Wild Bird Wednesday 367 - Pacific Gull

The Pacific Gull (Larus pacificus) is a very large gull, with a mass of of just over 1kg and and a wing span reaching 1.5 m.  For comparison, the  Pacific Gull is a little smaller than the Great black-backed gull (Larus marinus), but it does seem to have a much larger beak for its size.

All in all they are am impressive bird.

This individual was loafing about a picnic area at Tidal River at Wilson's Promontory National Park.  As I was watching and photographing this bird I could see it was banded / ringed.  With a bit of help from the photographs I was able to read the ring details and send them off to the relevant authorities.

It turns out this bird was at least five years old when it was banded - which means it was banded as an adult.  It was banded 11 years, 11 months and 15 days before I saw it, which makes it around 17 years old!  That's older than my son!

Possibly not that strangely it was banded at Tidal River at Wilson's Promontory National Park - which means that the recorded movement for this recovery over almost a 12 year period, is zero! I wonder where it really has been.  I also suspect that this is not the first time this bird has been recorded.

As ever, you can join in with WBW by clicking on the link below - and also as ever, please feel free to share the love for WBW with other bloggers!  Cheers. SM

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Central Australia, Larapinta Trail - Part 2

Although I had a small 'pocket' camera with me, I was glad I took my SLR as well - I think I would have been a fish out of water without it.

These pictures continue from the last Central Australia post.  The images from the Heavitree Ridge walk are taken from the second day of the walk. Although this area had been burnt, it was one of the more remarkable landscapes I have walked in.

A few people have asked questions, so yes it was hard under foot, but decent boots overcame that (until I tripped over on the last but one day!) and although the area was very dry, it was also generally cool and pleasant in the days and cold (and wonderful) at night.  We only carried day sac and a sense of adventure.

Ormiston Gorge

Ormiston Gorge

Ormiston Gorge

Ormiston Gorge

Heavitree Ridge - on way to Counts Point

Heavitree Ridge - on way to Counts Point

Heavitree Ridge - on way to Counts Point - to think this was once the ocean floor

Heavitree Ridge - Counts Point

Heavitree Ridge - Counts Point

Heavitree Ridge - Counts Point

Heavitree Ridge - from Counts Point

Heavitree Ridge - from Counts Point

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

Wild Bird Wednesday 366 - Laughing kookaburra

A very short WBW this week - still trying to catch up with last week, work and a sore (but thankfully healing) ankle and a few other life things.

This is that most Australian of birds the Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae).  The pictures were taken when we were down at Wilsons Promontory a couple of week ago.

No matter how many times I see these birds, they always make me smile.

As ever, you can join in with WBW by clicking on the link below - and also as ever, please feel free to share the love for WBW with other bloggers!  Cheers. SM

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Central Australia - Larapinta Walk - Ormiston Pound

I have just come back from six days of walking in Central Australia - the walks were largely based on sections of a long distance path called The Larapinta Trail.

These pictures are from a walk that took in Ormiston Pound, and Ormiston Gorge.  This walk starts 135 km West of Alice Springs and ends at the Gorge.  As you can see from these pictures, this is a pretty dry area - although there are water holes in the Gorge.

The last picture shows the flat area of the Pound - with the entrance to the Gorge being in the shadows in the top left hand side of the picture.  You can see dry river valleys in the base of The Pound.

We were never far from the evidence of a huge fire that passed through this area early in 2019 - but there were also signs of the vegetation recovering.  The whole area needs some rain.

This won't be the last post from this walk!

Something seems to have happened at Blogger, so I have not received any notifications from my last two posts (not that I had internet access!) - but I will try to catch up.

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

Wild Bird Wednesday 365 - Brown Noddy

WBW is back on Lord Howe Island this week - although I am in central Australia, many miles from the internet and probably a bit tired after a few days walking!

Anyway, these bird are called the Brown or Common Noddy (Anous stolidus) and they are pretty common on LHI.  I was a vert hot day when I took these pictures and the birds were pretty much content to stay still and not get too hot!

I think the bird with the piece of sponge is showing some form of courtship behaviour, although most birds were already deep into the breeding season.  Maybe this bird is just an optimist!

As ever, you can join in with WBW by clicking on the link below - and also as ever, please feel free to share the love for WBW with other bloggers!  Cheers. SM

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Windows and Doors

Although Jakarta has very modern looking sections, you can still find evidence of the old colonial style of architecture in some places.

While I was waiting for a colleague to organise some transport I came across these windows and doors - which I think are a bit older than me!

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

Wild Bird Wednesday 364 - White- Faced Heron

I am basically going to be off line for about two weeks - so I will not be able to reply to comments - but I well get there eventually!

So, this week I have chosen to post some pictures that are mainly not birds - they are mainly plants.  I think that we can forget that birds exist in a place, in a habitat, and that a frame filling portrait can miss the context and character of the bird.

Maybe that's just an excuse for me not getting closer to this White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae) at my local pond - but I really do like showing birds in the place that they are.

As ever, you can join in with WBW by clicking on the link below - and also as ever, please feel free to share the love for WBW with other bloggers!  Cheers. SM

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The Cats of Jakarta

You cant wander the streets of Jakarta without being aware that there are a large number of feral / stray / semi-domestic cats in the city.

They are pretty much everywhere, and I suspect that people like them!  I saw one lady passing out chicken wings to the local cats.  It was like they (the cats!) knew she was coming and had lined up!  Sadly, no photographs of the event - just memories.

So, here are some of The Cats of Jakarta.

I think this is my favourite - he was a bit of a bruiser! 

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