Wild Bird Wednesday 405 - Comb-crested Jacana

A brief post this week - the whole lock down and working from home thing has left me frazzled.  I suspect that I am not alone in this regard.

These are pictures of Comb-crested Jacanas (Irediparra gallinacea) and a range of other names based on their ability to 'walk on water' - walk on floating vegetation if the truth be told.

This adult bird, and the young one, were on Yellow Waters in Kakadu National Park.  The tour boat slowly drifted sideways into a path of 'lilies' and the birds were so close they were almost under the gunnels of the boat.  It made for an odd photographic experience,  and some slight odd angles.  The 'blobs' in some of the pictures are leaves that we being blown upright by an evening breeze.

If you enlarge the pictures you can see the blood vessels in the comb of the adult bird.  You can also see that these birds have very big feet even from a young age!

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

Stay safe, and stay home.  I'll try to get around to blog visits in the next day or so! SM

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Wild Bird Wednesday 404 - Australasian Fig Bird

This is an Australasian Fig Bird (Sphecotheres vieilloti).  These pictures were taken outside of our hotel in Katherine in the Northern Territory.

The air con in our camper van had broken down (!) and given that it was stinking hot we ended up abandoning our camp site and moving back into town, where there was cooling and the promise of a new van in the morning!

Anyway, in the morning I was out and about and found this Figbird in the trees. Its a rather good looking bird!

These picture look much better larger - so click on a picture for a better view.

As ever (possibly more than ever) , you can join in with WBW by clicking on the link below - and also as ever, please feel free to share WBW with other bloggers.

Stay safe, and stay home.  (I have added a few new book reviews to that part of my blog if you need some inspiration for in house activity!)  SM

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Wild Bird Wednesday 403 - Galah

I thought I would go with some bright and simple images this week.

This is a Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla) that was enjoying the early morning sunlight at the Desert Park in Alice Springs.

I was struck by the simplicity of the whole scene.  And it reinforces my idea that even the most abundant of birds should not be overlooked.  Especially in good light!

As ever (possibly more than ever), you can join in with WBW by clicking on the link below - and also as ever, please feel free to share WBW with other bloggers.

Stay safe, and stay home.  (I have added a few new book reviews to that part of my blog if you need some inspiration for in house activity!)  SM

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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Water Buffalo

These are feral Buffalo from Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory.  Water buffalo were imported to Australia in the 19th century to supply meat to remote northern settlements. The settlements and their buffalo were abandoned in 1949.

These animals are actually a pest, and can cause a great deal of damage to vegetation, especially in the areas where they wallow.

All that being said, I think that they are pretty magnificent animals.

I also like all the egrets that have gathered around them, searching for insects and such like.

These pictures look a lot better bigger - so click on the image for a better view!

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

Wild Bird Wednesday 402 - Dusky Moorhen

The Dusky Moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa) is a widespread bird, being found in Australia, India, New Guinea, Borneo and Indonesia.  It's common in my part of the world, and you can be almost guaranteed of seeing some in any swampy or damp area.

They are not as splendid as the Swamphens, but they do have a certain rustic charm!

As ever (possibly more than ever) , you can join in with WBW by clicking on the link below - and also as ever, please feel free to share WBW with other bloggers.

Stay safe, and stay home.  (I have added a few new book reviews to that part of my blog if you need some inspiration for in house activity!)  SM

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Bees on White Flowers

More bees from the hive down the road.

These busy chaps are collecting pollen - you can see it in the baskets on their legs - from Japanese Anemones at the front of our house.  It wont be too long before the colder weather arrives and drives the bees back to hive.

These pictures look a lot better bigger - so click on the image for a better view!

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