Australian Botanical Gardens, Mount Annan 10/12/2016
G'day welcome to my blog, or welcome back if you a regular reader.
For those that read this blog regularly you might be interested to know the last week there were readers from Russia, the United States, Australia, Sweden, Germany and the United Kingdom. With Russia topping the number of views this week.
So as usual this weeks blog will be a look at the shots I managed to take last weekend in the Australian Botanical Gardens, Mount Annan.
This week I ran my first photography workshop in the gardens, a Bird Photography workshop with nine participants, so a nice number for a first workshop. A great group of people with varying levels of skills. The weather was good for the day not to hot, and no wind, bright light so good for the faster shutter speeds so a good morning for Bird photography, all we needed was the birds to show up.
The Workshop started with going over some settings for Bird shots and how to get the best focus using a few methods, there was also a morning tea provided by the Melaleuca House.
The last few weeks I’ve been going over the walk each week working out where the birds are and out first stop was at the tree shown in the last few blog posts, however this week not so active, after the last few weeks a bit of a disappointment for me, we did manage to find a few Striated Pardalotes, but the Galahs and Corellas were not showing their faces in the hollows this day. So we moved off along the walk into the woodland. AS we started down the path a blue tonged Lizard was making its way along the path towards us, well it was till it say a group of photographers with long lenses and decided it wasn't somewhere it wanted to be.
There we got lucky and managed to get a few shots of a Channel-billed Cuckoo. (Scythrops novaehollandiae) This one was into the woodlands a bit so not the cleanest of shots but still something different, so the morning improved from the first disappointment.
We continued along the path to the next large Gum tree with a hollow and this one for the last few months has had a Corella in residence in the hollow, again not this time. So the two places I pretty much was assured there would be some stationary birds to shoot to practice on turned out a blank.
From there we crossed the road and stopped at the small dam there for a group photo and spotted a little pied Cormorant in the trees on the other side of the bank of the dam.
After a few shots there we moved down towards the stolen generation memorial area, where there is always plenty of bird life about as its one of the usual water locations in the gardens.
This is where last week I found the Scarlet Honeyeater, and again there was a few about so quite a few got some shots of these here.
From there we started to make our way back to the plant bank with a few stops along the way.
At one stop a Kookaburra was in the trees after it had caught a mouse so a few got shots with the Kookaburra with the mouse in its beak.
From there we stopped briefly at the dam opposite the plant bank to see if there was anything interesting there, a couple of young Dusky Moorhens about, that was about it on the day. Then we made our way back to the room for a wrap up of the morning, so for a first up workshop a few disappointments from my side, regarding the birds co-operating but still some good opportunities and everyone said that they gained something from the morning so It seemed to go well. We’ll see where it goes from here.
After the Photography workshop I went back out into the gardens to get some shots for myself, I ran into a few of the workshop participants so we did some more shots.
First up I managed to capture this white faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae) in flight as it took of from the Dam opposite the plant bank. (Now they come out after the workshop.)
Then I saw this Lace Monitor Lizard as I was walking long the side of the dam, Well actually a Willie Wagtail pointed it out to me they don't like these about, most birds set of their alarm calls when these are about and I've seen them be moved on by Cockatoos who don't like the thought of these raiding there nests for eggs.
Its here I ran in to the first of the participants after the workshop, so they both got a few shots of the monitor up the tree as well.
While we were shooting the Lace Monitor a Purple swamp hen (Porphyrio porphyrio) was sitting in a tree, usually see these in the edges of the waterways in the gardens not so often up the tree. So something a little different.
We moved back along the path and the Scarlet Honeyeaters (Myzomela sanguinolenta) were about so I managed a few better shots than last weeks shot, still not happy with these yet so still need to get a good one of these.
From there I moved back along the path and found this Yellow faced Honeyeater (Lichenostomus chrysops).
I did go back to the hollow beside the road and just to rub it in the Long-billed Corella was back at its post guarding its hollow. I was happy to run into one of the other participants there as well so at least one found out that I was telling the truth there.
Last up for he week this shot of a Red-browed Finch (Neochmia teporalis) Just watching the world go by.
So that wraps up this weeks shots from the Australian Botanical Gardens and a run down on my first photography workshop. With luck there will be more in the coming year.
Thanks for dropping by my blog this week, feel free to leave comments in the comment section of the blog post, good to see its getting a global reach.
I'll be back next week with more.
Glenn
Australian Botanical Gardens, Mount Annan 3/12/2016/2016
This weeks blog post is a a walk thought the shots taken this weekend in the Australian Botanical Gardens, Mount Annan.
Next Saturday morning (10th Dec) will be my first photography workshop held in the gardens and I did a trial walk through this weekend of the walk we'll be taking in the gardens. So the first set of shots are shots taken form the walk we will be doing then later on I went a little further and got a few extra shots for the week.
This first set of shots is taken just near the plant bank, a small group of gum trees with several hollows has a lot of interest. This first shot shows a Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossis Haematodus) at a hollow a few minutes before a Red-rumped parrot came out of it.
This shot shows a pair of Rainbow Lorikeets investigating a different hollow in the same tree, this one is the home to a pair of Galahs and their young.
This shots of one of the Galahs (Eolophus roseicapilla) standing watch.
Opposite these trees is the woodland area of the gardens with Cumberland plain woodland. This shot of an Australian Raven (Corvus coronoides) was taken from the trees looking in tot her woodland through the trees, The bird was a fair way off so this one’s pretty heavily cropped so starting to lose the quality in this image.
The young Galah stuck its head just out of the hollow to see whats going on around and what all the fuss was about, so with luck this weekend it will be a lot more active and showing it self off to the world.
Not to miss out this Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita) also came in to get its portrait taken, these aren't always the best with the white bird against a light background so getting the exposure right is critical for these ones.
The parent Galahs were content to just sit around and doing a spot of feather maintenance. as seen in this shot.
This ones of a White-plumed Honeyeater, currently building its nest not that far of the main walking track, You can see all the spiderweb its been collecting to build its nest with under its beak and across its chest.
Next up is a series of shots of a Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) The first two shots are taken and the background is a bit distracting with all the branches behind, but then it moved on to a second branch where I got a cleaner shot with less distraction in the background.
Next up A Scarlet Honeyeater (Myzomela sanguinolenta), I've caught a glimpse of this one in the past but never managed a shot, not the best shot, but clearly the scarlet Honeyeater, these ones are high up in the canopy and don't stay still for long, but there were a few about so hopefully we'll be in luck next weekend.
This ones of a Dusky Moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa) young in the dam opposite the plant bank.
After the test walk checking out the timing of the walk I went up to the main lakes near the visitors centre The usual lake inhabitants were there. This ones of the common Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata).
Next up an Australasian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae) in its reed nest in the lake.
One of the young Little Pied Cormorants (Microcarbo melanoleucos) has made its way out in the lake this week so this ones on one of its first venture so hasn't had time to get its feathers dirty yet.
This ones of a Hardhead (Aythya australis) (White eyed duck) taking a bath in the middle of the lake.
By then I thought that was it for the day so was heading to the car. In the Carpark I ran across these Musk Lorikeets first time I've got a shot of these in the gardens, so two new birds this week now down to 66 birds to go in the gardens now.
So that's it for this weeks shots, a little late getting this one out due to preparing the presentation and training notes for the Bird photography work shop, The works shops now over now, next blog post I'll tell you how it went.
So that's it for this weeks blog. Thanks for dropping by my blog.
Glenn.
Australian Botanical Gardens, Mount Annan 26/11/2016
This weeks blog post is a walk through of the shots taken this weekend in the Australian Botanical Gardens, Mount Annan. Only had a short time there this week so didn't get to spend to much time there this weekend.
First up around the plant bank I came across this Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla) There was a pair of these in this gum tree this one on guard over its hollow the other was a little higher up in the tree. This is the same hollow I've been at the last few weeks.
In the same stand of gum trees, was this Olive-backed Oriole (Oriolus sagittatus) These ones have a very unique call and so you often hear these first and then go looking for them to photograph. These are quite colourful and about the size of a Noisy Miner.
An Australian Raven (Corvus Coronoides) was being pestered by its young looking for a free feed not sure it seamed to get what it was after, form what I can see looked like it was passed a small rock to play with. AS seen in the third shot in this series.
This ones almost guaranteed of being seen each week he Long-Billed Corella (Cacatua Tenuirostris) in its hollow. This ones seen a few years looking at its beak, looks a little worse for wear over the years.
As always around the Stolen Generation Memorial is a colony of Bell Miners, (Manorina melanophrys) This one was high up in the tree as is most times so not the best angle for a shot of one of these. But if any one ever wanted to know what a bell bird looks like, this is one.
Walking along the Stolen Generation path but in the clearing opposite the plant bank on the board walk I spotted this Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) looking for lunch as it sits in its tree surveying the ground.
From there I drove up to the connections gardens and found another new bird for me, I know these have been in the gardens before but I've never spotted one, this week I not only spotted one but did manage to get a coupe of shots of the Dollarbird (Eurystomus orintalis), not the best quality as it was from some distance away and as I moved closer it didn't stick around for a second session. I was short of them this weekend so didn't get to spend time tracking this one down this week, but one to look out for in future visits. So another one ticked off the list only 66 to go now to cover all the birds listed and having a presence in the Australian Botanical Gardens, Mount Annan.
The last tow shots for this week where taken under the canopy in the connections gardens of a Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus) . These made the number one spot in the Bird life Australia Bird count again this year so two ears in a row now that these ones are leading the rush.
Next up in a nearby tree is this noisy miner just sitting and waiting probably a lot safer where it is.
So thats it for this weeks short walk in the Australian Botanical Gardens, Mount Annan, thanks for dropping by my blog, I'll be back next week with more.
Glenn.
Australian Botanical Gardens, Mount Annan 19/11/2016
Welcome back to my weekly blog, this week again a walk thought of the shots taken on the weekend in the Australian Botanical Gardens, Mount Annan.
First up something different a bee hive in a hollow of a gum tree. The bees are always active around this one and looks to be traces of honey below the hollow on the trunk. This ones in the first group of trees in the gardens just as you drive in, before the main ring road around the gardens.
In the same area I noticed the amazing textures on this branch in a nearby tree, I'll have to revise this one a few times to see what I can work with this one, different light and different focal lengths, but the patterns are amazing on this one.
Again this shots from the same location a small water holes at the base of all these trees so plenty of Bird life around these ones, this ones a female Red-Rumped Parrot (Psephotus haematonotus) at another hollow. Again all these are before you hit the main ring road in the gardens.
Next up around the back of the waterhole on the flats was this Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia) This ones been around the east few weeks so a few shots of this one now of late. The trick here is to get the exposure right without blowing out the white feathers.
From there I moved on a little further thou not to far this ones on the first large lake as you drive into the gardens, in the reeds while trying to catch a shot of the Australian Reed-Warbler I say the reeds move thinking it was the reed-warbler I found it was instead a Litoria fallax (Eastern Dwarf Tree Frog). I don;t have to many shots of front for the gardens so even wiht the reeds in the way this one turned out OK.
Across the lake on a small island a pair of Little Black Cormorants (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris) were sitting around drying off. The black contrasts nicely with the greenery in the Background in this shot.
From there I drove up to the connections gardens to see if there are any Mushrooms about this week after not finding any the last few weeks, this week was not to be any better so no luck finding mushrooms to shoot, So had to look for something else and came across this acacia seed pod, which made for an interesting subject.
After no mushrooms and time getting away I headed down two the two main lakes to see what was about and came across this Male Red-Rumped parrot, pretty plain to see how this one got its name.
This one was most co-operative so I managed both front and back shots of it.
Flying up the lake was this Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos) on its way to its nest. Even zoomed in as largest as I can this one is still heavily cropped so the image is stating to loose the detail in this image.
These next two are of the young in their next arguing over a bit of bark The Second shot has them on the lookout for the return win the next meal.
Last up for this week a little Black cormorant again cursing the lake this time. These ones sit low in the water all the better for diving.
Thanks for dropping by my blog this week, I'll be back next week with more.
Glenn.
Australian Botanical Gardens, Mount Annan 12/11/2016
This week’s blog posting is a walk-through of the shots taken last weekend in the Australian Botanical Gardens, Mount Annan.
This first series of shots are of three different Bird types all nesting in the same gum tree, Guess this is apartment living bird style.
This tree is out the back of the plant bank so will be one of the stop offs on my upcoming Bird photography workshop held in the gardens. https://www.australianbotanicgarden.com.au/What-s-On/Bird-Photography-Workshop
First up a pair of Long-billed Corellas (Cacatua tenuirostris) The first two shots are taken about 90 degrees apart so same place just a different angle sometimes taking a few steps either way makes all the difference to a shot. The first shot is more a profile shot of the birds.
This next one is more front on showing more of the bird, this one shows more of the details of hollow these ones have claimed.
This next one is the same shot as above but given a bit of extra processing in Topaz Impressions II giving that painting like feeling to the image. I masked out the birds so they are more the actual photograph and the tree and background are the painting effect
This same tree had a Striated Pardalote (Pardalotus striatus) also investigating a smaller hollow, this one was on the underside of a branch, so the bird was all but upside down when it came to the hollow. These ones are pretty heavily cropped in so starting to show the effects of being too heavily cropped in.
A pair of Galahs (Eolophus roseicapilla) have also taken up resedance in the same tree so a real community set up in this one now, this is the same hollow from a few weeks that the Galah was using the gum leaves to clean it out. (If you missed the post check out the one from 17/9/2016 which shots the Galah doing its dusting)
I managed to capture this White faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae) as it struck for a small fish. These are quite common in the gardens in the various water holes around the gardens.
Next up I found a new bird I hadn't captured in the gardens before an Australasian Figbird (Sphecotheres vieilloti). This one, there was a complete family so I managed to get a shot of both Male and female plus the young as well. I didn't manage to get a really clean shot of these as they weren't co-operating posing wise but I'll check them out again next week and see if I can do better now I know where these ones are hiding.
Last up for this week’s shot is this shot of a Brown Thornbill (Acanthiza pusilla) a small group of these was bouncing around me again never staying still long enough to get a clean shot so again a shot with a stick in the way. But this one certainly wasn't shy and came quite close, but not close enough without a stick for cover. maybe next week. We'll see.
So that’s it for this week shots in the Australian Botanical Gardens, Mount Annan. Another bird found so that’s now 110 out of the 177 birds listed in the gardens, so only 67 to go now. Slowly but surely I'll get there, well get close, some of the birds listed are pretty rear so may not ever get there but half the fun is trying each week. This week found another one so always hope.
Well that’s it for this week blog post, thanks for dropping by my weekly blog, I'll be back next week with more.
Glenn.