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A new one
Little Friarbird

I've just returned from a four-day canoeing trip, exploring some of the smaller anabranches of the Murray River, near where the borders of South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria intersect. I can recommend the area very highly to other birders. :t: :t: :t: You need a boat, (preferably small and human-powered) to get to the best spots, but if you can't manage that, you'd still be happy with the available birding. There are also splendid red cliffs, and beautiful riverside scenery on the main river channel.

I was with a group, all young men, and completely disinterested in nature, so my ability to bird was very limited. However, my canoe partner, the teacher, was interested, so on occasion we simply dropped back so that I could take a photo. I can hardly wait for the time I will be able to get back there alone, and go where I want and sit all day if I wish. All those Reed Warblers...they were nesting, carrying bulrush fluff about. I just had to paddle by, because it takes time and patience to photograph Warblers...ah well, I'll be back. ;)

At the junction of two creeks, when the rest of the group had surged ahead, my partner and I stopped for this bird, who had joined forces with a Blue-winged Parrot to chase off a marauding Raven. We were stopped in our tracks by the beauty of its call. The light was behind it, it was almost directly above, and I couldn't see it well, so I shot off a couple of quick ID photos. Before I could try for a better shot, it flew - so I have tried to fix up what I had in photoshop, so that I can add it to my gallery. It's not a very good job, but I'm definitely in the amateur class where photoshop is concerned. I know where it lives, I'll be back to see if it's still there in a while...and the Parrot too. ;)

Thanks to the kindly people who identified it for me in the ID thread. :clap:
Habitat
Open forests/woodlands/rivers; swamp-woodlands; mangroves; orchards, parks, gardens. Common. Summer breeding migrant in south.
Location
Salt Creek, Chowilla, South Australia
Date taken
October 25, 2008
Scientific name
Philemon citreogularis
Equipment used
Panasonic FZ50
What a busy and interesting life you have Rose!! This little beauty is a smashing addition to you gallery.

====================

Cora.
 
Great catch Rose!......one on my wish list.....I, for one, enjoyed your description of your travels...can't you convert these young fellas then they would be spotting the birds and locations for you, thanks for sharing!
 
A loud :clap: to our intrepid and adventurer Rose!!! :loveme: ... ;) Great new bird and description to come with it, it is so exciting to read about your experiences!!! Super-post!!! :t: :t: :t:
 
A great capture of a lovely bird in a beautiful part of our State, Rose. Must get up to that area again in the kayak to see how the drought & low river level has effected things. Thanks for sharing this one with us. :t:
 
Congratulations Rose!! you did well for ID photos mate, great image, expect you beat all the young men at canoeing LOL!! fastest granny on the river love you for your gameness Rose :t::t::t:
 
Rose, fabulous bird. So great to get a "new" shot. Congratulations. And thanks for all the info on location. GERRY
 
Nice shot, and interesting story to go with it. I often wonder what bird photography from a canoe would be like, but I don't have a canoe.
 
Thanks all! :hi:

Eric, there's still water in most of the anabranches up there, because the weir system keeps them going, but the lagoons are not in such good shape. Some are dry, some are now blocked with weeds, and others are very shallow, smelly, and choked with weeds - no good for paddling. There are still many different kinds of birds, both on the water and in the bush. Lots of raptors, especially Whistling Kites. They're nesting now, and fighting with the Ravens.

Jim, from a kayak or canoe you get to see from the water side, so birds in the overhanging branches and little ones like Reed Warblers are easier to see. If the creek or river is wide, you can get away from the trees to see birds hovering over thick bush, which you couldn't see from the ground. You can get closer to water birds, but only if you go very slowly and quietly. The downside is that focussing is harder, because boats don't stay still. They rock and drift, while you're focussing and afterwards, not like standing on firm ground where the camera is perfectly stable. Also, you need to waterproof your camera and pull it out each time you want to take a photo. It's a worthwhile trade-off though. :t:
 
What a story, Rose......it just shows what a bit of 'grit and determination' can acheive! I look forward to a revised shot of this strange looking bird!
 

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Category
Asia, Australia & Pacific Islands
Added by
Rose Fletcher
Date added
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489
Comment count
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