Well, as many parts of Australia will be far too aware, this has been a very wet week. Fortunately I was able to get to the gardens one day and found that the birds were loving all the water! Here are some colourful Eastern Rosellas Platycercus eximius having a great time in the little pool. First one had a good shake, then the other, then they both did, so they ended up looking very dishevelled!
I manged to get a nice shot of a Crimson Rosella who was watching the antics nearby but preferring to stay dry. I also managed a picture of an Eastern Spinebill, though sadly its a little out of focus or it would have come close to a decent picture of one of these birds that I always have trouble capturing as they move so fast!
Finally, at long last I also managed to get a shot of a Gang-gang Cockatoo Callocephalon fimbriatum for this blog! I heard the familiar creaking call and spied one in a tree, however it is a female or perhaps a juvenile (it looks rather young and scraggly in the first photo), apparently young birds are similar to the adult female, with young males differing by having a red crown and forehead and a shorter, less twisted red crest. So, a little disappointing its not a male but I will keep an ear out and hopefully one day I will get a picture of one in the gardens on here for you (though before long they might be heading back up to higher altitudes - they are more common in Canberra in winter).
Oh, you're SO lucky to get to see gang-gangs!! And great shots of Eastern Rosella too!
ReplyDeleteHappy travels!!
Hi Hazel
ReplyDeleteLovely observations. The Gardens has terrific habitat for Rosellas and Gang Gangs.
Spinebills are hyperactive, in my opinion. I put it down to their sugar diet.
Lovely bird, but as you say, so hard to get a decent photo.
Denis