As we approached the top of the hill from Fisherman's Beach we spotted this Kestral looking for lunch. Actually, Bob spotted it.  Bob wanted to test run my Canon R5 and I wanted to see the migratory birds he was talking about so we made a deal and his brother Steve, Bob and I went out to Long Reef Aquatic Reserve. I didn't realise that it was a reserve. It encompasses 80 hectares from Collaroy to Long Reef. There were loads of migratory birds there. The lighting wasn't great. Very sunny and contrasty but I may post some more from that day so stay tuned. Well, that's it for now. I'm off on a walk before it gets too hot. I'm already melting just sitting here typing this. Stay well.  Nina _________________________________________________________________________ Official Name:  Nankeen Kestral -  Falco cenchroides,  Falconidae Location:  Widespread Australia Habitat:  Lightly wooded, open agricultural and clearly the beach Conservation Status: ...

  My fellow LCNP photographers don't seem to have a problem tracking this guy. He's also been spotted by many a kayaker. Alas, in the years I've been walking through the park, I've only ever spotted him a couple of times and only for seconds at that.  I'm on a quest to find him every day. Hmm, maybe I'll buy a kayak for Christmas! Well, that's it for now. I'm off to get food. I've run out again. I'd really rather be in the park shooting birds!  Stay well.  Nina _________________________________________________________________________ Official Name: Sacred Kingfisher -  Todiramphus sanctus,  Halcyonidae Location: Widespread Coastal Australia Habitat: Forest and Woodlands near water and wetlands Conservation Status: Secure For more information go to  BirdLife Australia _________________________________________________________________________ THE AUTHOR My Curious Camera is professional portrait photographer, Nina Beilby. That's me. 😃 📷📷 F...

God Rays shine just before the sun rose Broke out of my routine and went for a mid-week sunrise this week. The light and colours are amazing at the moment, it's hard to resist. Also, being winter the sun doesn't rise until 7am which is completely reasonable not like the 4:30am starts during summer. As a portrait photographer, landscape shooting is new to me and I am learning something, well, lots, each time I go out.  So happy I did. THE AUTHOR My Curious Camera is professional portrait photographer, Nina Beilby. That's me. 😃 📷📷 Follow me as I travel through life with my camera by my side, I share snippets and snaps of my daily adventures. With my camera at my side, I've been able to record moments of jubilation and happiness. When I have had some of my darkest moments, my adventures with my camera have given me purpose and joy. I hope they give you some too. Nina

  Just walking along the Lane Cove River Track from Chatswood and this guy popped down to say hi. Thanks to my new Canon 5R and its silent shutter, I was able to photograph him without frightening him. My old 1Dx used to make a shockingly loud noise scaring the birds half out of their wits. I love getting a shot of the birds back because this is usually where the prettiest feather patterns are. Well, that's it for now. I'm off to get ready for the theatre.  Stay well.  Nina _________________________________________________________________________ Official Name: Yellow-faced Honeyeater -  Lichenostomus chrysops,  Meliphagidae Location: Widespread from Queensland to South Australia Habitat: Forest and Woodlands near water and wetlands Conservation Status: Secure For more information go to  BirdLife Australia _________________________________________________________________________ THE AUTHOR My Curious Camera is professional portrait photographer, Nina Beilby...

  I turned the corner and walked right into a tree full of Satin Bowerbirds. This one is female. The male was there as well but I'm not certain if the others were the chicks or other females because I didn't get a chance to get a good look and I don't know enough about Bowerbird behaviour to know but I'm guessing they were chicks. They were unsettled by my presence so I snuck away but would have loved to have stayed and observed them. They breed until January so I have a bit of time. Stay tuned for my post on the male and his bower. 😀 Stay well.  Nina _________________________________________________________________________ Official Name: Satin Bowerbird -  Ptilonorhynchus violaceus,  Ptilonorhynchidae Location: Coastal band of Eastern Australia Habitat: Dense vegetation near the ground and close to waterways Conservation Status: Secure For more information go to  BirdLife Australia _________________________________________________________________________ THE A...

  My walk on Thursday, went from Lindfield down Symons Track, under Fullers Bridge and toward Chatswood golf course. On the little trail before the golf course, I heard a scurrying in the bushes and a little muffled squelching.  I saw two Whipbirds amongst the brush. The regular blue-headed Whipbird I had seen frequently but I have never seen this brown coloured one. So I quickly photographed it then once home used my Merlin app to identify it as a Juvenile Eastern Whipbird. The adult Eastern Whipbird peers at me through the bushes. I always get excited when I see a new variety or a different version of a bird.  I get a lot of ridicule from serious bird people but I hope I never lose the thrill of these new discoveries. Official Name: Eastern Whipbird,  Psophodes olivaceus,  Eupetidae Location: Coastal band of Eastern Australia Habitat: Dense vegetation near the ground and close to waterways Conservation Status: Secure For more information go to  BirdLife A...

  Looking half-crazed with hunger, this young Currawong screeched to be fed. Sitting in the tree beyond my terrace, it was extremely loud so I popped my head out to see what was going on. Of course, I grabbed my camera and was able to catch the parent in action. Official Name: Pied Currawong,  Strepera graculina,  Artamidae Location: Eastern Australia Habitat: Forest and Woodlands Conservation Status: Secure For more information go to  BirdLife Australia THE AUTHOR My Curious Camera is professional portrait photographer, Nina Beilby. That's me. 😃 📷📷 Follow me as I travel through life with my camera by my side, I share snippets and snaps of my daily adventures. With my camera at my side, I've been able to record moments of jubilation and happiness. When I have had some of my darkest moments, my adventures with my camera have given me purpose and joy. I hope they give you some too. Nina

  A wonderful walk today from Lindfield along Lane Cove River toward Hunters Hill. Abundant birdlife around here. One of the best mornings for bird watching. Just after the rains meant good light and no people. Stay tuned to see what else I spotted. Meanwhile, enjoy this Silvereye hunting for his lunch in a curled up leaf. Official Name: Silvereye,  Zosterops lateralis,  Timaliidae Location: All over Australia, except NT Habitat: Almost any wooded area and includes orchards, urban parks and gardens Conservation Status: Secure For more information go to  BirdLife Australia THE AUTHOR My Curious Camera is professional portrait photographer, Nina Beilby. That's me. 😃 📷📷 Follow me as I travel through life with my camera by my side, I share snippets and snaps of my daily adventures. With my camera at my side, I've been able to record moments of jubilation and happiness. When I have had some of my darkest moments, my adventures with my camera have given me purpose and j...

   Every day, I walk in Lane Cove National Park and each of these days brings something new. Come with me on my daily adventures. Its amazing what we will see. These Tawny Frogmouth are well known to the area, but I had never come across them so I was super excited when I received a messaged to let me know that they were in the tree on Fiddens Wharf Oval. I ducked down and could barely see them. It's only that I knew they were there that I persisted. A lovely couple. The one on my left would occasionally peck at the other and she would snuggle him right back. Adorable! This guy was very curious about what I was up to but after an hour, he felt comfortable enough to tuck his head in and fall asleep. Just as well, my son had decided he was coming to dinner and as it was 6pm, I needed to get home.  THE AUTHOR My Curious Camera is professional portrait photographer, Nina Beilby. That's me. 😃 📷📷 Follow me as I travel through life with my camera by my side, I share snippets ...

 Every day, I walk in Lane Cove National Park and each of these days brings something new. Come with me on my daily adventures. Its amazing what we will see. It has been raining quite a bit lately. You know, warm summer rain that brings that sticky humidity. The bush feels more like a rain forest than dessert at the moment. Probably something to with  La Niña . Anyhow, the good thing about that is that most Australians tend to stay inside the minute there is a drop of rain so I had the bush to myself today. Always a good thing when you are tracking birds.  The Lorikeets are really enjoying the summer Banksia blooms at the moment. Trouble is, they are very noisy as they go about their business so you have to really listen and tune in to other birds. The Fairy Wrens love to play. They are delightful to watch and never fail to make me smile. I'm not certain of the species so if you know, feel free to drop me a line. If I find out, I'll update this post so stay tuned. Th...