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| Yellow-billed Spoonbill (left and right); Royal Spoonbill (centre) (There's a small plover bottom left too) Wyreema Water Treatment Plant, Queensland, Australia December 22, 2013 |
Having my first Christmas back home since before the floods and great earthquake of 2011. (I have been back since then but not in summer). Niigata had a maximum of 8 yesterday and I imagine grey skies. Nice and blue here. The sun is strong if you stand under it but in the shade the breeze is cool and dry. Different from the radiant heat of Niigata in summer. The forecast here is for a temperature rise over Christmas however.
On Sunday afternoon I had a nice outing with Michael Atzeni and Rod Hobson to Wyreema. Many waterbirds about the place and we were looking for avian visitors from the west which would be avoiding the hot dry drought out there. Michael and Rod are highly efficient naturalists and we recorded some exciting records but I was too useless with my camera to get rarities such as Freckled Duck and a possible Black Honeyeater.
Pink-eared Duck and Plumed Whistling Duck looked so beautiful and unique on ground an in air but even commoners such as Australian White and Straw-necked Ibis were familiar faces that I was so happy to see. I regret now that I didn't spend more time trying to photo a Nankeen Kestrel that was busy going back and forth overhead.
Had a nice outing the following morning with Kevin Williams and will post some pics in a couple of days. Just two short outings and over six hundred shots taken.
I hope you are having a nice time this Christmas and I'm looking forward to having more time the next few days to check other blogs. Holidays are a grand time.
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| Same spoonbills with an Australian White Ibis (second from the left) |
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| Pink-eared Ducks and Plumed Whistling Ducks |
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| Eastern Grey Kangaroo (above and below) |
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| Looks nice a green east of the draught. |
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| White-necked Heron with blue sky |
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| Straw-necked Ibis |
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| Australian Hobby thumbing a ride roadside |
15 comments:
Some very Australian summer images. i do like the curious look on the Hobby. Merry Christmas.
Russell you got some grand shots while out with your friends. Best wishes from the east coast, N.S.W. too.
Looks like a great day out! I met Michael a few years ago while exploring the Lockyer Valley. A very helpful and knowledgeable bloke. Enjoy your holiday and a Merry Christmas to you Russell.
Beautiful captures and LOVE the variety! I would like to have a WARM Christmas so I could bird watch without freezing :) Merry Christmas!!
Pink-eared Duck is such a unique and interesting bird. I'd love to see it one day.
Wish you a great holiday and a Merry Christmas!
Hi Russell. Good to be home for Christmas. Great shot. I wish you a VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS.
Hi Russell, That Pink-eared Duck is sort of weird looking until I googled it and read about more about it on Wiki.
The kangaroo looks like one of your bigger ones? Not one I'd like to meet in a dark alley I think? Your Hobby is so colourful too and I can see the family resemblance to our own more subdued one - do you get Eurasian Hobby down there?
Have a great Christmas and best wishes to you and all your family.
Thank you, Carole, Have a great holiday season in N.S.W!
Thank you, I like the hobby too. Merry Christmas!
Thank you, John. Michael always teaches me a lot about the birds in the area. Merry Christmas to you too.
Thank you, Kerri. I'm really enjoying the warm Christmas. Hope you have a great one too!
Thank you, Ayuwat. Pink-eared Ducks are really beautiful. Have a great Christmas where you are!
Thank you, Margaret. You have a very Merry Christmas too!
Merry Christmas, Phil. Pink-eared Ducks are truly unique. I wish I could get closer but they took off at any approach. Eastern Grey Kangaroos are the second biggest kangaroo species. The males can get up to 2 metres tall I think. I love all hobbies but Australia only has one species as pictured above. I think there is one or two records right up at the peak of Cape York of either Eurasian or Oriental Hobby, I don't remember which from years ago but I wouldn't be surprised if there are more records in the future. Cheers!
Seems like if you're home for the holiday you couldn't have a much better welcome than this!
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