This is a Peaceful Dove. It is sometimes called a Zebra Dove because it has black and white stripes around its neck. I often hear it calling, yet don’t often see it around. I must be looking in the wrong spots.
There are many varieties of Spoonbills. This one is a Yellow-billed Spoonbill. It is notable for its strangely shaped bill. It has black markings on its face and black coloring on its wingtips. It also has some distinctive feathers around its neck. They are not uncommon here in Victoria, Australia.
I saw this Spoonbill fishing in a small. shallow pond nearby my house. It lies adjacent to a lagoon, where the water level is adjusted up and down depending on demand for irrigation water by farmers. It ignored me and continued to fish by sweeping its bill from side to side, presumably catching lots of small fish to eat.
This one popped up in my meadow garden. I have no idea what it is.
For Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)
What a surprise and a lesson to show you should persevere. I gathered up some eggs after a rare wet and stormy night. I found them abandoned by their mum, a guinea fowl. They were cold but I put them into the incubator and hoped for the best. I left them when I went away for Christmas and thought it was time to throw them away when I returned. Lucky I left them. They started hatching yesterday.
They are so tiny, but I’m watching them start eating and growing.
This little one has distinctive white marking around it’s head.
They were startled by the camera, and paraded around in a circle.
It will soon be time to get busy again. The weeds are growing. My garden needs attention. But I have to admit it’s nice to just rest up.
I’m feeling as slow as this turtle.
I had a lovely break and am glad to be safely back home. The birds seem to be watching over the farm.
I’ve been following the growth of a nest of little Darter birds. Two have survived and are ready to leave the nest. I was horrified that as I approached the nest this time, the two little ones fell into the creek and disappeared under the water.
I lost sight of one and the other seemed to be very uncertain of itself in the water. It seemed to be looking for a way to get out of the water.
Then I lost sight of it too, and was really sad, thinking that I might have scared them off the nest too early. I went away disheartened.
I returned to the nest a little while later. It was still empty, but I eventually found both of them, enjoying the sun and drying out.
My husband reported that he saw them both in the nest again tonight, so they either clawed their way back up the tree, (have a look at the feet of the ‘baby’ above!) or they might have managed to fly up. I hope they don’t leave for a little while yet.
More photos of the darters. And more. When they were very young. and the rest of the family.
…hiding up in that gum tree. It’s a white cockatoo.
I’m following the growth of these Darters in a nest close to my house. They are becoming more adventurous and were out of the nest as I approached. They scrambled back to the nest and were more interested in waiting for mum to return than to bother about me. Mum was sitting on a log watching, and didn’t come by while I was waiting.
They are still downy, but and really growing, gaining weight and strength. And they are still hungry!
More photos of the darters. When they were very young. and the rest of the family.
Be Original!
Drop in and stay awhile
Gallery and Giftshop
En fotoblogg
To See a World in a Grain of Sand...
Fotografie, Radeln und Reisen
Just another WordPress.com site
"You must have birds in your heart before you can find them in the bushes." -- John Burroughs (Journal of the Outdoor Life, v20, 1923, p. 137)
Gardening Fairies Flowers Spirituality Angels Love Joy
AT PATHO 