Fogg Dam, Day 2
September 2006
Fogg Dam Conservation Area just east of Darwin, Northern Territory
You can’t always get what you want. My hoped-for photo subject for Fogg Dam this afternoon is Comb-crested Jacana, but it is not to be. We’ve seen them, even spotted an adult with three chicks, but it’s late dry season and the waters have receded so far that the jacanas are out of range. Heading off the road is not an option--signs along the road warn of the infamous “salties”, dangerous estuarine crocodiles lurking in the mud.
“No worries” as they say here in Australia! Instead? Plan B: try one of the Rainbow Bee-eaters that forages along the roadside where they’re used to seeing birders. Rainbow Bee-eaters forage by sallying out from a low perch and wheeling up into the sky to snap an insect (often a bee or wasp) on the wing, then returning to the same or a nearby perch to de-sting and eat their catch. My strategy--watch where one lands and slowly move the tripod mounted rig toward it. After many tries I get a backlit shot that I like.
Rainbow Bee-eater
By now it’s late and the sun’s almost at the horizon, so I’m making my way back to our vehicle when a coot-sized brownish bird catches my eye as it sneaks out of the marshy vegetation at the edge of the road. It flicks its tail, telling me it’s nervous of my movements, so I freeze. Carefully I lower the tripod-mounted camera off my shoulder. The bird’s a Buff-banded Rail, certainly not a rarity but, like most rails, a secretive and easily missed species. Excited, I’m torn between keeping still and needing to mount my flash onto its bracket to add a little sparkle to the rail in the fading light. Fortunately the bird relaxes and preens, allowing me several shots before it slips off into the marsh with its mate.
Buff-banded Rail