Colour and Texture

Well it’s been an interesting month.

I had my sisters (Chris & Sheridan) up for the weekend. Chris bought her boyfriend Colin.
Now Colin is an ex-pom. He was telling us of his previous encounters with Australian wildlife soon after arriving in Aus.
He bought a rural block and decided to take his boys hunting.
Now there is a rule when walking thru the bush. Look in front of you.
A theory he struggles with. As you will see.

Armed with a shotgun, trudging along looking at his feet, he finally looks up to see a spider about to envelop his face.

Reflex, & the spider was atomised. Does everything in the fucking country attack you? That was his last foray hunting.

"NO! NO! NO! Is this right Brad?"

"Just don't pull back Col"

He then went on to describe his first experience camping, again with his boys.

Camping at a camping ground, some distance from the amenities block, he needed to relieve himself sometime during the night. Trudging down the track with eyes half closed (Yeah. I hear you. When will he learn), he walks into a Kangaroo (a big Red). Literally. Head-butts it in the chest (Colin’s shortish). The big Red, hissed his disapproval & it was at that time Colin realised he didn’t need the amenities block any more. Does everything in the fucking country attack you? That was his last foray camping.

"What happens if I do?"

"You might lose a finger"

So at my place I asked if he’d like to hand feed some Kookas. You’ll know his first question before I can finish typing it. DO THEY BITE? “Na, you’ll be right mate, they’re as gentle as lambs”
Imagine his trepidation. He’s about to feed a wild bird with a formidable beak. He’s being assured by Aussies with a twisted sense of humour. And his experiences to date haven’t been text book.

OH CHRIST

It had to be Bitey that was the first Kooka to fly up. He’s 4yrs old and knows what the drill is. But he is somewhat short of patience. Just as he leaned forward, Colin pulled back & Bitey missed his treat. We encouraged Col to try again.

Once bitten, twice shy, applies to both Kookaburra & Human.

Colin re-presented Biteys treat and again pulled back a bit, but held steady. Bitey however, thought he was going to miss his treat again so lurched out and caught Colin on the finger. Does everything in the fucking country attack you? That was his last foray feeding. Maybe???
There is a video link at the end of this post.

I had forgotten that feeling of excitement I had, when I first fed Boss 5 years ago.
Feeding a wild bird with a very big beak. Would it hurt? Would I bleed? Could I lose a finger?
These are the questions in the back of your mind.
Something akin to hand feeding Great Whites or wild Lions.
I can only imagine Colin’s sense of anticipation ...
That first time. And you didn’t lose a finger.
The smile says it all.

Brad & Shiloh are back, but it's been almost 6 months since I've seen Angelina. I'm guessing it's a father & son thing now.  And not much of that. With Bowerbirds, Brad will mate with a few females  during the season, but then has nothing to do with parental duties. With all the visits they’ve made, they are never seen together.  Shiloh, the green son of Brad will turn black at 7 years of age.

Father

And Son

I'mm Baack!!!

So, as for the title, you're probably aware I use flowers to add to my photos. Well, I have camellias growing out the front. Dreadful cut-flowers as they drop their petals very quickly. So I have dozens lying on the lawn waiting for the lawn mower. I picked up a few that had fallen during the night.

They gave me some great photos, but by the next day had shed most of their petals.

One...

Two...

Three...

WHERE? Where do they expect me to land?

Bloody Flowers.

Bloody Flowers

I Like the Bloody Flowers.

A few days later I noticed how good the petals still looked. While the flower dies fast, the petals last a lot longer. And that’s what gave me the idea to utilise all those fallen flowers.

Make a carpet of petals. I thought it would make for an interesting photo. It would certainly give colour & texture. Plus, I hadn’t tried it before.

I’m pretty chuffed with the result. You might see some more of this in my next blog if they are still in bloom.

A Splash of Colour

on a Grey Day.

A love hate relationship.

Mal the Noisy Miner & his family.

I hate the way they are driving the other birds away.

I love the photos they give me.

And they say birds can't fly upside down.

Eye Spy with my little eye,

Something starting with Chicken.

OK. Give me a break. I'm a bird & not real good with games.

Here's Mal harassing the Bloody Flowers.

Finger Lickin Good

Oops. That's right. They don't have fingers.

It's not KFC btw.

So I gather we're not sharing Brother.

HANG ON!!!!

What's going on here?

I'm normally the prettiest thing at the Tapas Bar.

Let’s raise our heads and give thanks for thy bounty.
There’s one in every crowd.
“Over the lips & past the gums”

Ku Klux Klutz

Couldn't even get the mask on right way round.

Mal the Noisy Miner

has been a real pain of late.

Like a Saratoga Mozzie.

I’m telling you Bitey. It’s got worse.

 They’re giving everyone a hard time. OK, almost everyone. They’re scared shitless of you guys. They are even harassing the Judge over there & he doesn’t suffer fools gladly.

 So we came up with a plan.

 You eat them. Start with Mal. Make it look like an accident. You accidently tripped as you flew in and as you yelled your warning to Mal, that Noisiest of Miners, he jumps up straight into your mouth, like that Jonah & the Whale story.

 The Judge said he would see that as “Death by Misadventure” even if it takes 10 or 20 smacks to get him down.

As well as having Camellia trees dropping flowers, I have a Mandarin tree dropping fruit. Some of the fruit on the tree have been bitten, as have some of the fallen fruit. I suspect it's either King Parrots or Bats in the trees and Brush turkeys on the ground. But it gave me an idea for some photos. So I picked a few. Mainly to see if the Satin Bowerbirds were interested, but also knowing the Kookas would explore. Especially Boof.
Well Brad & Shiloh the Bowerbirds were a no-show. But's OK, because Boof and his siblings made up for it.

Will He???

OR, won't he???

Let me look closely.

Yep, "A" Grade sugar hit.

This should rock me.

WOW man…. Look at me me….I’m a Koobbit.

Gotta love Mandarin.

"What are you hiding Boof?"

"Nothing. Why?"

"You just look guilty"

"BUGGER"

"So, you like Mandarin do you Boof?"

"Yeah. A little."

"You do know you're a Kookaburra?"

I don't have to take this abuse.

By God they’re quick.
I’m no slouch, but this guy beat me by a mile.
I hope no one saw that. How embarrassing.
Beaten by a piece of fruit. Didn’t even know they could move.

Enveloped in Softness

So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, good night.

The Sun has gone to bed, and so must I.

Goodbye…Goodbye……Goodbye.

Bawahaha Christopher. I hope you enjoyed this.

Don't worry Colin. they don't bite.

https://youtu.be/ITpX4TihgXE