I’m sharing one of the most beautiful shots I’ve ever taken, after having just travelled to the Little Desert for the first time since devastating bushfires ripped through the area a few weeks ago.
1/1000, f/5.0, ISO 3200
Canon R5, Canon 600mm f/4.0 L IS USM
After a long drive to the Wimmera, passing confronting signs of recent fires and dotted patchworks of dry dams, I was taken to a dam I never would have found without the fabulous friend who lives in the area and invited me to stay at her home – thank you Sharyn! Many birds drank as I sat on the ground, with the ants, and watched. Other species included magpies, Magpie-larks, Red-rumped Parrots, Eastern Rosellas, Crimson Rosellas, Noisy Miners, corellas, White-plumed Honeyeaters, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters, Australian Shelduck, Welcome Swallows, Crested Pigeons and Common Bronzewings.
But my favourite shot, by far, was this magnificent pair of Galahs that I managed to capture while the female was drinking (and beautifully reflected in the water) and the male clung to the top of the perch. Male Galahs have brownish eyes while the eyes of females are pinkish-red. They took turns to drink, bobbing down into the water and occasionally glancing towards the far side of the dam at a strange blob draped in a fabric hide. Galahs can live for several decades and they form strong lifelong bonds with their mates, which makes me wonder what changes and disasters this beautiful couple may have witnessed together.
I shared this photograph on my facebook lirralirra page yesterday afternoon and it has already received over two thousand likes along with hundreds of comments, I hope my lirralirra.com readers like it just as much. If you have a moment please leave a comment just letting me know, and saying what country you are from.
Happy birding, Kim
~ Facebook page Kim Wormald – lirralirra – 9.4K followers
~ Facebook group Ethical Bird Photography
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This photo of the galahs is wonderful. I live in Rome and looking at your photos allows me to feel I am “home” in Australia.
That’s really lovely Susan, I’m so pleased to hear it, and where you are from too.
The glorious galahs are my favourite Aussie bird – very cheeky and clever, like all our native parrots. Sometimes I catch sight of a few here in the burbs of Melbourne, which is always a thrill. I was amazed to learn that they can live up to 40 years in the wild, and their population is thriving. Farmers hate them, of course! With their grey, pink and white plumage, galahs have no clue just how beautiful they are – luckily for us, you have captured their glory in one stunning shot.
Hi Deirdre, sigh, I would never deliberately not respond, I always try to despite the busy-ness of my life. I have no idea what happened this week, maybe it’s tomorrow’s funeral that’s been on my mind, or looking after the little ones but it wasn’t deliberate. I’m glad that you like the photograph, it’s one of my favourites and was extra special to see because of the horrifying lack of rain in the area and the impact of the recent bushfires.
Gorgeous photo!
Thank you Lindy
That’s your ‘wow shot’ of the year Kim – balanced & very beautiful!
Many thanks Annette. It was so good to find a dam that still had some water in it, and extra special to see these two drinking there
Beautiful as always!
Thanks heaps Stephen!
That is a WONDERFUL shot Kim. I love it – and you know where I am from. I do love our galahs. Though if truth be told I love all of our birds.
I do know where you’re from EC and yours is still the only blog I make sure not to miss.
I LOVE this shot Kim! It’s so cute how they’re looking after each other by taking turns. I’m in South Perth.
That’s great Tess. I should have shared a screenshot showing countries that visit lirralirra, I might do that another time, it’s pretty fascinating…