A Rainy Afternoon

On a recent trip to Newcastle we had some afternoon drinks on the lakefront balcony of the house where we often stay. It's a beautiful spot, and we always see quite a few birds. None of these birds are particularly rare, indeed most of these are quite common, but it was great to see such a range in quarter of an hour, without moving an inch (and all while enjoying bubbles- best birdwatching ever?).

I thought the kookaburra was close on the neighbours antenna

and then he came and sat on our gutter
(Dacelo novaeguineae)

A crested tern took refuge on the jetty
(Thalasseus bergii)

Spotted Dove
(Streptopelia chinensis- introduced)

Rainbow lorikeet
(Trichloglossus haematodus)

Mallard Duck
(Anas platyrhynchos- introduced)

An artwork on the balcony

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Audrey

Last week we saw lots of special birds at Lake Macquarie. This week we just have one special bird. Audrey.

We first met Audrey back in 2001 when we spent a year living in a house right on the waterfront. It was a great year in many ways, and it was really when my interest in birds started. At one stage we noticed that there seemed to a pelican who looked injured. We rang the local wildlife rescue people to let them know, and they said "Oh Audrey? She's fine."

Twelve years later Audrey is still going fine. It's always such a thrill to see her.

Her distinctive profile is easy to spot when out for a walk

Then we found a pelican preening out the front of our holiday accommodation. I was so excited with the reflection on an idyllic calm morning, that I only realised it was Audrey when I looked at the photos later. 

Audrey's a bit like Nemo with her Lucky Wing

To me it looks like trimming your nails with garden shears

She does a great job though

She's an attractive gal 

Swimming away all preened and looking good

She groomed in the same spot a few times while we were there. It was great to see her up close.

The image quality improves markedly when you click on a photo and look at it with the lightbox.

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The Birds of Lake Macquarie 2

On my recent trip to Lake Macquarie we of course saw lots of fabulous birds.

Pelicans of course. Pelecanus conspicillatus. I love the sight of such massive birds sitting on street lights.

They don't seem to think that they look preposterous...

even though they do.

It helps to take a photographer on a walk too

There were lots of herons and egrets about. It was only going through the photos that I realised we had seen two different egrets! All looking spiffy in their breeding plumage. 

Little Egret. Egretta garzetta.

Great Egret. Ardea alba

Great Egret. Ardea alba

We saw many white faced herons too. Egretta novaehollandaie

I think the Noisy Miners could see themselves in the reflection!
They perched themselves on the car door every day
and scrabbled about on the roof.
They've never done that before

I've show you some birds at Lake Macquarie before.

Today is World Migratory Bird Day, an important day to think about ecological impacts on the estimated 50 billion birds that set off on their own extraordinary journeys. 

The image quality improves markedly when you click on a photo and look at it with the lightbox. 

Saturday Snapshot, is a wonderful weekly meme from at home with books

A week by the lake

Last week we spent a lovely relaxing week on the shores of Lake Macquarie, an hour and a half north of Sydney. 

We walked by the lake every day. It was warm. It was lovely.

No matter whether it was morning. 

Or evening. 

We saw lots of interesting characters on our walks too. 

That cat was remarkably disinterested in the birds,
just sitting enjoying the sun

I love pelicans. 

He didn't move. But why
 would you when you've got such a great pozzie?

I'm quite disappointed with the picture quality this week- not sure what is happening, they're changing by the upload somehow becoming soft and blurry, and not my gorgeous sharp photos. Anyone else having photo problems with blogger? I can't find any photo settings, and certainly haven't changed anything. 

Actually, the image quality improves markedly when you click on a photo and look at it with the lightbox. 

Saturday Snapshot, is a wonderful weekly meme from at home with books

Australian Pelican

I love our pelicans. Pelecanus conspicillatus. They certainly are conspicuous. 

But they do have such an extraordinary grace.

Despite their appearance.

Although they do look ungainly and awkward flying.

And rather improbable. 

And even more ridiculous as they land. 

They seem to have a sense of fun though. You often see groups of them quite high, circling, soaring on thermals.

And they like sitting on stuff. Despite their size. 

Saturday Snapshot, is a wonderful weekly meme from at home with books

Birdwatching at Lake Macquarie

Lake Macquarie is a picturesque lake a few hours north of Sydney. I grew up there and still visit quite regularly. It's a great place to watch birds and it was actually watching the birds there when we lived on the waterfront for a year that got me interested in seeking out birds.

I went for a walk at a local park, and saw lots more species this day, but most weren't quite so happy to sit still for a photo. 

Little pied cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos)

Galahs are quite common birds over most of Australia, I see them pretty much every day. Often in my own backyard. I love this photo though, for the beautiful scaled effect he's got going with his feathers. 

Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla)

It's a bit boring when your Mum just walks around taking pictures of birds

A noisy flock of Little Corellas (Cacatua sanguinea)
returning home for the evening

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Masked Lapwing

Recently I was visiting my parents. I noticed that the lapwings were doing unusual things. They don't normally hang out on a neighbour's roof. 

Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles), with a male magpie lark (the smaller black and white bird)

They were spending a lot of time on the neighbour's lawn too. We were staying at the neighbours, house sitting, I was usually up late watching the Tour de France, and I would see them out on the lawn at all hours. 

I began to understand why.

Camouflage

They appeared to sit on the nest during the night, and guard it closely during daylight. 

I was excited to see their nest, as I'd never seen one before. Lapwings have rather remarkable behaviours while nesting. They screech rather loudly, divebomb intruders, and will attempt to draw predators away while pretending to be injured.

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Whale watching, but where are the whales?

I was very excited recently to organise a whale watching trip as a school holiday excursion with my son. This year there are record numbers of humpback whales migrating up the Eastern Australian coastline to escape the Antarctic winter. 

It was an amazing foggy morning
(the view from our accommodation)

The fog was starting to rise by the time we got to Newcastle harbour. 

Newcastle harbour has 8 tugs

Nobby's Head

Mist rising from a patch of Pacific Ocean

Mr Wicker may have played with this image

It turned into an amazing day

Except for one small thing, we didn't see any whales. 


15,000 whales are travelling up the East Coast of Australia and we didn't see one! Luckily I took photos of some birds to pass the time. 

Pied Cormorant (Phalacrocorax varius)

Yellow-nosed Albatross (Diomedea chlororhynchos)

Even the sea gulls played nice

Silver gull (Larus novaehollandiae)

But still no whales.... So they took us to see some seals, well a seal as it turned out. I learnt that Australian Fur Seals will often rest on the rudders of ships anchored at sea. It makes sense for them I guess, they don't have to bother to swim in to the coast.

Saturday Snapshot, is a wonderful weekly meme from at home with books