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Cattle Egret
breeding
Queensland University, Gatton Campus, Queensland, Australia |
A week late posting this, but enjoyed a big day out with Rod Hobson who kindly took me down and around the Lockyer Valley on Saturday, December 28, 2013. It was overcast to start the day but we quickly commenced our day with a Black Falcon of which we had two sightings.
Rod was determined that we would find more raptors and we even went up through the Great Divide to Wyreema and Cambooya in hope for a Spotted Harrier but we only saw a couple of kestrels as the skies became quiet once blue, so we turned around and went back down to the valley where we got a Spotted Harrier with our eyes but I failed with the camera near Grantham.
Still, it was a remarkable day with the Lockyer Valley proving it is a special place for birding.
Thanks, Rod.
(Disappointed that I can only input 200 or less characters for the labels/contents on Blogger so I couldn't list all the species pictured in my contents!)
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| Royal Spoonbill |
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| Magpie Goose |
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| Cockatiel |
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Superb Fairy-wren
male |
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| Comb-crested Jacana |
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| Black Falcon |
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| Royal Spoonbill |
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| Magpie Goose (Above and below) |
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| Yellow-billed Spoonbill and Royal Spoonbill |
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| Interesting sight: Glossy Ibis (landing), Australian Shoveler (left) Spoonbills, Australian Wood Duck (centre) etc. |
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| Another view of several birds including Black-winged Stilt and Australian Pelican |
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| Sacred Kingfisher |
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| Freckled Duck is a rarity here (Above and below) |
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| Whistling Kite |
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| Black Kite (Australian) |
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White Bellied Sea-eagle
Lake Clarendon |
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Pink-eared Duck (flying behind) and Eurasian Coot (foreground)
The ducks were nervous with the sea-eagle circling overhead |
5 comments:
a great variety of sightings Russell; I've read about the Lockyer Valley for birding, it sounds like a top place to visit. I especially liked the cattle egrets
What a great variety. I agree with Carole about the cattle egrets - not always the most co-operative bird! I hope they all survived yesterday, and you too, of course.
Stunning captures of the Cattle Egrets, they are really lovely portraits.:) Lucky you to see and capture so many different birds.
Beautiful photos Russell. The cattle egrets are spectacular but I loved the Magpie Goose images - I had no idea they were around this area, I have only seen them near Cairns. Loved the Jacana also, another one I have only ever seen up north! Looks like it was a great day out.
Wonderful shots Russell.
I thought..........why are The Cattle Egrets in breeding pumage in December? Then I realised...........
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