BirdLife Australia Melbourne Photography Group

Karkarook Park on an overcast day

Posted on April 22, 2012 by David Jenkins

When I was a young tacker (which my kids will tell you was back in the olden days, even before trams.), the area at the end of South Road on Warrigal Road was from distant memory a quarry of sorts. Being young, it wasn’t a big deal about what sort of quarry, just that is was.
Well times change, quarrying in the heart of a busy industrial/residential area is no longer in vogue. Perhaps also they managed to get out all the useable sand. So the area has been regenerated into a range of lovely pools of water, lots of green lawns for someone to mow, and a planting of native type plants and lots of well benched paths and a few tracks. There is also a nifty lookout that with a bit of imagination does indeed resemble a dragonfly. And lots of picnic talbles and bbqs to keep everyone happy

It has a bit of a record of being the home to a few special species of birds and we all turned up for the Melbourne Birdlife Photography Group’s day at the park, with a bit of anticipation of an interesting day. Did I mention the school cross country race day. Nope, thought not. So with bird photographers with long lenses going in one direction and school kids running all about shouting out encouragement, (whether it was needed or not), any self-respecting bird would have gone to the beach.

But, birds are if nothing else hardy creatures. We soon had a fly by from a Brown Goshawk. It was just plain tired of trying to find a quiet perch I suspect. A pair of Black-shouldered Kites joined in the flyby and landed conveniently for some of the group in a nearby tree. A Flame Robin was spotted and a Golden-headed Cisticola. Along with the usual band of wetlands birds.
After birdcall and most had departed, we managed another walk about the largest lake. I managed to find among some teatree scrub a number of Brown Quail. Not that they were easy to photograph, count or follow. But among it all I was pretty happy to get a reasonable recognisable frame.

The weather stayed in a sulk, and eventually it was time for home. Fish’n'chips in South Melbourne was a suitable way to finish the day.

Australasian Grebe against a lovely deep yellow/orange reflection

Hardworking White-plumed Honeyeater. As usual they also rounded up every bird that went by.

Brown Goshawk, it is in evasive mode as a Black-shouldered Kite took exception to is presence.

Darter spreading wings in preparation for departure

Brown Quail. Hardest bird of the day. Didn't seem excessively concerned by my presence, just kept ducking behind the think ground cover and branches.

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Bird Identification Day at Werribee. Or how to stay dry while it rains all around you.

Posted on March 4, 2012 by David Jenkins

The Melbourne Photography group of Birdlife Australia (New name now that the two organisations are merged as one), had planned a Wader identification session with a theory night and then a practical day down at the Werribee, Western Treatment Plant.

We assembled at John Barkla’s house for the first session, and were a bit concerned as we left that it was raining. Hmmm.

By the weekend most of Victoria was drenched and the weather men were saying that the day out was likely to be a wash out. But not for Birders.

Dorothy and I arrived early as we wanted to have a look at some Black-shouldered kites in the early morning and also managed a super sighting of a Whistling Kite. It was very reluctant to leave its fresh prey, and I was just getting the camera set, when a second car coming along put it to flight. Nice shot of departing bum of Whistling Kite.

Once the group was organised, we set of to look. John’s knowledge of the WTP is legendary, and his bird skills are equally superb. No wonder we we in for a good day.

Did I mention the rain. Probably no need to as Victoria has taken quite a hit from the rain. And so we copped a bit too. Not enough to daunt, just enough to dampen. Birders seem to be impervious to rain, (as are the birds), so things just went on.

A quick start found among the ponds near the boatramp, a Broad-billed Sandpiper. Of to a good start.

Along the road, we were able to glimpse at a distance thanks to John’s scope, a Common Greenshank, and then as we drove around the plant, John’s monologue of “Look there, Look for.. etc” kept us all busy.

The highlight of the day probably was on the trip along the beach road at 85WB Lagoon. A lone Buff-banded Rail, held up the whole convoy. It stood in the car tracks and stared down John’s Toyota. At first we thought it would do the usual thing and flee, but it stood its ground some 3-4 metres from the car. After about 5 minutes it grew tired of the game and toddled back into the bushes. But not before giving everyone a great view of the bird and some good photos. Perhaps John has trained it to sit.

A flock of Welcome Swallows took over the gate area on the road, and in amongst the birds covering the fences panels we were able to locate two Tree Martins, looking just a bit out of place among the Swallows, but I suspect in the rain no one cared.

Later in the afternoon a similar thing happened on a fence post with a single Black-shouldered kite and several Australian Magpies and a lone Willie Wagtail. All sitting together in the rain.

At the end of the day, we didn’t locate the Freckled Duck, but did at bird call find we had seen 87 species. All in all a good days work. And plenty of practice of skills that will hopefully be honed with use.

Dorothy and I went back along Paradise Road in the rain, after the event, and while we didn’t get much for our trouble. We did find a very wet Whistling Kite on its prey on a fence.

By then it was time to call it a day. On the way out we noticed a couple of damp Crested Pigeons sitting together in the rain. Very dampened crests they had. I always thought these birds to be a little strange, this only confirmed it.