Blue-winged Kookaburra (Dacelo leachii). Seen and of course HEARD around the campsite at dawn and dusk. This one was in a paddock on a stump, looking for some breakfast, which it grabbed soon after this photo was taken. Both these and the more widespread (?) Laughing Kookaburra can be seen (and heard!) here in Bowen, Qld.
Little yellow butterfly which I see often up and down the east coast. Usually always moving and quite shy, so hard to photograph. Captured with Canon R10 and RF100-400 lens. Seen in Clairview, Qld.
This has been IDed on iNaturalist as a Yellow Honeyeater (Stomiopera flava). Colours on the bird were fabulous - as yellow as a Canary. This is a new lifer for me. Seen in Bowen, Qld.
Taken with Canon R10 and RF100-400. Suggestions on upgrade path for lens welcome. It struggles a bit in low light, excellent otherwise.
Unfortunate road kill - this little creature was squashed so flat it's hard to identify. Seen near Bowen, Qld.
Attractive moth seen at our campsite on the beach front at Clairview, Qld. Photo taken with Pixel 10 Pro.
Early morning visitor to our campsite at Clairview, Qld. Think it could be a Union Jack Wolf spider? Safely released in nearby bush.
Still photos of native bee 'swarm' as requested in reply to video posted earlier.
I think these are native bees but I'm not sure what they're doing. Seen near the beach at Clairview, Qld.
I absolutely love these Babblers. The joy they show in life is just incredible. Constantly moving and working together while literally babbling among themselves - wonderful to see such social interaction. I think these are Gray-crowned Babblers, Pomatostomus temporalis. Seen near Burrum Heads, Qld.
Skinks seen in the leaf litter at Burrum Coast NP, Qld. There were quite a few sunning themselves, which scuttled off as we approached. Some type of Rainbow Skink, I think, but not sure which species.
Photos taken with Canon R10 and RF100-400mm lens.
Picked up a Nikon D3200 with 18-55mm DX lens in an Op shop (Thrift shop) in a small town here in Australia for AU$20. I already have a 'good' mirrorless camera and thought I might be able to use the lens, at least. Checked the D3200 at home and it worked fine, with a shutter count just over 7k. Thought I could use it as a knockabout camera, and help me in my learning journey with photography.
In fact, I've really enjoyed using it. It's rugged, just seems to fit so well into my hand and is a joy to use. It has limitations, of course, but sometimes even these are a welcome challenge. The lesson I've learned here is - you don't have to spend a ton of money to get joy from photography. All photos taken with the D3200 and DX18-55mm in Queensland, Australia.
Question: what lens would be the best (budget) way forward with the D3200 for landscapes? Can I use 3rd party lenses or adapters?
Beautiful butterfly seen in thick bush near Dam Crazy campground, near Chillders, Qld. Taken with Canon R10 and RF100-400mm lens. Identified on iNaturalist as a Blue Pansy Junonia orithya.
Two Cane Toads spotted by my head torch while taking our elder, unwell dog out at 1:00am. On a previous night, I had spotted dozens of these Toads close to the water here in Chinchilla, Qld. I wonder what impact this level of infestation has on local wildlife? Are wading birds like Spoonbills and Herons affected by the toxicity of Toad tadpoles?
No frogs of any species seen or heard during any of our camping trips here on the lagoon.
On a trip to Darwin, folks told me that things had 'settled down' up there as regards to Toads - and local wildlife had learned to live with them. Is that really the case?
Photos taken with Pixel 10 Pro, with head torch for lighting.
A reptile expert at Chinchilla rodeo on Saturday explained that the Eastern Brown is Australia's most dangerous snake. The Inland Taipan may be more venomous but the Eastern Brown is much more common and much more likely to come into contact with humans, and therefore a greater danger. He also explained the importance of (a) leaving snakes alone, and (b) good first aid knowledge, i.e. having proper snake bandages with you when you're in the bush and knowing how to use them.
They're amazingly beautiful creatures.
Monarch butterfly on rushes at the side of a country dam. Murgon, Qld. Taken with Pixel 10 Pro.
The male and female Rufous Whistler (Pachycephala rufiventris) are strikingly different. So much so that I initially thought that these were two different species (I was helped with ID by the experts on this sub - thanks!). These photos were taken from the bird hide at Myall Park, Qld, with Canon R10 and RF100-400mm lens.
Or more specifically, the very hungry Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos). Was watching this cormorant fish in the shallow waters of Lake Barambah, Qld, through a 400mm zoom lens and managed to grab these shots at long range. Was amazed at the SIZE of the Yabbies it was able to deal with.
Canon R10 and RF100-400mm lens.
Saw a vintage leather lens case in an Op shop window in rural Queensland marked $10 and thought it looked interesting... The lens inside it was even more so. It was a Minolta MC Tele Rokkor-PF F/2.8 135mm lens and in good clean condition, protected by that leather case (with leather strap and green felt interior).
Got both for the ten dollars. Works just fine on my Canon R10 with a Fotga lens adapter. Sample pics of: features on a Queensland bottle tree; lichen; and my 16 YO cattle dog, were taken with this lens and the R10. (And on a side note - the pictures of the R10 and lens were taken with a Nikon D3200 and DX18-55mm lens, which I picked up in a different Op shop for $20).
There's still treasure out there...