Azure kingfisher

Of all the kingfishers that are found in my area that is the Sunshine coast of QLD the Azure kingfisher is the most striking and is the most secretive. The Sacred kingfisher seams to be an easier kingfisher to approach. This Australian bird when it is spotted is normally sitting on a branch near the water, if you happen to see an Azure kingfisher you will notice that it will be attentively gazing into the waters of the creek in search of small fish or other Crustacea. When this Australian bird spots you. However, it will quickly dart off normally a fairly short distance under 20 meters calling as it goes to its mate to alert it of the danger within the area.

Australian pelican

The Australian pelican travels large distances inland when the centre of the nation is bursting forth with rains that have travelled down from the monsoonal North the great event is a gorging extravaganza and heralds a brief breeding season for the pelican and many species of Australian water birds. But this is a once in a generation event but normally these large Australian birds will breed on islands off shore and can do so any time of the year but this is often determined by rainfall. During the breeding season the pelican will lay in between two to four eggs and may raise a single offspring to maturity.

Australian darter

Watching this Australian bird one notices that it does enjoy the water and equally can be found on a river bank or perched in a tree, facing the sun with its wings stretched out drying itself off. The reason the Australian darter does this is that this is one of the species of Australian bird that does not have waterproofing within its wings and therefore it could be prone to becoming water logged.

The Australian Darter makes a platform nest of branches that it can utilise for several years and these nests are placed in trees above water. Inside these nests can be found up to six offspring at the time of hatching and some of these may make it through to adulthood.

Whistling kite

The Whistling kite's that are in my area can be seen on a daily basis drifting up and down the local water ways in search of an easy meal. Whistling kites can be seen as a single bird or in groups and often in the company of the Brahminy kite or near the White-breasted sea eagle, which it torments as often as it sees fit.

Whistling kite's are a larger raptor 550mm in comparison to the Brahminy kite who is around 450mm. However, Whistling kite's are not considered to be colourful individuals and some consider them to be quite drab, but this is not quite the case, although they do not have a set of striking colours there are many differing shades of brown within their plumage.

Rainbow lorikeet

Life is a very social event to a flock of Rainbow lorikeets. These flocks can number in there thousands and the noise is something that would qualify as noise pollution. Rainbows lorikeets start their morning before the crack of dawn and are still telling each other fabulous stories well after dark, long after other species have tucked themselves under a wing and called it a day.

A rainbow lorikeet can eat a wide variety of different foods including Pollen, nectar, blossoms, fruit, berries, seeds, some insects and their larvae. When eating pollens and nectar the Rainbow lorikeets utilises its tongue which is quite like a brush and it quickly sweeps up the pollen and devours it.

Eastern yellow robin

The Eastern Yellow robin is quite a curious bird and can be prone to come up and take a look. Taking the Eastern Yellow robin's photograph has on occasions been problematic though. It seams that raising your hands with camera in toe towards your eyes does seam to spook them and they seam to then want to be somewhere else.

The Eastern Yellow robin can often be seen hoping around in the undergrowth flying up onto a tree in the sideways position. As per one of the photos that are on my website, and then dart off to snatch another insect from off the ground. The Eastern Yellow robin is the robin that I see the most of all, in this species of bird.

Noisy miner

Noisy miner's are one of our most notable and sociable species of honeyeater's these birds are also known as a Soldier bird and are one of our most prolific birds within its range. If you were to here a disturbance within the natural world around you rest assured the Noisy miner will be at the center of it all, calling to all of his kin and yes they will all arrive. It is not an uncommon site to see a Noisy miner create a panic over the discovery of a bird of prey, a Goanna or even a Tawny frogmouth and the ensuing commotion will result in three or four dozen birds turning up to this one request for back up.

Wompoo pigeon

Wompoo pigeons are one of the most delightful sights in the natural world. Just take a look at our photo's here and tell me you are not impressed by the colours that are on display. The Wompoo pigeon has several distinct shades of green an awe inspiring purple throat and neck with a golden underbelly that is replicated on parts of its wings.

Eastern whipbird

The Eastern whipbird is a very secretive and reclusive individual. These birds if left undisturbed will be happy to hop upon the ground turning over the leaf litter in the wet scrub and rainforest. It is not until your presence has been brought to the Eastern whipbird's attention that it will very promptly and discreetly fly and hop away. To approach the Eastern whipbird requires a great deal of patience, thought, and a fair amount of luck.

Kookaburra

The Kookaburra is an icon of the Australian bush and indeed is King and Queen of the kingfisher family, being the largest of the species. A great deal of affection is displayed by Australians to the Kookaburra and everyone would dearly love to have one in their back yard.

Red backed fairy wren

The Red backed fairy wren is a communal bird like a fair number of the wrens here in Australia and it is not an uncommon site to see a male bird with several females. Red backed fairy wrens are normally found in small thickets, shrubs and heavily grassed or tussock areas these small birds are predominantly found on or close to ground level and are happy to just hop along the ground turning over the leaf litter in search of insects and their larvae.

Blue crane

The White faced heron is also referred to as the Blue crane. This is a wading bird that can be found throughout Australia. White faced herons are found either singularly or in pairs. The White faced heron can be found wading in the shallows of virtually every creek, river system of coastal or inland Australia and on lakes or inland dams, this is the species most often encountered within Australia in the heron family.

Blue faced honeyeater

Blue faced honeyeater's are a very distinctive bird and one of the easiest of all the honeyeater's to identify due to its colouring around the eye's and ears. The Blue faced honeyeater is often found in the company of the Noisy miner and Rainbow Lorikeet. These are all birds that are found within local parks and suburban gardens as well as a variety of different local bushland and farmland settings.

White-breasted woodswallow

The White-breasted woodswallows that are found in my local area are seen close to our river this is a salt water river and these birds flourish and are in quite good numbers. These White-breasted woodswallows are often seen in pairs or small groups of up to several individuals, although in some areas it is believed that the White-breasted woodswallow can form larger groups of up to 100 birds

Yellow tailed black cockatoo

Yellow tailed Black Cockatoo's are a very large bird and they have a personality that is as large as their size with a call that matches their stature The Yellow tailed Black cockatoo can grow to almost 70cm in length. Anyone who gets a chance to spend any time with these Birds walks away from the experience very impressed indeed. The Yellow tailed black cockatoo feed on wood Larvae from Eucalypt and Banksias and are very fond of the seed cones of the Banksias, as you can see from one of these Photo's. The Yellow tailed Black Cockatoo's are a bird that is often used as a sign of impending rain and can be quite reliable at times.

Rufous fantail

Rufous fantails are a petite dainty small fantail and are not nearly as common as their cousin the Grey fantail  although their range and habitat can at times overlap and one can be in the company of the other. The Rufous fantail is a very distinct bird with reddish brown rump and eye brow markings.

Little corella

What can be really said about the Little Corella, well this is one really noisy, outrageous and cheeky bird. The Little Corella is a small cockatoo of around the 38cm range and both sexes are of a similar size and appearance.

Scaly breasted lorikeet

Scaly breasted lorikeets are a 23cm lorikeet that frequents similar places that you encounter the Rainbow lorikeet. The Scaly breasted lorikeet is a pale lime green colour and on the breast it also has yellow fish scale markings hence it's name. When this bird reveals its wings there is an explosion of orange red colour that is quite distinct and pretty. Scaly breasted lorikeets are found from Cooktown in NQLD to Illawarra in NSW. This is some 70% of the range and habitat of the Rainbow lorikeet too.

White cheeked honeyeater

This is the White cheeked honey eater which is not to be confused with the New Holland honeyeater which is similar in markings although the colours are not as saturated in the New Holland honeyeater. The white cheeked honeyeater that is displayed here was photographed in the Heath behind my local beach. On that particular day I never had the opportunity to capture the White cheeked honeyeater with the sun revealing the bird and so we have to settle for a shaded photograph.

Tawny frogmouth

The Tawny frogmouth is a nocturnal bird that is often thought of as a member of the owl family by many people but this bird is actually a member of the nightjar family. The Tawny frogmouth is a bird I remember very well from my child hood I lived on a farm and at night these bird would swoop at insects illuminated by my fathers car lights.