Vertical shots

above: Pacific Gull, Tasmania

I somehow subconsciously avoid posting vertical photos on this bloG. They don't fit as nicely on the pages as the horizontal ones. Here is a random collection of such vertical photos. The only common thing about them is the format.

above: Welcome Swallow, NSW

above: Laughing Kookaburra, NSW

above: Black Swan, NSW

above: Long-billed Corella, Tasmania

above: Flying Fox, NSW

above:White-faced Heron, NSW

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Baby birds

above: Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena)

There are many young birds around these days. When I have time, I love observing all the extra activities associated with this special time of the year. The big Channel-billed Cuckoos have come here to enjoy the moment too and lay some eggs in other birds' nests. I can hear them every morning and see Currawongs and Mapies chasing them in the air.
Here is a mix of different youngsters, all of them at different stage of development, all of them at the beginning of their lives, learning how to deal with challenges and survive in a hostile environment. Let's wish them good luck!

above: Spotted Pardalote (Pardalotus punctatus)

above: Willy Wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys)

above: Eastern Whipbird (Psophodes olivaceus)

above: Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen)

above: Azure Kingfisher (Alcedo azurea)

above: House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

above: Blackbird (Turdus merula)

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Young Welcome Swallows

Young Welcome Swallows, NSW

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An impossible game

I know that it is an impossible game, but every now and then I keep playing it. I have a good camera, but a sharp detailed image of a Swallow in flight is above its capabilities. It must be my character - I just don't like to give up - that makes me hope for a chance, pure luck, just a coincidence. How exciting it would be to get such a photo! Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be very likely to happen. Below are some of my most successful results so far. Good intentions are one thing, but reality is usually bitter :(

"Go shoot egrets", I often tell to myself, "and leave the small creatures alone."
Welcome Swallow, Tasmania

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Welcome Swallow

I feel happy every time I manage to get a photo of a Swallow. But I keep failing to freeze one in the air. They are so fast and unpredictable!

Welcome Swallow, Tasmania

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On the way back from work

Well... I decided to post some photos to keep the blog alive and put the camera in my backpack yesterday. On the way back from work I took some pics of suburban birds and here they are:

above: Cute juvenile Blackbird,

an adult male Blackbird. I wonder whether he was the kid's parent as it was squeaking and begging for food from him;

a Welcome Swallow, resting just for a second,

a Galah. (This photo is actually several weeks old now.)
and a Brush Wattlebird.

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Variety

Some old friends that we haven't seen for a while. They are all doing fine.

above: Noisy Miner

above: Blackbird

above: Welcome Swallow

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Having a rest between filght lessons

Young Welcome Swallow

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Welcome Swallow

I was holding some Swallow photos hoping that I would get a decent 'in flight' shot and make a remarkable post. No luck so far. They are tiny, ultra fast and quite unpredictable. I find it very hard to follow them with the telephoto at 300mm.

Above are two young Welcome Swallows in early November 2007, Hobart, Tasmania

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