Nature's Place

… to inner space. … The light plays on the water tossed by the cold wind. … A lovely sunny winter’s day by the sea. … Moreton bay, seen from Victoria Point at the northern boat ramps.

Corella, they roost in the tall gum trees by the ramps and travel in gangs. Waves of white, swooping and shouting as they go. A bold boisterous lot they are.

Curious and fidgety too, the flag pole ropes might need replacing soon.

A young blue faced – green in their youth – honey eater. They are more present in the garden this winter.

Noisy Miner, also a honey eater. One greets me as I leave the kitchen with my breakfast. Struggles to hover for a couple seconds, til its had a bite of my bread.

Stranger visiting, the usual magpies disappeared for a few days and another family came and went.

A female I believe, from the shading in the white at the back of the neck. A different character to the usual resident.

I went to the car and a masked lapwing went berserk. They do that, make a big noise, to distract any present wildlife – me – from noticing their chicks. Not a very intelligent strategy, I’d say, but it works well enough.

When the parents call out the chicks got to ground, literally. They freeze stock still and pretend there’s no danger. Almost invisible, it would be so easy to step on one. Could be just a couple leaves on the ground, but once you see them …

Kookaburra, what can I say … They come and they go, there’s no telling when. But they are always welcome at the table of my back door.

This young butcherbird doesn’t seem to want to grow up. Keeps coming back and crying out as if I’m his mum and he wants a feed. Anyway …

The mum just ignores him, as mums learn to do once the young are old enough to know better.

Will have to take my cue from mum. But it’s cold now, and there’s not a lot to eat in the garden, maybe when spring arrives …