On 19 March 2025, I was observing 2 Grey Fantails and a Brown Thornbill doing their thing at the Western Remnant of Royal Park. The Thornbill grabbed hold of a thin branch of a shrub right in front of me. I managed to capture this rather pleasing portrait of the Brown Thornbill.
Brown Thornbills are one of the smallest birds in Australia. Like many small birds, they never stay still at one place for very long. As a result, they are very difficult to photograph. All things considered, I am rather happy that this particular Thornbill stayed in the pose long enough for me to take this image.
Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/500s f/6.3 ISO500
On 21 February 2025, I encountered 3 Black-faced Cuckooshrikes at the Western Remnant. I managed to take a photograph of what looked like a juvenile bird as it has downy looking feathers.
These birds usually perch in tall trees and are quite difficult to photograph at eye-level. As the path of the Western Remnant is elevated, I managed to photograph this particular bird at close to eye-level. The only issue is the featureless blue sky. I guess you can’t have everything.
Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/800s f/6.3 ISO100
On 9 January 2025, I encountered this white-winged Galah on the oval next to Trin Warren Tam-boore, Royal Park.
If the eyes were any guide, it was a female. It is amongst the flock of Galahs. I have not had the fortune of seeing it after that encounter. I do wonder if it is a genetic defect or a phase that this particular Galah is going through.
Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/640s f/6.3 ISO280.
On 14 March 2025, a female Scarlet Robin was spotted at the Skink Habitat at Trin Warren Tam-boore, Royal Park.
From the side of my eye, there was a splash of orange-red colour. I originally thought that it may be a Mistletoebird but on closer look, it appeared to be a Robin. The colouration of the breast suggested that it was a female Scarlet Robin. I tracked her around the Skink Habitat and she eventually settled down and allowed me to take this photograph.
I often find Scarlet Robins easier to photograph than Flame Robins. They have a curious nature and has a smaller circle of fear. This is also the first time that I have observed a Scarlet Robin so close to Trin.
I am hoping that the sighting of this bird marks the beginning of the winter migration of the Robins to Melbourne.
Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/800s f/6.3 ISO1000
These photographs were taken at the oval next to Royal Park Trin Warren Tam-boore on 14 December 2024.
It was a reasonably cloudy morning but the harsh sun shone through the cloud, creating a less than soft light on the Galahs. Still diffused but slightly harsh.
I was lucky enough to be able to get a photograph of a Galah with its crest up. This does happen often.
First: Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/800s f/6.3 ISO90
Second: Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/800s f/6.3 ISO140
After a few weeks of absence, it looked like the Galahs are back at Royal Park Trin Warren Tam-boore. These photographs were taken on 11 December 2024.
The first image was taken at the oval next to Trin while the second was taken at the Skink Habitat.
While a common bird, they are quite pretty and add colour to the city park on a dull summer day. Their calls are not as rough as the Sulfur-crested Cockatoo but I wouldn’t described them as particularly musical. The way to identify the sex of the Galah is the colour of their eyes. The males have dark brown eyes while the females have pink eyes.
First: Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/800s f/6.3 ISO220
Second: Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/640s f/6.3 ISO140
I had never been a street photographer. I don’t even know where to start. On 21 December 2024, while in Melbourne City, I decided to bring a camera along. Far from what a street photographer would do, I brought quite a bit of gear in a backpack:
Nikon Z8
Nkon Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.8 S
Nikon Nikkor Z 85mm f/1.8 S
Nikon Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR
NikonSAF-S Fisheye Nikkor 8-15mm f/3.5-4.5E ED
I never got to use the 85mm nor the 105mm macro lens. While indoors, I had the fisheye on the camera and was using the 50mm outdoors.
I took a few hundred photographs but only kept less than 20. I was looking for something unique that most people would not take notice of.
I spotted these ordinary-looking building but with a narrower perspective, the lines and windows render interesting textual that streaks the skyline. Of all the buildings I have photographed, I find these 3 images the most interesting.
Through a fresh look at a common sight, I hope to bring about a second, more interesting angle to the concrete jungle that is Melbourne Central Business District. I hope you enjoy it.
First: Nikon Z8, Nkon Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.8 S @ f/8 1/125s ISO-140
Second: Nikon Z8, Nkon Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.8 S @ f/8 1/125s ISO-560
Third: Nikon Z8, Nkon Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.8 S @ f/8 1/125s ISO-140
Superb Fairywren are all over the place these days. This one was found in Trin Warren Tam-boore on 10 December 2024. It looked like it is going to have its breakfast.
Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/500s f/6.3 ISO2800
Crested Pigeons are common in Australia. They can be found easily at Royal Park Trin Warren Tam-boore. This photograph was taken in the morning of 10 December 2024.
The day was fairly overcast. This provided a nice soft light for the photography at the field next to Trin. This particular Crested Pigeon was kind enough to pose for me.
Nikon Z 9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 1/400s f/6.3 ISO1400
