Forest Kingfisher (
Todiramphus macleayii) stiffly alert in Tyto the other day. Bird had been perched unconcerned above a creek pool and allowed approach to almost 12 metres.
Posture changed suddenly to ramrod straight. Bird stared intently up as it shifted about on branch for at least two minutes. No sight or sound to explain reaction. Similar poses when kingfishers squabble last a few seconds. The threat (goshawk? snake? avian paranoia??) passed, bird relaxed. Walk on none the wiser.
Little bit wiser about male Red-backed Fairy-wrens (
Malurus melanocephalus). Bird in Tyto yesterday shows better definition of blacks, though pose hides the red.
Also had another go at best of previous images, including cloning out branch acoss tip of tail. Better, but far from perfect.
Shining Flycatchers: male tried nest for size yesterday; also bringing material for female to place. Comb-crested Jacana sitting on 'nest' (minuscule raised patch 50 metres away atop floating leaves: eggs not visible) directly in front of Tyto lookout. And two week-oldish chicks spotted hiding within scleria in front of hide yesterday.
Your photos are ALWAYS fantastic and make a very ordinary photographer like me very unhappy with my own attempts! However, I console myself with the facts that you paid a lot more for your lens than I did for mine - AND you obviously have a lot more patience than I do!!!! Ok Now that's out of the way I have a serious question - why does your bird have a whole lot less red on its back than the one in my recent post? I did nothing to change the photo!
ReplyDeleteGreat behavioural shots of the kingfisher. Your clone job has worked well too.
ReplyDeleteInteresting KF behaviour. I've seen Night-herons do this before, but not a KF.
ReplyDeleteHi Mick: Amount of red depends on how much bird wishes to display. Depth of red depends upon camera conversion and photographer's choices. I often tone down reds because they're too strong.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mosura.
Hi Mark: Maybe they're reacting to threats too distant to be perceived by us?