Some photos from 2018

2018 was a very busy year for me.
As usual I kept taking photos with my old camera, but until now I did not have the time to go through them and choose some to post. My initial intention was to make only one entry, but the oystercatchers stood out and demanded their own post.

This one will be just a collection of images. As always, each one has its own story, which I tend to somehow always remember, but these stories will remain untold.

Happy New Year!
Hope to see you around again some time in 2019. Enjoy the captured moments!

above: Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, Green Rosella, Juv. Galah, Eastern Rosella, Tasmania

above: Red-necked (Bennet's) Wallabies, Tasmania

above: Tasmanian Scrubwren, Grey Fantail, Silvereye, Common Starling, Black-faced Cormorant, Tasmania

above: Sammy, the New Zealand Fur Seal, Tasmania

above: Masked Lapwing, Grey (Clinking) Currawong. Juv. Australian Magpie, Tasmanian nativehen, Yellow Wattlebird, Noisy Miner, Juv. Grey Butcherbird, Tasmania

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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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The wet birds of Canberra

I had to travel to Canberra for a day on Monday and was hoping to get the chance to photograph some of the birds there. Unfortunately the weather was incredibly nasty all day. It rained and rained, and rained, and I could hardly take the camera out of the bag. It was even more frustrating, because of the fact that there were King Parrots and Crimson Rosellas everywhere. Even though I can see representatives of those two species here, in Sydney, I can never get close enough for a good photo. Well... I could get close enough in Canberra, but was too worried about my precious gear.

top to bottom: Wet Australian Raven, Male Red-rumped Parrot, Male Australian King Parrot, Crimson Rosella, Wet Australian Magpie, ACT

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One wet Magpie

One wet Magpie (above) and one wet Duck (below). How different they look :D

Mallard, Tasmania

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All the seriousness in the world

Magpies don't usually look that serious...

Australian Magpie, Hobart, Tasmania

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All these guys and more

What excites me so much about living in Australia is that on a single walk home you can spot all these birds below plus many others. You can work in the city and still the wild nature is so close. All you need to do is keeping your eyes and heart open.

above: Black-faced Cormorant

above: Little Pied Cormorant

above: juv. Kelp Gull

above: Australian Magpie

above: Mallard

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