Wednesday 30 April 2014

Wild Bird Wednesday 94 - Botanic Birds

During the weekend trip to Melbourne's Botanic Garden I had hoped to get some pictures of the herons that stand on the islands in the lakes.  While it was a rather good plan (or so I thought!) there were rather too many people about - and you can also hire a punt and being "punted" around the lakes.

While I am sure this is all jolly good fun, it does rather put the kibosh on heron watching.

How dare they!

So we sat down to eat a picnic lunch, and just watched the opportunists walk up to us in the hope of crumbs and snacks.

These are some of our hungry looking visitors!

Female Magpie Lark 
Female Wood Duck
Male Chestnut Teal
Purple Swamphen
Dusky Moorhen
Hardhead or White Eyed Duck

Hardhead or White Eyed Duck 
Silver Gull
Now it's over to you - click on the link below and off you go.



53 comments:

  1. what a great selection of birds and waterfowl!

    i like your little wood duck hen!

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  2. I'm partial to the very first image...the lark. She's gorgeous.

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  3. I have tried that trick ... picnic in the Botanical Gardens and all I get is Sparrows and Starlings ... What are you feeding those darlings that gets them even coming out of the water to join you for lunch. You must be a bird whiperer ... such an awesome selection of birds. Sometimes I feel like I don't live in the right place ... need a roomer?

    Andrea @ From the Sol

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  4. Quite a nice variety Stewart. The magpie lark is a beauty. Love the white eyed duck too.

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  5. a shame to miss the herons but you saw a wide variety of other birds

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  6. What a great variety of birds indeed, Stewart!! Beautiful captures!!

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  7. Each bird has such a nice portrait. Now if you could just get them to pay you for your beauty shot!

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  8. Sorry about the herons, but you saw many lovely birds anyway.

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  9. Great photo of all the "opportunists"! At least they come up close for photos without any great effort!

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  10. Yeah, I always hate it when other people interfere with my nature hikes (who let them on to our private path/beach/etc) ;>).

    Wonderful birds visited you while you ate. I'd probably be lucky to get sparrows. Or starlings.

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  11. Great shots Stewart .
    It's fantastic when the wildlife comes to you.

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  12. Really gorgeous birds. I'm loving the Purple Swamphen and Gull. All of them are beautiful birds!

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  13. Very impressive luncheon guests! It seems that botanical gardens all over the world are special attractions for birds. That magpie lark is a standout!

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  14. The chestnut teal looks like a rather chunky character. A great variety of lunch-time friends.

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  15. Great birds; botanical gardens can be good birding places.

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  16. Beautiful! I'm fond of the magpie and swamphen! Lots of nice color, too!

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  17. Stewart, these are such beautiful shots!...:)JP

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  18. I never tire of looking at our Australian birds, wonderful photo's.

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  19. Not only did you have very good looking lunch guests, the professional photographer you hired to shoot the event did a wonderful job!

    That's the way to have a picnic!

    Great images, Stewart!

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  20. Wonderful variety of birds, Stewart. My favorites are the pretty lark and the swamphen! Great shots, thanks for hosting.. Enjoy your week!

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  21. a lovely post featuring our more reliables for a photo opportunity

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  22. A nice group of birds and waterfowl! I'm intrigued by the swamphen. Nice colors.

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  23. Magpies are special favourites of mine. I've only seen one and that was several years ago. The dusky moorhen reminds me a bit of our American Coot. Great post, Stewart and my eternal thanks for keeping this meme running so smoothly.

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  24. Your bird shots are fabulous! All so nice and close and clear!!

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  25. A great bunch of shots from your weekend. I like them all.

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  26. Well you certainly had lots of visitors and they are very photogenic. Phooey on those dang Herons. MB

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  27. What a collection. And they all look as if they are walking towards you.

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  28. Australian ducks are some of the best, yours are excellent.

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  29. thanks again for hosting Wild Bird Wednesday...

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  30. Hi Stewart!
    Really nice photos you took of all these birds, I think they are common here in Sweden too!
    Greetings Pia

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  31. Quite an awesome collection here Stewart. Wow. I love the magpie. Fantastic shots!

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  32. Beautiful birds. I really like the Magpie Lark.

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  33. Glad you still got to see these great birds up close during your picnic. Love the swamphen and hoping I get to see one too in the future.

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  34. quite the show of birds for your sit down snack time... they're all beautiful. i especially like that magpie lark... hope all is well. have a great day~

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  35. You might not have seen the herons, but that's a great assortment of birds you saw. Beautiful!

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  36. I'd say it was a great day despite not seeing the heron. The magpie has always been a favorite of mine and that swamphen is so elegant! I've not seen that one, so thank you.

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  37. Delightful assembly of birds, Stewart!

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  38. Oh...I want to see a Purple Swamphen!

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  39. Beautiful photos better luck next time for the herons.

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  40. A wonderful variety of birds and great photos Stewart.

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  41. What an interesting collection you have this week! That female magpie lark is a beauty. All are striking, such unusual colors we're not used to seeing.

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  42. Fantastic selection of birds. The Purple Swamphen caught my eye, a very colorful and interesting looking bird.

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  43. Lovely. I especially like the picture of the Purple Swamphen. It's such a common bird that I think people forget how pretty it is.

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  44. So you finally found your Hardhead! Good for you.

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  45. What a great selection of water birds!
    I missed linking up this week, I've been a bit preoccupied and it was my birthday on Wednesday.

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  46. Hi Stewart, you were in the right place for those 'opportunists' - a nice variety of them.
    I must join the others and link up on Wednesdays when I have some birdy shots.
    Cheerio for now :D)

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  47. Hi, just came across your site and as a birder from South Africa I'd like to join in if that's ok.

    Have enjoyed looking at the birds from other parts of the world

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