Zebra Finch Healesville for Saturday Critter

 

The Zebra Finch, which I had the rare delight of observing just beyond the bounds of Healesville Sanctuary, presented itself most unexpectedly. Believe it or not, this lively creature graced the shallows for but a fleeting moment, and I took great satisfaction in capturing its likeness through the disciplined craft of manual lens and manual focus—a demanding pursuit when directed upon so agile a bird.

The Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata) is a species of singular charm and resilience. Belonging to the family Estrildidae, it is one of the most widely distributed and abundant birds of the Australian continent. Its natural domain encompasses arid grasslands, open scrub, and lightly wooded plains, where it thrives in colonies often gathered near ephemeral watercourses. Unlike many species that falter in the face of drought, the Zebra Finch is remarkably adapted to the continent’s harsh interior, surviving on meagre resources, feeding upon grass seeds, and subsisting with a frugality that has rendered it emblematic of endurance in a sunburnt land.

Its appearance is no less striking than its habits are resourceful. The male, adorned with a vermilion bill, a bold orange cheek, and barred plumage across the breast, is a spectacle of contrast and pattern; the female, more subdued in hue, carries a quieter dignity. Their song, though modest, is melodious in its simplicity, and has for centuries captured the fascination of naturalists, ornithologists, and aviculturists alike. Indeed, so great has been their adaptability that the Zebra Finch has long since been carried beyond its homeland, establishing itself in distant lands and becoming one of the most studied avian models in science, particularly in the fields of song learning and behavioural ecology.

Thus, to encounter the Zebra Finch near Healesville, fluttering and bathing among the stones, is to glimpse both the immediacy of its quicksilver vitality and the enduring story of a bird that has, from the heart of Australia’s dry plains, risen to international renown. My humble photograph, wrought by patience and careful focus, preserves but a fraction of its spirit; yet in that fraction lies the charm of nature itself.

Pentax K20D 

Pentax 300mm f2.8 

Linking Saturday Critter

Magpie Shrike found in Healsville Sanctuary (bird park) Victoria Australia

 

I have now completed a three-week term of contract work and at last may return home to rejoin Joel. Together we have long been planning to extend our collection with the addition of three further lenses.

The bird pictured is the Magpie Shrike (Urolestes melanoleucus), which I had once mistaken for a crow. This photograph was taken some years ago and, seeing it again, awakens a sense of fond recollection. The Magpie Shrike, native to the savannahs and open woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa, is distinguished by its striking black-and-white plumage, long tail, and vivid red eyes. It is known for its social nature, often observed in groups, and for the shrike’s characteristic habit of impaling its prey upon thorns—a practice that earned the family the name “butcherbirds.”

At the time, I had recently acquired a Pentax 300mm f/2.8 lens from eBay, a venerable piece of craftsmanship which I added to my vintage collection. The lens, coupled with the encounter with this striking bird, remains a vivid memory, intertwining my passion for photography with the natural history of the African landscape.

Pentax K20D

A 300mm f2.8 

Linking Saturday Critter

Eastern Long Snake Necked Turtle for Saturday Critter

 

This photograph, too, hails from a bygone era—captured over thirty years ago at Healesville Sanctuary, by the edge of a tranquil pond. It is difficult to fathom that such richness of colour and remarkable clarity could be achieved with a digital SLR of such vintage. The image stands as a quiet testament to the enduring capabilities of early digital photography, as well as to the attentive eye behind the lens.

The true subject of the photograph is a native freshwater turtle, most likely the Eastern Long-necked Turtle (Chelodina longicollis), a species commonly found in the wetlands, rivers, and billabongs of southeastern Australia, including the sanctuary grounds at Healesville. With its distinctive serpentine neck—often as long as its shell—this turtle has long fascinated naturalists and casual observers alike. When threatened, it emits a pungent musk from its glands, earning it the colloquial name "stinker."

In this image, the turtle appears either basking or gliding just beneath the surface, its smooth carapace catching the light, revealing details lost to the hurried eye. These turtles are an essential part of the aquatic ecosystem, feeding on insects, small fish, and carrion, and contributing to the balance of the watery habitats they call home.

To think that this moment—quiet, ordinary, and now distant—was captured so vividly with the technology of the time is both humbling and wondrous. It reminds us of the enduring value of patient observation and the rich natural heritage preserved within sanctuaries such as Healesville.

Pentax K10D 

Pentax 300mm f2.8 

Linking Saturday Critter

Ducklings Healesville for Saturday Critter

 

This is a lovely spotting before I visited Wildlife sanctuary in the region. At the time, I was using canon lens converter for Sony A7RIV. Canon lens tends to give yellow cast to the image which is impossible to remove in software. 

Sony A7RIV

Canon 300mm f4 

Linking Saturday Critter

Butterfly for Saturday Critter

 

I was more keen on testing the bokeh

Pentax A 200mm f4 macro

Linking Saturday Critter

Saturday's Critter - Koala Napping

 

In a wildlife park near Healsville, she is conserving her energy as usual. I feel like that whole week!

Sony A7RIV

Canon 300mm f4 L

This is linking to Saturday's Critter