Australasian Darter, Braeside Park, Vic

"Each time this Australasian Darter dived I had no idea where it would briefly resurface, sometimes without food, sometimes swallowing it quickly and just this once tossing a Common Galaxias into the air to ensure it went down head first. The way the darter is rising from the water, with duck weed clinging to its feathers, reminds me of a sculpture emerging from its plinth."

Barn Owl, Sunshine Coast University, Qld

"I first saw this beautiful Barn Owl on the UniSC campus as it flew to get away from a mob of about 20 birds chasing it. In its panic, the Barn Owl flew into a barbed wire fence. I knew that if I did not help the Owl immediately it would either be killed by the other birds or severely injure itself trying to free itself. I quickly moved closer to the fence and calmly put my hand up towards the Owl to persuade it to fly off backward so it could be free from the barbs, which it soon did flying off towards some trees. It sat there for a moment before the mob of birds started attacking again. This is a direct impact of habitat loss. The Owl would usually be hiding in the daytime in a safe tree hollow. I sent a report of this to the UniSC and now they are going to remove all of the barbed wire. How fantastic is that! It just proves that small things make a difference and that we can all 'Stand UP 4 Nature' together."

Australian Pied Oystercatcher, Perth, WA

"On this trip to my capital city, I wanted to get some creative bird photos using city lights as a backdrop. After scouting some locations the evening before, I arrived an hour before sunrise and got into a position for the compositions I wanted. Some obliging birds gave me a few opportunities but handholding my 500mm lens at low shutter speeds, acquiring focus manually, and pushing my exposure settings made getting a shot really difficult. Eventually, this Pied Oyster Catcher posed in the perfect position long enough to hold focus and capture a silhouette portrait that's bursting in color from the city lights."

Tawny Frogmouth, Herdsman Lake, WA

"My mum found this Tawny Frogmouth trying to blend in with the tree, sitting above the path. I positioned myself to take the photo so I was facing the frogmouth front on as I wanted to show the bird's awesome camouflage. Except when I looked back at my images, I noticed the bird wasn't quite blending in, as though it had picked the wrong tree to sleep in for the day."

New Holland Honeyeater, Mallala, SA

"We have a lot of New Holland Honeyeaters in our garden and this branch is one of their favorites to land on. However, this branch is in shadow for the majority of the day with the sun shining on it for only about half an hour. With the background still being in shadow, I waited for the sun to hit the branch then underexposed in the camera. I changed the photograph to black and white to add more drama to the shot."

Black Swan, South Perth, WA

"Early morning movement from all residents along the south Perth foreshore. The swans awake and swim across the lake, looking for food."

Royal Spoonbill, Orange, NT

"Royal Spoonbill amongst the reeds."

Silver Gull, Fremantle, WA

"During a walk along the Victoria Quay I was shooting some photos of the seagulls flying around me, I noticed there were moments where they would fly directly above me. I tried for a shot like this one a few times but failed until I eventually captured one of the birds scratching itself mid-flight."

Little Egret, Mandurah, WA

"I was lying on the shoreline watching the Egret fish early on a cloudy morning and captured this photo by over-exposing to achieve a high key effect. The original photo included the whole Little Egret, but I decided to crop it to enhance the main three parts that stand out to me, the position of the fish, the yellow of the Egret, and the neat feathers on the bottom left of the photo. I only got one other photo with the fish in this position, I liked the sharp curves in the neck and the fact the Egret was looking in the down direction in this photo."

Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Kaiserstuhl Conservation Park, SA

"I had spent several weeks returning to the same area of the park, watching and photographing a wide variety of native birds feeding on the Grass Trees. After taking a lot of front-lit shots, I set myself the challenge of getting some "last light" backlit shots, capturing some behavior with warmer light. I knew the instant I checked the back of the camera with this image that I'd captured a special moment, as the Yellow-faced Honeyeater showered itself in pollen as it plucked the flower from the stem!"

Australasian Darter, near Bendigo, Vic

"It was a sunrise moment of pure serendipity. As the sun was slowing rising, the Darter rested on a tree stump drying its wings. I waited for a short moment until the mist moved upward to the 'ideal' position. The original scene has the golden glow of sunrise but little other colour so I have converted the photo to black and white."

Bush Stone-curlew, Macleay Island Jetty, Qld

"One night in April I went down to pick up a passenger off the late ferry. The Macleay Island jetty (then still under major reconstruction) was deserted except for myself and this attentive Bush Stone-Curlew. Both of us waiting. The Curlew just stood there as if the construction, signs, lights, and dead machinery had stumped it. I slowly walked within a few meters and took the shot with my phone, then retreated a little. I too was somewhat stunned at the implications for wildlife of the multi-million dollar upgrade to the jetty and the extended parking areas. I stood with the Curlew for a while. Then quietly I retreated to take a fenced-in, man-made detour to the jetty proper. The concrete concentrations. Mine. The curlew's... where will it go?"

Black-necked Stork, Great Egret, Cairns, Qld

"A Black-necked Stork keeps a watchful eye on an Egret who has caught a fish and is rapidly walking away."

Purple Swamphen, Lake Leschenaultia, WA

"I found a pair of Purple Swamphen feeding along the edge of the lake. They were picking up, what seemed to be, little sticks or roots in their feet and then nibbling at them. I kneeled down on the path for a lower angle and focused on the bird's head, then whenever it bent down to eat, I took a burst of photos until I got a sharp one."

White-faced Heron, Tamar Island, Tas

"On a mystical fog-laden morning on one of my favorite walks, a White-faced Heron perches gracefully upon the remnants of once-abandoned farmland, now transformed into a vital part of the Tamar Island Wetlands Reserve. This captivating scene serves as a powerful reminder of the restorative power of human intervention, where the discarded remnants of the past become the foundation for a thriving habitat that is home to nearly 60 species of birds. Amidst the fog's embrace, the Heron stands as a symbol of resilience and adaptability. This encounter evokes a profound sense of wonder, urging us to cherish and protect our natural heritage."

Australian Reed Warbler, Lake Gwelup, WA

"Walking along the shore of Lake Gwelup in the morning, the light was amazing, soft and pastel. Dad and I spotted a small bird popping up in the reeds, calling and scurrying back down the reeds again only to repeat this in another spot. We sat and waited with the camera focused. This time it popped up and called for longer, allowing me to capture a series of photos. This one is my favorite. I love the glow of the morning light around the bird, his beak open, calling, and the way the reeds fall in and out of focus giving a sense of the bird's habitat and the gentle colors. The photo is barely edited, just a very minor tweak to make it sing."

Superb Lyrebird, Dandenong Ranges National Park, Vic

"This is a long exposure of a male Superb Lyrebird during one of his morning mating calls. For some time now I have been fascinated by the elaborate movement of the bird's tail during its dance and experimenting with how to depict it in a photo. Short exposures allow for the crisp detail but completely lack the sensation of fluidity that one can witness while watching the dance. After some consideration, I have taken a risk and opted for a longer than usual shutter speed, which allowed me to depict the beauty of the bird's movement and still allow for some sharp detail which complements the blur nicely."

Pied Stilt, Perth, WA

"Urban wetlands and estuaries are becoming sanctuaries for dwindling populations of wading waterbird species as they learn to adapt to developed landscapes. Pied Stilts are among a number of species that can be found in a handful of locations along the Swan River, despite the prevalence of walkers, cyclists, dogs, boats, light pollution and other disturbances. I captured this image of a Stilt taking off high above Perth's skyline as a metaphor for the urban encroachment onto critical wetland habitats that are forcing shorebirds, many endangered, to find refuge elsewhere."

Masked Lapwing, Bribie Island, Qld

"A Masked Lapwing in a full stretch-yank with a worm. This worm wasn't going to let go easily, and I was able to get nice and low as the Lapwing leaned back pulling the worm out of its sandy home."

Eastern Spinebill, Merrijig, Vic

"As I was up early ready for sunrise, the clouds began to roll in and it was dark. The driveway of the accommodation I was staying at in the mountains was lined with rounded, warm, streetlamps but it was too dark to start shooting effectively. I noticed some small birds coming down to the birdbath and perching on overhanging sticks that had been placed there for birds. I lined up one of the perches with a nearby streetlamp and underexposed my settings to capture maximum detail. Sometimes in photography, you have to think outside the box and be creative by using your surroundings to your advantage, even if it's as simple as a streetlamp."

New Holland Honeyeater, Balyang Sanctuary, Geelong, Vic

"I like shots that show birds in their wider environment. I noticed this honeyeater clinging to a reed, swamped with buzzing mosquitoes and think it has made an interesting shot."

Australian Pied Oystercatcher, Cairns, Qld

"A leucistic Australian Pied Oystercatcher catches the last light as it retreats to the mangroves."

Pied Stilt, Wagin, WA

"Over summer I camped out at a receding salt lake where several species of shorebirds were gathering as other lakes in the district dried up. Lying on the shoreline in late afternoon 38-degree heat was incredibly uncomfortable, but I waited patiently for some golden light. A large flock of Pied Stilts were most active, feeding and squabbling. One Stilt was particularly dominant and cranky, so I kept my lens on it hoping to capture some action. As the sun dropped low on the horizon, it picked another fight then landed right in front of some reflected light (perfect for a rim-lit silhouette) and let out a territorial call before resuming feeding."

Australian Pelican, Alcoa Wetlands, Wellard, WA

"It was a magically still and misty morning on the lake with a flock of Pelicans and a couple of Pied Stilts waiting for the rising sun. I liked the changing light on the birds from left to right in relation to the rising sun."

Little Penguin, North West coast, Tas

"Nothing stands in the way of progress, especially wildlife. A Little Penguin peers out from under a barrier, cut from an old-growth tree that forms the edge of a parking area within the grounds of a busy wharf. To avoid putting the penguin under any undue stress, I took this without a flash, under a streetlight, and with the aid of the weak light from my phone shining along the foreground."

New Holland Honeyeater, Albany, WA

"Almost every evening New Holland Honeyeaters perch in our cottage garden, singing and feeding on the flowers or hunting flying insects. They give me lots of opportunities to experiment with exposures, compositions and lighting techniques. On this evening at sunset as a honeyeater sang from one of its regular perches, I composed an image through three foreground layers of rose stems. This created a somewhat abstract effect to the photo as the leaves and stems created patterns in the golden bokeh shining through the background foliage."

Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Agnes Water, Qld

"A pair of Scaly-breasted Lorikeets discovered their reflection in the door. We later found out that they thought the wood of the door was a good chewing post."

Black-shouldered Kite, Barabba, SA

"Hovering! It's what these birds do so well. I was trying to capture the movement in the wings so I lowered the shutter speed and used the side of the car to steady as I took the photo, hoping to keep a good focus on the eye. I find these birds contradictory in that as a bird of prey, they have a certain softness to them. I think this photo shows that as well."

Beach Stone-curlew, Sunshine Coast, Qld

"I was doing a shorebird survey with my friend Microlight Milly when I found this beautiful Beach Stone-curlew family sheltering in the Grey Mangroves. I decided to lay down in the wet sand & wait to see if they would come out. It was incredible - the whole family came out and started to wander around me. I noticed the dad staring intently at the only Goat's Foot flower out in the sand dunes. He just sat down and stared. I wondered what he was thinking as I took his photograph. After a while, the family went down to look for food along the water's edge. It was such an amazing encounter."

Great Egret, Albany, WA

"With a long band of thick sea fog enshrouding the harbor's horizon, I instinctively picked up my 70-200mm lens to capture a wider composition and include the stunning layers of dawn sky, mist, reflections, and contrasting tones. Setting my camera for a silhouette of one of the Great Egrets fishing in the shallows, I focussed on a subject and was lucky to pick the moment. As I fired off a burst of shots, it launched into flight through the mist."

Royal Spoonbill, Lake Wollumboola, NSW

"I love the headdress yellow brow and red eye - definitely the chief of his brood. This photo was taken from a ground pod, down low in the water, where I was getting chewed on by large March flies. I captured many photos that day and a very rewarding day it was."

Tawny Frogmouth, Stawell, Vic

"A victim of urbanization. I opted for a low angle on this shot to emphasize the drastic nature of this scene; the claws clinging onto the wire, stiff and cold, blood lining the beak, and the shoulders on each wing rubbed raw. It should serve as a somber reminder of the challenges faced by our native Australian wildlife, as the urban sprawl continues to affect every facet of their existence."

Cape Barren Goose, Flinders Chase National Park, SA

"I had been dreaming to see the Cape Barren Goose for many years and read that Flinders Chase National Park is one of the best places to see them. Ten minutes after arriving at the park I was delighted to discover a goose just off the road in the bush. After parking and slowly following it around for a while in the rain I was just about to turn and head back to the car when another male came flying through the bush and immediately began its attack. I managed to capture this shot as the dominant male pinned the invader to the ground during the melee. Once the losing male left I noticed further into the bush was a female sitting on a nest so I decided to leave them be."

White-faced Heron, Wickham Point, Kings Beach, Qld

"A White-faced Heron stands on the roof gutter of a house near the beach, its presence capturing the essence of the coastal surroundings. The black-and-white contrast adds depth to this urban encounter with nature. The image also captures the Heron's elegant presence, symbolizing an urban sentinel amid the coastal landscape."

Peregrine Falcon, Maroochydore, Qld

"A Peregrine Falcon keeps a watchful eye from its concrete vantage point. As the scenery and landscape change, trees get replaced by skyscrapers and meadows with houses, some of our wildlife adapt. Generally preferring cliffs or open woodland it can be quite common to find pairs of peregrines nesting high up on buildings in cities."

Galah, Currawinya National Park, Qld

"Sitting and watching the sunset over a lagoon in outback Queensland, this Galah flew down for its afternoon drink while being bathed in a golden glow. Seeing and understanding typical behaviors helped me achieve this shot, allowing myself to position around where the light on the subject and background would be."

Common Blackbird, Lenah Valley, Tas

"Just like me, this bird is far far away from home. Or is it? This particular "Blackbird most definitely doesn't even know that Tasmania is not where it belongs. At most maybe something doesn't feel quite right to this bird and everything seems a bit different than it should be. But at the end of the day, it is just a bird in a backyard bird environment doing bird things. Don't get me wrong, I do agree that the Common Blackbird doesn't really belong here but again it is European settlers that are to blame and not the bird itself. Although I sometimes feel the blackbirds here are quite a bit more skittish than back home in Europe, they do sometimes stop for a pose. Their abundance and frequent visits to the backyard make it possible to portray them in different ways than your "usual" bird pictures."

Kelp Gull, Hobart CBD, Tas

"I wonder frequently if the Hobart CBD Kelp Gulls think about moving out of the busy city. Or maybe they enjoy the loud concrete jungles? I took this picture from our home in the middle of a busy intersection. I do sometimes stare at the grey walls and wish I could move closer to nature. Did this particular Kelp Gull have the same thoughts? Urban birds have always had a special place in my birder heart. Their adaptation and resilience are fascinating and their presence makes me think about how many other species of birds we could coexist with in cities with more space for nature. During the shorter winter days, I find it sometimes challenging to photograph birds as much as I would like to. It's dark when you leave the house for work and it's dark when you get back. The last couple of months I often found myself on the rooftop of our apartment building during lunch breaks to get at least a few minutes of bird photography in per day. I didn't expect to get much out of these short photography sessions but soon realized that the same Kelp Gulls are sitting on the same building day in and day out. After a couple of sessions, I finally made out a particular building and frame that I deemed interesting enough to photograph. With a bit of patience, the resident bird finally landed in one of its favorite spots and let me take this picture."