Pale-headed Rosella

Platycercus palliceps.

This is about the closest I've managed to get to one so far (about 20m) before they fly off. Very wily birds these.

View all photos taken: Monday, 13th October 2008, This photo: 3:22pm

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Comments

  • MichelleLegg.com said:
    Obviously haven't had a chance to return the 100-400 yet huh? LOL
    Nice work. These are a lovely bird and I like the bokeh as well. You know, I don't think I've ever seen one with such a pale head as well.
  • David de Groot said:
    Well the owner of said lens was away this last weekend ;-)
    They're very hard to photograph - at least the wild ones around here anyway.
  • Peter Hegarty said:
    You sure are gonna miss that lens - I have an old Tamron 200-400 you are more than welcome to use if you like. It's old but as long as you stop down a bit it's not too bad ...........
  • David de Groot said:
    You're right Pete, the extra reach is really handy for birding :)
    Hmmm, EF mount the Tamron ? I wouldn't mind a puddle :)
  • ßlϋeωãvε said:
    Is that an Australasian elephant it's sitting on? ;-)
  • Peter Hegarty said:
    What's a puddle?
  • circle j said:
    beautiful birds these used to breed them
  • David de Groot said:
    hehehe yes the rare Australian dwarf elephant ;-)
    You know, a play, a geezer, a fiddle... as in "to have a puddle with" :P
    They are indeed, but very very wary of people (at least these ones around here are).
  • Wes Cooper said:
    Great shot David. What an incredibly beautiful bird. We only get the one rosella over here in the west, the Western Rosella funnily enough! How are you finding the 100-400?
  • David de Groot said:
    I'd heard WA was a bit lacking in Rosellas.
    The 100-400 is a nice lens, reach is good, IS could be better (it's an early version) and I'd love it to be faster (say constant f/4), but given it's also relatively cheap (for an L of this length), one can't complain too much).
  • looby88 said:
    I thought it was a mutant budgie in the thumbnail, sitting on an elephant, ha ha !!! Cute bird
  • David de Groot said:
    hehehe, that's proper Cedar Creek Granite that! And the Rosellas are a bit bigger than a budgie, but they're all parrots. Budgies though, don't occur this far east (natively).
  • -Gadabout- said:
    too cool :D Love the rock and the dof :)
  • David de Groot said:
    Now if only I could have gotten closer... damn flighty birds! ;-)