Jan Wegener

25/07/2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nkJICl3Fnc
New video :)

Lightroom & Next Generation Photoshop Masterclasses!https://www.ja...

23/07/2026

A tiny puddle. Barely enough to notice.

Yet in Australia’s dry outback, it’s enough to bring the landscape to life.

Without warning, Gouldian Finches stream in from every direction, joined by Double-barred, Long-tailed & Star Finches. For a few precious minutes, this small pool becomes the centre of their world. A place to drink, socialise and, above all, survive.

For a photographer, it’s a thrilling challenge. There are birds landing in every direction, each one more colourful than the last, and there’s never enough time to capture every moment. But every now and then, the flock comes together, and you’re lucky enough to freeze a scene that tells the whole story.

Sometimes, the smallest puddles hold the biggest surprises.

22/07/2026

Some birds sing. Others dance.

The male Golden Bowerbird is an architect.

This remarkable bower stands almost 2 metres tall, painstakingly built stick by stick, not as a nest, but as a stage to impress potential mates. He even collects pale lichens to decorate a carefully prepared display area, creating the perfect setting for his performance.

If a female approves, she’ll mate with him, then leave to build her own nest and raise the chicks alone.

Hidden high in the rainforests of Far North Queensland, the Golden Bowerbird is one of Australia’s most extraordinary birds, and seeing a bower like this in the wild is something I won’t forget.

21/07/2026

What’s better than 1 Cockatoo? 2! 😆

Blessed with such a large variety of these awesome characters here in Australia.

Red-tailed Black Cockatoo Pair
Little Corella Pair
Gang Gang Cockatoo Dad & Son
Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo Pair

20/07/2026

Can you hear what he is saying? 🎶

The Noisy Pitta’s unmistakable call is often translated as “walk to work.” Once you hear it, it’s hard to unhear!

This encounter started with the bird calling from deep in the forest. Then, a little while later I managed to sneak up to him, giving me a front-row seat to an unforgettable performance.

The rainforest always has a story to tell. You just have to stop and listen. 🐦

What do you hear: “walk to work,” or something completely different? 👇

18/07/2026

Just when I thought the adventure had ended, nature had one last surprise waiting.

On the final day in Cape York, we’d just packed up after a long day of shooting when a pair of Palm Cockatoos landed in the tree above us, just as the evening sun broke through the clouds.

I grabbed my gear carefully edged into position for a photo, fully expecting them to vanish before I could even lift my camera.

But they didn’t.

For a few precious minutes, they shared a glimpse into their world. Then the female opened her wings, transforming an already unforgettable encounter into one I’ll never forget.

Some photographs are planned.
The best ones are simply gifted.

16/07/2026

The most incredible sight! 🖤🌴🥁

You’d think the Palm Cockatoo is just randomly tapping a stick against the trunk—but there’s intention behind every beat. One of the few animals known to make and use a tool to create rhythmic sound.

I love the little pause in the drumming too. It almost feels as though he’s gathering his thoughts before the next beat... then the performance continues. Absolutely incredible.

14/07/2026

Sometimes the outback erupts into absolute chaos.

At first light, Mulga Parrots gather at the last remaining waterholes to drink. For ages, there can be nothing... then suddenly dozens arrive all at once, filling the silence with their gentle calls.

In the middle of the madness, you have to make a split-second decision: Which bird do you follow? The pair perched quietly? The one banking through the golden light? Or the flock exploding overhead?

Moments like these are exactly why I keep coming back. 🦜

12/07/2026

Australia’s smallest jewels💎
Seeing these tiny creatures surging tough outback conditions is always amazing. When it gets very dry hundreds of them come together at the last remaining waterholes.
Red-browed Finches
Double-barred Finches
Gouldian Finch
Diamond Firetails
Painted Finches
Zebra Finches
Gouldians
Zebras
Long-tailed Finches
Double-barred
Long-tailed Finch (Red-beaked race)

11/07/2026

Sometimes our cameras allow us to capture certain things we would never notice with bare eyes, like this crazy looking protective nictitating membrane on this Nankeen Night Heron.
He was sitting on a fishing pier and let me get super close. The short MFD of the 100-500 helped to realise this shot, too.