For a number of years I've driven past Jerrabombera Wetlands everyday on the way to and from work but never managed to get there. The recent acquisition of a FA 80-320mm lens (thanks Trumpyman) and the having to "babysit" my father in law (fellow Pentaxian) inspired me to make the effort and have my first go at bird photography.

This guy is a male Superb Fairy Wren, they rarely sit still so I was happy to get some half way decent snaps albeit 50% crops.





Pink Ear ducks, very unusual and attractive but shy - 60% crop


Purple Swamp Hen - minor cropping


There was a group of Royal Spoonbills nesting in a tree in the middle of the wetland. Later in the afternoon this female flew over and landed near the hide we were in.


Obviously she heard some strange clicking noises coming from inside


but she got over it and started feeding

[cupic]

The Wrens are fantastic very fast there are and its a great capture to have them(keepers)


cheers

[jaab]

Gday Mike
Great spot and photos.I was almost there myself 2 weeks ago,I didn't realise Canberra was such a good spot.The spoonbills are great.
cheers Jaab

[Rense]

Great series. The photos of the Wrens are beautifull, especially for "half way decent snaps".

[roentarre]

It is amazing that you could capture blue fairy wrens! They are simply superb images!

[Bud]

Nice series, Mike. The wrens are excellent and that spoonbill is an impressive species. Well done!

Bud

[KrisK10D]

Agree whole heartedly about the Fairy Wren. I've tried getting them myself and failed miserably. The little buggers just wont sit still. I'll have to try and visit this area one time I'm in Canberra. Nice work, Mike!

[daacon]

Looks like a place to make some more visits to. Nice series indeed.

[scott-devon]

Beautiful series, thanks for sharing.

[wildman]

The wrens are stunning.
In my neck of the wood if I took a picture with color like that I'd think there was something wrong with my camera.

[Mike L]

Nice series, Mike. The wrens are excellent and that spoonbill is an impressive species. Well done!
Bud

The male wrens only have that colour during breeding season, the rest of the year they are a drab brown and you don't notice them around as much.

My father in law and I spent several hours watching the Spoonbills nesting and feeding it was surprising how long they kept us occupied, they also only have their crest during breeding season

Agree whole heartedly about the Fairy Wren. I've tried getting them myself and failed miserably. The little buggers just wont sit still. I'll have to try and visit this area one time I'm in Canberra. Nice work, Mike!

The wetlands are worth a look if you have some spare time, they're not too far from the city centre, quite close to Fyshwick and the airport.

Looks like a place to make some more visits to. Nice series indeed.

I'm thinking of heading back on the weekend to see how the nestling spoonbills are progressing.

Beautiful series, thanks for sharing.

Thanks

The wrens are stunning.
In my neck of the wood if I took a picture with color like that I'd think there was something wrong with my camera.

Just need to be in the right place at the right time and a little luck helps too.

[Mike L]

It is amazing that you could capture blue fairy wrens! They are simply superb images!

There was a pair of the wrens nesting in next door's garden this year so they were regularly in my garden and hopping around just outside the lounge room window but they would disapear anytime I picked up a camera. Maybe I need to build a hide in my backyard

Great series. The photos of the Wrens are beautifull, especially for "half way decent snaps".

They have such amazing colour I'm sure if they would sit still for a while I could get some better pics but they never sit still for long.

The Wrens are fantastic very fast there are and its a great capture to have them(keepers)
cheers

I'm very happy with these pics especially since it was first outing with that lens, I was just lucky to have some bottle-brush scrubs outside the hide where they would come and sit briefly.

Gday Mike
Great spot and photos.I was almost there myself 2 weeks ago,I didn't realise Canberra was such a good spot.The spoonbills are great.
cheers Jaab

Canberra is a well kept secret especially if you are an outsdoor type person, there's definately more here than just politicians and public servants.