Australia (6/8) Cooinda

The Yellow Water billabong at Cooinda was a fabulous place.  There are probably many more like it across the Northern Territory but the memory of cruising through the wetlands with thousands of birds around us will stick with me for a long time.

Of course it can't all be perfect. We were on a sunset Cruise and a great spectacle it was with the sun setting behind the vast area of water. However, for me it was a disaster. There were so many birds to photograph but they were mostly silhouetted against the sun with huge reflections coming off the water, dull orange/red lighting and shadows everywhere.

If you are interested in the birds you need to be on a morning cruise with the light behind you.

Anyway, there was no second chance so I had to make the most of it. Dozens of photographs have been consigned to the bin and Photoshop has been used to rescue others. Some poor shots have been retained as they are my only record of that particular bird. It could have been a lot better but it was still a great opportunity. Here goes.

Pied Cormorant

 

Plumed Whistling Duck

Wandering Whistling Duck

Radjah Shelduck

Royal Spoonbill

Shining Flycatcher - Female

Shining Flycatcher - Male

Azure Kingfisher

Brolga and Plumed Whistling Ducks

Black-necked Stork  (Jabiru)

Cattle Egret

Comb-crested Jacana  -   also known as the Lily Trotter or the Lotusbird

Gull-billed Tern

Magpie Geese

Not a good picture but at least it was seen in the wild. I think I will have to pay a visit to the Wetland Centre at Arundel and get a decent shot from their captive birds.

Nankeen Night Heron - Juvenile

Nankeen Night Heron  -  Adult

The Egret below looks like a possible Intermediate. The jizz looks all wrong for a Great Egret. The neck is too short as is the bill. On close examination the bill is a yellow/orange colour and the gape stops below the eye instead of behind it. The tarsus are black and although it cannot be seen in the picture photoshop says that the tabia are red. Someone tell me if I am wrong.

Possible Intermediate Egret

Australian Darter

White-bellied Sea Eagle

White-bellied Sea Eagle

I might get back there someday but for now onwards and the next stop Cairns