding from raptors.

I found this pair in a road side Conifer along St Kilda/Elwood beach grooming and just enjoying themselves on a warm Autumn afternoon.

Rainbow Lorikeet

Rainbow Lorikeet – every nook and cranny is colourful

Rainbow Lorikeet with something to say

Rainbow Lorikeet

Rainbow Lorikeet – I think this is called photo bombing…

This is the end Beautiful friend, this is the end my friend (but a colourful rear end)

3 Comments

Posted in Birds, Victoria

Tagged Australian Birds, Bird Photography, Nature Photography, Photography, Rainbow Lorikeet, St Kilda Beach, Victoria

Thornbill and the Irregulars…

Posted on April 15, 2015 | 4 comments

While waiting for a neighbour to come by so we could walk over to the lake and along Elster Creek I saw this little Brown Thornbill in a tree that overhangs my front garden. Not a very common bird in inner suburbia unless you have good undergrowth for it to escape the attention of other aggressive birds and the predator Butcherbird. I have seen the Thornbills for a couple of years now in the street so the cover must be improving.

Brown Thornbill

After watching the Thornbill for few minutes we walked over to the Lake and saw a few birds, some regular and some not some common.

Australasian Grebe in breeding plumage – one of the three Grebes we see in Victoria but not very often at the Lake

Willie Wagtail – a regular in low numbers

Masked Lapwing – usually a few somewhere in the area and often heard during the night flying over the suburb squawking loudly all the way.

Male Magpie Lark – a crazy bird during breeding season – will attack any reflection of itself even in sunglasses on top of a woman’s head…

Female Hardhead – not that common here. Also called a White-eyed Duck due to the males white eye ring. Has found sanctuary here to escape the current Duck Season.

4 Comments

Posted in Bird Behaviour, Birds, Victoria

Tagged Australasian Grebe, Australian Birds, Bird Photography, Brown Thornbill, Elsternwick Lake, Hardhead, Magpie Lark, Masked Lapwing, Nature Photography, Victoria, Willie Wagtail

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Tag Archives: Victoria

Croft Alley: a colourful, hidden gem

Urban Melbourne: Laneways, Decay & Colour

An autumn evening along the Rosebud Foreshore

“Birds are the magicians of the nature! They are here, they are there and they are everywhere!”

Baby-sitting a Crested Shrike Tit

“Even in the midst of the storm the sun is still shining.”

The Tagged Tern of Stone Pier

Sailing Boats off Brighton Beach

Something a bit different…Jacobs Ladder

The wary ablutions of a Welcome Swallow

Gang Gangs of Anglesea Heath

Birds of the Bellarine

The Lonsdale Lakes of Bellarine

Colours are the smiles of nature….

Thornbill and the Irregulars…

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