A Shared Obsession

Photography is great for generating self challenges and my friend Carolyn has become somewhat obsessed with tracking predatory birds and aiming for that perfect shot.  In an endeavour to assist her on her quest I admit to developing a more than passing interest in the subject. Somewhat serendipitously I was heading home to Laurieton the other day when the most magnificent cloud bank materialised so I pulled into Northaven to see what shots I could capture.

I was immediately distracted by observing a few small birds worrying what appeared to be a flying kite. 

 

 I was approached by a friendy local who asked if I'd like him to set up a shot. He admitted to spending over $40 a week on mince for the local birds and his aim was to have them eventually feed from his hand. The smaller birds he identified as speckled drongos and they were flying towards him to catch the remnants of mince he threw. 

Unfortunately I only had my Powershot with me which is not perfect for capturing action shots but I could hardly ignore the opportunity. I spent the next two hours observing the kite circling, with intermittent sweeps down towards the mince which my new friend had placed on top of a monument. 

 

As the kite approached the monument it lowered its legs akin to a plane landing and once the mince was secure in its talons it transferred the meat to its beak on the fly. 

 

Another bird appeared in the sky overhead and we initially thought they were mates, however on closer inspection it appears to be a different bird altogether. The photo is quite blurry as by now the setting sun was creating glare but there is enough detail to see the birds are not the same species. I have it on good authority that it is a Brahminy Kite.

 

All good things must come to an end and with the end of the mince supplies, both birds disappeared from view. The shots are grainy, but something to share with Carolyn, and a record of an enjoyable afternoon. 

 This feeding of the birds is a daily occurrence with my new acquaintance, so I'm looking forward to returning with my DSLR and hopefully capturing some interesting shots in the future. 
As for that cloud bank - I still had enough time to head towards Washouse beach at Dunbogan to grab a shot as the last rays of colour festooned the foreshore sand with a pearly pink glow. 

Shrouded In Cloud

One aspect of Sydney life I knew I would miss would be the opportunity to explore foggy locations. I was thrilled to discover that much loved rainy days produce low lying clouds which shroud North Brother Mountain situated right behind my villa. I've always loved venturing out in the wet weather to search for photographic opportunities. The absence of people and the transformational lighting effect produced by leaden skies and falling rain is a difficult partnership to improve upon.

Apart from being targetted by a few hardy leeches, I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to the lookout. There are some scenic forest trails to follow and I'm keen to return and spend more time in this nearby location. Knowing there was on one else braving the weather I was free to stop many times on the return trip down the side of the mountain to capture shots of the trees shrouded in cloud.

Spoilt For Choice

Living in a photographer's paradise was a completely unexpected bonus of moving from the ratrace that is Sydney to the quiet little town of Laurieton on the North Coast. Nestled securely in the shadow of North Brother Mountain, which is frequently shrouded in cloud, provides a deliciously foggy atmosphere.  The mountain is my new landform of addiction, whether wandering in the rainforest atop the mountain or the fern forests festooning the base. Its imposing presence is easily discernible from most locations in the Hastings  and its moods are countless which makes it a never ending source of photographic opportunities.

image: Looking towards the Fishermans Co op at Laurieton from Dunbogan bridge
Five to 30 minutes driving distance from so many peaceful locations and walking trails, some of them even walking distance away, I am spoilt by serene surroundings accessible from every direction.    

Diamond Head, only 10 minutes away from home, boasts a most imposing rock formation comparable to Cathedral Rocks and is one location I cant wait to explore at low tide.

The Port Macquarie Hastings area boasts "more than a stunning coastline", with quiet waterways and quaint little towns within easy travelling distance. Although forests would generally be my preference for atmosphere over beaches any day, it's taken me a while to track down the accurate names for the plethora of beaches also available in my local area. Most of the beaches have magnificent rock formations and there are so many composition options. Thankfully most of them are also easily accessible. A very helpful beach guide is accessible from the  Greater-Port-Macquarie website at http://www.portmacquarieinfo.com.au along with many other useful snippets of information. The Council run website sings the praises of not only Port Macquarie but Camden Haven, Wauchope, quaint towns and villages and day trip destinations.

 Laurieton sits right in the middle of the Camden Haven area which stems from the Camden Haven River which flows from the Comboyne Plateau, and Queens Lake, a paradise for water lovers.