Wild Birds of Australia

nardes wrote in post #19442686
The Red-backed Fairy-wren is the smallest of Australia's fairy-wrens. Males are glossy black with a striking red patch on the back and rump.

I spotted this pair at the Oxley Creek Common this morning.

Cheers

Dennis

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What beautiful little birds. And real special that you managed to photograph the pair together. Great work, Dennis.

Pippan wrote in post #19442715
Another astonishingly detailed image Richard and another bird I've chased around without getting anywhere near that close.

thanks very much Pippan.
That lens is a rather special one IMO and I should use it more.

one of our resident ducks on the dam
I think it is an Australasian Shoveler. Happy to be corrected

Female Shining flycatcher -

avondale87 wrote in post #19442704
Dennis these are gorgeous birds and incredibly fine photos.
They would have to be the best I've seen of them.
You really captured the detail and the depth of colours and that lovely sheen the Fairy wrens can have.

Interesting the females head fluffed up like that is how I see some of our Superbs. Exactly same behavioural patterns.

What a privilege to see those.
Did you know of them or chance on them in your wanderings? Not that makes an iota of difference to the quality of your work

Hi Richard

There are a couple of locations along the Oxley Creek Common that seem popular with Wrens due to the local environmental conditions and so they can often bee seen darting around in the low to mid-height undergrowth. Unfortunately in the morning you're shooting directly into the Sun with the birds in shadow, so they can be tricky to capture.

Having said that, the main reason for my recent successes is that I sold one of my Wife's oil fields and promised to do housework and dishes for the rest of my life, which got me the Canon RF 600mm F4L IS USM. Paired with the R5, this combo has been the main contributor to my recent successes, not field craft, talent or good looks.

Cheers

Dennis

avondale87 wrote in post #19442711
feel somewhat nervous posting after those wrens above

Still going through some of the Striated Pardalote images. Having never seen one so close I can't get over how beautiful they are.

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WOW! Gorgeous detail in this portrait Richard, this is such an elusive, small bird that is difficult to get a good shot of.

Cheers

Dennis

nardes wrote in post #19442907
WOW! Gorgeous detail in this portrait Richard, this is such an elusive, small bird that is difficult to get a good shot of.

Cheers

Dennis

Hi Pippan

Per my reply to Richard above, the new Canon RF 600mm F4L IS USM, paired with the R5, has been the main contributor to my recent successes, not field craft, talent or good looks.

Cheers

Dennis

Levina de Ruijter wrote in post #19442716
What beautiful little birds. And real special that you managed to photograph the pair together. Great work, Dennis.

Thanks Levina, these are quite beautiful birds indeed.

They love hedges and thick undergrowth where they feel safe from predators. When I see a lone female it is often quite difficult to tell whether she is a F Red-backed Wren, F Superb Wren, etc. so it was good to get the two together.

Cheers

Dennis

A Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, a large white parrot of Australia. It has a dark grey-black bill, a distinctive sulphur-yellow crest and a yellow wash on the underside of the wings. The female can be separated at close range by its red-brown eye (darker brown in the male). These can be quite noisy and conspicuous birds with loud, raucous calls, both at rest and in flight.

I spotted this one on the ground at Oxley Creek Common, munching on Scotch thistle. The Seeds of Scotch thistle are 4 to 5mm long, grey with dark mottling and are attached to a pappus (parachute) of toothed hairs or bristles up to twice as long as the seed.

She seemed to be enjoying herself.

Cheers

Dennis

(Taken with RF 600mm F4L IS USM)

Photo from nardes's gallery.
Image hosted by forum (1184024)

Photo from nardes's gallery.
Image hosted by forum (1184023)

nardes wrote in post #19442960
This is a male Superb Fairy-Wren who posed nicely for me, albeit somewhat into the Sun...

Taken at the Oxley Creek Common on this morning's walk. (RF 600mm F4)

Cheers

Dennis

nardes wrote in post #19442907
WOW! Gorgeous detail in this portrait Richard, this is such an elusive, small bird that is difficult to get a good shot of.

Cheers

Dennis

Thanks Dennis, very much appreciated.

I see I mq'd your Superb Fairy Wren, intentionally, but was going to reply there.
Anyway, they're lovely captures with lovely colours.
Interesting, but I didn't realise their beak has a tiny hook on its tip.
I checked mine and yes!
Your second one is such a typically classic wren pose. Amazingly bred into them

Crimson Finch - NT

Corella in flight

Honey Eater -Fogg Dam

clipper_from_oz wrote in post #19443063
Crimson Finch - NT

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Wow. What a gorgeous bird! I love the colours.

avondale87 wrote in post #19442990
>snip
Interesting, but I didn't realise their beak has a tiny hook on its tip.
I checked mine and yes!
>snip

Hi Richard

Good pick up, like you, I had previously believed their beaks to be reasonably straight.

Here is a full res crop from another shot showing the curvature.

Cheers

Dennis