Category: Australia

Coincidence

November 14, 2021

The day before I found the Bee-eater pictured in the last post I went out looking for photo opportunities and took these of bee-eaters less than a kilometre away from my house. They have been returning after a winter absence and I love to see them flitting around flashing their amazing wing colours. I wonder if these are related to the one I found. They look identical to me. My foundling has survived another day, but still doesn’t seem to be able to fly. He’s safe in my glass house.

Rescued

November 13, 2021

Yesterday I took some photos of bee-eaters, which I haven’t got around to publishing yet. So imagine my surprise to find this little fellow on the ground outside my window. I have not observed any of these close to the house and I had never been this close to one. Usually they’re so skittish they instantly fly away. So I stood mesmerised, just looking in wonder at its beauty. Then I noticed the cat was also staring nearby, with very obvious intent. The cat and I hopped around the rose bushes trying to catch it. Luckily I was able to scoop up the little bird before the cat reached it! Just…

As I took it inside the g’kids told me that it had “flown right into the window and made quite a bang”. It must have been quite stunned because it was unable to fly away. It rested for a while on my kitchen bench, and seemed to recover somewhat. I have released it into my glasshouse. It will be safe from the cats and I’m hoping that it can catch insects and recover some more. Tomorrow, if it can fly I’ll let it out.

Thistle do

November 12, 2021

The up side, I think I got a few really good shots today of some birds. The down side, it’s started to rain. I’ve been working in my garden all week to have it ready to ‘show it off’ tomorrow. This last rain shower will have damaged the beautiful roses. Damn! And it will rain some more to cancel any hope of an outdoor lunch. I’m too tired to be bothered with this post, so it will have to do. I found this thistle while I was cleaning up the garden. I rather like it in all it’s stages of development. So it will do just nicely. The birds can wait.