Introduction to Bird Photograph pages.

This page is an attempt to explain my thinking behind the pages of reference photographs of birds which follow.  Where appropriate I will also include links to pages in my 'home' blog (or other sites) relevant to the species.

I decided that having a separate page for each species was going to get very unwieldy so have decided to use a system based upon the 'groups' used in my normal list but splitting the pages according to sensible subdivisions with the birds listed, within a group, according to the official Taxonomic order.  However: changing these pages will be a major cramp so I do not expect to update them each time the taxonomists decide to weave their evil incantations.

Most of the photographs will be taken by me, but when another observer send me a photograph I will include it with attribution.  Where no photograph is available from me, readers may wish to consult the COG  photo gallery or Avibase.

In general I will only use one photograph per species, choosing an image that might help readers identify the bird.  Some of the shots are atrocious images, but if they show the salient field marks of the bird I reckon they are 'fit for purpose' and have included them until I get a better photograph. I will add extra images:

1. Where the bird is sexually dimorphic or has different juvenile plumages; or
2. To show things such as nests as well as the bird itself; or
3. If I have taken a really spiffy image!

In principle the images here are publicly available, but if used in publications or web-pages an attribution to the relevant URL of the image would be appreciated.   And if used in a fantastically popular commercial product putting a bit of the action my way would be nice!

At the time of writing (March 2014) I had one or more images of 47  53 85 species.  To review all pages of photographs I suggest clicking on the label "Photographs" at the foot of this post.

Ducks etc

Musk Duck

Freckled Duck

Image by Garry Moffitt.

Black Swan

 Nesting in June 2012 on Hoskinstown Plain,

Australian Shelduck

 Male on left, female on right (note white at base of the female's beak).

A very spiffy image by Kim McKenzie.

Australian Wood Duck

The female is on the left and the male on the right.

Pink-eared Duck

It is very unusual to be able to see the pink patch behind the eye.  I like the alternate common name "Zebra Duck" much better, but that has probably been rejected as confusing with a finch!

Australasian Shoveler
Grey Teal
Chestnut Teal

Pacific Black Duck

Hardhead

Grebe and Cormorant

Australasian Grebe

The image shows an adult and a juvenile on our top dam

Hoary-headed Grebe

The 5 grey/white birds are the Hoary-headed Grebes (HHG): the bird with chestnut flanks is an Australasian Grebe (AG) which I left in for contrast.  The other field mark - most useful in Winter- is that the dark on the head is above the eye for AG but comes below the eye for HHG

Darter

I have included the close up of the head under the 'spiffy image 'rule!

Little Pied Cormorant

Great Cormorant

Little Black Cormorant

Herons and relatives

White-necked Heron

Eastern Great Egret

Cattle Egret

As you might guess from the grey element that wasn't taken in Carwoola.  It was in Yala NP in Sri Lanka, but the Cattle Egret is the same species.

White-faced Heron

Nankeen Night Heron

While that is not a clear image it is typical of the sightings of this species which tends to roost in dense vegetation during the day.  A much better image was taken by Terry O'Leary through the window of their dining room!

Glossy Ibis

Australian White Ibis

Straw-necked Ibis

Royal Spoonbill

Yellow-billed Spoonbill

Other waterbirds

Purple Swamphen

Usually only seen along the Molonglo.

Dusky Moorhen

 Note the red shield and yellow tip to the bill, on the adult.  The young bird later joined its sibling and parent in the water!

 This second image is from the Queanbeyan Weir but illustrates the form of the nest of the species.

Eurasian Coot

 Note the white 'shield' on the head and the all black tail.

Black-winged Stilt

Red-necked Avocet

Black-fronted Dotterel

And here is the nest with three eggs (image by Felix Schlager)

Red-kneed Dotterel

Masked Lapwing

 Banded Lapwing

The next two images are from a nesting event at Canberra Airport.

Image below by Geoffrey Dabb.

Note the heavy black band on the breast and the lack of a yellow face mask in the Banded Lapwing.  The call of the Banded Lapwing is a little different, but they are equally determined to protect their nest sites!

This photograph is from the Hoskinstown Plain sightings in October 2012.

Latham's Snipe

Painted Snipe

These images are by Garry Moffit of birds on Hoskinstown Plain in 2012.

Silver Gull

Birds of Prey

Black-shouldered Kite

The brown marking on the chest shows this to be a young bird.   John Bissett provided the image shown in this post.
White-bellied Sea-Eagle
Whistling Kite
Brown Goshawk
Collared Sparrowhawk
Grey Goshawk

Spotted Harrier

Photograph by Kim Mckenzie

Wedge-tailed Eagle

This second image was taken from a seat in our sunroom!  The local Australian Magpies went off completely!

Little Eagle

Nankeen Kestrel

 Two juveniles.  Image by Kim Mackenzie

Now that is a spiffy image taken by Kim Mackenzie.

Brown Falcon

Both of these images were taken during an astonishing irruption of this species on the Hoskinstown Plain.

This one -an immature perched on Plains Road - by Kim McKenzie (who else takes photos that good) in June 2012.

Australian Hobby

Black Falcon
Peregrine Falcon