Wild Bird Wednesday 189 - Emerald Ground-dove

Back to Lord Howe this week.  For a bird that is 'often seen wandering nonchalantly about the forest and roadside' (according to the local guide book) I found it hard to get really good shots of this bird.  I think I would have replaced 'wandering nonchalantly' with 'frantically dashing' and 'often behind grass'!

Anyway, this bird is a Emerald Ground-dove (Chalcophaps indica). It is about 25cm long and you can see why it's called emerald.

I have been actively looking for new bird bloggers through twitter - so, if you see any new names on the link up could you make a big effort to hop over to their blogs and say hello!

As ever, click the blue button to join in.  SM

An InLinkz Link-up

Local Magpies

There seems to have been a bit of an influx of Magpies into our area of late - I often see what I take to be family groups on my morning walks.  Of course, give that I am half asleep at those times I don't tend to have a camera.

So, this Sunday I went on a Magpie safari.   Much as ever, the sight of a grown man sticking a rather large lens out of the window of his car, or balancing it on a bean-bag on top of a fire hydrant, or worse of all, laying flat on his stomach on the nature strip to get pictures did cause a bit of interest.  I say that these people need to get a hobby!

One of the birds seems very pleased to have his (or her) picture taken and I was more than happy to oblige!

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

52 Frames - Week 10 - Kiss - "At the bottom of the garden"

I think that we can all take ourselves a little too seriously at times - This is especially true for me when I start to think about photography.  It is, after all, just a hobby for me!

The theme of the 52Frames ground this week was 'kiss' - and there was lots of discussion on the FB page about 'adult themes' and such like.

I walked down a different path - which is probably a little more indicative of my whole approach to life!

These are the last known breeding pair of Australia Unicorns - celebrating the emergence of their youngster from the burrow with a kiss!

What is even more revealing about me is that 1/3 of the unicorns in this picture are actually mine!

Have fun!

Bright sky through a glass

I took this shot ages ago - at my desk, with my phone.  It must have been a slow day!

The problem with getting behind is that feel like you may never catch up!

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

Wild Bird Wednesday 188 - Musk Lorikeets

Last weekend I was at a tennis match with H.  I was much distracted by the noisy calls of Musk Lorikeets from some of the larger trees near the courts.  Once the game was over I went home, grabbed the camera and came back.  As luck would have it (for the second weekend in a row!) the birds were still there.

I have to say that the pictures don't really show what the weather was doing - it was blowing a gale and the sun was very bright - but the combination of fast moving birds, fast moving trees and a rapidly changing shade as the branches blew around was a bit of a challenge.

The last week has not been great for me - well under the weather, and well behind in all areas.  I hope I have caught up.

So, here are the pictures.

Blogging is a strange game - you feel connected to people you have never met, and who you may not even recognise if they were sat on the bus next to you - this week I found out that two people who I blogged with have died.  This brings on all kinds of emotions.  The least we can do is stay in touch.

You can click on the blue button to join in with the WBW community!

An InLinkz Link-up

Yawn

Energy levels are still rather low here - although I can see light at the end of the tunnel!

I thought this picture summed up my current state rather well!  Tired and rather keen to go to sleep.  The only problem is that I do not have a big hollow sleeping cushion to clamber into and nap the day away.  (Well, I do actually, but Mr. Hudson has taken up residence in it!)

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

Normal service from my end will resume as soon as possible!