Birds, Wildlife & Flowers near Obi Obi Creek, Maleny, Sunshine Coast Hinterland, Queensland, Australia

Hi all

Over the last couple of months I've been lucky enough to visit (twice) a nice natural environment north of Maleny, in Queensland's Sunshine Coast hinterland, north of Brisbane. Birds, plants, flowers, Obi Obi Creek, nice forest... you get the picture :). On my second visit I was thrilled to snap a rushed pic of a beautiful little Rufous Fantail bird (Rhipidura rufifrons), so please take a look at that, below. Here are some pics:

Lewin's Honeyeater (Meliphaga lewinii)


A deceased Red Bellied Black Snake  (Pseudechis porphyriacus)


Colours & textures


An Australian goanna / Lace Monitor (Varanus varius) appears to have a big yawn, with the light shining through from the far side, illuminating the blood vessels in its mouth :).


Either a Superb Fairy Wren (Malurus cyaneus) or a Variegated Fairy Wren (Malurus lamberti)


 I generally wouldn't like to share a poorly focussed pic, but here's a lovely little bird called a Rufous Fantail (Rhipidura rufifrons). At least its tail is in clear focus - appropriate given its name :).


Would anyone like to suggest which bird this is?


Brown Cuckoo Dove (Macropygia amboinensis)


Here's my photo gallery covering two enjoyable visits.

Thanks for looking!

Regards

Des
http://disci.smugmug.com/Nature

2011 World Migratory Bird Day Celebrations, Boondall Wetlands, Brisbane, Qld, Australia

Last Saturday I visited the an event acknowledging World Migratory Bird Day. This celebration at this time of year is oriented to the northern hemisphere, so the day was not devoted to trying to see migratory birds. Rather, the day:

1. acknowledged the amazing achievements of such birds,
2. highlighted the need to care for them, and
3. gave a chance to take a guided walk through Boondall Wetlands with expert guides.

Some pics:

Councillor Amanda Cooper opens proceedings

David Fitzgibbon welcomes visitors and introduces the new display educating the public about migratory birds.

The volunteer bird guide from "Birds Queensland" heard these birds in the distance, expertly whistled to them, and then after about 30 seconds, a pair flew over closer to us! (They were still very difficult to 'snap' though!)
Pale Headed Rosella (Platycerus adscitus)

Perhaps an Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

Tawny Frogmouth (Podargus strigoides)

Here's the link to my Smugmug photo gallery on World Migratory Bird day celebrations.

Thanks for looking!

Regards

Des
http://disci.smugmug.com/Nature/Birds

Blast from the Past: 2008 Noosa Triathon @ the Noosa Triathlon Multi Sport Festival

EDIT - March 2015 - Storehouse blog post with BIG pics here: https://www.storehouse.co/stories/r5gxp-2008-noosa-triathlon

Hi all

A bit of a 'Blast from the Past' for you. I re-created my 2008 Noosa Triathlon photo gallery, so wanted to share some pics. This event was the first time I had ever seen champions like Emma Moffatt, Emma Snowsill, Courtney Atkinson and Kiyomi Niwata competing 'live', so the event meant something extra to me. Some pics:

I admired this couple, looking 'fit as a fiddle'


Taking a breath


Good impersonation of a puppy dog shaking the water off


2008 Olympic Gold Medallist Emma Snowsill


Courtney Atkinson


Kiwi Chris Gemmell


The guy helping had actually been in the race and joined his mates beside me just after finishing the cycle leg. The cyclist appreciated his help and shook his hand.


For me personally this was my favourite shot. I had been shooting almost exclusively 40mm portraits at that time, and, when I saw the opportunity coming, quickly changed to 17mm landscape. 'Happy I did.


I was at this spot for almost 2 hours, and this lady clapped for every competitor - quite an effort!


As you look through the gallery you'll notice the kids having a great time spraying the triathletes as they ran past.


Here's the Smugmug photo gallery of the 2008 Noosa Triathlon.

Thanks for looking!

Des
http://disci.smugmug.com/Sports/Triathlons

Big surf at Snapper Rocks Superbank, Gold Coast, Labour Day, Monday 2 May 2011

I got back to Snapper Rocks on Monday afternoon to see some massive surf. The south-east curent was so strong that surers could not get to, or stay at the traditional starting point. Fortunately they found a starting point a bit further up the coast and some very big waves came through!

Watching, waiting


One VERY rare calmer moment - great for actually being able to get into the water!


All afternoon....


Finally some surfing action!




Do you think anyone found the new best starting point?


Um... size?


Here's the photo gallery on some wild surf at the Snapper Rocks Superbank.

Thanks for looking.

Regards

Des
http://disci.smugmug.com/Sports/Surfing

Surfing Snapper Rocks Superbank, Gold Coast, with a Surprise Too!

Hi all

Main Link:  My Smugmug photo gallery of surfing photos in big swell at Snapper Rocks, Gold Coast.

I was lucky enough to spend an hour on Friday photographing surfing at Snapper Rocks, Coolangatta, Gold Coast, Australia. I had heard that the swell was up due to a low pressure system in the Coral Sea. More on the 'surprise' later.... Here are some pics:

Some paddle action




Glassy...


The surprise? I had heard that Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson and others had been there the day before. When editing the pics, who comes up on my screen? None other than ten times World Surfing Champion Kelly Slater! Yep, I had taken snaps of him and not realised he was there:

Kelly Slater


Take a closer look at that pic - Kelly Slater is wearing a GoPro Hero HD waterproof video camera on his right hand/wrist (10x8 crop to emphasise the camera):


Low shutter speed 'speed blur'


Here's the link to the photo gallery, including ten times World Surfing Champion Kelly Slater.

GOOD NEWS: There is a 25% discount off the price of prints and personal use downloads (not shipping) for this gallery until 19 May 2011. Use the coupon code

isawkelly

in the Smugmug checkout. Des.

Thanks for looking.

Regards

Des
PS: Blast from the past – To celebrate unexpectedly snapping Kelly Slater, I’ve added 39 pics to this Snapper Rocks gallery I shot in 2007. Thanks for having a look :). Des.

PPS: Monday (Labour Day) gallery here.