August 2024

[Man From Ironbark]

It is August and there hasn't been a post here yet.
I'd say that avians or birds of a feather could be interesting. I'm starting with waterbirds of wetlands but if you have bird photos please post them.
This is a local wetland among other local wetlands but this is basically in my backyard, since it is only 500 metres from it. As the crow flies.
These black swans are Australian natives. It is clear that they have hatched out a new flock of swans, er; cygnets. I managed to get a couple of shots of this nursery herding.

[Rich]

The black swan is a beautiful bird. Interesting the cygnets have a white beak! I wonder if they mate for life like the Canadian Goose.

Here are Mr. and Mrs goose in our yard.

[Dave]

Very nice, gentlemen.

I'm wondering if the small birds in the foreground of MFI's photo are coots?

[Man From Ironbark]

Yes Rich. They do mate for life but also seem to make their relationship stronger by actually having time apart. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-06-06/a.../103933842
The small birds are the cygnets. They have shorter necks until they grow them.
There are a lot more images over on my Flickr.
The country is so flat I had to stand on my tailgate to get any elevation.

Here's a couple of shots from the phone.

   

   

and yes, they do herd them and have nurse mothers that keep them together.

[Don]

Good subject for August, MFI. So happens that I have a few bird photos on my computer.

Here is a Jackdaw, cousin to our Crow and Raven. This was taken in Scotland.

[Dave]

MFI, how fortunate you are to have a wetlands so close.

Great photo of the Jackdaw, Don. That's quite a piercing eye.

I have no recent bird photos, and I had to go through my archives to find something: this is a Great Egret taken at the nearby Bolsa Chica Wetlands Ecological Preserve on April 2, 2006 but newly processed an hour ago...

   

I enjoy catching birds in unusual poses.

[Man From Ironbark]

I've often read about jackdaws but that is the closest I've ever been to one. Thanks Don. Don't think I'd argue with that beak.
Dave, the Great Egret has a great job to do there, those are long feathers to preen. Lovely colour balance and rippled reflection.

[Don]

Speaking of beaks, check this one out...  Rook. Photo taken in Ireland.

[Man From Ironbark]

Don, sure is a mean looking beak on the rook.


The Chough's beak is curved and is mainly used for digging in the hard ground and cracking open nuts.

[Don]

A woodpecker we spotted in Costa Rica.