Wild Bird Wednesday 394 - Red-Backed Fairy-Wren

The Red-Backed Fairy-Wren (Malurus melanocephalus) is Australia's smallest Fairy-Wren.  I found this male lurking in the shadows of some vegetation outside of the Mamukala hide in Kakadu National Park last year.

He really did not want to be photographed!

This was a wonderful little bird - I just wish he had been a bit more cooperative!

I am very behind with comments and visits - I will endeavour to catch up!

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Gone to the Dogs!

I really cant explain how much fun I had when we went dog-sledging!  It was just really great.

The trip was only a couple of hours, and much of it was in darkness - it was 2.30 pm after all - and I was just sitting on the sledge for much of the ride.  But it was a real blast!

Taking pictures of fast moving objects in the dark is a bit of a challenge - but what the heck!

If you get to Tromso, I would recommend that you go dog-sledging!

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

31st January 2020

Found in Keswick, December 2019.  Crazy.

Wild Bird Wednesday 393 - Hooded Crow

I was keen to catch up with few 'northern' species when I was in Europe - but if the truth be told I spent most of my time in urban areas, and birding was not a key aspect of out trip.

When we were in Oslo we visited the National Opera House which fronts onto the river.  At at the edge of the river a small group of Hooded Crows (Corvus cornix) feeding on what I think is the remains of a cod.  This crow species was considered a subspecies of the Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) when I was a kid - but it has gained full species status since then.  I only ever saw these birds when I was in Scotland and when I lived on an island in Ireland.  It was nice to catch up with them again!

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.   SM

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Out and About in Bergen

The second place we stayed in Norway was Bergen.  This town has a much older feel to it than the parts of Oslo we saw.  I loved the narrow streets, and non geometric street plans.  All roads led to the water.  I really liked it.

The house we stayed in - at 9.54 am!

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

Wild Bird Wednesday 392 - Herring Gull

The Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) is in many ways the default gull for much of Europe.  Its almost laughing call is so over used in 'sea side sound scapes' as to become a cliche!

As you can see from these pictures, as they mature their plumage undergoes many changes, which is what makes gull so interesting I suppose.  Many people (although not me!) seem to take huge delight in being able to identify the specific age of gulls based on their (the gulls!) plumage.  Its all a bit much for me!

The gulls on the concrete wharf were taken around Maryport on the coast of Cumbria in the UK.  The gull in the sunlight was from outside the Opera House in Oslo.  This bird has a been seen at this location many times - I reported its band number and found out!

For all the amazing animals we have in Australia, we really only have 3 species of gull and (?) 90% of those are Silver Gulls, so it was nice to see a few more species in Europe.

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.   SM

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