BRET CHARMAN WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY
  • Home
  • Bret's Blog
  • Portfolio
  • Galleries
    • British Wildlife
    • Australia
    • Africa
    • Europe
    • Colombia
    • Iceland's Arctic Foxes
  • About Me
    • Awards
    • Talks
    • Partners
  • Workshops & Tours
  • Prints
  • Contact

Blog

Heading Inland - My Aussie Adventure

8/6/2015

0 Comments

 
Having travelled down the New South Wales coastline it was time to head inland on this last part of our Aussie adventure. Our first stop was in the rural town of Goulburn, there wasn't much in the way of wildlife there but we had heard of a place called Kangaroo Valley. This, as you might expect, is a valley home to plenty of Kangaroos but it wasn't these critters we were after. We had also heard that the valley was home to a thriving population of Wombats. Up until now we hadn't found any wombats so we really hoped that we might be in luck ... we certainly were as you can see below!
Picture
Wombat
Picture
Wombat
We then headed further inland, across the Hay Plain towards the farming town of Mildura in northern Victoria. This is one of Australia's fruit growing capitals but nearby is the remote Mungo National Park. We headed out early on morning driving off the main highway onto a gravel road, an incredibly long gravel road of nearly 100 kms. After a few hours, we finally arrived at this wild landscape in search of the Red Kangaroo. This was the only chance on our trip to Australia that we might see this incredible desert survivor, so we had to make the effort. We struck gold, not only seeing the Red Kangaroos but also the Western Grey Kangaroos and wild Emus.
Picture
Red Kangaroos in Mungo NP
Picture
Emu in Mungo NP
Picture
Emu
Picture
Western Grey Kangaroo
The next leg of the inland part of our journey took us across another state border to South Australia. We followed the Murray River from Mildura towards the riverside town of Mannum. Nestled right on the edge of the winding river it was a bird-watcher's paradise with a very obliging community of Brush-tailed Possums just to top it off.
 
The possums were fantastic and we loved the mother with her young baby, the images just don't really show the difference in their size. The next morning we awoke to a valley full of a thick mist and I knew I had to go to the waters edge and see what subjects I could find. The Black Swans and the Galahs were just superb and so cooperative, it was a truly magical morning. 

Picture
Brush-tailed Possum with baby
Picture
Young Brush-tailed Possum
Picture
Black Swan at dawn
Picture
Galahs warming up in the morning sun
Picture
Black Swan in the mist over the Murray River
Picture
The next part of our journey is to the magnificent Kangaroo Island so come back soon and check it out!
0 Comments

More urban Kangaroos - My Aussie Adventure

22/3/2015

0 Comments

 
Urban kangaroos, possibly my favourite subject to photograph in all of Australia, so far at least. Well, I might have become a little addicted, scratch that ... I am definitely addicted. There is nothing really in the world that compares to the kangaroos and the wallabies of Australasia, with their deer-like head, long muscular tail and their incredibly energy efficient motion. For me though, they are characterful and just utterly beautiful ... i don't needy any excuses to just keep photographing them. 
Picture
Grey Kangaroo, Toorbul
Picture
Grey Kangaroo, Toorbul
Picture
Street Kangaroo, Toorbul
Picture
Grey Kangaroo, Toorbul
Picture
Grey Kangaroo, Toorbul
Picture
Grey Kangaroo, Toorbul
Picture
Grey Kangaroo, Toorbul
All the images above were taken on one glorious evening, I was alone with the kangaroos and the lighting couldn't have been better. I went back the next day and had further luck ...
Picture
Grey Kangaroo, Toorbul
Picture
Grey Kangaroos Toorbul
Picture
Grey Kangaroo, Toorbul
Picture
Grey Kangaroo with Joey, Toorbul
Picture
Juvenile Kangaroo, Toorbul
The female with the  joey in her pouch was particularly obliging, you just can't describe how wonderful it is to be so close to these animals. Another fantastic evening with these charismatic marsupials and I have a feeling there might be another few to come before I leave the area. 
0 Comments

Urban Kangaroos - My Aussie Adventure

16/3/2015

0 Comments

 
Australia is rightly famed for its unique wildlife, the most iconic of these has got to be the kangaroo. On the Pacific coast, the species of kangaroo you will encounter is the Eastern Grey, this is a large mammal and one that you need to respect. Sadly, more often than not there seems to be some sort of conflict with the growing population and expanding towns and cities. This is certainly the case in the small towns to the north of Brisbane, both the small towns of Beachmere and Toorbul are home to Eastern Grey Kangaroos. 

Beachmere is undergoing a new phase of development with large swathes of swampy bushland being drained and turned into now housing estates. It seems that there has been little evaluation of the environmental impacts and I came across a group of Kangaroos still trying to forage on a vast construction site. 
Picture
Eastern Grey Kangaroo standing in front of a soil heap on the building site.
Picture
A lone kangaroo watches across the destroyed habitat
Toorbul is a slightly different proposition to Beachmere, there seems to be little new development here but there is plenty of established housing. Here the kangaroos have made their homes among the parks and gardens of the local community and have little fear of people. It seems to be quite a harmonious situation but perhaps it isn't all as it quite seems. After an hour or so an absolute idiot came towards the small group of kangaroos on a mini motorbike and drove straight at them. All the kangaroos panicked with one poor youngster, who you can see in the portraits towards the bottom of this post, falling over right in front of me and desperately scrabbling to try and avoid the bike. It was horrific to see and really showed me the worst in humanity, the individual paused beforehand and purposefully accelerated towards them, seemingly proud of his vile act. 

It was then that I decided to leave this group alone so not to stress them out any further than their ordeal with one selfish and bizarre individual. 
Picture
A mob of Kangaroos in Toorbul
Picture
Even kangaroos need a good scratch
Picture
A large male keeps a close eye on me
Here is the poor young kangaroo that panicked as the motorcyclist approached, thankfully it was very calm and relaxed beforehand when I was watching it. 
Picture
Eastern Grey Kangaroo
Picture
Eastern Grey Kangaroo
Picture
Eastern Grey Kangaroo
0 Comments

Central Queensland - My Aussie Adventure

2/2/2015

0 Comments

 
After the amazing sightings of Platypus in Eungella NP, we headed further inland hoping to visit Carnarvon Gorge. We first stopped off in the gemfields and stayed in the small community of Sapphire, where I got up close and personal to an amazing Oscillated Velvet Gecko which was searching for a meal in the extraordinary heat.
Picture
Oscillated Velvet Gecko
After this short stop we continued southwards to the amazing Carnarvon Gorge but sadly it didn't go quite as we had planned. We were hoping to stay there for 4 nights, that way we could make the most of this amazing destination. Unforunately, after only 1 night we had to leave, a large rainstorm was forecast and we could be cut off for a couple of weeks. We got to spend one afternoon enjoying the local wildlife though and it was great from a photographic point of view. With close encounters of both Swamp Wallabies and Eastern Grey Kangaroos the highlight. 
Picture
Swamp Wallaby
Picture
Swamp Wallaby
Picture
Swamp Wallaby
Picture
Swamp Wallaby
Picture
Eastern Grey Kangaroo
Picture
Eastern Grey Kangaroo with Joey
Picture
Eastern Grey Kangaroos
As the sun started to set a Kookaburra appeared in the trees above me and started to laugh until the light was no more. I took a single silhouette as my final image of the day.
Picture
Kookaburra silhouette
0 Comments

Coffs Harbour (Emerald Beach) - My Aussie Adventure

11/11/2014

5 Comments

 
The last stop on our road trip, from Sydney to Federal (near Byron Bay), Coffs Harbour was probably one of our favourite spots. We actually stayed in the village of Emerald in the caravan/campsite there, it was right next to the beach and it was just lovely and peaceful. Even better for me ... the wildlife was fantastic!
Picture
Our first Eastern Grey Kangaroo
As you can imagine, I spent quite a bit of time with the local inhabitants ... they seemed completely at ease as long as you respected their personal space (if only everybody respected the wildlife and didn't try to pet it).
Picture
Juvenile Eastern Grey
As well as the Kangaroos for company we also had some feathered friends too, some particularly noisy and large friends. The Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo is a monster as far as parrots go and they are pretty vocal. They are inquisitive and love to play at the same time as feeding, they even like to see what you are up to. 
Picture
Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo
Picture
Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo
The next day we were in for a treat, after a lazy morning around the campsite we decided to head down to the beach. We stayed for maybe half an hour before the strong winds and wind driven sand made us a little irritable. We returned to the tent for a calmer spot to relax and enjoy the blazing sun, of course that meant I ended up photographing the Kangaroos and in particular, a gorgeous Joey who had remained hidden in its mother's pouch since the previous day. As you can see below, it let me get pretty close but that was after sitting with them for a couple of hours and letting them know I wasn't a threat.
Picture
Sorry I cut the mum's head off
Picture
The lovely little Joey
Picture
A really cute little chap
Picture
A poser but I couldn't have wanted a better subject.
A really wonderful experience with a truly beautiful animal, mammals are my passion and to be allowed so close to such a charismatic character is truly a privilege. As well as some close encounters with some large males the local bird life was also pretty obliging.
Picture
This younger male came to within only a couple of metres
Picture
A large male standing tall
Picture
Yet another posing Kookaburra
Picture
Noisy Friarbird
Picture
Galah
After this, our last stop, it was time to finish our journey by heading northwards and on to Federal. As we packed up the car for the final time before settling in Byron Bay (where we are staying for 5 weeks), I noticed a little stow away which I thought was particularly photogenic. 
Picture
Our stow away (would love to know the species?)
5 Comments

    Author

    Bret Charman

    Archives

    January 2023
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    April 2022
    October 2021
    March 2021
    October 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    October 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    January 2017
    September 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    August 2011
    June 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011

    Categories

    All
    Africa
    African Wild Dog
    Amazon
    Amboseli
    Amphibians
    Andes
    Angola
    Ani
    Antelope
    Antpitta
    Arctic
    Arctic Fox
    Arctic Skua
    Arctic Tern
    Asia
    Asian Elephant
    Asiatic Wild Dog
    Assam
    Atlantic
    Australia
    Australian Fur Seal
    Australian Sea Lion
    Auto-focus Failure
    Autumn
    Azur Hind Express
    Baboon
    Badger
    Baining
    Barn Owl
    Bar-tailed Godwit
    BBC Dynasties
    Beach
    Beachmere
    Beach Stone-curlew
    Bear
    Bearded Seal
    Bears
    Bee
    Big Cat
    Birds
    Black-eared Wheatear
    Black Guillemot
    Black Headed Gull
    Black-headed Gull
    Black Kite
    Black Swan
    Blakiston's Fish Owl
    Blue-faced Honeyeater
    Blue Mountains
    Blue Whale
    Boreal
    Bret Charman
    British Wildlife
    Brown Bear
    Brown Fish Owl
    Brown Hare
    Brown Rat
    Brunnich's Guillemot
    Brush-tailed Possum
    Buffalo
    Byron Bay
    Cairngorm
    Canoe Safari
    Canon 7d
    Canon Eos 5d Mkiii
    Capuchin
    Carnarvon Gorge
    Caves
    Cetaceans
    Chacalaca
    Chaffinch
    Cheetah
    Cheriton
    Chital
    Cockatoo
    Coffs Harbour
    Colombia
    Common Langur
    Common Lizard
    Cormorant
    CPS
    Crag Martin
    Crested Tern
    Crocodile
    Cuckoo
    Culture
    Damselfly
    Dance
    Danube Delta
    Dartford Warbler
    Deer
    Demoiselle
    Dhole
    Dinaric Mountains
    Dingo
    Dolphin
    Dorrigo NP
    Dorset
    Ducks
    Eagle
    Eastern Grey Kangaroo
    Ecuador
    Egyptian Vulture
    Eider Duck
    Elephant
    Emerald Beach
    Emu
    Estuary
    Eungella National Park
    Europe
    Fallow Deer
    Federal
    Finland
    Fire
    Firecrest
    Fish
    Flamingos
    Flowers
    Forest
    Fox
    Fox Cubs
    Fraser Island
    Frog
    Frogmouth
    Fuglesongen
    Fulmar
    Galah
    Gan Gan Lookout
    Garden
    Gecko
    Geese
    Gigrin Farm
    Giraffe
    Glacier
    Glaucous Gull
    Golden Jackal
    Golden Langur
    Golden Plover
    Gorillas
    Great Apes
    Greater Adjutant Stork
    Great Grey Owl
    Greenfinch
    Grey Phalarope
    Grey Wolf
    Guillemot
    Guwahati
    Hampshire
    Harbour Seal
    Harp Seal
    Heather
    Heron
    Hindu Monk
    Hoatzin
    Hobby
    Hog Badger
    Hog Deer
    Hokkaido
    Hoolock Gibbon
    Hornbill
    Hornstrandir Nature Reserve
    Hover Fly
    Hummingbird
    Hyena
    Iceland
    India
    Insects
    Invertebrates
    Island
    Ivory Gull
    Jackal
    Japan
    Japanese Macaque
    Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker
    Joey
    Kalandula
    Kamakhya Temple
    Kangaroo
    Kangaroo Island
    Kangaroo Valley
    Katoomba
    Kaziranga
    Kenya
    Kew Gardens
    Kilimanjaro
    King Eider
    Kingfishers
    Koala
    Kokopo
    Kolkata
    Kookaburra
    Lake Naivasha
    Landscapes
    Leopard
    Lighthouse
    Limestone Karst
    Lion
    Lion Cub
    Little Auk
    Little Tern
    London
    Long-tailed Skua
    Lorikeet
    Luambe National Park
    Maasai Mara
    Macro
    Magpie
    Mammals
    Mana Pools
    Manizales
    Marsupial
    Masked Lapwing
    Mishing People
    Monkey
    Monotremes
    Moreton Bay
    Mountain
    Mouse
    Multi-coloured Tanager
    Murray River
    M/V Ortelius
    Nagarhole
    Nagpur
    Nameri
    Narooma
    Nature
    New Britain
    New Forest
    New South Wales
    New Zealand Fur Seal
    Nightingale
    Night Monkey
    Norway
    Ny Alesund
    Ny London
    One-horned Rhino
    One-horned Rhino
    Orang
    Orinoco
    Oropendola
    Osprey
    Otters
    Oystercatcher
    Pacific
    Pack Ice
    Painted Wolf
    Panoramic
    Papua New Guinea
    Parrots
    Peacock
    Peacock Island
    Pelican
    Pench National Park
    Pheasant
    Photography
    Pied Wagtail
    Platypus
    Plover
    Polar Bear
    Portrait
    Port Stephens
    Possum
    Predator
    Primates
    Puffin
    Purple Sandpiper
    Pygmy Marmoset
    Pyrenees
    Python
    Queensland
    Rainbow Lorikeet
    Rainforest
    Raven
    Razorbill
    Red-crowned Cranes
    Red Deer
    Red Fox
    Red Kangaroo
    Red Kite
    Red Squirrel
    Remarkable Rocks
    Repair
    Reptiles
    Rhesus Macaque
    Richmond Park
    Rift Valley
    River
    River Dolphin
    Robin
    Rodents
    Roe Deer
    Romania
    Sacha Lodge
    Safari
    Sambar
    Scotland
    Scottish Highlands
    Seabirds
    Seal
    Seal Rocks
    Shorebirds
    Short-beaked Echidna
    Short Eared Owl
    Short-eared Owl
    Skomer
    Slovenia
    Slow Worm
    Snow Monkey
    Sooty Oystercatcher
    South America
    South Australia
    South Downs National Park
    South Luangwa
    South Luangwa National Park
    Spitsbergen
    Spring
    Squirrel
    Squirrel Monkey
    Stag
    Steller's Sea Eagle
    Summer
    Sunrise
    Sunset
    Svalbard
    Svalbard Reindeer
    Swans
    Tadoba Tiger Reserve
    Taiga
    Tamarin
    Tammar Wallaby
    The Highlands
    Tiger
    Toad
    Tobago
    Toorbul
    Topi
    Toucan
    Travel
    Tree Frog
    Tribe
    Tropics
    Uganda
    UK
    United Kingdom
    Ural Owl
    Urban Wildlife
    Urunga
    Victoria
    Waders
    Wagtail
    Wales
    Wallaby
    Walrus
    Water Buffalo
    Watercress
    Waterfall
    Water Vole
    Weasel
    Western Grey Kangaroo
    Whistling Kite
    White-faced Heron
    White Stork
    White Tailed Eagle
    White-tailed Eagle
    Whitethroat
    Wild Boar
    Wild Dog
    Wild Eye
    Wild Flowers
    Wildlife
    Wildlife Photography
    Wildlife Worldwide
    Willie Wagtail
    Winter
    Wolf
    Wolverine
    Wombat
    Working Holiday
    Wren
    Yellowhammer
    Zambezi
    Zambia
    Zebra
    Zimbabwe


No portion of this website may be reproduced without the prior written consent of Bret Charman. All rights reserved.
​© Bret Charman Photography 2023
  • Home
  • Bret's Blog
  • Portfolio
  • Galleries
    • British Wildlife
    • Australia
    • Africa
    • Europe
    • Colombia
    • Iceland's Arctic Foxes
  • About Me
    • Awards
    • Talks
    • Partners
  • Workshops & Tours
  • Prints
  • Contact