Pied Cormorant preening

Pied Cormorant preening

©Christine Linton

This cormorant was drying his wings in the typical "batman" pose; by the time I had my camera out and zoomed in he was preening.  The reflection is interesting; the ripples come from a duck paddling along quite some distance away.  I always think it is interesting too that they like to balance on something set away from a shoreline if possible.

Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo - what characters!

I noticed some sulphur-crested cockatoos over at the oval, and watched them for ages, they have such interest in their surroundings, investigating everything.  These two noticed me taking photos on my mobile phone.

"You looking at me?"

©Christine Linton

The next two looked like they were conferring about a jail break.  I got down low to photograph them from behind the fence, so as not to scare them into flying away, and it looked like they were in prison.

"Don't look now but I think we can make a run for it ... "

©Christine Linton

Feathers

In this photo, the feathers in the wing are reasonably clearly shown considering I was on the other side of the lake.  As you can see from the shadow it was shortly after midday.  The bird flapped his wings then continued catching whatever he eats on the lake edges.  I was prepared for a take-off, had my eye to the viewfinder and fortunately had the camera set for a burst of 5 pix.  So I had a choice for this post.  With the previous shot, the wings were higher and the white underside was totally reflecting the sun, so you could see nothing of the inside wing.  I liked this also, because I have a shadow and a reflection in the water.

Masked Lapwing 

©Christine Linton

The beauty of birds

I find it doesn't matter whether a bird is native to Australia, a feral bird, in the wild, a pet or a zoo exhibit - whenever I see a bird I am entranced by their beauty and delicacy - small or large.

Starling on a power line near to my home in suburban Adelaide

©Christine Linton

Macaw at Adelaide Zoo, in the Freeflight Presentation

©Christine Linton

Macaw in flight

Macaw in flight, Adelaide Zoo

©Christine Linton

Purple Swamphen

In the Adelaide Botanic Gardens yesterday I was photographing the waterlily pond - a giant stretch of large waterlilies beside a natural-looking area, and behind the lilies I spied some movement.  When I zoomed in I found it was a well-hidden Purple Swamphen, inspecting the people pointing cameras at the waterlilies.

Purple Swamphen

©Christine Linton

Silver gull

Here is a Silver Gull down at Henley Beach.

Silver Gull 

©Christine Linton

Characters

"You go first ..."
©Christine Linton

These two magpies weren't sure whether to try the green curled up leaf for breakfast.

Get that worm ...

Out and about, I noticed these two magpies searching for worms.  In this photo, I caught the female in the act, while her mate is hoping for a share - loved his expression!

female Australian Magpie pulls a worm from the soil - hubby hanging out for a share

©Christine Linton

Rainbow Lorikeet

Finally a decent close-up of the most common bird around here, feeding from the blossom:

Rainbow Lorikeet 

©Christine Linton

A new blog

I have started a new blog to document my adventures with my new camera.  It is at
http://photographyartinnature.blogspot.com.au/

White-faced heron

White-faced heron 

©Christine Linton

Masked Lapwing (spur-winged plover)

I've tried before to get close to these birds but they are too shy.  My previous camera wasn't enough to get a good photo from the distance, but now I have upgraded and was pleased as punch with this:

Masked Lapwing feeding in the middle of a dry lake - must be something good there!

©Christine Linton

End of Year Break

I won't be posting again until January, so here is a little something, the sky at sunrise.

Sky at sunrise 

©Christine Linton

Superb Wren

This video is courtesy of Kev Collins of St. Kilda:

It shows a father Superb Wren feeding dessicated coconut to his chicks.

Ibises

Ibises in tree along Linear Park 

©Christine Linton

Sometimes I see large numbers of Ibis in the same tree together.

Australian Bird Life

Just discovered a new website Birdlife Australia, with an online magazine Australian Bird Life.  There are lots of interesting articles.

Photo Ark

Here are some beautiful photos.
http://photoark.com/galleries/

Chickens

This is my Papa Chooky, which I drew for a "Goldilocks" book (my own version, which always has Goldilocks clearing up her own mess).  I have always loved chickens.  What characters!  Domestic chickens come from Jungle Fowl - and I have just been reading about them here on the BBC Wildlife Blog.  You can see more of my Chookys on my other blog, Craft Conversations under the Chooky label.

Australian Grebe

Grebes are just coming into breeding season here in Adelaide, and they will develop a lovely chestnut stripe on their neck, and an oval yellow on the face.  The flank also becomes much richer in colour.  We have several living locally at Lochiel Park, (alongside the Torrens containing it's own small wetlands - it is an ecologically sustainable development) and last year I enjoyed watching the chicks - so cute!  Stripey!

Australian Grebe - breeding plumage 

©Christine Linton