Some recent close-ups

above: White-faced Heron

above: Muscovy Duck

above: Laughing Kookaburra

above: Purple Swamphen

above: Black Swan

click on a photo to view hi-res image :: click on a label to open all related posts

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

click on a photo to view hi-res image :: click on a label to open all related posts

What's for breakfast?

above: Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus)

above: Dusky Moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa)

above: White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae)

above: Spotted Turtle-Dove (Streptopelia chinensis)

above: Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae)

above: Pied Oystercatcher (Haematopus longirostris)

above: Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita)

above: Scarlet Robin (Petroica boodang)

above: Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala)

above: Great Egret (Ardea alba)

Eastern Rosella (Platycercus eximius)

click on a photo to view hi-res image :: click on a label to open all related posts

Kookaburra in flight

I have been extremely busy with work lately.
Fortunately, today I could steal several hours for a walk and a few photos. And as it usually happens - wildlife and photography are far much more rewarding than the rapidly deteriorating animation industry. Being an all-animals-lover I keep getting excited by the commonest seagulls, pigeons, noisy M-s and blackbirds, and being an opportunistic photographer I keep shooting all the creatures around me, no matter how many thousands of images of this particular species I already have. The reward is that every now and then I get an extraordinary image like this one - an image that the naked eye cannot see, a frozen moment, beautifully lit and typical in every aspect. Positive emotions, pride and satisfaction that I'm improving my skill are the free bonuses. It really is great when you see something that you don't see every day!
And Kookas? I love them!

Laughing Kookaburra in flight, NSW

click on a photo to view hi-res image :: click on a label to open all related posts

Three 'funny' shots

Suggestions for captions are welcome!

above: blank caption

above: blank caption

above: blank caption

click on a photo to view hi-res image :: click on a label to open all related posts

Laughing Kookaburra

Laughing Kookaburra, Sydney

click on a photo to view hi-res image :: click on a label to open all related posts

Three predators

Three different birds in one afternoon decided to demonstrate how they catch and eat their prey. All this only a couple of meters away from me and the camera. At times I thought that somehow I have become invisible.

above: Noisy Miner, Sydney

There are quite many images in the Heron series, but unfortunately he caught the fish facing away from the camera. I could have asked for a second take, I guess...

above: White-faced Heron, Sydney

By the time this Kookaburra caught her worm the sun was very low and the light was insufficient. I had to lower the shutter speed to get decent exposure and the moving parts got blurry. Still, I decided to publish the last image as it shows certain expression.

above: Laughing Kookaburra, Sydney

click on a photo to view hi-res image :: click on a label to open all related posts

KuKaBuRa :D

A friend mentioned that he spotted a Kookaburra a couple of days ago, which reminded me that I photographed one last week too. Aren't they beautiful!

Laughing Kookaburra, Tasmania

click on a photo to view hi-res image :: click on a label to open all related posts

Gloomy Kookaburra

August '08 photos re-uploaded! To mark the occasion here's a Kookaburra. It isn't laughing, 'cause it has just realized how long it takes to track, move, re-upload and swap 500 (five hundred) images. It's a lot of work for someone who has already worked hard all day :(

Laughing Kookaburra, Tasmania

click on a photo to view hi-res image :: click on a label to open all related posts

Tiger tail

Laughing Kookaburra, Tasmania

click on a photo to view hi-res image :: click on a label to open all related posts

Smiling Kookaburra

This Laughing Kookaburra is only smiling on the picture below. In a very Mona Lisa way I'd say...

Laughing Kookaburra, Tasmania

click on a photo to view hi-res image :: click on a label to open all related posts

Koo-ka-burrr-ra

Kookaburra, Hobart, Tasmania

click on a photo to view hi-res image :: click on a label to open all related posts

The light

The light yesterday was bright and abundant. Colors were vivid and cheerful.

above: Silvereye

above: Little Pied Cormorant

On the contrary, today was grey, gloomy and cloudy. I like the tense mood that the insufficient light and deep shadows bring to the photos below. You can almost smell the forest, can't you?

above: Kookaburra

above: Grey Fantail

click on a photo to view hi-res image :: click on a label to open all related posts

Dense forest

It seems that this is the first Kookaburra pic I'm posting here. Well... there will be more.

Kookaburra, Tasmania

click on a photo to view hi-res image :: click on a label to open all related posts