Wild Bird Wednesday 444 - Masked Lapwing

The Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles) occurs over much of Australia except for an area stretching out of Central Australia towards the west coast.

It is a very family bird, often taking up noisy and aggressive residence on sports ovals, traffic islands and farmer's fields.  It will aggressively defend its territory from cats, dogs, other birds and well meaning photographers.

There are two species of the Masked Lapwing found in Australia - Vanellus miles miles and Vanellus miles novaehollandiae.  The subspecies miles a more northern distribution, while the novaehollandiae subspecies in found in the SE of Australia.  The two types interbreed where their range overlaps.

Being that Melbourne is in SE Australia I only see one of these types on a regular basis.

The northern species lacks the black neck and chest stripe of the southern species, and also has a long yellow face mask.

The younger birds in these picture as subspecies novaehollandiae.

Young novaehollandiae spps

Young novaehollandiae spps

adult novaehollandiae spps

adult miles spps

The miles spps was taken in Kakadu national park, the other birds were taken in Victoria - with the young ones being photographed at Point Lonsdale early this year.

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Alexandra

Alexandra is a small town just under two hours from home.  I went there at the end of last year to do a fly-fishing course.  No fish were disturbed in any way during the course!

However, I did take a few pictures.  I have been looking at some black and white photographs over the last week, so I tried my hand at these.  Not what I normally do - but I kind of like them.

You can find more pictures from around the world at Our World Tuesday and image-in-ing Cheers:  SM

Wild Bird Wednesday 443 - Little Egret

These pictures of Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) is a small and active hunter in wetlands over much of Australia - although it is (possibly not surprisingly) absent from the drier parts of this country.  There were five birds in a group feeding together - possibly all from a breeding colony not that far away - but I done know how many of those birds are included in these pictures.

Although not a 100% reliable field mark, the black bill on these birds is a clear indiction that we are looking at Little Egrets rather than one of the other white egret species.

These pictures were taken through a veil of vegetation, and I am surprised at how well they have come out.  It was back to good old fashioned manual focus for these shots - as in many cases the auto-focus would 'grab' the vegetation in the foreground.  

The birds seemed to be feeding on tiny crustaceans for some form rather than fish.  In some of the shots you can see the breeding plumage of these birds.

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By the Sea

I spent last week at Point Lonsdale - which is a small coastal town just under two hours from home.  We spent a lot of time there when the kids were small,  and given the uncertainty of this year we decided to book some time down there again this year.

The weather was not very summer-like, but we still managed beach walks, bike rides and even a brief swim of sorts.

These are some pictures from the week.

You can find more pictures from around the world at Our World Tuesday and image-in-ing Cheers:  SM

Wild Bird Wednesday 442 - Nankeen Night Heron

The Nankeen Night Heron (Nycticorax caledonicus) is a widespread bird in Australia.  Some sources suggest it may be generally a bit under reported as it only becomes active at dusk.

I found these two birds - and at least 8 others - in some tall trees in the middle of a park in Queenscliff in Victoria.  My attention was drawn to them by a bit a squawking from one of the juvenile birds.  I suspect that I would have missed them entirely if they had made that noise.

The birds are about 60 cm long, with a wingspan of just over a meter.  The juvenile bird lacks the black cap of the adult and also has heavily streaked plumage.

Adult

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Rain Room

Last week we visited an art instillation called The Rain Room.

It is a room with 'rain' falling from jets in the ceiling - but as you walk out into the rain the jets above you turn off - so you have your own little dry path in the middle of a storm.

You can move about slowly, and as you do the dry path follows you about!  It was pretty good really - but maybe only for about 10 minutes!

Anybody who moves too fast, gets very wet!  Some kids (surprisingly, not mine!) seemed to think this was the whole point of the exercise!

You can find more pictures from around the world at Our World Tuesday and image-in-ing Cheers:  SM

Wild Bird Wednesday 441 - Caspian Terns

Caspian Terns (Hydroprogne caspia) are a distinctively large tern with an equally large and distinctive red beak.

This group of birds were loafing about near to Swan Bay jetty - a place where I often go to have a look around.  The birds were calm, but nervous (if that makes any sense!).  I would take a slow step closer, and they would take a few slow steps further away.  I suspect it may have been a game.

I tried an indirect approach, where you don't walk directly at the birds, but weave from side to side and move very slowly forward.  They just watched and moved backwards as I moved forwards.

In the end I just stood still and waited.  And so did they!

In the end the flew off - possibly bored of teasing me and eager to find some food.

These are the best pictures I could manage!

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Shopping

Well, it's a New Year - and lets start with something a little different - well, different for me at least. 

I have to clear my head.  I need to start posting more regularly.  I just need to get going again.  The world may not be the same, but I cannot hide.

These were taken while I was shopping with my daughter.  I liked the colours.

Hope this first post of 2021 finds you all well.  SM