Been hearing this beautiful little bird make its presence known for the past couple of weeks. For a small bird it is very loud. I found it hiding in our Crepe Myrtle – I love how my P950 will look inside the branches. But, as yet, I’ve not learnt how to hold the camera very…
Author: Kathie Thomas
Exploring Birdsland Reserve
Exploring Birdsland Reserve, Belgrave Heights, Vic. It’s my favourite walking spot. Flanked by a state park and farmland, it consists of two lakes, one with an island, and walking/cycling tracks and wildlife – lots of birds, kangaroos, the occasional echidna or wombat, some turtles and, hopefully, platypuses too – waiting to see those after considerable…
My fav images for 2021
I know I haven’t blogged as often over the past couple of years but I am still out taking photos nearly every single day of the year, and have been for quite some time. I am still in love with my Nikon P950 and it is the camera that I carry with me 95% of…
Attracting birds to your garden
I love that we have a wide variety of flowering bushes and trees in our garden. They are definitely bird attractors. When we first shifted here to Selby 12 years ago we probably only saw a dozen or so different species. But, today, it’s close to 40 throughout the year, depending on what’s in season…
Beats having binoculars!
Walked around the corner of my house, to the front garden and saw, what I thought, was the usual wattle bird in the grevillea. Then I realised it was much smaller and different markings. Zoomed in (as I didn’t want to go closer and scare it away) only to find it was a Yellow-faced Honeyeater….
Running a GuruShots Challenge
If you’re a new Guru you’re probably wondering how to run a challenge at GuruShots. A good place to start looking is at the FAQ section at GuruShots, the section on being a Guru is a good start. While they give guidelines on Challenge Cover Photos the reality is if you’re bidding for a challenge,…
2022 Calendar orders now open!
The 2022 Dandenong Ranges Calendar is now open for orders. They are currently being finalised and stock will be available mid September for posting out or picking up (from Selby) – but they are available to order as from 9am 31st August. Knowing that many of you like to send these interstate and overseas for…
My Kookaburra Friend
We have 3 kookaburras living on our property here in the Dandenong Ranges, and several others that visit from time to time, causing a chorus of calls to take place, at different times of the day. One of the kookaburras is very used to me wandering around our garden, with camera in hand, and rarely…
Foggy mornings
When visiting Healesville recently, I drove through Cockatoo. It was a very cold morning, 0-1C (it is almost mid winter here) and the car kept warning me of icy roads. I’d pull over to the side, when safe to do so, to let other traffic pass me by, that was intent on travelling much faster….
Hello Major Mitchell
I really should visit our zoos far more often. The Healesville Sanctuary is in my neck of the woods and it is entirely Australian animals and birds (I believe). I love going to the ‘Spirit in the Sky’ show to practice my BIF (bird in flight) shots. This time round I took the new Nikon…
Dandenong Ranges Icon
When you hear the words ‘Puffing Billy’ you are instantly transformed to visions of the Trestle Bridge, smoke and steam and people waving from the train. My favourite spot is at the top of the Trestle Bridge, to capture the train as it comes towards me. On this particular morning it was very still and…
Visiting Lysterfield Lake
I’d heard, recently, that there was a flock of Swift Parrots at Lysterfield Lake, just 10kms from where I live. Why was this so special? These birds are classed as an endangered species and they are endemic to Tasmania. I’d first heard about them when working with a Victorian arborist industry association that had sent…