Superb Fairy-wren

The female Superb Fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus) may not be as vividly coloured as her male counterpart, but she is still a beautiful little bird. I have identified three males and three female, with possibly one juvenile, living in my back garden.

While I have managed to take some photos of the males, the female has eluded me. However, in the past couple of weeks, I have managed to get a few photographs.

Here, she is being escorted by two of the males. These birds are small (11-14 cm.) and very fast. I barely had the chance to get the camera to my eye, press the shutter, then they were off!

Female Superb Fairy-wrens are brown, with a reddish-brown bill, lores.

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.

My Garden Birds

For a while there, it was looking like January was going to be the month of the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita). However, judging by the quietness of the neighbourhood lately, it seems they must have moved on to new hunting grounds.

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita)

Crimson Rosellas (Platycercus elegans), Galahs (Eolophus roseicapillus) are all frequent visitors to the feeders in my garden. Rainbow Lorikeets (Trichoglossus haematodus) occasionally turn up, and then have the cheek to try and take over.

Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans)

Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans)

Galah (Eolophus roseicapillus)

Galah (Eolophus roseicapillus)

Galah (Eolophus roseicapillus)

Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus)

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.

Shooting with Film – Circa1985

The new year was to be the start of my new project of shooting with film. As it turned out, my last photo shoot of 2017 was using my old film camera, which I had rescued from the back of the cupboard. I will share those photos here, once they are developed and printed.

Back in about 1985, Nikon had released an entry-level SLR, the Nikon EM, at a price that allowed photographers like me to upgrade my camera. The camera came fitted with a Nikon Series E 50mm 1: 1.8 lens.

Recently, I found a photo album with some photographs I had taken back in the 1980s, and, I must admit, I had forgotten how good that lens was.

Aire River, Otway National Park – c1985

This photograph was shot using that camera and lens, loaded with Kodacolor film.

The following photographs were also taken on that same photo shoot. They are of the Hopetoun Falls and other scenes of the Aire 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.

 

 

2018 – The First Six Days

On New Year’s Day, the Little Raven (Corvus mellori) family came to the feeders in my front garden. There were two adult birds and three juveniles.

They had been nesting in a tree at the bottom of my yard, and until this visit had rarely come down from the treetops.

The following photograph is of a Superb Fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus) in full breeding colours.

As soon as I had snapped that photo, he immediately turned around. So, for a bit of fun, here he is – a rear view.

If there were ever a vote for the bird with the worst attitude, the Sulphur-crest Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita) would win, hands down!

These birds are loud, gregarious, and definitely have attitude!

The following photo is another male Superb Fairy-wren. I have been observing him in the garden and I have noticed some odd behaviour.

I first noticed it a couple of weeks ago, when he sat within a Blackberry bush, preening. He sat for ages hidden under the Blackberry’s leaves, surrounded by large thorny canes. They were his protection.

In the photo below, (which was taken in my front garden), I snapped him feeding, but, again, he stayed within the protection of my bottlebrush’s foliage.

I have read recently of how the male Superb Fairy-wren can change his behaviour when he comes into his breeding colours. He feels vulnerable, and unlike the other adult male, he was with, was not going to venture out into the open.

Below are some more photos that were taken in my front garden.

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita)

Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans)

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.

Summer Visitors

Every summer the Sulphur Crested Cockatoos (Cacatua galerita) arrive at my place for the summer.

When Spring arrives, I have noticed a “scout” flies over the neighbourhood, staying for just a few days before leaving. Anything from a week to a few days will pass then the whole flock will appear.

This year the most birds have turned up. The flock numbering at least a hundred is twice as big as the flock that has turned up in other years.

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.