Birds

Pink Cockatoo (Lophochroa leadbeateri)

Female Regent Parrot (Polytelis anthopeplus)

Malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata)

Private property, Hattah VIC

Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis)

Killarney Beach, Victoria

Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos)

Port Fairy, Victoria

Ground Cuckooshrike (Coracina maxima)

A very rare visitor to Victoria. Wyperfeld National Park, Victoria.

Spotted Harrier (Circus assimilis)

Australasian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae)

Tarkedia wetland, Victoria

Long-billed Corella (Cacatua tenuirostris)

Southern Boobook (Ninox boobook)

Patchewollock, VIC

Banded Lapwing (Vanellus tricolor)

Wyperfeld National Park, Victoria

Malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata)

Juvenile White-browed Woodswallow (Artamus superciliosus)

Ouyen, VIC

Chestnut-breasted Mannikin (Lonchura castaneothorax)

Townsville Common, Queensland

Male Regent Parrot (Polytelis anthopeplus)

Wyperfeld National Park, Victoria

Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa)

Renmark, South Australia

Yellow-plumed Honeyeater (Ptilotula ornata)

Hattah-Kulkyne National Park, Victoria

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata)

Kirk Point, Werribee, VIC

Apostlebird (Struthidea cinerea)

Hattah-Kulkyne National Park, Victoria

Juvenile Fairy Martin (Petrochelidon ariel)

Western Treatment Plant, Werribee, VIC

Orange Chat (Epthianura aurifrons)

Lake Tyrell, Victoria

Major Mitchell's cockatoo (Lophochroa leadbeateri)

Wyperfeld National Park, Victoria

Female Plains-wanderer (Pedionomus torquatus)

The Plains-wanderer is a unique bird species which are largely (just about) holding on in the Riverina area of New South Wales. This photo was taken on private property which is specifically managed to maintain and promote a habitat for these excellent, EXCELLENT cartoon-like birds. The female is larger than the male and has the rather fine looking collar as shown in my shot. You can read more about them here.

Male Plains-wanderer (Pedionomus torquatus)

The Plains-wanderer is a unique bird species which are largely (just about) holding on in the Riverina area of New South Wales. This photo was taken on private property which is specifically managed to maintain and promote a habitat for these excellent, EXCELLENT cartoon-like birds. The male is about a third smaller than the female and lacks the distinctive collar of the female. Unusually for a bird, the male is definitely the more dowdy of the sexes. You can read more about them here.

Young male Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides)

Phillip Island, Victoria

Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater (Acanthagenys rufogularis)

Hattah-Kulkyne National Park, Victoria

Female Regent Parrot (Polytelis anthopeplus)

Wyperfeld National Park, Victoria

Long-billed Corella (Cacatua tenuirostris)

Wycheproof, Victoria

Female Pallid Cuckoo (Cacomantis pallidus)

Patchewollock State Forest, Victoria

Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus)

Balbirooroo Wetlands, VIC

Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae)

Female Major Mitchell's Cockatoo (Lophochroa leadbeateri)

(North) Wyperfeld National Park, Victoria

Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides)

Lake Tyrell, Victoria

Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles)

Immature Grey Butcherbird (Cracticus torquatus)

Southern Boobook (Ninox boobook)

Patchewollock, VIC

Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes)

Regent Parrot pair (Polytelis anthopeplus)

Wyperfeld National Park, Victoria

Pied Currawong (Strepera graculina)

Letter-winged Kite (Elanus scriptus)

An extremely rare visitor to Victoria.

Spangled Drongo (Dicrurus bracteatus)

Orange-bellied Parrot (Neophema chrysogaster)

Early May 2018 - I participated in one of the regular mainland surveys for the critically endangered Orange-bellied Parrots (Neophema chrysogaster). We saw six birds - 2 wild birds and 4 newly-released birds from the captive breeding program. It was pretty dire photography weather but a very special opportunity watching these delightful little parrots.

Male Turquoise Parrot (Neophema pulchella)

Willie Wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys)

A flock of Pink-eared Ducks (Malacorhynchus membranaceus)

Female Major Mitchell's Cockatoo (Lophochroa leadbeateri)

Eastern Barn Owl (Tyto alba)

Female Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca)

Juvenile Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris)

Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis)

Tasmanian Native-hen (Tribonyx mortierii)

Yellow-plumed Honeyeater (Ptilotula ornata)

Hattah-Kulkyne National Park, Victoria

Breeding Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida)

Male Superb Fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus)

Baillon's Crake (Porzana pusilla)

Juvenile Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua)

Adult female Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua)

Adult male Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua)

Cattle Egret (Ardea ibis)

Blue Bonnets (Northiella haematogaster)

Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia)

Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica)

On the left among Bar-tailed Godwits; an extremely rare visitor to Australia

Juvenile Pacific Gull (Larus pacificus)

Australian Hobby (Falco longipennis)

Adult breeding Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia)

Musk Lorikeet (Glossopsitta concinna)

Greater Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii)

Adult breeding Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida)

Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes)

Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa)

Renmark, South Australia

Orange-bellied Parrot (Neophema chrysogaster)

Early May 2018 - I participated in one of the regular mainland surveys for the critically endangered Orange-bellied Parrots (Neophema chrysogaster). We saw six birds - 2 wild birds and 4 newly-released birds from the captive breeding program. It was pretty dire photography weather but a very special opportunity watching these delightful little parrots.

Male Regent Parrot (Polytelis anthopeplus)

Pink Cockatoo (Lophochroa leadbeateri)

Regent Parrot (Polytelis anthopeplus) listening to chicks inside the hollow.

Pink Cockatoos (Lophochroa leadbeateri)

Male Turquoise Parrot (Neophema pulchella)

Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans)

Juvenile Silver Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae)

Double-banded Plover (Charadrius bicinctus)

A pair of Barking Owls (Ninox connivens)

Adult breeding Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida)

White morph of Grey Goshawk (Accipiter novaehollandiae)

Eastern Osprey (Pandion cristatus)

Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus)

Striated Fieldwren (Calamanthus fuliginosus)

Black-fronted Dotterel (Elseyornis melanops)

Juvenile Pilotbird (Pycnoptilus floccosus)

Toolangi State Forest, Victoria

Yellow-billed Spoonbill (Platalea flavipes)

Female Turquoise Parrot (Neophema pulchella)

Baillon's Crake (Porzana pusilla)

Red-capped Plover (Charadrius ruficapillus)

Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva)

Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea)

White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae) and Little Black Cormorants (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris)

White-throated Gerygone and nest (Gerygone olivacea)

Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis)

Adult Silver Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae)

Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis)

Australasian Grebe and nest (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae)

Nankeen Night Heron (Nycticorax caledonicus)

Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva)

Striated Fieldwren (Calamanthus fuliginosus)

A Fairy Martin (Petrochelidon ariel) gathering nesting material mud

Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis)

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata) and Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea)

A Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata) with a large flatworm being coveted by a Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea)

Sanderling (Calidris alba)

Baillon's Crake (Porzana pusilla)

Australasian Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae)

Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus)

Brown Falcon (Falco berigora)

Red-capped Plover (Charadrius ruficapillus)

Horsfield's Bushlark (Mirafra javanica)

Black-faced Cormorants (Phalacrocorax fuscescens)

Female Red-capped Plover (Charadrius ruficapillus)

Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus)

Rufous Songlark (Megalurus mathewsi)

White-throated Gerygone (Gerygone olivacea)

Immature Spotted Harrier (Circus assimilis)

Australasian Grebe and nest (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae)

Female Turquoise Parrot (Neophema pulchella)

Willie Wagtail with nest and chicks (Rhipidura leucophrys)

Red-capped Plover (Charadrius ruficapillus)

Sanderling (Calidris alba)

Willie Wagtail with nest and chicks (Rhipidura leucophrys)

Female Rufous Whistler (Pachycephala rufiventris)

Mistletoebird (Dicaeum hirundinaceum)

Letter-winged Kite (Elanus scriptus)

An extremely rare visitor to Victoria

Male Turquoise Parrot (Neophema pulchella)

Male Superb Fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus)

Female Superb Fairy-wrens (Malurus cyaneus)

Male Scarlet Robin (Petroica boodang)

Jacky Winter (Microeca fascinans)

Eastern Barn Owl (Tyto alba)

Black-fronted Dotterel (Elseyornis melanops)

Male Rufous Whistler (Pachycephala rufiventris)

Fuscous Honeyeater (Lichenostomus fuscus)

Female Turquoise Parrot (Neophema pulchella)

Black-fronted Dotterel (Elseyornis melanops)

Shy Albatross (Thalassarche cauta)

Eaglehawk Neck, Tasmania

Yellow-Rumped Thornbill (Acanthiza chrysorrhoa)

Male Turquoise Parrot (Neophema pulchella)

Black Swan (Cygnus atratus)

Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris)

Brown Falcon (Falco berigora)

There has been a recent scientific paper that questions the validity of 'morphs' in Brown Falcons. Traditionally this bird would be considered a light morph however the new paper (based on samples around the Western Treatment Plant in Werribee) posits that light and dark morphs are more aligned to age and sex of birds - dark being young females, and light being older males.

Tawny Frogmouth (Podargus strigoides)

Restless Flycatcher (Myiagra inquieta)

Immature Banded Lapwing (Vanellus tricolor)

Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides)

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galletita)

Australasian Darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae)

Black Kite (Milvus migrans)

Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena)

Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles)

Australian Hobby with prey (Falco longipennis)

Greater Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii)

New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae)

Black Kite (Milvus migrans)

Wandering Albatross (Diomedea exulans)

You can read more about the birds I saw on my first pelagic trip such as this magnificent Snowy Albatross here

Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa)

Buller's albatross (Thalassarche bulleri)

You can read more about the birds I saw on my first pelagic trip such as this beautiful Buller's Albatross here - https://www.outsidefourwalls.com/blog/pelagic-birding-trip

Northern Royal Albatross (Diomedea sanfordi)

Campbell albatross (Thalassarche impavida)

You can read more about the birds I saw on my first pelagic trip such as this stunning Campbell Albatross here - https://www.outsidefourwalls.com/blog/pelagic-birding-trip

Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis)

Taken at the Western Treatment Plant, Werribee, Victoria. One of my favourite little birds - the "Punk Sparrow" - so much character in such a small package and when they get singing away, they really are a brilliant sight (and sound) to behold!

Australian White Ibis (Threskiornis molucca)

The bare skin under the wing becomes a scarlet colour when breeding, as shown here.

Black Kite (Milvus migrans)

Eastern Barn Owl (Tyto alba)

Juvenile Shy Albatross (Thalassarche cauta)

You can read more about the birds I saw on my first pelagic trip such as this young Shy Albatross here - https://www.outsidefourwalls.com/blog/pelagic-birding-trip

Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides)

Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus funereus)

New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae)

Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis)

Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus)

Greater Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii)

Shy Albatross (Thalassarche cauta)

Pied Oystercatcher (Haematopus longirostris)

Having a bad seaweed day.

Greater Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii)

An adult Greater Crested Tern bringing in the supper at Williamstown, Victoria.

Eastern Great Egret (Ardea modesta)

Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus)

With Eurasian Coot (I think) for dinner

Greater Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii)

Staring down the barrel of an adult Greater Crested Tern bringing in the supper at Williamstown, Victoria.

Partial leucistic Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena)

This photo was taken at the Western Treatment Plant in Werribee, a year after seeing another Welcome Swallow which was more markedly leucistic. There's more than one thing in the water at the poo farm obviously!

Brown Falcon (Falco berigora)

Spotted Quail-thrush (Cinclosoma punctatum)

Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans)

Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea)

Taken in our front garden in Sunshine West, Victoria

Yellow-billed Spoonbill (Platalea flavipes)

Campbell Albatross (Thalassarche impavida)

You can read more about the birds I saw on my first pelagic trip such as this stunning Campbell Albatross here - https://www.outsidefourwalls.com/blog/pelagic-birding-trip