CM Simpson: Writer & Gamer

On one of my early morning walks around the lake, I was fortunate enough to spot these beauties by in one of the tributaries. I rarely get to see the ducklings, so I was quite pleased to see these little ones with their mother.  Mum kept a close eye on me for the entire shoot.  And, in the end, I discovered the reflections in the water. You can find out more about Australian wood ducks from the following sites: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_wood_duck ; http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/species/Chenonetta-jubata ; http://australianmuseum.net.au/Australian-Wood-Duck ; http://www.arkive.org/australian-wood-duck/chenonetta-jubata/ ; http://www.mdahlem.net/birds/2/austwood.php ; http://www.koala.net/australian-wood-duck.html .

I have wanted to get close enough to photograph these shy wading birds for some time, but they've always managed to elude me, skulking off into the shrubbery, just as fast as their little red legs can take them. To find out more about dusky moorhens, you can visit the following sites: http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/species/Gallinula-tenebrosa ; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dusky_moorhen ; http://birdlife.org.au/bird-profile/Dusky-Moorhen ; http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/?base=16225 ; http://goulburnwetlands.org.au/?page_id=908 ; http://calamvalecreek.awardspace.com/dabbs.html ; http://www.climatewatch.org.au/species/birds/dusky-moorhen-1 .

This little guy was stalking fish, and I was stalking him. He was a lot better at stalking fish and keeping big bunches of reeds between us than I was at taking photographs.

One misty morning, when I was out photographing a bridge for a troll book, I saw this fellow, foraging beneath the pines. This is a straw-necked ibis, and my guess is that he was looking for insects and other tasty tidbits. A wary bird, he didn't let me get too close. First sighting. I start to get closer; the bird makes a casual turn and starts making its casual way towards the water culvert. Still feeding, but much closer to the culvert. And closer still. But still looking for food.