Phillip Island’s Swan Lake is one of my favourite walks; there are always dozens of birds to be seen and often a few copperhead snakes curled or slithering beside the board walk.
Cape Barren Goose
Canon 5DIII, 100-400L IS USM, 1/800, f/6.3, ISO 400, focal length 365mm
At the water’s edge a pair of Cape Barren Geese were grazing and drinking when the one above moved into the reeds where it peeked at me before continuing to graze.
There’s something about this simple shot that I like. Maybe it’s because it’s a bird that was facing extinction a few years ago and I get the ‘almost extinct’ feeling from the image. Maybe it’s because of the Christmas season and the feeling of peeking out on a world that temporarily becomes crazily busy. Whatever it is I hope I’m not the only one that likes it.
For more images and information on the species you might enjoy looking at Cape Barren Goslings which shares several images and ends with a sad tale, or A spherical gosling or Vulnerable geese mating
Wishing you a 2015 that is filled with happiness and birdsong, happy birding, Kim
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Happy 2015 and I too like the image a lot. I’m seriously impressed with anyone out photographing nature knowing copperheads are right by your feet!!!! Looking forward to enjoying your images in this new year!
They pretty much stay under the boardwalk Sherry so it doesn’t take much bravery, and I’m watchful when out walking. I feel the same about your images 🙂
Lovely photo Kim. Once again thanks for your weekly photos. Best wishes for a great birding 2015. Valda
Thank you Valda, and wishing you a wonderful 2015 too.
You write so well Kim. Your description of the ‘peeking’ goose really gets your message across !
Thank you Lyn. I’m glad you thought so 🙂
Love the Goose, and the reeds it is grazing in.
Snakes? I don’t do them well. We had a snake (red-bellied black) which lived under the front steps at one of our homes. For nine months of the year I only used the back door.
I can understand that EC. I wouldn’t like to share my front door with one either, it’d get a bit tiresome to wear gaiters all the time.
I didn’t know the geese were endangered. I love them. Lovely shot.
They had a rough few decades but are doing better now, I wish everyone loved them!