Look, the life of an irregular, procrastinatory blogger is not easy. You want to deliver profound yet engaging and readable content, but such things take time. While you have a post brewing, five new things will happen, each deserving of a post. Even someone as innumerate as I can see that’s not a sustainable proposition.

So how about this? I’ll do a quick-and-dirty post every time something interesting happens during the daily round. I’ll post up a photo if one is to be had. No philosophising or plunging down rabbit-holes (unless the post is about rabbits and their burrows) — just what’s up in the hood, nature wise. Capiche?

Saturday 9 March

A week away in Melbourne and no chance of nature exploration. But both yesterday and today we beautiful weather and I managed to get out with Archie for a look around. The light was glorious; the raptors were out.

First, a Black-Shouldered Kite, perching on various high points in hopes of an evening snack.

And there was a finally a chance of capturing the Brown Falcon I see quite often beside the road at this time, surveying the same paddock from the same fence post. Normally it’s off as soon as I heave into view, but today for some reason, I was permitted a few shots.

Of course, as ever, the encounter ended with a series of flying-away shots.

Sunday 25 February

There’s been no lack of birds to see this week — but not that many to photograph. Perhaps with their chicks fully fledged and launched into the world, they aren’t motivated to hang around so much. In a couple of expeditions over the last few days, I’ve seen a Nankeen Kestrel on a bush by the road, but it’s taken off every time I get close. I spotted a Black-Shouldered Kite on a fencepost next to Sandholes Road, but it was up and off even as I registered its presence. And there was a Brown Falcon a few days ago — fled before the camera was up to the eye.

So today there was no surprise when a Grey Heron on a branch decided to leg it (wing it?) when I hove into view with my conspicuously large lens.

Twenty minutes later, it was another Kestrel, this time on a high twig. More in hope than expectation, I focused . . . and it flew. I got one frame.

But of course, giving up doesn’t get the shot . . . and sure enough, as we headed home, something high up in a dead tree caught the sunlight. It was a raptor, but not a familiar one. It was grey, but with a ruddy, almost russet chest.

It was too far and high for a really good pic — and wouldn’t you know, once the static poses were in the can and a bit of wing-flapping might have made for some interesting details, it would not fly away.

Eventually, after waiting for some time, I went home, happy with a new spot. Research confirmed it was an Australian Hobby (Falco longipennis), an aggressive little hunter who will chase other raptors away from its turf. Worth all those others fleeing at the sight of me!

Saturday 17 February

After a week away for work, it was a welcome change to pootle out of town around lunchtime to see if I could capture a few bolts from a couple of very loudly grumbling thunderstorms. Despite all the conditions seeming right, no bolt appeared. I did note, however, two black-shouldered kites riding the strong winds driving the storm, capitalising on the opportunity to soar without effort.

When it appeared that no visible bolts would be forthcoming, we took ourselves home. And later, when the rain had stopped, we revisited the same spot in search of those kites. They were still soaring — and then, as we drove by, a very large raptor loomed on a fencepost. It wasn’t possible to stop there, so I parked and doubled back on foot.

As close as I dared, I focused on the large bird, noting its affronted expression and bright yellow eyes. But before I could trip the shutter, it took flight. Frustrated, I followed its flight, managing some grainy shots before it disappeared into the whelkin.

Saturday 10 February

Yes, it’s been a long time. For just a bit of that I haven’t been taking photos or getting out much at all. But yesterday I was finally able to get out in the car to see if there were any interesting birds or suchlike hanging around. For most of the drive there was nothing. The light faded. We headed home — and there was a black-shouldered kite (Elanus axillaris) hovering about four metres up, just by the verge of the road.

As we drew to a halt, it stooped into the long grass and, after a pregnant pause, laboured skywards again with something in its claws. It settled on a fence post just a bit too far out of range for top-flight pics, but I took some anyway.

The prey was a mouse — or perhaps an antechinus. Whichever, it was definitely dinner. As soon as I tried to move closer, the wary bird took off with the remains of its prey in one talon, and settled much further away. A brief encounter, but very welcome after so many weeks in purdah.

Wednesday 2 August

Plus la change, as they say. We’ve had visitors and guests, meaning fewer chances to get out and shoot, and my old 4×4 has finally given up the ghost, meaning only having access to wheels about half the time. The weather has continued dry, bright and mostly windy, and it’s been a pleasure to see raptors hovering near the roadside on our trips to and from Canberra.

But today, it’s not about raptors. It’s about a gorgeous little platypus, who toyed with us for a good 40 minutes this afternoon as Archie and I visited Bicentennial Park.

I’ve spotted this little beastie before and noted her youthful curiosity and a lack of her parents’ paranoia. So it was today: she was watching us as we approached one of the larger pools on Gillamatong Creek. Can you see her nose, eyes and tail just emerging from the water?

After allowing a few quick frames, she submerged — but made little effort to conceal her underwater progress upstream, where she surfaced again in the next pool.

And so it went, all the way upstream. Then she came down again for another look, before submerging again.

There’s something special about interacting with an elusive creature like this — it never fails to lift the spirits.

Wednesday 19 July

It’s been a while since I had a good sighting of anything interesting. Windy days, sub-zero nights — even though the light can be gorgeous, the usual places haven’t yielded anything good. Then yesterday — another very windy day — I spotted a pale little blob half-hidden atop a pile of spoil at a roadside building site. It was a kestrel, keeping out of the blast.

But it took off before I could get close. Then today — a nice, calm day — I spotted her again on another pile of dirt further down the road. And later, after coming home, there was my brown falcon atop a bush. Again, it took flight before I could sneak up on it — but I grabbed a shot of it on the wing, and got to hear its cry for the first time.

Wednesday 6 July

Today was the fourth time I’ve passed the brown falcon sitting right next to the road on a fencepost, nicely lit by the afternoon light — and it’s scarpered before I could safely pull over and grab a shot or two. But this time, I saw where it went . . . straight into the ambit of a hovering kestrel. The kestrel didn’t like this and chased the larger bird, engaging in a brief dogfight.

But in a sense the falcon won, because it sat resolutely at the top of a tall evergreen, while the kestrel wheeled away to hunting grounds anew.

From its high perch, the falcon watched me sneaking up on it, stopping to fire the odd frame from way too far away — and then took off again. I saw it alight once more, atop another tree nearby. And it tolerated my sneaking approach. Finally, it posed for a few shots — before taking off again and heading straight for me! I’d like to think it’s getting used to me. Time will tell.

Friday 30 June

We’ve been out of town for a bit this week, but apparently it was really windy while we were away. It was still pretty gusty yesterday and today. Checking the usual spots, I didn’t have much joy — not a surprise as apparently birds lurk in sheltered spots during high winds. But it seems the kestrels didn’t receive that memo, because I saw three yesterday in different locations, riding that gale like surfers on a rad break.

Just as the sun started to sink this afternoon, I saw the distinctive shape of a Brown Falcon sitting on a fencepost right next to the road. Of course, we overshot, and by the time I had turned around and driven back, it had shifted to a vantage point further from the road. Even so, you could see the traces of blood on its beak — vestiges of a recent meal.

Saturday 24 June

It’s been a week of cold and strong winds as successive cold fronts swept across the continent. That changed things up for local fauna, especially the winged ones. They were still around — or some of them, anyway. There were Black-Winged Kites, mostly, singly or in pairs. If they chose to alight, it was too far for photography; on the wing, they hovered only briefly before sweeping off on the gale.

We did spot the Brown Falcon once — very close to the road on a fencepost, but in a place where we couldn’t stop the car. On doubling back, we saw its fleeting shape disappear into the distance. A rare opportunity missed.

And the Kestrels have been absent. Are they too small and light to battle the high winds? I hope they’ll be back.

Sunday 11 June

Last week was busy and although the weather was generally good, there wasn’t much chance to get out and spot stuff. Today, though, was special — it was cold and crystal-clear all day. We had a look about at about midday and frustratingly, there was absolutely nothing to be seen. But a second trip up Sandholes road as the sun was sinking revealed the local raptor trifecta — and a bit of a head-scratcher as well.

First up was the Nankeen Kestrel — a pair, actually, but I wasn’t quick enough to capture the couple.

Then, briefly, the Black-Shouldered Kite, perched on a roadside fencepost. Again, too slow. I turned down Reservoir Lane to head for home. Much of the valley was already deep in shadow — but high above, I could see several birds whirling in what seemed to be a territorial dispute.

We stopped to have a look. It was clear that a Wedge-Tailed Eagle had descended from the stratosphere and was being mobbed by three magpies. I idly squeezed off a few shots, knowing they would come out as a few specks against a bright sky.

But when I got home and had a look on the big screen, it turned out that one of the birds harassing the eagle was none other than the kite! You can see it on the right of these stunning shots. Is this normal? I hadn’t realised that different species would gang up against a larger predator. This looks like another rabbithole to plumb — watch this space.

Tuesday 6 June

Dry, bright May has given way to dull, overcast June. This is bad news for photography and it occurs to me that this diary is a good place for the ‘almost’ pics, especially if they show something interesting but aren’t good enough for sharing in their full glory.

So over the last few days it seems as if the Black-Shouldered Kites have moved in, and Kestrels, Falcons and Eagles are nowhere to be seen. Wind direction? I have no idea.

Interestingly, this year’s Kites are very much paired off. I saw three different couples today. And the first, just off Sandholes Road, was doing something I have read about but never seen — sharing their prey on the wing. It was far away and ill-lit, but you can see the moment they come together for the handover.

As the light was dying, I spotted another couple atop a dead tree next to the Araluen Road. One took off as I set up, but the other posed against a very pale pink and blue sky as the light died. It’s a pity I couldn’t expose the image to reveal its stunning amber eye.

Saturday 3 June

A couple of days out in Sydney — back late last night. Went out to check on the local raptors this afternoon: it was bright and warm, but radar showed rainclouds approaching in a broad band. There was a black-shouldered kite high atop one of the dead trees alongside Sandholes Road, but it took off down into the valley as we approached.

There were no signs of wedge-tails or kestrels — and then the rain came in and that was that for the rest of the day. Welcome home!

Tuesday 30 May

Quick trip up Sandholes Road this afternoon just as the sun was getting low in the west. It was sunny and bright, but very windy. I was hoping to spot the two black-shouldered kites (elanus axillaris) I saw yesterday — and there they were, hunting together way over near Bombay Road where it runs parallel to Sandholes.

I watched them for a while through binoculars but they showed no sign of alighting or flying within telephoto range, so I drove a bit further up the track — and there, on a fence post, was a Nankeen Kestrel. It’s impossible to know if this is the one I’ve been hoping to see further up the hill on Reservoir Road, but what a pleasant surprise.

The sun came out from behind a narrow cloud and briefly lit the bird in warm yellow late-afternoon rays. And it was clear he/she was sitting on one foot with the other tucked up. Injured? Or keeping at least one out of the cold, like we used to do riding our bikes to school on frosty Bulawayo mornings.

Monday 29 May

The glory of today’s winter sunshine was something to behold. It was a bit frustrating to be shuttling between my desk and doing mundane stuff like having a haircut. At about 3:30 I took Archie for a walk up Sandholes Road, carrying the obligatory telephoto rig out of superstition (if you don’t carry a camera, you will encounter a once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunity).

And bringing it was instantly justified — rising from where they were perched on a low bush by the road, two black-shouldered kites (elanus axillaris) whirled up into the chilly wind. Cursing my inattentiveness, I tried to capture focus on both of them, but they were moving too fast. I got one in frame, though: not a great angle but you can see how those powerful raptor eyes command a wide angle of view.

I do hope these two are here for the winter. They’re not rare but they’re lovely-looking birds.

A bit further up the road I captured a little grassbird (megalurus gramineus) perched on the fence. It was near a doohickey used to join the wire (I think) which often fools my eye that there’s a bird there. This time there was — and its colour palette was entirely harmonious with the late afternoon light and the colours of the winter bush behind.

Then, with the sunlight fading fast, I captured Archie in a rare moment of athleticism, pursuing some windborne scent or other and thoroughly being who he is without a care for the camera.

Sunday 28 May

Frost overnight and a bit cloudy with patches of bright sunshine. Archie and I went to look for the kestrel I’ve seen quite frequently of late around Reservoir Lane, but there was a singular lack of birdlife about.

So we detoured to Bicentennial Park, just like yesterday, in the hopes of a platypus — but they were obviously keeping warm in their burrows. We did see a domestic cat for the second time in this location, slinking along by the water. Archie gave chase but was (as usual) unsuccessful, which is a relief — that thing would have eaten him for breakfast.

Now, according to a 2013 study published in the journal Nature Communications, domestic cats in the United States may kill between 1.3 and 4 billion birds annually. I love a nice moggie, but worry what kind of toll this one is wreaking on Bicentennial Park’s wildlife.

In just this one small spot, we have seen platypuses, a Rakali or water rat, the very occasional Azure Kingfisher, a Flame Robin, and lots of wrens and other small birds. It would be sad if a feral cat was to make inroads into this little hive of biodiversity.

Yesterday’s cormorant was there again, but scarpered before I could get him in frame. And then, deciding to call it a day, I focused on Archie as he darted about — and the camera’s electronic brain informed me that I hadn’t reinserted the memory card after yesterday’s downloads. Kind of lucky there hadn’t been one of those very rare close-up opportunities after all, eh?

Saturday 27 May

Quick drive on Sandholes Road (our route up the slopes of Gillamatong) to check on winter raptor activity. Sunny, cold (c10C) but bright. Saw one Wedge Tailed Eagle orbiting high above the peak — and then the Nankeen Kestrel that I suspect is living nearby, hovering on the breeze, just as Hopkins described. It was too far for photography and unlikely to perch so early, so I parked up and watched through binoculars for ten minutes or so.

Then we popped down to Bicentennial Park to see if there were any platypuses about. It wasn’t really the right time, but we did encounter a Little Pied Cormorant (microcarbo melanoleucos), posing nicely in the sunshine but nervy and on the point of flight. I managed to squeeze off a few frames though. Good day out!