Back to the birds

Budgerygahs at Farina

I'm not sure why it's six months since my last blog, I guess I can blame COVID19? I shall wind the clock back to our Oodnadatta trip when I returned to my photographic roots somewhat and engaged with the birds and other animals. I moved away from wild animal photography a few years ago after having it as my focus for decades. New technology has made it so much easier to obtain fantastic photographs of birds and other animals that the space got quite crowded for me as a photographer. However our Oodnadatta track trip provided opportunities that were too good to pass up.

We stopped for a few days at the lovely Farina campsite where the river redgum trees were providing nesting opportunities for parrots, kingfishers, pardalotes and a range of other birds. Budgies were particularly abundant and busy courting and mating. For those who have not seen budgerygahs in the wild, they only come in green and are very social.

These parrots in the Flinders Ranges are very much a hybrid between the Port Lincoln and Mallee Ringneck Parrots, the ranges here represents the geographic boundary for both parrots but here they must interbreed as they have clear characteristics of both species.

Tawny Dragon, Arkaroo Rock Flinders ranges

Birds weren't the only animals we came across in the Flinders, which were as verdant as we have ever seen them thanks to recent rains. The nof course there were the ubiquitous Red Kangaroos.

It is the birds though that I really enjoy photographing. I think because it requires a good knowledge of their habits and patience, waiting for a bird to do the right things in the right place and time can be quite meditative! I set up a hide next to one of the artesian spring overflows and managed to get good pictures of the Spotted Crake, a bird which is usually quite hard to observe.

Spotted Crake, Coward Springs

We were stuck at Coward Springs for a few days due to rain but it was a great opportunity to se the birds there. The little Variegated Wrens were always around our campsite.

Variegated fairy-wren, Coward Springs

We also had a visit from an Australian Hobby or Little Falcon

It was very enjoyable trying to capture these wild animals again, a very rewarding past time.

Central Bearded Dragon, Oodnadatta Track

Well that's all for now, I hope you have enjoyed these images of Australian wildlife. Hopefully I'll be back sooner rather than later next time!