Miraz Jordan

I borrowed on paper from the Library Backyard Bird Photography: How to Attract Birds to Your Home and Create Beautiful Photographs, 2014, by Mathew Tekulsky 🐦

Not so much a “How-To” as a “How I did”. Disappointing and I was also concerned cameras have advanced a lot since then.

Wow, this 28 minute film is entrancing: Hargila 🐦 :

Through the efforts of a remarkable conservation leader, Dr. Purnima Devi Barman … the [endangered Greater Adjutant storks] are now protected, celebrated, and increasing their numbers locally.

Gorgeous photography.

I’ve seen a few Spur-winged plovers around recently but haven’t had a chance to take a photo of them yet. This picture from October 2018 will have to do for now. 🐦

This photo from February 2020 turns out the be the only one I have of a Goldfinch. 😒 Poor little mite flew into our window and was stunned. 🐦 Need to look out for one to take photos of.

I’m learning a heap of useful info from the free videos from The Cornell Lab Bird Academy. Here’s one example: Inside Birding: Size & Shape.

If you want to learn more about birds this is great stuff! 🐦

I have a lot to learn about taking photos of shags in trees. Just look at this dork though! 😆 🐦 Try zooming in.

Word's out about the railing! Today a Warou, Welcome Swallow, opted for the full photo shoot, even including the over-the-shoulder pose! 🐦

Because I was sitting quietly on a log, the Pied Stilt came closer, checking me out.

Pied Stilt, strutting her stuff. 🐦

Five quail eggs in a box. Four of them, as usual, weigh 11 grams. The other one weighs 15 grams! Last time this happened the larger one was a double-yolker. 🐦

I spotted this small yellowish-green bird on a flax spear but couldn’t make out what it was. I took a couple of photos through the window, but as soon as I opened the door for a better look it flew off. Greenfinch. 🐦

I really enjoyed Cold Deal (Kina McKevie Private Detective Book 1) by Lisa Ambrose. 📚 It kept me reading past bedtime. I hope the next in the series comes soon.

Kina McKevie is back in East London more than a decade after killing her abusive, drug-dealing boyfriend.

Update 03 October 2022: when I first noted this on my blog on 03 October 2021 the author was Lisa Ambrose. Now the book’s at a new URL with Laurence Moore listed as author.

Glee and Fliss, the Japanese Quail, are now back in their outdoor run. 🐦 They don’t care for change much so were very cautious and fluffed up to start with.

Canada geese flying at dusk.

Action at the bird feeder. Sparrows and Waxeyes. 🐦

Who knew sparrows had tongues!!!

I’m on a quest to take photos of all the birds we see round here. 🐦 I’m also longing for the rather costly 100-400mm zoom lens, but actually have a 50-230 — some birds I just can’t get closer to.

Success today with the Eurasian skylark which flies up to 100 metres high.

I was down at the lakes today, bracing against strong wind gusts, trying to get photos of the Australian Shovelers on the other side of the water. A couple of Mallard ducks flew off and I happened to get a decent shot of them in flight! 🐦

These photos stretch my 50-230mm lens.

They’re far from perfect but they beat any of my previous attempts to catch a hawk in flight by a mile. 🐦 I’m reading and learning from Dan Bailey’s book: X Series Unlimited.

Cuties from the deck this evening. Baby rabbits from a burrow in the paddock next door. Welcome Swallow, Warou, on the Zendo roof. 🐦 🐇

You have to watch out for the swallows: they build mud nests over doorways and light fittings, and in the garage if you leave the door open.

I only recently discovered the free Merlin Bird ID app and it works well (for photos, not so much sounds) even here in NZ. 🐦

users answer a few simple questions or, snap a picture and then [see] a short list of possibilities tailored to location and date.

I like it!

I already wrote a little about the Royal Albatross Centre, but wrapping up our recent holiday, here’s more. We viewed the birds from a hide, through glass. Several adults swooped right past the window and huge chicks were just outside. Older chicks weigh more than adults. 🐦

My two Japanese quail are clearly independent thinkers, having produced these first eggs of the season. Thing is, we have 10.5 hours of daylight today and they “shouldn’t” start laying till we have 12 hours daylight per day — ie late September. 🐦 🥚 Clever girls!

For the final adventure of our holiday we visited the Royal Albatross Centre on Otago Peninsula. 🐦

the only mainland breeding colony of Northern Royal Albatross (toroa) in the world.

The birds have a 3-metre wingspan. Chicks weigh ~10 Kg before they fly.

A big storm is forecast for this weekend — gales and loads of rain. Plus it’s midwinter and we’ve had some solid frosts and we’re going away soon for a holiday. Today I moved my two quail into the garage, using the dog crate to hold them. They’ll be warm, dry, out of the wind. 🐦

The little silvereyes sure do love the birdfood! 🐦