![]() ![]() The only difference is that I had the sun behind me for this photo, and directly in front of me for the following photo. This juvenile silver gull was standing on the same wet sand in the same evening light as the bird in the following photo. They weren’t feeding, weren’t in a hurry to head off anywhere, and were just wading around on the wet sand letting the sea water flow around their legs as each small wave advanced and receded. I was pretty much pointing the camera straight towards the sun. The sun was just above the hills to the west when I took this photo. I’m resisting describing the features of this photo I like. This bird was one of a large flock wandering in the shallow water near the high water mark. Marengo beach at sunset, just south of where the Barham River flows into the sea. The mix of bright highlights, dark shadows, vivid colours and contrast on these birds demonstrates why the glowing low angle light of the last couple of hours of the day is a photographer’s favourite time of day (along with dawn). ![]() These silver gulls were casually winging their way upstream in the fading last light of the day. Silver gulls, crested terns, ducks and swans favour this quiet reach of the river where it pools until a good rainfall sees the river rise and break through the sand on the shore to flow into the sea. Silver gulls at sunset The Barham River enters the sea near Apollo Bay. I have included the following photo for its interesting content alone, even though it’s a poor shot technically. The fish certainly seems to have a surprised look on its face. It’s only good luck that it’s even vaguely in focus, and I had no idea it had a fish in its mouth until I downloaded it later. I had the 150-600mm telephoto lens and monopod on the camera, which made it a bit awkward as I lifted the camera and panned to capture this shot. Crested tern with dinner fresh from the Barham River On a sunset stroll along the sandbanks of the Barham River, with the Nikon in my hand, I spotted this heron zooming past. This photo was taken as the sun was setting. He eventually settled for this location which apparently was more comfortable than it looks. This location was tried for a short time before he moved on. It is used by males as a mating call, but all koalas can and do make this noise (usually at night). It’s a very low pitched growling bellow, undoubtedly frightening if not identified. But the noise they make at night is something a crocodile or a mountain lion would be proud of. I would now have no hesitation lifting a koala in this manner without the gloves and other motorbike gear. That I am wearing motorbike protective gear while doing so does give me confidence to do this, but I have never had a koala react unhappily to being handled this way. I lift them from behind with my hands under their armpits, and their face and claws facing away from me. I generally pick the koala up and transport it to the nearest roadside tree or scrub (to allow traffic to flow again!). While riding my motorbike along the Great Ocean Road (which is a frequent occurrence) I have on numerous occasions come across a koala sitting on the road with cars stopped either side of it and a crowd (usually of international tourists) hovering around it. This somnolent yet imperious look is typical of all koalas I have seen. When a koala bear is climbing and moving about a tree, he does so slowly but with confidence, agility and strength. While they branch he has wrapped his arms around is obviously very secure and comfortable, they sometimes sleep on flimsier less comfortable looking branches. This tree is directly adjacent to my house and this photo was taken from my verandah. The temperature in the shade during the day reached the high 30s. This snoozing koala rested for a day and night on this substantial gum tree overhanging Milford Creek. They are not present in the town in large numbers and they are certainly not seen every day, but there would not be a permanent Apollo Bay resident who has not seen them from time to time. They have even been seen sitting on rusty cray-pots on the local jetty. They tend to roam more at night, and their quest is always the same – the next comfortable gum tree in which to eat and rest. They travel freely around town, being seen from time to time on footpaths, roads and residential fencing. ![]() Which Australian native animal looks cuddly and cute, yet produces a loud very low-pitched guttural snorting/grunting/growling noise that on a dark night can terrify those unfamiliar with it? Suburban Apollo Bay has an itinerant population of wild koala bears. ![]()
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