Wedge-tailed eagle

[Jamie]

I seen 7 of these today but could only manage to get shots of one of them, the others were too far away.

This one at times was maybe 20m or less above my head. HUGE BIRDS!!!

Taken with a D70s and 70 - 300mm G lens.











Not the best of shots i know. It was very windy and i was shaking enough from the cold as it was.

Jamie

[sirhc55]

Considering the conditions Jamie you did well to get what you did. Of all the shots I like the last one best

[yeocsa]

Hi Jamie,

are you sure you are a beginner to photography? i think not.

the last shot is best and very good. if you have the raw files, with some processing the picture can be alot better.

Very well done, consider that you used the 70 - 300G

regards,

Arthur

[Jamie]

Arthur, I have the raw files but i dont really know where to start with PP other than to sharpen and resize. Any tips you could give would be great.

Jamie

[kipper]

Jamie, dude. Where do you live, I will show you the way of getting the shot, if you show me to the bird

I was out at Werribee Gorge and Lerderberg Gorge today searching for one of these. However no luck, I think I was a bit too late as I was working in the morning and went out like a madman at 1pm to try and find one with the remaining light.

Out of interest where did you take this photo?
We (Nicole and I) spotted a WTE out near Werribee Gorge lastweek. Wondering if it's the same one.


Personally I think 2,3,4 are the best shots in respect to the bird poses. However the birds beak might be slightly blown. You could try using the shadow/highlight tool to try and bring out the detail in the wings. However be careful as this can introduce noise.

[Jamie]

Darryl,

I live in Hoppers Crossing not all that far from where the pictures were taken.

I have pm'ed you more detailed instructions on how to get to where i found this bird but for everyone else, i found it on my way up to the Brisbane Ranges while going for a drive.

Werribee Gorge? Is that where the red coloured cliffs are across from the golf course?

Jamie

[kipper]

Werribee Gorge is quite a distance from Werribee, it's more out past Bacchas Marsh heading towards Ballarat. It's on the south-west side of the Ballarat (Western) Fwy. Between Bacchas Marsh and Ballan. Lerderberg State Park is on the north-east side of Bacchas Marsh.

[Jamie]

Ok im with ya now, and no it wasnt out that way.

Jamie

[kipper]

Sorry it wasn't Longhorn, but Ironbark Rd.
Ironbark Rd -> Ingleston Rd which goes all the way to Ballan.

Ironbark Rd is quite good for Brown Falcons, Black Shouldered Kites and Nankeen Kestrels from what I've seen. Seems to be a pair of each that fly around the road. Think they're mates.


And this is where we saw the Wedge Tail Eagle as shown here:

[kipper]

You know what shits me so much. I was standing on a roof today in Oakleigh doing some work. Was hoping to get it over and done with quickly. However I was tied there until 12.30. While there I was watching the sun, clouds and the winds and thinking to myself "man, the eagles would be loving these currents".

[embi]

Hoppers Crossing....next door to me in Tarneit...

Kipper I was having a look at my map software and the location you took that shot is not far from a great spot for viewing eagles. I have added a map so you can see where I am talking about.

The Ironbark Rd tag is the road you where on and the "good eagle viewing" tag is where I have seen many eagles in flight

[kipper]

Many thanks Embi. It's good to have a network of people to actually spread the information around. Otherwise it's just pot luck. I mean it's pot luck as it is, but getting a bit of information increases the percentages.

[embi]

The Mt Wallace - Glenmore Rd is a great little drive up a valley. The eagle viewing area is a top the valley. I will work on a 3d image...

[kipper]

The place that we spotted the eagle is on Ironbark Rd, from Bacchas you go over the railway line then further on where the Werribee Gorge tracks are, under the bridge. Past the windy roads, past the trial section of bitchumen then about 500m-1km on there is a farm on the left hand side and a bit of a small reservoir (seen various waders there). Just near this was a dead sheep and a Wedge feeding on it.

[embi]

Ok here is the 3D map....The yellow marker is the vantage point I am talking about and this is the valley the eagles fly in. You can see its about 200m from the valley floor to the top and a large drop off....they must get some great currents.

[Jamie]

I should post up my maps for those that are intrested as well.





Jamie

[yeocsa]

Arthur, I have the raw files but i dont really know where to start with PP other than to sharpen and resize. Any tips you could give would be great.

Jamie

Hi Jamie,

it is not a good time at the moment. perhaps at a later time.

regards,

Arthur

[kipper]

Hi all. Just got back from a day out down around Brisbane Ranges.
Oh my have I done some mileage today. I think I've almost travelled to Adelaide

Anyway I started off a lot later than I wanted to, 7am. However by the time I got down there the sun was just getting nice (8am). Was greated along Little River Rd by about 4 Black Kites. One practically was flying in the middle of the road

Couldn't get any good shots as the sun was on the wrong side so I gave up on them. Went down the You Yangs Rd from Little River and then onto Branch Rd, which then becomes Little River-Ripley Rd. Once off of there I went onto Buftons Rd. I managed to navigate to the place that you said Jamie. Light was great, however storm was coming in from the south. I managed to get a few great shots of rainbows.

For the rest of the day, I went from Balaing to Mt Anakie, then to Stoney Creek Reservoir, then to Glenmore via Glenmore Rd (nice spot Embi). Then to Bacchas Marsh, then to Ballan via Ironbark Rd, then back towards Mt Anakie, then off onto Brisbane Ranges Rd. Did a cross country stint along the top of the Brisbane Ranges, got out and had a walk about. Was going to do one of the tracks but after 300M it started to go down the mountain and it was a bit too wet. So I went back and got in my car. Drove down the mountain. Drove to Mt Anakie, hung around there and watched some birds soaring near Fairy Park. Not sure if they were Wedge Tails or not as I wasn't going to pay $12 to go into Fairy Park. I drove around back onto Mount Rd but couldn't get close enough. I then went down to Lara, had some lunch. Drove back to Mt Anakie, drove back to the original spot you saw the Wedge Tail Eagle. Drove up towards Aeroplane Rd but decided to head off as a storm was coming in. Then I came across Glenmore Rd again so I went down that. Saw a bird soaring at the top of the hills, thought I'd investigate. I then turned up Dog Trap Rd. I was going to go up this road earlier in the day but it was a bit wet and it said Dry Weather Rd only. So I looked at the road and it had dried up. So I thought great. Went flying down this road, seemed ok. Got up a hill, went down a hill and it was a bit wet so I went quite fast to avoid losing traction. Started to go up the next incline and oh my god. Talk about rough going. They should of had a sign saying "4WD Only Road". Seriously, I'm glad it's a company car Anyway I got back to Ironbark Rd, and decided to head home.

Saw quite a few varieties of birds along the way. Black Kites, Whistling Kites, Nankeen Kestrels, Black Shouldered Kites, Brown Falcons, New Holland Honeyeaters, Pardalotes, Willy Wag Tails, but no bloody Wedge Tail Eagles. Can't understand it. The area is prime ground for the bloody birds too. Lots of granite cliffs/rock structures. Lots of tall trees. Shit I saw heaps of carrion along the way. Not sure what the bloody things were doing. Perhaps yesterday tired them out.

[redline]

interesting story Kipper,
how far are the Brisbane Ranges from melbourne? there're not in Brisbane I presume?

[fozzie]

Kipper - I'm exhausted just reading your post.

Bad luck about no Wedge Tail Eagles.

Where was Nicole

[kipper]

I dunno, she said she was going to say up late and watch the Tour de France. I said about messaging me or phoning me and meeting up down there but I got not call. Perhaps other engagements, I don't know.

Thai, they're about 30-45min. They're on the west side of the You Yangs. You can go a couple of ways. Either down to Little River on the Geelong Fwy, and scoot across west along country roads till you get to it. Or you can go to Bacchas Marsh via the Ballarat Fwy, then get off and head down the Bacchas Marsh - Geelong Rd.

[embi]

I dont have the lenses for this sort of photography kipper but I would be interested in doing a trip with you one day.

I could take my xtrail. Has quite good 4WD capability and it might mean getting to some better locations.

In Sept we are getting a new VX Prado and it fits 7 so I am willing to take a group out and that is SERIOUS 4WD. Let me know if you want to plan something

[kipper]

Yep sounds like a plan. Will talk in August about it after the Anniversary Meet. I must say I was a bit disappointed. I really want to walk around the Brisbane Ranges as I'm sure this is where they're nesting.

I know Del Rios wineries have said they've spotted 2 Wedge Tails frequently visiting their winery. Also Jamie has seen 7 of them around Balaing and Stoney Creek Reservoir. Another person saw 4 around the Aeroplane Track at the Brisbane Ranges. Not sure if that was perched or nested. Would be good to find out that. I took a look at the map, and if you have a look at it those sightings form a ring around the Brisbane Ranges. So it could be that they're there I don't know. It's hard to say seeing as this bird has a territory of 35kmsq apparently. Would be good to know somebody who knows where the nests are. That'd help to narrow down where the centre of their territory lies. I should of taken a look at Anakie Gorge at the Brisbane Ranges. They might nest around there. It's like grasping at straws though, they could be anywhere!

[kipper]

Embi, what lenses do you have?

[embi]

I only have the kit lens at the moment and my next purchase will be a 35mm f2. Hopefully in the next month or so....

[kipper]

Not sure if that 35kmsq thing is right or not. Some website I was reading says that, another says 10hectares. How much is 10hectares? Don't think it's 35km

[embi]

10 hectares = 0.1 sqaure km

[Nicole]

Where was Nicole

I couldn't get up that early after staying up to watch the cycling. Then I had to be home around lunch as some people were coming around.

So I had to amuse myself at the local parks instead in the morning and arvo. If it makes you feel any better I saw no wedge-tailed eagles. I'm surprised you didn't even see one!

[kipper]

I know, it was really good ground aswell. You'd look at it and go "Gotta be one over the next hill". I just think it wasn't the right kind of wind for them or they weren't hunting in that area. Who knows.

Perhaps they wanted to piss me off

[avkomp]

no luck for me today. I walked around the wetlands surrounding the bicentiennial park at homebush. light was bad and it was windy. It was even too crummy for birds although there were a few ducks and things.

Would love to get onto some eagles around Sydney region.
The map posting was a great idea. It would be great if someone had similar details for around here.

would love to hit the bush with a sydney area member who knows where the eagles are. I have the 4wd and the gear to probably get the shots and the mentality to trek for hours thru the bush to do so.
I just need someone to aim me in the right direction or come with me!!!

Steve

[kipper]

Jamie and Embi, could you tell me where you got the maps?

I want a detailed map of the area from Mt Anakie to Ballan and to Werribee Gorge.

[Nicole]

Check out http://www.street-directory.com.au/aus_new/index.cgi

I printed out some of the maps the other day before I got the call about the people coming around.

[kipper]

Awesome, I'm going to use it now.

[Jamie]

Jamie and Embi, could you tell me where you got the maps?

I want a detailed map of the area from Mt Anakie to Ballan and to Werribee Gorge.

From the same site that Nicole just posted.

Jamie

[embi]

I have detailed maps of all of au on my pc. I can give you any map you like and can also 3D it for terrain etc....

[kipper]

I think Embi works for ASIO

[embi]

Here is werribee gorge up close in 3D. The melbourne - ballarat hwy is in the foreground.

[kipper]

I was at the top of Werribee Gorge the other day at Falcon's Lookout. Bloody high

[embi]

I think Embi works for ASIO

ASIO is scared of me

[Willy wombat]

Very cool maps Embi. What a great tool you have access to

[embi]

I'm sure any of the other geocachers on here can do the same....its nothing special. A copy of oziexlporer, ozi3D, maps and the DEM height data.

[kipper]

Sigh, I knew about the proposed windfarm at Yaloak that was in the news a few weeks ago getting rejected because of the effect it would have on Wedge Tail Eagles. I also remember reading it was between Werribee State Gorge and the Brisbane Ranges. However when I was out I never knew it was near the hills that I was at near Glenmore Rd.

If they ever get this proposal passed. I tihnk I will personally hunt down Steve Bracks and knee cap him.

[kipper]

Well today Nicole and I had a really good day for spotting Wedge Tail Eagles.

So far this weekend I've spotted 6. One out at Langhi Ghiran near Ararat (yeah it was a long trip to see a bloody bird).

Then today out at WTP we saw on near Paradise Rd. Then one out at the Brisbane Ranges near where Jamie mentioned. Then 3 more out where Embi mentioned on Glenmore Rd. It's possible it's two adults and a juvenile. Not sure, they didn't get overly close and were soaring over the country side. Would be nice to get permision from the farmer to go out into the fields.

[Jamie]

I was out that way again today but didnt see one.....seen a few kites though.

Jamie

[kipper]

Yeah, this one only hung around for a little while at around 1-2pm. We then tried to follow it up MacCleans? HWY over the ranges. Couldn't see it anywhere. We had more luck up at Glenmore Rd though.

This is heavily cropped and the best out of 10shots. Really need more length as I was right up at the fenceline where it said "Keep Out". The bird was probably about 300M away.

[embi]

Ah!!! McCleans Hwy..... I wonder how it ever got that title

[kipper]

Btw, thanks Jamie and Embi for the good tips for locations. They certainly paid off today. I'm glad I convinced Nicole to go out to Glenmore Rd as it really payed off

[embi]

No probs....glad there were some there for you to view