Gotta confess that it’s getting hard to get up at 4am to go and photograph birds, so of late I’ve started going out in the evening. Living at this latitude I’m envious of those who live further away from the equator as their dawn and dusk lasts longer. Here it’s done and dusted in less than an hour. Anyways we have to make the most of what we have and I’m quite enjoying the evening walks along the river.

 

 

Last Monday as I was driving down to the river I noticed that the car had got a new bonnet mascot in the shape of a giant grasshopper (that’s the species name and an apt description).  Initially I thought it will be blown off or it would abandon ship after a few minutes, but it resolutely clung on the windscreen wipers and was there when I reached the river.

 

 

Heading down the river it quickly became apparent that as far as the birds were concerned things were winding down for the day. A pair of Australian Wood Ducks promenading along the river bank caught my eye. Normally quite skittish they were accepting of my presence and allowed me to get a few photos. Mindful of the disappearing light I pressed on. At the swing bridge I met the psycho Willie Wagtail that resides there. He really is the most belligerent little bird I’ve met. He chases off all threats to his territory with great gusto. Even as far as having a go at people and dogs on the other side of the river. He really has a go at our dog Frida. Fifty grams of feathers and fury hurls itself at Frida pecking her face and backside. Frida for her part just wears this bewildered expression and good-naturedly just walks on trying to ignore it.

 

 

When I got to Monger’s Crossing the dropping water levels had brought the white-faced herons out in numbers. There were nine or ten of them there looking for food in the shallows. I couldn’t get close enough to them to take any photos, so I just watched them from a distance. As the sun started to dip below the horizon they started looking for a roost and I was able to photograph them as they did this. I stayed till dark and then walked back to the car.

 

Earlier in the day I was feeling a little jaded with going to the river. I felt it was becoming boring photographing the same area over and over again, This evening reminded me of how lucky I am to live here and have access to all this wildlife.