field notes from 02/08/23

Kakadu at the end of the wet

· Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, Australia · Warm and humid, 84°F, scattered cloud, mud still fresh · Fujifilm X-T5, 150-600mm

Flew into Darwin and drove down. Kakadu at the beginning of the dry season is when the wetlands start shrinking but birds are still concentrated on the open water. I did a Yellow Water boat tour at dawn on day two and it delivered: Black-necked Stork (the local ‘Jabiru’), Magpie Geese in thousands, Azure Kingfisher on a branch for thirty seconds.

The light down there is harder than anywhere else I’ve been. High and harsh by 9 a.m. I stopped trying and slept midday.

Black-necked stork wading in yellow water
'Jabiru'. Iridescent neck in morning light. Black-necked Stork 350mm, 1/1600s, f/8, ISO 1250
Magpie geese in flight
Dozens in flight over the floodplain. Magpie Goose 350mm, 1/2000s, f/7.1, ISO 640
Azure kingfisher on branch
Thirty seconds. Got three clean frames. Azure Kingfisher 150mm, 1/800s, f/6.3, ISO 200
Jacana on lily pad
Walking on lily pads. Red comb up. Comb-crested Jacana 200mm, 1/1250s, f/7.1, ISO 800
Saltwater crocodile on bank
Big salty sunning. Stayed very still. Saltwater Crocodile 600mm, 1/800s, f/7.1, ISO 2000
Whistling kite soaring
Common but handsome. Whistling Kite 500mm, 1/1600s, f/7.1, ISO 640
Plumed whistling-duck pair
On a log. Whistling. Plumed Whistling-Duck 400mm, 1/2000s, f/7.1, ISO 1250
Great egret reflected in still water
Classic morning still water. Great Egret 350mm, 1/1600s, f/7.1, ISO 1000
Rainbow bee-eater on wire
Every color in the box. Rainbow Bee-eater 200mm, 1/1250s, f/7.1, ISO 200
Wide view of Kakadu floodplain
The scale is the story. Kakadu wetland 23mm, 1/125s, f/11, ISO 200
Wallaby at edge of road
At dawn along the access track. Agile Wallaby 300mm, 1/1000s, f/6.3, ISO 400