Murray Neill: Bird Watching Photos

One day I'll get a photo of a fantail in flight..... I will.

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 21:24:49 GMT

This little fellow spent most of yesterday afternoon feeding on tiny flying insects down by the river in front of my house. He would perch of the same dead branch bent out over the water, watching and waiting for his prey. Occasionally he would dart off and pluck an insect, almost to small to detect with human eyes, from the air in mid flight. Fantails are incredible aviators and almost impossible to photograph in the air. Because of their speed, agility, and unpredictable flight paths, I've taken thousands of photos of empty airspace trying. I clicked off ninety frames within a matter of minutes trying with this one. One day I'll fluke it.

Kereru Feeding

Sat, 01 Sep 2007 23:17:30 GMT

I've been pottering around the garden this morning. Not really doing much in the way of planting or anything (to early here, we're still getting frosts), but rather planning what I'll plant, when, and where. My garlic crop is well under way, the raspberrys and black current are starting to bud, and last years rhubarb has just poked it's head up through the pea-straw again.

The tree lucerne on the river bank is covered with lost of fresh young shoots the the native pigeons are enjoying.

Toutouwai - New Zealand Robin - Petroica australis

Fri, 11 May 2007 23:16:11 GMT

Toutouwai is a fearless little bird, bolder even than the Fantail. They will fly within an arms reach and are even known to perch on a persons head of shoulder. I have still found it challenging to get good shots of this species however because I usually come across them in the deepest darkest parts of the NZ bush where the light for photography of fast moving, dark coloured birds is not the best.

Stoat (Mustela erminea)

Sat, 23 Dec 2006 01:39:50 GMT

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This little fellow visited my garden this afternoon, just to have his portrait taken. He sat and waited paitently while I changed to my 300mm lens to get some nice closeups. Stoats are a real problem for New Zealands delicate eco-system. Our birds, particularly the flightless ones, have developed no defense to predators like this one, having evolved in an environment without them. They and their eggs are easy prey for the highly evolved stoat. Now that I know this one is hanging around the area, I should set a trap for him, for the sake of the local birds. I hate having to do that to any creature, especailly one so handsome. I wish I could just rehabilitate him or something.
Can you spot the little guy in the picture below?

Rhipidura fulginosa (Fantail)

Fri, 08 Dec 2006 09:23:34 GMT

This evenings walk

Sat, 21 Oct 2006 09:57:29 GMT

Life in the garden

Fri, 06 Oct 2006 20:29:11 GMT

The garden is really coming to life now. I've got a few plants in (lettuce, beans, silver beet or swiss chard, cauliflower, brocoli, potatoes) and they are doing well, but it's the bird life really makes it feel like the growing season again. The kingfishers are back in the poplar tree by the back door, and their call is now the first sound I hear each morning. They'll probably nest in the same hole in the tree trunk that they had chicks in last year. Such shy and wary birds. This year I may even build a hide to photograph them from. Its the only way I'll get close enough for a good shot.

This morning a native pigeon, Kereru, was posing in the plum tree when I drew the curtains. I'm sure he was just waiting to have his portrait taken. He sat there while I made a coffee, grabbed my camera, walked out to the front lawn, took a few shots, then just after I turned to walk away again, he took off; probably up the hill to find some morning sun that was now creeping down the walls of the valley.

Matuka-moana - Whitefaced Heron

Wed, 27 Sep 2006 08:35:08 GMT

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The Welcome Swallow

Sat, 23 Sep 2006 07:49:00 GMT

I went to Rabbit Island this afternoon to meet up with friends Mark and Pamela, and hopfully do some kite buggying. The wind did not eventuate however, so we amused ourselves throwing boomerangs, collecting shellfish (just had cockles and chips for tea) and some last minute bird photography.

This handsome little bird was swooping around the bridge at the entrance to Rabbit Island. I had to do a search when I got home to identify but I think it is a Welcome Swallow. Nice name.

This Pied Shag was nearby, drying his wings, while another was diving for fish.

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My Unicorn - Piwakawaka

Wed, 31 May 2006 08:46:58 GMT

Fantails are my unicorns. The creature impossible to catch... in pixels.

Although they are difficult to photograph ironically they are not hard to find. They are a very common bird in New Zealand, and to top it off they are completely fearless around people. Often they will follow you through the bush, dancing in the air just an arms reach away. Its almost like they taunt the photographer. They are such accomplished aeronauts that are almost impossible to predict their flight as the flit and dart around. The photographers best bet is to try and predict where they will land (hint: it's usually the perch where they can get the best view of you), then focus on the branch and wait for them to land. Even then you'd better be quick... they seem to sense the camera shutter precognitively and break their pose at just the right nano-second. To add more difficulty they usually hang out in dense bush where the low light requires slow shutter speeds. Any fantail that remains motionless for half a second is probably dead, and using a flash, in my experience, just ruins a closeup bird shot (I usually lose most of the fine details in the feathers from the flash highlight).

I have spent considerable time in pursuit of fantail shots. I could count the 'keepers' on one hand out of literally thousands off frames.

Then there is the Black Fantail. Unlike the Pied Fantail, the Black Fantail is only found in the South Island, and it makes up just 10% of the Fantail population here. Because their feathers are all dark they are even harder to photograph.

This afternoon I stopped down at the beach to walk Kaycee. This pair of Black Fantail came from the dunes and stayed with me for a good 10 minutes. They seemed as interested in me as I was in them and graciously allowed me to take their portraits to share with you.

Wingman

Fri, 14 Apr 2006 23:37:58 GMT

The Dancer

Sun, 19 Mar 2006 06:38:44 GMT

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Tauhou - The Slivereye (Zosterops lateralis)

Sat, 11 Mar 2006 02:12:02 GMT

The Slivereye or Waxeye is a pretty common bird in NZ. This morning I was watching a flock of them feasting on a fennel plant that has gone to seed by the river in front of the house. They seem to always move about as a group. I watched them flitting about on this fennel for over an hour, then abruptly they all moved onto the poplar tree nearby, where they feed on a certain insect that hatches its larvae on the back of the poplar leaves. Not one of them stayed behind to keep eating the fennel seeds even though the group was only a few meters away. Safety in numbers I guess. This usually very wary birds allowed me quite close today and I enjoyed watching their energetic seed gathering.

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Catchup Photography

Wed, 18 Jan 2006 09:20:23 GMT

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I haven't posted for a day or two thanks to a wee spyware problem. Thought I was too smart to need a antispyware program, and I did get away with it for a very long time... but I got hit, and after half a day chasing it, I just reformatted and started again. I keep most of my 'work' server-side anyway, so it was no big loss, just time to get back to blogging.

So as a catchup here's a slice of photography from the last three days of life on this planet.

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These gulls shared my fish and chips on the waterfront. I couldn't resist a portrait or two. I like gulls.

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*sigh* ....another summers day.

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...and a couple from the garden. My sweetcorn is chest-high and hairy now.

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The top of one of my gourd vines. Amazing climbers...

Black & White Birds

Thu, 12 Jan 2006 08:12:13 GMT

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Putangitangi - Paradise Duck (casarca variegata)

Mon, 19 Dec 2005 06:09:04 GMT

What is the plural for duck? Should the title of this post say "Paradise Duck" or "Paradise Ducks"? I can't decide if they are like sheep or not (are far as plurals go... you know what I mean!) I suppose I could look it up, but I can't be ar5ed so I'll just ask you lot instead.

Anyway.... this is one of those photos that I like, but can't decide why I like it. Taken on the spur of the moment yesterday, while we were out kayaking, it is a pair of Paradise Duck(s) that just took of, fleeing the three brightly coloured kayaks coming down the river at them. The subjects are two far away, the compositions off, its not quite sharp, and the colours were pretty dull (I've fixed them up a bit in Photoshop to compensate for the underexposure of the original shot).... but I like it anyway. I just can't put my finger on why...

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I'm on a mission now to capture a better shot of this species. They're pretty common in NZ so it shouldn't be to difficult to find them. In fact there's a half tame one living in this little valley. Well, he's either half tame, or half insane, we're not sure which. He doesn't seem to have a partner (odd in this species) and has little or no fear of humans, or dogs, or traffic... or anything. He sits on top of cars, blocks the road, and generally acts like he owns the valley. I was walking Kaycee early one morning recently, when he came swooping out of nowhere, flew past just a few feet from my head, honking as he went by, and landed on the road in front of us. He then proceeded to try and 'herd' Kaycee and I into a small imaginary circle by waddling around us honking constantly. Maybe he's suicidal... Lucky for him Kaycee doesn't know what to do with prey that doesn't run away and just stood there looking confused.

And then there were three

Sat, 26 Nov 2005 02:06:41 GMT

Remember that pair of Californian Quail that have taken a liking to my garden? Well they're still around and they're a lot less shy these days. Each time I see them they seem to allow me closer than the time before. This morning they were right by my front step and were quite happy to have their pictures taken while Kaycee lay sleeping in the grass less then six feet away. Neither seemed bothered by the others presence. I managed to get much closer for photos than I did last time. Even though the females colours are more neutral than the males, she is just as beautiful when you get close enough to see all the details of her plumage...

The male sat on a branch of the almond tree nearby, just watching me and chirping occasionally to his mate, presumably warning her of my presence.

When I looked even closer, right there beside Mum's tail-feather, perfectly camouflaged, was the latest addition to the family.

Kereru's Return

Wed, 16 Nov 2005 09:30:58 GMT

I know I just posted a shot of Kereru (NZ native pigeon) a few days ago, but I just don't tire of watching these birds. There's quite a few around the valley at the moment too. It occured to me today, as I was taking these shots, that I live in a house that most bird watching enthusiasts would adore. I was standing in my bathroom at the time, watching this guy stuff his face with the tender new shoots of the tree lucern by my back door.

Tui

Sun, 13 Nov 2005 01:48:03 GMT

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Kereru

Sat, 12 Nov 2005 10:36:09 GMT

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Californian Quail

Sun, 30 Oct 2005 07:52:59 GMT

Check out the delightful (but very shy) couple who visited my garden this afternoon...

New Neighbours - The Kingfishers

Sun, 11 Sep 2005 09:39:04 GMT

Just moved in this weekend...

Sunbird

Thu, 25 Aug 2005 09:49:55 GMT

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"A bird seems to be at the top of the scale, so vehement and intense his life. . . . The beautiful vagabonds, endowed with every grace, masters of all climes, and knowing no bounds -- how many human aspirations are realised in their free, holiday-lives..."
John Burroughs (Birds and Poets, 1887)

Korimako

Tue, 21 Jun 2005 09:01:27 GMT

Sitting on my back doorstep, admiring the work I've done in the garden. The fence looks good, with its patched, recycled chicken wire. The Manuka fence poles look nicely 'organic' as none of them are perfectly straight. It should keep the chooks out though.

I can hear a variety of bird-life in the valley as I sip my coffee. In NZ the sound of birdsong is almost always around us but we forget to hear it sometimes. I can hear the song of a bellbird in the near distance, maybe a few hundred yards away, standing out from the other chirps and twitters. I start to imitate his song, note for note. He answers with his echo, once, and then, as I continue to mimic his original four-note composition, he swoops toward the sound to check it out. First he perches in the beech tree 30 feet away. I whistle again bringing him nearer into the poplar tree just across the creek. I sing his song one more time and his curiosity takes over. He leaps and glides effortlessly to the branch of the Kowhai tree just a couple of feet from my camera lens.

After a minute he tires of eyeballing me (I'm not the 'bellbird' he was hoping for) and zips off to see what he can find to eat under the bark of the Manuka tree by the river.

We'll meet again Korimako...

Fantail Speed

Fri, 03 Jun 2005 02:57:54 GMT

This little guy and some of his kin were very interested in me as I turned the compost heap this afternoon. Everytime I took a break they would be in to see what fresh insects they could grab. These images were shot continuously at 2.5 frames per second. Fantails do not sit still and say 'cheese'. Click on each frame to enlarge.