Posts by tessa_murray@mastodon.au
(DIR) Post #AYiX3wXteD6mSTNEbw by tessa_murray@mastodon.au
2023-08-14T09:12:24Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
Nature is so cool sometimes - this is a common weed #photography #nature
(DIR) Post #AZOE8s1KrmqaWQDFtw by tessa_murray@mastodon.au
2023-09-03T12:16:01Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
Went camping at the amazing Dryandra Forest last night. This photo is of a red-capped parrot launching off a branch. Obviously I have edited this QUITE a lot ☺️ (and not very well) which I don't normally like to do. The original has a horrible blur of foliage obscuring the tail and body so I created some masks to brighten the bird and de-saturise the background (all in Lightroom Classic). I quite like the end results - I think the dull background conveys the actual rainy and fairly dark atmosphere quite well and you can still see some raindrops and I like the angelic look to the wings. #birds #birdphotography #photography
(DIR) Post #AZb4CkwQQGZRNGXSPg by tessa_murray@mastodon.au
2023-09-09T12:57:15Z
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Not quite perfect, but I still like it and these birds are really hard to get in flight (they normally just fly off at warp speed before you can even get close). This is a glossy ibis, one of a pair that let me sneak up quite close (commando crawling of course 😆 ) until a dog came past and scared them off. They did circle round and land quite close to me which I found flattering, but in even worse light than this. #birds #birdphotography #nature
(DIR) Post #AZzgX5xtvBrOsbSXcO by tessa_murray@mastodon.au
2023-09-21T13:51:39Z
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This is a male purple-backed fairy-wren. I think these are the most shy of our WA fairy-wrens. They often like to be near water and tend to be a little bit quieter and more hidden than the blue ones or the red-winged version. I caught this guy as he went down to drink, then lost sight of him and had to wait and wait. I was just about to leave when he popped out for a second before disappearing back into the bushes. #birds #birdphotography #nature
(DIR) Post #AaA2E45Uoote7vwSoK by tessa_murray@mastodon.au
2023-09-26T13:47:16Z
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Something a bit different - these are bluebottles blown onto shore by a blustery wind. In the ocean they sting, but on the sand with the sunlight streaming through their sails they are exquisitely beautiful. #nature #photography #bluebottle
(DIR) Post #AbwyU72IgUBSQKDQdE by tessa_murray@mastodon.au
2023-11-16T08:34:50Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
The Great Crested Grebes are hatching in numbers now! Here 2 are having lunch delivered (having already had their first "meals" of feathers). This is a nesting photo but this family is well habituated to people and has successfully raised chicks before from exactly this spot and with plenty of paparazzi. Most grebes would not have continued to feed the babies like this and I would have left them in peace. #birds #birdphotography
(DIR) Post #AcI9uzSm7yYAZQmCIq by tessa_murray@mastodon.au
2023-11-29T06:18:35Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
We are so lucky in Perth to have several pairs of ospreys that nest on our beaches and river. This pair has just raised their babies to fledgeling level and they are learning how to fly and hunt. This is mum after an unsuccessful (but close) dive. Hopefully I will get to spend many hours standing on a beach waiting for juvenile action this summer.
(DIR) Post #AcbL4nKpl6W9wzQ3CC by tessa_murray@mastodon.au
2023-12-08T12:56:49Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
After many many attempts to photograph my "local" bee-eaters (not the habituated ones at Lake Gwelup) I got some tolerance from them today!
(DIR) Post #AcwjKOvbrVujb04QwC by tessa_murray@mastodon.au
2023-12-18T03:16:13Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
Got up at dawn, spent an hour sitting in the mud staking out spotted crakes, got some ok photos. Gave up to go home and found this one in a beam of light just next to my car. I dumped my bag and tripod on the path and snuck down to the waters edge not expecting that it would come this close #birds #birdphotography
(DIR) Post #AdCbWamtemUPieYprk by tessa_murray@mastodon.au
2023-12-26T11:38:28Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
My favourite birds (so far) this Summer have been the little Spotted Crakes. Prior to this year I have never managed to get a decent photo and they are generally quite unusual to see. Something weird is going on because I am currently aware of at least 5 sites where they can be reliably seen - including this spot where I frequently have to go backtracking through the mud because they come closer than my big lens' minimal focussing distance 😍 #birds #birdphotography
(DIR) Post #AdCdT9acWPBSPDJ51M by tessa_murray@mastodon.au
2023-12-26T08:11:49Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
Frogmouth babies seem to be a bit of a Christmas tradition around here 🙂
(DIR) Post #AdYppEuDRXByK97lj6 by tessa_murray@mastodon.au
2024-01-06T05:25:41Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
And another. The poor kite looks most displeased. #birds #birdphotography
(DIR) Post #AdZj0uwoy1WpNZvMky by tessa_murray@mastodon.au
2024-01-06T06:11:12Z
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Just that nano-second too quick for me and I clipped the wing (nb this image is already heavily cropped!). A Rainbow Bee-eater delivering lunch to the babies in the nesting burrow. Nb this is essentially "nest" photography which does raise some ethical concerns. This group of birds are extremely habituated to photographers and both the birds and photographers return to the same location every summer to breed (ok only the birds are doing any breeding). When we are photographing nesting birds it is important to monitor behaviour - if the birds are frequently delivering food to their babies they are probably quite relaxed. If they have to stop and look at you each time, and especially if they are landing close, and then flying away with the food then you are bothering them and need to move further away or leave. Even when things are going well time at these sites should be limited. #birds #birdphotography
(DIR) Post #AhokE6qFNdFNCrLaXA by tessa_murray@mastodon.au
2024-05-12T10:33:38Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
High key Spoonbill. Low key Spoonbill. Full colour Spoonbill. The light was terrible this evening - but I was so happy because we finally got a few drops of rain which we desperately need.
(DIR) Post #Ajuc7iFTWClLK1Tlr6 by tessa_murray@mastodon.au
2024-07-14T05:58:12Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
@futurebird @guncelawits I agree - AI is taking all the magic out of photography. When I see an amazing image posted I spend more time querying whether it is real or not. And either way I end up feeling stupid and angry. If I decide it's real I hate that I'm so cynical, if I decide it's AI (all or partially) then I feel stupid. And worst is when I can't decide and then I simultaneously feel naive and cynical.
(DIR) Post #AkGAmxGs2yLcY07zIe by tessa_murray@mastodon.au
2024-07-24T14:01:58Z
1 likes, 1 repeats
Probably 3 different males, but within 1 km of each other. White Winged Fairy Wrens always seem to liver near water, and somewhat incongruously for a small bush bird are frequently found near beaches. Like other fairy wrens they have the delightful habit of giving small courting gifts to their partners and in the first picture you can see that he has a little white petal for exactly this reason. The second picture shows one in my favourite way - with the ocean as a backdrop and the last picture is one on the beach #birds #birdphotography
(DIR) Post #ApiromLoNmz2Q4JFtA by tessa_murray@mastodon.au
2025-01-04T00:06:49Z
1 likes, 2 repeats
Another Pink Cocky (sorry - there will be lots!). Just such beautiful colours - and always with the happy faces!
(DIR) Post #ApjHL7JmSadJZKsObw by tessa_murray@mastodon.au
2025-01-04T01:27:39Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
And THIS is what happens when they show their heads! The crests come up just as they land or when they are having "discussions" with each other and sometimes when they are alarmed about something. (I have used generative fill to remove a bit of stray tail in a corner)
(DIR) Post #AxoxXz1uf1ooaseksK by tessa_murray@mastodon.au
2025-09-03T06:18:05Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
Willy Wagtail hunting (yes it was successful)
(DIR) Post #AzdF0ZimLIxICQ4YQi by tessa_murray@mastodon.au
2025-10-27T06:55:10Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
Aaaaannnd CHOMP! Baby frogmouth up to no good. #birds #birdphotograph