The more we walk, the longer the walks seem to become. On Sunday 7th December 2008 we walked around Albert Park Lake and found a large variety of bird life. Most of the bird photos in this gallery were photographed using my 70-300 lens which, sadly, following a walk in a rainstorm at Mount Buffalo earlier this year now needs to be focussed manually: which is a very delicate manoeuvre, since long lenses need to be spot on to get a sharp picture. http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/ach20081207-15314346bw2noise/431767157_xQusp-Ti.jpg http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/gallery/6760956_YG4rx/ 2008-12-07T17:53:38Z Copyright 2009, the copyright holder of each photograph. Some portions copyright SmugMug. All rights reserved. SmugMug <p><a href="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com">Anthony Holmes</a><br />A view towards the skyline of Melbourne from the south eastern corner of Albert Park Lake. Technical explanation behind the image: Three images with -2, 0 and +2 exposure combined as a Hi ...</p><p><a href="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/6760956_YG4rx#431767157_xQusp" title="A view towards the skyline of Melbourne from the south eastern corner of Albert Park Lake. Technical explanation behind the image: Three images with -2, 0 and +2 exposure combined as a Hi ..."><img src="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/ach20081207-15314346bw2noise/431767157_xQusp-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="A view towards the skyline of Melbourne from the south eastern corner of Albert Park Lake. Technical explanation behind the image: Three images with -2, 0 and +2 exposure combined as a Hi ..." title="A view towards the skyline of Melbourne from the south eastern corner of Albert Park Lake. Technical explanation behind the image: Three images with -2, 0 and +2 exposure combined as a Hi ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-12-07T21:13:03Z Anthony Holmes http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/ach20081207-15314346bw2noise/431767157_xQusp-Th.jpg 2008-12-07 15:31:43 -37.85222222220000 144.97805555600000 0 <p><a href="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com">Anthony Holmes</a><br />A swan. Specifically, a Black Swan. Scientifically, a Cygnus atratus. Unlike the penguin, the ostrich and the emu, these birds can fly. Sometimes. After the breeding season they moult and ...</p><p><a href="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/6760956_YG4rx#431830967_3HCjd" title="A swan. Specifically, a Black Swan. Scientifically, a Cygnus atratus. Unlike the penguin, the ostrich and the emu, these birds can fly. Sometimes. After the breeding season they moult and ..."><img src="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/ach20081207-151034converted/431830967_3HCjd-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="A swan. Specifically, a Black Swan. Scientifically, a Cygnus atratus. Unlike the penguin, the ostrich and the emu, these birds can fly. Sometimes. After the breeding season they moult and ..." title="A swan. Specifically, a Black Swan. Scientifically, a Cygnus atratus. Unlike the penguin, the ostrich and the emu, these birds can fly. Sometimes. After the breeding season they moult and ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-12-07T21:13:03Z Anthony Holmes http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/ach20081207-151034converted/431830967_3HCjd-Th.jpg 2008-12-07 15:10:34 -37.84611100000000 144.96861100000000 0 <p><a href="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com">Anthony Holmes</a><br />See the mother swan. See her cygnets. See mother swan swim. See mother swan's cygnets swim.</p><p><a href="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/6760956_YG4rx#432568858_uAhoY" title="See the mother swan. See her cygnets. See mother swan swim. See mother swan's cygnets swim."><img src="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/ach20081207-152330converted/432568858_uAhoY-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="See the mother swan. See her cygnets. See mother swan swim. See mother swan's cygnets swim." title="See the mother swan. See her cygnets. See mother swan swim. See mother swan's cygnets swim." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-12-07T21:13:03Z Anthony Holmes http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/ach20081207-152330converted/432568858_uAhoY-Th.jpg 2008-12-07 15:23:30 -37.85091080000000 144.97426920000000 0 <p><a href="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com">Anthony Holmes</a><br />Awww. Duckling! It's probably a little (Pacific) Black Duck. But ducks are tricky. Not only do you have species, you also have hybrids.</p><p><a href="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/6760956_YG4rx#431830094_dkfbk" title="Awww. Duckling! It's probably a little (Pacific) Black Duck. But ducks are tricky. Not only do you have species, you also have hybrids."><img src="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/ach20081207-150423converted/431830094_dkfbk-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Awww. Duckling! It's probably a little (Pacific) Black Duck. But ducks are tricky. Not only do you have species, you also have hybrids." title="Awww. Duckling! It's probably a little (Pacific) Black Duck. But ducks are tricky. Not only do you have species, you also have hybrids." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-12-07T21:13:03Z Anthony Holmes http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/ach20081207-150423converted/431830094_dkfbk-Th.jpg 2008-12-07 15:04:23 -37.84500000000000 144.96638900000000 0 <p><a href="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com">Anthony Holmes</a><br />Aaaaawwwwwww. Another ducking. Even smaller than the other one. It's also likely to be a little (Pacific) Black Duck.</p><p><a href="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/6760956_YG4rx#431832968_aCBj7" title="Aaaaawwwwwww. Another ducking. Even smaller than the other one. It's also likely to be a little (Pacific) Black Duck."><img src="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/ach20081207-154544converted/431832968_aCBj7-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Aaaaawwwwwww. Another ducking. Even smaller than the other one. It's also likely to be a little (Pacific) Black Duck." title="Aaaaawwwwwww. Another ducking. Even smaller than the other one. It's also likely to be a little (Pacific) Black Duck." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-12-07T21:13:03Z Anthony Holmes http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/ach20081207-154544converted/431832968_aCBj7-Th.jpg 2008-12-07 15:45:44 -37.84888900000000 144.97444400000000 0 <p><a href="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com">Anthony Holmes</a><br />A couple of rather large Little Pied Cormorants (Phalacrocorax melanoleucos) sitting on tree branches that don't quite seem large enough to carry them.</p><p><a href="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/6760956_YG4rx#431831184_2SyHu" title="A couple of rather large Little Pied Cormorants (Phalacrocorax melanoleucos) sitting on tree branches that don't quite seem large enough to carry them."><img src="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/ach20081207-151733converted/431831184_2SyHu-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="A couple of rather large Little Pied Cormorants (Phalacrocorax melanoleucos) sitting on tree branches that don't quite seem large enough to carry them." title="A couple of rather large Little Pied Cormorants (Phalacrocorax melanoleucos) sitting on tree branches that don't quite seem large enough to carry them." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-12-07T21:13:03Z Anthony Holmes http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/ach20081207-151733converted/431831184_2SyHu-Th.jpg 2008-12-07 15:17:33 -37.84833300000000 144.97138900000000 0 <p><a href="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com">Anthony Holmes</a><br />This Pied Cormorant is looking rather self confident as he poses for his self-portrait.</p><p><a href="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/6760956_YG4rx#431831223_SiJAK" title="This Pied Cormorant is looking rather self confident as he poses for his self-portrait."><img src="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/ach20081207-151833converted/431831223_SiJAK-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="This Pied Cormorant is looking rather self confident as he poses for his self-portrait." title="This Pied Cormorant is looking rather self confident as he poses for his self-portrait." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-12-07T21:13:03Z Anthony Holmes http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/ach20081207-151833converted/431831223_SiJAK-Th.jpg 2008-12-07 15:18:33 -37.84888900000000 144.97194400000000 0 <p><a href="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com">Anthony Holmes</a><br />My bird book describes this one as 'unmistakable', so, no matter how many other birds I've misidentified, hopefully I've got this one right: Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra). Slate-grey waterh ...</p><p><a href="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/6760956_YG4rx#431832345_bhcX5" title="My bird book describes this one as 'unmistakable', so, no matter how many other birds I've misidentified, hopefully I've got this one right: Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra). Slate-grey waterh ..."><img src="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/ach20081207-152818converted/431832345_bhcX5-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="My bird book describes this one as 'unmistakable', so, no matter how many other birds I've misidentified, hopefully I've got this one right: Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra). Slate-grey waterh ..." title="My bird book describes this one as 'unmistakable', so, no matter how many other birds I've misidentified, hopefully I've got this one right: Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra). Slate-grey waterh ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-12-07T21:13:03Z Anthony Holmes http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/ach20081207-152818converted/431832345_bhcX5-Th.jpg 2008-12-07 15:28:18 -37.85305600000000 144.97694400000000 0 <p><a href="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com">Anthony Holmes</a><br />The Bolte Bridge is shimmering in the distance.</p><p><a href="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/6760956_YG4rx#431832825_S8Gdq" title="The Bolte Bridge is shimmering in the distance."><img src="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/ach20081207-153336converted/431832825_S8Gdq-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="The Bolte Bridge is shimmering in the distance." title="The Bolte Bridge is shimmering in the distance." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-12-07T21:13:03Z Anthony Holmes http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/ach20081207-153336converted/431832825_S8Gdq-Th.jpg 2008-12-07 15:33:36 -37.85138900000000 144.97750000000000 0 <p><a href="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com">Anthony Holmes</a><br />A Great Egret (Ardea alba). At least I think that's what it is, and not the almost identical Intermediate Egret. The Great Egret stands 76cm to 1m tall, has a neck that's 1.5 times as lon ...</p><p><a href="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/6760956_YG4rx#432595625_vyifL" title="A Great Egret (Ardea alba). At least I think that's what it is, and not the almost identical Intermediate Egret. The Great Egret stands 76cm to 1m tall, has a neck that's 1.5 times as lon ..."><img src="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/ach20081207-154442converted/432595625_vyifL-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="A Great Egret (Ardea alba). At least I think that's what it is, and not the almost identical Intermediate Egret. The Great Egret stands 76cm to 1m tall, has a neck that's 1.5 times as lon ..." title="A Great Egret (Ardea alba). At least I think that's what it is, and not the almost identical Intermediate Egret. The Great Egret stands 76cm to 1m tall, has a neck that's 1.5 times as lon ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-12-07T21:13:03Z Anthony Holmes http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/ach20081207-154442converted/432595625_vyifL-Th.jpg 2008-12-07 15:44:42 -37.84888900000000 144.97444400000000 0 <p><a href="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com">Anthony Holmes</a><br />A Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio). A very nicely coloured bird, but its description in my bird book is less flattering: "Aggressive between groups"; "takes eggs/young"; "scavenges ...</p><p><a href="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/6760956_YG4rx#431833622_P6sWJ" title="A Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio). A very nicely coloured bird, but its description in my bird book is less flattering: "Aggressive between groups"; "takes eggs/young"; "scavenges ..."><img src="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/ach20081207-161336converted/431833622_P6sWJ-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="A Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio). A very nicely coloured bird, but its description in my bird book is less flattering: "Aggressive between groups"; "takes eggs/young"; "scavenges ..." title="A Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio). A very nicely coloured bird, but its description in my bird book is less flattering: "Aggressive between groups"; "takes eggs/young"; "scavenges ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-12-07T21:13:03Z Anthony Holmes http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/ach20081207-161336converted/431833622_P6sWJ-Th.jpg 2008-12-07 16:13:36 -37.83861100000000 144.96861100000000 0 <p><a href="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com">Anthony Holmes</a><br />I've walked around Albert Park Lake twice in the last year and each time there was only a single Pelican visible. Can it be that this lake's not big enough for more than one of them?</p><p><a href="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/6760956_YG4rx#431833516_hjHHp" title="I've walked around Albert Park Lake twice in the last year and each time there was only a single Pelican visible. Can it be that this lake's not big enough for more than one of them?"><img src="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/ach20081207-160726converted/431833516_hjHHp-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="I've walked around Albert Park Lake twice in the last year and each time there was only a single Pelican visible. Can it be that this lake's not big enough for more than one of them?" title="I've walked around Albert Park Lake twice in the last year and each time there was only a single Pelican visible. Can it be that this lake's not big enough for more than one of them?" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-12-07T21:13:03Z Anthony Holmes http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/ach20081207-160726converted/431833516_hjHHp-Th.jpg 2008-12-07 16:07:26 -37.83888900000000 144.97000000000000 0 <p><a href="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com">Anthony Holmes</a><br />This is not a bird. But you didn't need me to add a caption to tell you that.</p><p><a href="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/6760956_YG4rx#431834445_s4yGT" title="This is not a bird. But you didn't need me to add a caption to tell you that."><img src="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/ach20081207-161807converted/431834445_s4yGT-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="This is not a bird. But you didn't need me to add a caption to tell you that." title="This is not a bird. But you didn't need me to add a caption to tell you that." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-12-07T21:13:03Z Anthony Holmes http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/ach20081207-161807converted/431834445_s4yGT-Th.jpg 2008-12-07 16:18:07 -37.83944400000000 144.96722200000000 0 <p><a href="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com">Anthony Holmes</a><br />Peekaboo. Historically Albert Park Lake is a swamp. It's just biding its time until global warming sees the reappearance of its fellow (currently drained and built upon) swamps in Middle ...</p><p><a href="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/6760956_YG4rx#431834281_BsEs8" title="Peekaboo. Historically Albert Park Lake is a swamp. It's just biding its time until global warming sees the reappearance of its fellow (currently drained and built upon) swamps in Middle ..."><img src="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/ach20081207-161600converted/431834281_BsEs8-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Peekaboo. Historically Albert Park Lake is a swamp. It's just biding its time until global warming sees the reappearance of its fellow (currently drained and built upon) swamps in Middle ..." title="Peekaboo. Historically Albert Park Lake is a swamp. It's just biding its time until global warming sees the reappearance of its fellow (currently drained and built upon) swamps in Middle ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-12-07T21:13:03Z Anthony Holmes http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/ach20081207-161600converted/431834281_BsEs8-Th.jpg 2008-12-07 16:16:00 -37.83944400000000 144.96722200000000 0 <p><a href="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com">Anthony Holmes</a><br />The day had started out cloudy and windy. By the end of the day I had developed a slight case of sunburn: and the clear sky in this photo indicates why I shouldn't have been surprised to hav ...</p><p><a href="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/6760956_YG4rx#431829979_hgj9g" title="The day had started out cloudy and windy. By the end of the day I had developed a slight case of sunburn: and the clear sky in this photo indicates why I shouldn't have been surprised to hav ..."><img src="http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/ach20081207-162247converted/431829979_hgj9g-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="The day had started out cloudy and windy. By the end of the day I had developed a slight case of sunburn: and the clear sky in this photo indicates why I shouldn't have been surprised to hav ..." title="The day had started out cloudy and windy. By the end of the day I had developed a slight case of sunburn: and the clear sky in this photo indicates why I shouldn't have been surprised to hav ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-12-07T21:13:03Z Anthony Holmes http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com http://anthonyholmes.smugmug.com/Other/2008-Albert-Park-Lake/ach20081207-162247converted/431829979_hgj9g-Th.jpg 2008-12-07 16:22:47 -37.83944400000000 144.96694400000000 0