I made another visit to Nurragingy Reserve at Doonside to see what birds were out. My last visit had been very good – I was able to get some reasonable photos of a pair of Azure Kingfishers (although not at the same time), and had spotted a Rose Robin. I was again on the lookout for these birds and perhaps some others as well.
I arrived early, and went to the pond where I had seen the Azure Kingfishers on my previous visit. None were around, so I visited some nearby pools, looking for them or other birds.
I then started on a walk on the Kookaburra Firetrail which goes around the northern perimeter of the reserve.
Again, it was very quiet and I didn’t see or hear too many birds. But back at the duckpond area, I spotted straight way an Azure Kingfisher. I approached it quietly and was able to get some reasonable photos.
It was fishing, but it didn’t seem to catch anything on the few dives it made. On my previous visit – the birds seemed to catch a small fish with every dive. Perhaps this time there were less fish in the pond or perhaps the water was a bit murkier?
Anyway, the birds soon flew away, and I didn’t see it again on my visit. Nor the other one of the pair.
I then walked around the ponds again and photographed one of the Grebes –
Next I started to walk around the perimeter again. On my way, I could hear a Whipbird. These birds tend to be shy and seldom appear for photos. Perhaps the best time to photograph them is when they are courting. But with this one I was lucky. I waited quietly to see if it would come out or a thicket. Then I saw a flash – as it flew across to the far side of the track. A little while later is posed perched on the side of a tree.
This time on the Kookaburra Firetrail I was a lot more fortunate. I could hear a few birds near the creek, and waited to see if any would get closer and appear. Here are some of the birds I saw –
Grey Fantail
Spotted Pardalote
Yellow Thornbill
Crested Strike-tit
There were a pair of these beautiful birds. You can see that at least one of them is banded.
Rose Robin
Golden Whistler
Red-browed Finch
Superb Fairy-wren
I then made my way back to the main ponds ares to see if the Azure Kingfisher had returned. It hadn’t, so I waited close by and had my lunch. Things were a bit quieter after lunch. I made another walk around the perimeter but with no luck, then spend the rest of my visit photographing some of the water birds in flight –
One time when a Darter flew into the area and perched in a tree, a flock of Corellas got a bit excited and flew around trying to get it to leave. I did –
As soon as it was gone, a Cormorant flew in to take it spot. The Darter flew high and far.
