World Bird Wednesday - Bar-Tailed Godwit.

A few weeks ago I was in the right place at the right time to band (ring if you wish!) some Bar-Tailed Godwit. I'd watched these birds in both the northern and southern hemisphere, but I had never had one in the hand. What a splendid bird. Huge, but slender beaks and long legs.

These are some picture from the beach and during processing.

You can find many more images of birds from around the world at World Bird Wednesday.

You can see the blog post that originally featured these images here, and you can look at the most recent of my posts by clicking the Paying Ready Attention link on the RHS of the screen.

1st March - The first day of Autumn - My World Tuesday

Its the first day of autumn here today. But its been more autumn than summer for a number of days. Crisp mornings and cool evenings. Darkness when we wake in the mornings. Spiders. The first hint of colour in the leaves of the street trees. Soon I'll light the fire, and be able to go on evening possum hunts - with a camera, excited children and torch - not a gun!

Down by the coast a grass - Hare's tail grass - takes on the colour of autumn first. This is a plant to get close to, one where beauty is not on the grand scale, but one that rewards close attention.



























You can find more images of great places here or you can click on the My World Tuesday link on the RHS of the screen.

You can also see at my most recent posts on my other blog by clicking on the "Paying Ready Attention" Link on the RHS of the screen.

Have a good Tuesday!

PS: I think I need to mention what else is happening in the world as we read these posts. Just across the Tasman, the broken bodies of the dead are still being removed from the wreckage of Christchurch. While we look at the images that have been drawn from all corners of the world I think we should remember that the same blind, unguided forces that bring us beauty, can also bring horror, death and loss. It's not a comfortable thought, but I think it's one we would be better not to forget.

Moon Sky (Friday Sky Watch)

The fig tree in the neighbours garden has been attracting Fruit Bats - Grey Headed Flying Foxes. These bats have a wing-span of over 1 m and tend to be very noisy, rather bad tempered, a bit on the smelly side and very bad (and I do mean bad) for the paint-work on your car. (It must be all the fruit!)

While watching them I noticed that the moon was doing rather interesting things to the clouds - so, setting the ISO on the camera to high - I was basically photographing in the pitch black - I took some pictures. Tried to do the "bat and moon" thing, but could not manage a really good effort - however the forth picture here does have a bat in it! (If only just!)

I like the way the clouds seem to boil out from the moon.

You can find more Friday Sky images here (or by clicking the link on the RHS of this post) .

You can also find more of my posts here at my other blog (or by clicking in the Paying Ready Attention link on the RHS of this post)
Have a good Friday!

World Bird Wednesday - Pied Oystercatcher.

Whilst walking along the sea wall at Point Lonsdale I found this Pied Oystercatcher working away in the wave wash. It was feeding on beach worms and as these pictures show he (she?) seemed to be doing OK.

This oystercatcher is Haematopus longirostris which is a different species to the American (H. palliatus) and the European pied oystercatchers (H. ostralegus), although I think it would be interesting to see then all at the same time to see if you could sort them out!

The bird would pause as the waves washed over its feet, and then start the gentle pulling again -the picture are all one worm! I watched it find 4 or 5 and it did not snap any of them.

The bird has colour bands as part of the Victorian Wader Study Groups long term study of these birds. In the hand theses are delightful birds, and often just lie up side down in your lap as you process them. However, they are never that easy to trap!

You can find many more images of birds from around the world at World Bird Wednesday.

You can see the blog post that originally featured these images here, and you can look at the most recent of my posts by clicking the Paying Ready Attention link on the RHS of the screen.

My World Tuesday (5) - Reflecting on the Prom.

As you may have noticed I rather like Wilsons Promontory - The Prom. I go there as often as I can but not as often as I would like.

The main visitor centre is at Tidal River, where a tidal river meets the sea. The water is stained tea brown by the tannins from the vegetation and this leads to some wonderful reflections. So here are 3 of my favourites from a recent trip.

You can find more images of great places here or you can click on the My World Tuesday link on the RHS of the screen.

You can see another post about The Prom here, or you can look at my most recent posts by clicking on the Paying Ready Attention Link on the RHS of the screen.

Have a good Tuesday!

Water Colour Skies (Friday Sky Watch)

I found this sky when I went out to bring in the washing one evening.

I really liked the muted, water colour like texture. It's not big and bold, but I think it is beautiful!

You can find more Friday Sky images here (or by clicking the link on the RHS of this post)

You can also find more of my posts here at my other blog (or by clicking in the Paying Ready Attention link on the RHS of this post)

Have a good Friday!

World Bird Wednesday (2)- Black-shouldered Kite

Last year I visited Perth (Western Australia) for the first time. Its as far from Perth to Melbourne as it is from London to Istanbul - so it a decent trip.

One evening whilst walking by the Swan River I noticed this Black-Shouldered Kite - and it seemed it noticed me! This has to be one of the most clear cases I have been involved in where I was both watching and watched. I was bird watching and the bird was human watching.

These have become some of my favourite images I have taken.

You can see the blog post that originally featured these images here, and you can look at the most recent of my posts by clicking the Paying Ready Attention link on the RHS of the screen.

You can find many more images of birds from around the world at World Bird Wednesday.

My World Tuesday (4) - Victoria Sunset.

Out to the west of Melbourne are the Grampians, and out on the western side of the Grampians is the Victoria Valley.

It's a place of startling, yet quiet beauty. It's off the tourist trail, and you go through because you can rather than because you have to.

But it wont let you down.

These pictures were taken as the sun was setting, and even my tired and hungry children seemed to notice. That must say something!

You can find more images of great places here or you can click on the My World Tuesday link on the RHS of the screen.

You can see the original post that contained these images here, or you can look at my most recent posts by clicking on the Paying Ready Attention Link on the RHS of the screen.

Have a good tuesday!

Canola Skies

Canola (oil seed) may not be popular with some people, but it brings colour in a way that few other crops can compete with.

Took this photograph in the Grampians, west of Melbourne. Was drawn to the 3 fold division of land, plants and sky. Hope you like it!

You can find more Friday Sky images here (or by clicking the link on the RHS of this post)

You can also find more of my post here at my other blog (or by clicking in the Paying Ready Attention link on the RHS of this post)

Have a good Friday!

World Bird Wednesday (1) - Pacific Gull.

I have a bit of a fondness for gulls - but down here in Australia only really have 3 species you can expect to see.

So here are some images of the Pacific Gull - its huge, with a wing-span of almost 170 cm and the males weighing it at 1.6kg.

I think the first bird is a 2rd year bird.

This one is a third year bird - with a Toad Fish.

I would draw you attention to the size of that beak! - it in the order of 60mm long!

And finally here is an adult in its full glory.

You can see more World Birds Wednesday shots here.

You can see more of my shots (and far more words) at my other blog (or you can click the link to Paying Ready Attention on the RHS of the screen)

There is a post about gulls in general on my blog here.

My World Tuesday (3)

Spend a lot of time looking for the beauty in nature - but sometimes you can find it in the buildings around you.

This is the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne reflected in the glass of the museum.

The Royal Exibition Building is a Worl Heritage Site - you can find more details here.

I have to say I am rather pleased with this!




















You can find more Tuesday images here - or click on the link on the RHS of the page.

You can find more of my pictures and words on my other blog (here) on the link on the RHS of the page.

Fire in the Sky (Sky Watch Friday)

Welcome to my first Sky Watch Friday post.

Was walking home from work last years and looked over my shoulder to find this happening in the sky behind me!



I still think this is one of the most remarkable skies I have seen.

Hope you enjoy them!

You can find more sky pictures at Skywatch Friday.

You can find more of my pictures and words at my other blog

Cheers