A Silver Gull (commonly referred to as "seagull" in Australia) casts a long shadow on the concrete path, while keeping a close eye on the photographer.

Silver Gull and shadow

Crawley, Western Australia
Canon EOS 350D, 17-85mm IS @85mm, 1/1000 sec, f/5.6, ISO100

This photo is from a while ago, but I am still finding some photos in my archives that I think are worth posting.

I saw these pink flamingos at the Calgary zoo. Most of them were just standing around on one leg sleeping, but this one was keeping a wary eye on the zoo visitors.

pink Flamingo

Calgary Zoo, Alberta, Canada
Canon EOS 50D, 70-200mm f/4L @109mm, 1/4000 sec, f/4, ISO200

When they sleep, they twist their neck into some awkward shape, and tuck their head between their wings on their back. They also lift one leg and tuck it underneath their body, and sleep while standing on the other leg.

twisted neck! Pink Flamingo asleep

Calgary Zoo, Alberta, Canada
Canon EOS 50D, 70-200mm f/4L @113mm, 1/3200 sec, f/4, ISO200

They actually look very unstable, with the relatively large body balanced on such a skinny leg. I wonder how well they can balance when it gets windy, or when a curious visitor tries pushing them over!

During a recent walk around Burswood with a colleague one lunch time, we found this egret wandering around one of the lakes behind the Burswood Casino complex.

Intermediate Egret

(Ardea intermedia aka Egretta intermedia)

Burswood, Western Australia
Canon EOS 50D, 70-200mm f/4L @200mm, 1/2000 sec, f/4, ISO100

During a visit to Serpentine Falls last year with my kids, we saw this white-faced heron fishing in a small waterfall just below the main falls.
The heron was keeping a close eye on the water flowing past, and managed to catch a couple of small fish while we watched.

White-faced Heron fishing in the waterfall

Serpentine, Western Australia
Canon EOS 350D, 70-200mm f/4L @168mm, 1/500 sec, f/4, ISO100

For a wider-angle view of the area where the heron was fishing, have a look at this photo, which shows the small waterfall (just below the main falls), and the heron.

Here's another photo from last week. There were quite a few darters (often mistakenly called "shags" or "cormorants") along the river's edge early in the morning, drying out their wings in the sun.

The sunlight on the feathers on the outstretched wings drew me to this bird, so I got down low to get the Perth skyline in the background.

While I've previously indicated I wasn't sure how useful Liveview would be on my new Canon 50D, in this situation, I found it useful, as I had the camera on the grass, and used Liveview to compose the shot, rather than having to lie down to get my eye to the viewfinder.

Darter and Perth skyline (vintage gold)

South Perth, Western Australia
Canon EOS 50D, 24-70mm f/2.8L @46mm, 1/640 sec, f/4.5, ISO100

One of the last steps of post-processing this image was the application of an action called "Vintage Gold". It's one of the actions included in Mulletgod's free photoshop actions.

A black-necked stork, captured at the Perth Zoo.

Black-Necked Stork

Perth Zoo, Western Australia
Canon EOS 350D, 70-200mm f/4L @70mm, 1/640 sec, f/4, ISO100

While on a drive around the south west of Phuket, we stopped at the Kata View Point to enjoy the view. Some locals were there, with some tame sea hawks and sea eagles.

sea hawk

Kata View Point, Phuket Thailand
Canon EOS 350D, 17-85mm IS @85mm, 1/200 sec, f/5.6, ISO200

They referred to the one shown above as a "sea hawk", but after some research, I think it may be an Osprey.

I was trying to get closer to these stilts, but they didn't appreciate my approach, and flew off in the opposite direction. However, I managed to get this shot as they flew off.
I like the colour gradient in the water, and the reflection of the birds on the ripples is particularly interesting.

Black-winged Stilts flying over the lake

Bibra Lake, Western Australia
Canon EOS 350D, 70-200mm f/4L @200mm, 1/1600 sec, f/4, ISO100

This seagull was snapped near the Barrack Street jetty in Perth, Western Australia, while on an early-morning photoshoot with a colleague.
I particularly like the colours and texture of the wooden post that the bird is standing on.

seagull

Perth, Western Australia
Canon EOS 350D, 70-200mm f/4L @118mm, 1/60 sec, f/4.5, ISO100

Some ducklings on the grass in Kings Park. We were having a picnic dinner on the grass, and some of the ducks were eating the bread crumbs from right next to the kids. They weren't scared of people at all.

follow the leader

Kings Park, Western Australia
Canon EOS 350D, 70-200mm f/4L @200mm, 1/80 sec, f/4, ISO100