Steve Happ Photography Ramblings and dissertations

Griffith Area Birds.

Here are some birds that I photographed on the shores of Lake Wyangan, near Griffith, in New South Wales.

Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybridus).

Yellow-billed Spoonbill (Platalea flavipes)

Galah (Eolophus roseicapillus).

Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena)

This is a baby. See the white around the beak.

Lake Wyangan Birds

Australian Hobby (Falco longipennis)
Swamp Harrier ( Circus approximans)
Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybridus)
Australasian Darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae)
Yellow-billed Spoonbill (Platalea flavipes)
Galah (Eolophus roseicapillus)
Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena)

Cocoparra National Park.

Part two of my weekend trip to Cocoparra National Park. These first few are my remainders from Woolshed Flat. I got some decent shots of Southern Whiteface.

Southern Whiteface (Aphelocephala leucopsis)

This one had a grasshopper and was bringing it into a hollow of a tree. Not sure if there was a nest in there or not.

Southern Whiteface (Aphelocephala leucopsis)

The White-winged Choughs had a nice mud nest and the whole mob of them were screeching at me and trying to divert me from the nest.

White-winged Chough (Corcorax melanorhamphus)

The next morning I went to a water-hole but only seen a Peaceful Dove (Geopelia striata) and a pair of Bar-shouldered Dove come down to have a drink.

Bar-shouldered Dove (Geopelia humeralis)

On the way back out I saw a Blue Bonnet fly up from the side of the road.

Blue Bonnet (Northiella haematogaster)

Kangaroo

Goanna

Cocoparra National Park.

I spent the weekend at Cocoparra National Park, about thirty kilometers from Griffith, in the Riverina region of New South Wales. It was relatively dry with no water in any of the creeks.

Splendid Fairy-wren (Malurus splendens)

female Splendid Fairy-wren (Malurus splendens)

I think this is a tick but I just cannot remember. doh! This was up the gorge at Jack’s Creek.

White-browed Babbler (Pomatostomus superciliosus)

At Woolshed Flat, just near my camp.

Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala)

I thought these were Yellow-throated but no. Wrong again.

Speckled Warbler (Pyrrholaemus sagittatus)

I did not expect to see these on the ground. They were feeding in the grass with they Yellow-rumped Thornbills.

Jacky Winter (Microeca fascinans)

Lots of these around.

Brown-headed Honeyeater (Melithreptus brevirostris)

Not sure if I have seen these before.

Cocoparra bird list

Splendid Fairy-wren (Malurus splendens)
White-browed Babbler (Pomatostomus superciliosus)
Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala)
Speckled Warbler (Pyrrholaemus sagittatus)
Jacky Winter (Microeca fascinans)
Brown-headed Honeyeater (Melithreptus brevirostris)
White-winged Chough (Corcorax melanorhamphus)
Olive-backed Oriole
White-eared Honeyeater (Lichenostomus leucotis)
Southern Whiteface (Aphelocephala leucopsis)
Yellow-rumped Thornbill (Acanthiza chrysorrhoa)
Rufous Whistler (Pachycephala rufiventris)
White-plumed Honeyeater (Lichenostomus penicillatus)
Australian Ringneck
Peewee

Murrumbidgee Area.

I found this lizard under some bark along the Murrumbidgee River near the Euroley Bridge. I think it is some kind of gecko but have no idea which one. edit: Thanks to Aaron and Marlene for the ID. 🙂 It was a Marbled Gecko (Christinus marmoratus).

Marbled Gecko (Christinus marmoratus).

Marbled Gecko (Christinus marmoratus).

Australian Ringneck ( Barnardius zonarius barnardi)

Half moon.