Nature's Place

Not great pix but, some better than others. … Starting with this one because it’s the one I wake up to recently. He, I suspect, comes along first thing in the morning and sings to his reflection in the car side mirror or window. He often leaves imprints of his wings on the windscreen, excitable fellow. A gentle creature though, big voice.

A much smaller bird, a honey eater, half the size of the one above, comes in a group to the birdbath almost every day – a family I think now, having seen the pic below.

Looks to me like a youngster harassing his mum for something to eat. A very common sight these spring days. She leaning away a little, letting them get on with it.

And there’s dad, keeping his distance. You can see our nature reflected in nature. As if nature is intrinsic to us, us to it. Who’d a guessed …

Another honey eater on the same branch, looking down at the birdbath. The same bird that was nesting in that tree when I arrived here, but moved on when the nest was damaged. Another family that visits regularly, for a regular clean bath …

Pied Currawong, one legged, a big bird – big as a crow. Gets about all right but when it comes to ground or branch work he’s a little handicapped. A very cautious fellow, understandably.

Bad hair day. Mum, looking a bit ragged maybe. But still very photogenic, with the right light and background.

And here’s why she’s looking ragged, if she is. One of her youngsters crying out to be fed. And what mum isn’t run ragged by the kids.

This is another kid – known here as a Joey (baby wallaby), but fending for himself, mum long gone it seems. He’s a very approachable little one, trusting.

Joey, baby wallaby again, growing up, looking healthy. Saying hello …

And then the butcher bird comes along. She has young to feed as well. Takes a little fruit or grain or meat now and again, whatever is going sometimes.

Stopped on the water tank for a few minutes. Listening out for who knows what … opportunity.

Caught napping, nearly bed time with the sun about to set – but the Stone Curlew is also nocturnal. Shooting through the long grass. She’s got feathers on her eyelids. Very fashionable, or fashion setting?

I could almost yawn …

Oops, did I wake her? Maybe, but she didn’t move, just wary of company at sunset.

Maggie is Aussie short for Magpie. This one on the water tank, nice background, light was good – soft. … A shot in two or three hundred. Then a fellow at the market asked if I had one. So it got printed, glad it did.

They don’t stop still for long, always bobbing about. Hard black and bright white, difficult to get acceptable exposure. … The other side of the bright red eye, an injured eye.

Two in a row. Something must have grabbed its attention, to keep it still for more than one acceptable shot in quick succession.

Love the smokey backgrounds on these – no post processing needed. … Know what you want and shoot for that, usually by eliminating what you don’t want – a long procession of redundancies. Such is life.