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Technical: Nikon D300, 300mm F2.8 VR, 1.4TC, handheld

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Technical: Nikon D300, 300mm f2.8 VR lens, handheld

(click image for larger view)

The Morepork or Ruru has to be one of my favourite birds. They are nocturnal birds with amazing flying abilities. We watched this pair for a number of hours picking large moths out of the air at the entrance to Shakespeare Park. Almost silent on the wing the only noise you could hear was the sound of the large moths being ripped from the air.

Technical: Nikon D300, 300mm F2.8 VR, Tripod, 2 x SB800 off camera flash

(click image for larger view)

Blockhouse Bay Beach reserve has great opportunities to view many White Faced Herons feeding in the shallows (as well as a number of wider shore birds). On this day the resident Herons seemed happy to roost in the surrounding pine trees. I needed every last millimiter of the 600mm lens combined with the 1.4 x tele-convertor on the Canon 1D IV giving and effective focal length of 1,100mm. Given the very dim light and the slow shutter speed of 1/125s I’m pretty happy with the image.

Technical: Canon 1D IV, 600mm IS L, 1.4TC, Tripod. 1/125s, f7.1, iso 1600.

(click image for larger view)

Technical: Canon 1D IV, 600mm IS, 1.4 TC, Tripod

The Eastern Rosella (click for larger image) is a colorful introduced bird that has a somewhat controversial existence in New Zealand. The main issues associated with the bird are there aggressive nature towards natives and their nesting within hollow trees directly competing with natives such as the Kakariki. Personally, I would prefer to see the Rosellas replaced by Kakariki in the garden but I’m not sure if this will ever happen where we live in suburban Auckland.

Technical: Canon 1D IV, 600mm IS, Tripod.

Technical: Canon 1D IV, 600mm IS, Tripod

The Silvereye are not so common in summer months in our garden, but that seems to change as the weather cools off and food becomes a little scarce. We have a lovely flowering bottlebrush tree which seems to be attracting an ever increasing number of the birds. Soon it will be time to start supplementing their diet with the occasional feeding of fruit such as banana and apple.

Technical: Canon 1D IV, 600mm IS and 1.4tc, tripod.

Goldfinch feeding on Lace Bark seed pods (click for larger image).

Linger awhile upon some bending planks
That lean against a streamlet’s rushy banks,
And watch intently Nature’s gentle doings:
They will be found softer than ring–dove’s cooings.

Sometimes goldfinches one by one will drop
From low hung branches; little space they stop;
But sip, and twitter, and their feathers sleek;
Then off at once, as in a wanton freak:
Or perhaps, to show their black, and golden wings,
Pausing upon their yellow flutterings.

— John Keats

Technical: Canon 1D IV, 600mm IS, 1.4TC, Tripod

Rangitoto Island under twilight glow (click on image for larger view). With views like this so close to home there is a lot to like about Auckland and the peaceful place on the planet we are lucky to occupy.

This image is comprised of 6 images blended to give a very large high resolution panoramic file. The image looks wonderful printed on fine art paper stock and framed.

Technical: Canon 1d IV, 24-105mm on tripod.