15 July 2022 - Hollingworth Lake

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Ring-necked Parakeet, Jay

It was quite dull this morning, but fairly calm and mild.  There wasn't much to be seen on the inverts front, apart from a nice Celypha lacunana perched obligingly by the path, and a Eudonia lacustrata (actually two) on a tree trunk by the track to the hide. A Jay appeared briefly within photo distance but was always a bit tricky amongst the foliage. From the hide a Black-headed Gull sat a few metres away, showing its rather worn plumage, but there wasn't a great deal else to be seen.

As I walked around the far side beyond the Sea Cadet hut, I noticed a bird perched on top of a tall dead branch to the left of the track.  At first I thought it was a Magpie, but something made me put my bins on it and suddenly I realised it was a Ring-necked Parakeet, the first I've seen around the lake for many a year.  I snatched a couple of shots and then moved a bit closer only to find it had flown.  Then I heard a screech nearby and relocated it perched in an Oak tree in the corner of where the track meets the top of Bib Knowl valley.  It was a struggle to focus; I think the camera couldn't distinguish between the bird and leaves, but eventually I managed some reasonable shots.  Then it abrubtly flew, calling, in the direction of the cafe, and was lost to view.

Celypha Lacunana, 1/640 sec, f/7.1, 500 mm, ISO 3200 (view full size image)

Jay, 1/640 sec, f/7.1, 500 mm, ISO 6400 (view full size image)

Eudonia Lacustrata, 1/320 sec, f/7.1, 500 mm, ISO 25600 (view full size image)

Black-headed Gull, 1/500 sec, f/7.1, 500 mm, ISO 640 (view full size image)

Ring-necked Parakeet , 1/640 sec, f/7.1, 500 mm, ISO 400 (view full size image)

Ring-necked Parakeet , 1/640 sec, f/7.1, 500 mm, ISO 1000 (view full size image)