Yellow Wattlebird

Yellow Wattlebird Anthochaera paradoxa

I found a few of these birds at the northern end of the Botanical Gardens in Hobart, where they swoop gracefully between trees, and were actually quite easy to photograph. This is Australia’s largest honeyeater, and is endemic to Tasmania. I think the yellow wattles make them look rather religious, or at least self-important.

Nikon D7200, Nikkor 200-500mm.
1/1250s, f5.6, ISO 1250.

New Holland Honeyeater

New Holland Honeyeater Phylidonyris novaehollandiae

These birds are common across Tasmania, with bold black, white and yellow plumage. They often seem somewhat unkempt, with feathers fluffed askew. This fellow was at Franklin, where there are a number who congregate around the riverside boardwalk just north of Frank’s Cider. They are wary of people, and will move rapidly when disturbed, so you have to be patient, slow and quiet. Being small, a decent photo requires getting fairly close. It took a while. He looks a little grumpy, “Go away and STOP bothering me”.

Nikon D7200, Nikkor 200-500mm@500mm.
1/1000s, f5.6, ISO 1100.

Tasmanian Birds Calendar 2018

My calendar for 2018 is out, as Christmas gifts. For the first time I thought it was important to say a little more about the subjects. Click through below to see the birds and a bit more info about them.

• Cover - New Holland Honeyeater
• January - Yellow Wattlebird
• February - Noisy Miner
• March - Silvereye
• April - Black Swan “Scooter”
• May - Great Cormorant
• June - White-faced Heron
• July - Black Currawong
• August - Sooty Oystercatcher
• September - Superb Fairy-wren
• October - Masked Lapwing Chick (“Plover”)
• November - Little Wattlebird
• December - Hooded Plover

I hope you enjoy the calendar through the year, as much as I enjoyed getting the photos and assembling it.

Copyright © Mark G Hanna 2017

And of course additional copies at an extravagant price can be purchased here. Sorry they're expensive, they only print them as ordered. They are very well printed on good quality materials though.

Hooded Plovers

Copyright Mark G Hanna 2017

White Faced Heron

Copyright Mark G Hanna 2017

Mount Rufus Scoparia Garden

Came across this lovely "garden" of Richea scoparia on the way up Mount Rufus. Managed a few photos despite the wind and rain. It obviously impressed Peter Grant, who wrote about it here. (And, here.)

I don't think I've seen so many different colours all in the one place before.

Mountains, mountains everywhere...

Panorama from Little Hugel. Mount Olympus and Othrys dominate the right hand side, but beyond them, and scattered across the left hand side are more mountains than most people ever climb. Marvellous view on a great afternoon. Lake Petrarch in the centre.

Full size image here.

Panorama from Little Hugel - Too many mountains to name...