@fern-bird - Tumblr Blog

Most recent lifer: Scarlet Honeyeater (no photo, zoomed over my head)

Best encounter: Collared Scops Owl, Singapore

This blog is for my (amateur) wildlife photography, with a focus on birds.

I'm based in Melbourne, Australia and incredibly lucky to get to travel for work and take time off for birding and nature!

fern-bird

White-winged chough (Corcorax melanorhamphos) family

These birds are so fun to observe, they are highly social and go everywhere together, scuffling around on the ground like chickens and perching on branches to preen.

They also have a fascinating mechanism where they can increase the blood flow to their eyes, causing them to appear very red and large to scare of predators or for social communication (in this shot, they were upset with me for winding down my car window 😅)

nights-nonsensical-ramblings

I love these clowns so much and I'd also like to add that if things are getting a bit tough they will lure juveniles away from other flocks and make them gather food for their chicks (the kidnapped juveniles sometimes will go back to their own flock or their family will come and fight to get them back and I'm not sure how they make them do work but its a recorded thing that it happens.)

Theres a flock at our place and if one is startled they all jump in the iar with a loud "aaaahhhh!" and give us the red eye, and a couple of times a "baby" who's getting "ignored" by its parents will come and yell at one of us for food.

They were away over the summer and i've only been hearing them in the distance lately, so I hope they stay with us over winter again, they're such character and i miss em.

fern-bird

This is so great!! I wish we had a flock at our place too, they are so fun to be around! I didn't know about the kidnappings that they do that's another fascinating social behaviour!

My favorite is when they all get startled and hiss and give the red and and then 10 seconds later its back to peaceful usual business 🤣 everytime I wound the window down a bit they would all jump and hiss and then if I put the window back up they would go back to preening like nothing happened 😆 💅

White-winged chough (Corcorax melanorhamphos) family

These birds are so fun to observe, they are highly social and go everywhere together, scuffling around on the ground like chickens and perching on branches to preen.

They also have a fascinating mechanism where they can increase the blood flow to their eyes, causing them to appear very red and large to scare of predators or for social communication (in this shot, they were upset with me for winding down my car window 😅)

#original photography #z6 #nikon #australia #bird photography #nature #australian birds

Something a bit different - a false garden mantis (Pseudomantis albofimbriata) eating a Leafhopper (Siphanta acuta, I think).

As always but especially for this one I'm so grateful to the editing help and keen eye of my darling @ieafy and also the encouragement to post things I'm not 100% happy with.

#original photography #z6 #bugs #mantis #insects

Robin season has really kicked off here in Victoria, and what a wonderful season it is!

These sweet little birds are male Red-capped robins, and usually when you see a photo of them they are side on, I actually didn't realise until taking these pics that they have a funny little square bib 😅 I think it's cute though. It's so square.

Each year, several species of Aus robins migrate down from their summer higher elevation ranges to all across the country. It's just amazing to be able to see such vibrant creatures so close to home!

#these photos aren't actually from close to home woops but there's more in the works #lets just pretend the last time I posted wasn't 2 months ago <_<#original photography #australia #robins #australian robins #nikon #bird photography #birds #nature #australian birds

Zebra Finches! Aren't these lil cuties just so adorable?!

I love the complimentary male and female plumage.

Images taken at the Western Treatment Plant, Werribee.

#original photography #australia #bird photography #birds #nature #australian birds #nikon #z6 #finch #ornithology #shootsmall

Collared Scops Owl, Singapore Botanic Gardens. I feel so lucky to have this encounter, this owl is so so cute and so so tiny and it happily perched with the perfect background not bothered in the slightest by the hordes of photographers coming to see it!!

#original photography #nikon #z6 #bird photography #birds #owls #ornithology

Azure Kingfisher (Ceyx azureus)

I had to really hunt for this guy, and so happy to add another kingfisher species to my (photo) collection!

#original photography #nikon #z6 #australia #bird photography #nature #australian birds #kingfisher #ornithology #queensland

The magnificent Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis). I couldn't believe how tiny it was when I saw it for the first time recently in Singapore! Approximately the size of a sparrow

Fun fact: this kingfishers Latin name is taken from one of Sapphos' famous lovers, Atthis of Lesbos.