Flowers on Friday

I thought I might make a contribution to Flowers on Friday this week. Just by coincidence I was reprocessing some flower pictures I had taken last autumn.

Dahlias are one of my favourite flowers.

Mallard

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) or Wild Duck is a dabbling duck which is native to the Americas, Europe, Asia and North Africa. They are an introduced species to Australia and New Zealand.

The ducks pictured below live on the Barongarook Creek which flows into Lake Colac.

Mallards at rest on the bank of the Barongarook Creek

Mallards are 52 to 68 centimetres in size and will be found mainly in lakes in town parks, larger lakes and dams.

Female Mallard

Female Mallard preening on the bank of the Barongarook Creek.

Great Egret at Lake Colac

Yesterday I was very fortunate to have a close encounter with this Great Egret as it searched for food among the reeds and grass on the shore of Lake Colac.

The Great Egret (Ardea alba) has a white body, and wings, which can be up to a metre long. It has a long slender neck which is 1.5 times the length of the body and black (or dark grey) legs. They are native to Australia and are not considered endangered. The Great Egret is a carnivore, and will be found in freshwater wetlands and swamps.

The first image is of an non-breeding bird, evident by the lack of, or fewer, lacy scapular plumes and the yellow bill. The bill is usually black on breeding birds.

Non-Breeding Great Egret

Distinguishing features – Long slender neck with prominent kink, long bill, and low, flat forehead.

Great Egret with its catch.

Please Note: All photographs appearing on my blog were taken by me. They are copyrighted and all rights are reserved. If you would like to purchase a print please contact me by leaving a comment below with your order and contact details. I will then get back to you.

On A Dull Overcast Day

Over the past couple of weeks, my part of Australia has not seen the sun very much. But on dull overcast days I find it is best to photograph flowers. I find these conditions allow the flowers to show their true colours.

The following images were taken at the Colac Botanic Gardens.

Yellow Daisy

Yellow Daisy #2

Red Poppy

Red Blossoms

 

Black – shouldered Kites

Correction: This post has been edited to correct a misidentification of these birds. I erroneously named them Grey Goshawks (Accipter novaehollandiae).

This pair of Black-shouldered Kites (Elanus axillaris) were spotted sitting in a Willow tree on the bank of the Barongarook Creek where it runs into Lake Colac.

White morph Grey Goshawk

Its mate was sitting near by.

Grey Goshawk (Accipter novaehollandiae)

Please Note: All photographs appearing on my blog were taken by me. They are copyrighted and all rights are reserved. If you would like to purchase a print please contact me by leaving a comment below with your order and contact details. I will then get back to you.

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

The Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita) is an Australian native bird with a body up to 50 centimetres long. Its body is white and it has a sulphur-yellow crest on the head. They breed in hollows in old growth trees. They make loud harsh noises and can be heard from a distance.

The Sulphur-crested Cockatoo’s diet is one of a herbivore, and will be found in forests, grasslands as well as urban areas.

They are considered locally abundant and are not on any endangered lists.

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Cacatua galerita, Lorne

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Cacatua galerita, Lorne – Photographed along the bank of the Erskine River

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Cacatua galerita, Lorne – Erskine River

Please Note: All photographs appearing on my blog were taken by me. They are copyrighted and all rights are reserved. If you would like to purchase a print please contact me by leaving a comment below with your order and contact details. I will then get back to you.