Wild Bird Wednesday 288 - Tasmanian Native-hen

There are 12 endemic species found in (and only in) Tasmania.  One of these is the Tasmanian Native-hen (Tribonyx mortierii).  This bird is a large, flightless rail, and it used to be classified into the genus Gallinula, along with birds such as the Moorhen.  However, the tides of taxonomy have moved into a much smaller genus - which contains only one other living species.

It tells you a good deal about these birds that one of their common names is the "Turbo-Chook".  They are fast moving, noisy and often seem to be of ill temper with member of their own species, and the world in general.

I actually found them hard to photograph, and saw daily saw them on verges by the side of the road as I was going past, heading somewhere else.  On our last day in Tasmania I found some in that same habitat, and having a bit of time to waste while I waited for the ferry home I photographed them.

I rather like the urban background to these images.

As ever, to join in with WBW just click on the blue button below the thumbnails - feel free to share a link to this page on the many and varied forms of social media that we now use every day!

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Still Distracted

I arrived home from Tasmania today and went (more or less) straight to work!  I suspect that you will not be surprised that I found being in Tasmania better than being at my desk!

These are a few pictures taken from where we stayed in the second half of out trip - the house is near a settlement called Moina, which is not very far from Cradle Mountain National Park.  It was a wonderful, peaceful location with no connection to the outside world except for electricity.

I have sorted out these pictures, and will be back in full swing very soon!

The house is a little more modern than it looks, because it has been built largely with recycled materials that were present on the site.    It was a fabulous place!

More pictures from around the world at Our World Tuesday.  SM

Wild Bird Wednesday 287 - Welcome Swallows

When I was in New Zealand last year I came upon these fledged Welcome Swallows (Hirundo neoxena) being fed by their parents.  I seemed not to be able to get decent images of the birds being fed, but I did get these more stationary images.

I cant help but notice that the young birds seem rather content to just wait to be fed.  This may be familiar to all parents!

As ever, to join in with WBW just click on the blue button below the thumbnails - feel free to share a link to this page on the many and varied forms of social media that we now use every day!  

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Distracted

The pictures below are the view from my temporary new front door - you may understand why I have been distracted from blogging!  And I suspect I will be no move active over the next few days either!

So, please take this as both an explanation and an apology for not visiting many (well, any!) blogs over the last week!

So of you may recognise this location - I am at Freycinet National Park in Tasmania - one of the best places I have ever been!

More pictures from around the world at Our World Tuesday.  SM

Wild Bird Wednesday 286 - Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo

More from the parrot family this week.  This is a Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita) investigating a hole in a tree just around the corner from last week's flock of Eastern Rosellas.

Like most parrots, these birds are really rather smart.  They are also noisy, destructive and fun to watch.  I assume that I consider them 'fun to watch' because they are not destroying the wires and gutters of my house!

These birds are about 50cm long and can be found all over the eastern and northern parts of Australia.  Their voices can not really be described as melodic, but their raucous calls are a really iconic part of the bush soundscape in this part of the world.

As ever, to join in with WBW just click on the blue button below the thumbnails - feel free to share a link to this page on the many and varied forms of social media that we now use every day!  

cheers - SM

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The camera you have...

I cant claim to be indifferent to conversations about camera gear - but in the end I do find the endless fixation with focal lengths, shutter speeds and ISOs to miss the point.  The first thing you need is a vision of the picture you want, and then you use the gear you have to produce it.  Or produce a picture as close to it as you can.

I was out for a walk recently - actually looking for fishing spots - when I saw these Australasian Swamphens on a fence.  The only camera I had with me was on my phone.  These are the images I managed to make.

I really like the middle one of these pictures.  More pictures from around the world at Our World Tuesday.  SM

Evening at Chateau Yering

Chateau Yering is a vineyard in the Yarra Valley - about one hour from home.  Had an overnight there earlier in the week.  All very relaxing.

Here are some low light shots from the end of the day.

I have applied a filter called "just a little too much red wine" to these images!

You can find more skies from around the world at Sky Watch Friday.  SM

Wild Bird Wednesday 285 - Eastern Rosella

The Eastern Rosella (Platycercus eximius) is a wonderful looking bird.  Unfortunately, I find them to be rather camera shy and nervous in the extreme.  They are not really uncommon, but as a result of their flighty nature, I see this bird far more often than I photograph it.

When I was out looking for the Powerful Owls last week I found a small flock the Rosellas.  While these are not the best pictures in the world I thought that people would like to see them as the bird is so brightly coloured.

This bird is about 30cm long and can be found in south east Australia and Tasmania. Due to their use as a logo on a bottle our family name for these birds is a Tomato Sauce Rosella - and of course I would never use that in the presence of serious birders!

As ever, to join in with WBW just click on the blue button below the thumbnails - feel free to share a link to this page on the many and varied forms of social media that we now use every day!  

cheers - SM

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Blue-Tongue

During a brief wander at Studley Park this week, I stumbled upon a Blue-Tongue lizard - in fact a Blotched Blue-Tongue (Tiliqua nigrolutea) if we want to be specific.

Blue-Tongues are large skinks - with this animal being about 45cm long.  As is the way with these animals, it was really doing all that much - just passing through as it looked for food.

When I was checking through the images I took at home, I noticed the two creamy white objects behind the lizards from leg. (Best seen in the 3rd picture) With the help of some people on a reptile forum I was able to find out that they are ticks - apparently most blue-tongues carry a few.  When I found this out, my toes curled up a bit!

In the second picture, you can see why these skinks are known as blue-tongues!

More pictures from around the world at Our World Tuesday.  SM

Football Sky

One of my last 'outings' of 2017, was a trip to the football with H. Fun was had by all I think - except the fans of the away team, the Newcastle Jets, who had to watch their team be beaten 2-1 by Melbourne Victory.

One of the more remarkable things is that the sky went from cloudy grey to orange for a short time.  These are phone shots - but you get the idea.

You can find more skies from around the world at Sky Watch Friday.  SM

Wild Bird Wednesday 284 - Powerful Owl

Well, the first WBW of 2018 gets off to a good start via my last real birding trip of 2017.  With the help of a fellow birder I was able to get wonderful views of a family of Powerful Owls (Ninox strenua). The family - an adult female and two young - were showing well once we found them - although they were close to invisible from the path.  One of the young birds was far more active than the other, and the mother spend a few minutes sorting out some stray feathers.  This activity seemed to be a great interest to the more lively of the young ones.

Powerful Owls are Australia's largest owl - being about 65cm long - are are only found in east and south east Australia.  I had not seen any during 2017, so it was a nice way to end the year.  

These owls feed on possums, and you can see the size of the young birds feet in the last image.

Wonderful birds.

Young Bird

Young Bird x2

Adult female

Young Bird

Whole group

Young Bird

Whole group - female preening

Whole group - female preening 

Whole group - female preening 

Whole group - female preening 

Whole group - female preening 

Whole group - note size of feet.

To join in with WBW just click on the Blue Button below the thumbnails and follow the instructions. Feel free to invite all and any bloggers who may be interested.  Cheers and a Happy New Year.  SM

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