It's been a little while...

LindiweLindiwe Registered Users Posts: 606 Major grins
edited February 6, 2011 in Wildlife
...so I thought I'd post a few recent ones. These were all taken at a reservoir only about a half hour's drive away.

Common Bronzewing catching a few rays:

1168935261_wg7Eq-L.jpg

Male King Parrot posing for a portrait:

1169115596_BLyb6-L.jpg

What do you think? Is this my better side?

1169117678_q2QiV-L.jpg

Comments/suggestions for improvement are always welcome.

PS. These are wild birds. Maroondah Reservoir, where these were taken, is part of Melbourne's water supply, not a bird sanctuary or aviary. Just a nice spot for a picnic.

Comments

  • SerindeSerinde Registered Users Posts: 1 Beginner grinner
    edited January 29, 2011
    The first picture of the King Parrot is lovely I quite like the framing and composition, you are truly lucky to have such wonderful colourful wildlife so close to home.
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited January 29, 2011
    I wonder if the Bronzewing is playing the old wounded wing trick to draw your attention away from it's nest or chicks?

    The parrot is a beauty.thumb.gif
  • LindiweLindiwe Registered Users Posts: 606 Major grins
    edited January 29, 2011
    Serinde wrote: »
    The first picture of the King Parrot is lovely I quite like the framing and composition, you are truly lucky to have such wonderful colourful wildlife so close to home.

    Thank you! I feel lucky, for sure. Despite the tendency of the whole country to either burn or drown ;)
    Ric Grupe wrote: »
    I wonder if the Bronzewing is playing the old wounded wing trick to draw your attention away from it's nest or chicks?

    The parrot is a beauty.thumb.gif

    When I first noticed the Bronzewing like that I actually did think that it was injured, and wondered what on earth could have happened, as it was only a few feet away from me. I watched for a while, and it showed no signs of distress, nor did it move. After a minute or two it stood up and went back to foraging in the grass. A few people who know way more about the local birds than I do told me this was 'sunning'.

    Thanks for the comments! :) Truly appreciated.
  • Brian_SBrian_S Registered Users Posts: 188 Major grins
    edited January 30, 2011
    great pictures Lindiwe, love the colors and compostions of #2 & 3
  • LindiweLindiwe Registered Users Posts: 606 Major grins
    edited January 30, 2011
    Brian_S wrote: »
    great pictures Lindiwe, love the colors and compostions of #2 & 3

    Thank you kindly :)
    I'm pretty happy with the King Parrot captures. That particular bird was very cooperative with the posing, I must say.
  • Osprey WhispererOsprey Whisperer Registered Users Posts: 3,803 Major grins
    edited February 1, 2011
    I like the last 2 pics. Good looking bird. Very colorful.
    Mike McCarthy

    "Osprey Whisperer"

    OspreyWhisperer.com
  • LindiweLindiwe Registered Users Posts: 606 Major grins
    edited February 1, 2011
    Osprey Whisperer wrote: »
    I like the last 2 pics. Good looking bird. Very colorful.

    Thank you so much! The females and juveniles miss out on some of that colour:

    945799364_p6f9G-L-2.jpg

    (Apologies for the quality of that image. Kinda missed the focus on the eye, and got the chest instead.)
  • BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited February 3, 2011
    Nice set Lindiwe. Stunning colours on the King Parrot. Must be lovely having what we only see as cage birds in the wild (even the cockatoos in the bg of the first pic)!

    I often have birds sunning their underwings in my garden. Some of the clever folks say it helps with getting rid of lice.
    Birds
    Bugs
    Spiders
    Flowers
  • LindiweLindiwe Registered Users Posts: 606 Major grins
    edited February 3, 2011
    BigAl wrote: »
    Nice set Lindiwe. Stunning colours on the King Parrot. Must be lovely having what we only see as cage birds in the wild (even the cockatoos in the bg of the first pic)!

    I often have birds sunning their underwings in my garden. Some of the clever folks say it helps with getting rid of lice.

    Having parrots around even in the city -still- amazes me, even after half a lifetime in this country. It is lovely, indeed :)

    I can see I'm going to have to pay more attention to the underwing sunning behavior. Thanks for that useful info.

    And thanks for the very kind comment, as well.
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited February 3, 2011
    AThe parrot images are excellent, with effective comp, good expsoure, sharp detail and outtsanding colors. clap.gif
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • LindiweLindiwe Registered Users Posts: 606 Major grins
    edited February 3, 2011
    Harryb wrote: »
    AThe parrot images are excellent, with effective comp, good expsoure, sharp detail and outtsanding colors. clap.gif

    Thank you Harry! Such a wonderfully encouraging thing to hear...errr.. read.
  • jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,013 Major grins
    edited February 3, 2011
    yep parrots have color and personality a fun bird to shoot thumb.gif nice work
    Jeff W

    “PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”

    http://jwear.smugmug.com/
  • Dennis KaczorDennis Kaczor Registered Users Posts: 2,413 Major grins
    edited February 4, 2011
    Very nice and what a colorful looking bird, great captures.
    Regards - Dennis

    Dennis Kaczor Photography
  • LindiweLindiwe Registered Users Posts: 606 Major grins
    edited February 4, 2011
    jwear wrote: »
    yep parrots have color and personality a fun bird to shoot thumb.gif nice work
    Dennis Kaczor wrote: »
    Very nice and what a colorful looking bird, great captures.

    Many thanks to both of you for taking the time to look and comment. Much appreciated!
  • OlyFanOlyFan Registered Users Posts: 40 Big grins
    edited February 5, 2011
    The birds are one of the main reasons why I want to visit Australia one day. :-) Very beautiful shots...and what with the cold and snow here right now I could go with the burning/drowning thing for a bit I think. :-)
  • LindiweLindiwe Registered Users Posts: 606 Major grins
    edited February 6, 2011
    OlyFan wrote: »
    The birds are one of the main reasons why I want to visit Australia one day. :-) Very beautiful shots...and what with the cold and snow here right now I could go with the burning/drowning thing for a bit I think. :-)

    Thanks so much for the kind comment!
    I highly recommend a visit out this way. Just make sure to set aside a nice big chunk of time, to make it worthwhile. :)
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