Wild Bird Wednesday 222 - Red-collared Lorikeet

I thought I'd go with a bit of colour this week.  Red-collared Lorikeets are very closely related to the insanely colourful Rainbow Lorikeets, and in fact until recently they were considered a sub-species of of Rainbow Lorikeet rather than a full species in their own right.

So, the Red-collared Lorikeet (Trichoglossus rubritorquis) is only found in the wooded areas of Northern Australia.  The first part of the formal name refers to the birds 'hairy tongue' which it uses to feed on nectar and pollen.  This is probably what the birds in the pictures are doing.

These birds were rather distant when I took the pictures, but the images really do show what you can do with a few megapixels and a bit of sensible cropping.  These pictures were taken near the Mamukala bird hide in the Northern Territory.

Although I would have loved to get some real 'screen filler' shots of these birds, I do rather like the way you can see these birds in the habitat.

These picture really do need to be looked at in 'full screen' mode, which will happen if you click on the image.

Now its your turn to join in with 222nd Wild Bird Wednesday by clicking on the blue button below.  SM

An InLinkz Link-up

Florence Falls

These are some shots of Florence Falls, a well known series of waterfalls in the Litchfield National Park in the Northern Territory of Australia.

There were a considerable number of steps down to the bottom of the falls, but I much preferred the view from the top.  The plunge pool at the bottom was fully of swimmers, and had the feel of a swimwear catalogue!  I felt rather out of place in long pants with a telephoto lens coated in camo neoprene!!

You can find more shots from around the world at Our World Tuesday.

Skies from Boronia Peak

In the last school holiday we spent a week in the Grampians - a wonderful part of western Victoria.  The weather forecasts were not great, but thankfully they were also not accurate!

We took up to the top of Boronia Peak where we were joined by building clouds and a bit later on, noisy teenagers.  I much preferred the clouds.

You can find more sky shots at Sky Watch Friday.  SM

Wild Bird Wednesday 221 - Radjah Shelduck

You can't have failed to have noticed that I like ducks.  If you have ever posted am image of a duck, it's probable that I liked it.  There is something so wonderfully peaceful about ducks I think.

This week's WBW is brought to you by the Radjah Shelduck (which is a combination of words that auto-correct seems to hate!).  This is a duck that is restricted to the north and northern parts of the east of Australia.  In other words it's not a bird I see on a regular basis.

These birds were taken at two location in the Northern Territory - the first four images were taken at the appropriately named Bird Billabong, and the others on the rather more famous Yellow Waters.  I watched the duckling for a good 10 minutes and they did not spot preening at all!

There is no real information to be had about this birds scientific name - Tadorna radjah as it means Radjah Shelduck!   The birds are about 50 cm long with a wing span close to 100cm.  It also seems that they are fond of mud!

I think that I am finally to be back up to speed after at least 3 weeks of less than perfect health.  Now its your turn to click the blue button and join in with WBW.  SM

An InLinkz Link-up

Breakfast

This has to be one of the best spots I have had breakfast at in a very long time - a secret spot south of Adelaide River in the Northern Territory.

You can find more shots from around the world at Our World Tuesday.

Wild Bird Wednesday 220 - Intermediate Egret (and a less than happy frog!)

Greetings - its not been the easiest 10 days of my life in terms of health and such like, so I am very behind with replies and such like.  Just when I thought I was out of the woods, today I spent well over an hour - and well over $500 - in a dentist's chair.  Which was an experience that is best described as unenjoyable!  On the other hand, my week has been better than the one that the frog in these pictures was having!  I should be thankful.

The bird is an Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia) one of a set of at least 3 'large' white egrets in Australia.  I'm pretty certain I have got the name right, but will except corrections!

This bird was feeding in the shallow water outside of the Mamukala Bird Hide when I saw it get the frog.  It was caught, turned around and swallowed all in a few seconds.

The large blue / purple birds in the background are Australian / Purple Swamphens.

I hope finally to be back up to speed some - so, thanks in anticipation for comments.  Now its your turn to click the blue button and join in with WBW.  SM

An InLinkz Link-up

Tiger, Tiger

One of the pieces of work art I really wanted to see during my trip around the NT, was one that I had seen before, more years ago than I wish to recall.

The rock art shows a Thylacine.  The Thylacine was a marsupial predator, that was also known as the Tasmania Tiger (or even Tasmanian Wolf).  During the recent history of Australia this animal has only been known from Tasmania and the last known individual died in 1933.  Many people claim to have seen individual animals since this date, although there has been no firm proof for these sightings.

Whatever its current status, it was once the apex predator in Australia and it was probably driven to extinction on the mainland because of the introduction of dingoes.  In Tasmania it was, in essence , hunted to extinction to protect sheep.

This pack art site is at least 20m above the ground.  You can see the characteristic stripes, although the back of the animal is obscured.

The things we have gained don't always outweigh the things we have lost.

You can find more shots from around the world at Our World Tuesday.

Wild Bird Wednesday 219 - Collared Kingfisher

Rather far from well here, so here are some Collared Kingfishers, which (surprise, surprise) where taken in Darwin.

With luck, I'll be back up to full speed in a day or so.

You can (just) see a crab in the beak of the bird in the first image.

You probably know the drill, but click the blue button and off you go.

An InLinkz Link-up

Pictures at an exhibition

We spent a recent weekend in Canberra - which contrary to rumour is the capitol of Australia.

Family struck down with some form of virus - not a happy team.

Here are some pictures from The National Gallery and The National Portrait Gallery.

The ones with the blurred people are not a mistake - I was trying to do something about calmness and movement.

You can find more shots from around the world at Our World Tuesday.