Wild Bird Wednesday 276 - Silver Gull

The Silver Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae) is basically the default gull in Australia.  From my point of view, about 99% of all the gulls you see here are of this species.  They are, to say the least, but ubiquitous and abundant!

However, on close inspection they are also rather good looking - in that grey palette, with a brighter beak and legs kind of way.

This pictures are probably a little more portrait-like then many of my pictures, as these birds were stood in a concrete car park or on a rather new boat jetty.  Neither of the locations were particularly scenic!

To join in with WBW just click the blue button below the thumbnails - lets hope it shows up on time this week!  (sorry about that!)  SM

An InLinkz Link-up

Eiger Light

Just a brief post today.  We saw some pretty good sunsets in Switzerland - and this was one of them.  Last light on the Eiger north face.  Just wonderful.

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

Wild Bird Wednesday 275 - Laughing Kookaburra

My brother-in-law is lucky enough to have a Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) nesting in his family garden.  The Kookaburra has taken up residence in a box originally intended for possums - but I don't think they care!

The Laughing Kookaburra is the world largest kingfisher - and is a great bird to watch.  I may have to go back this weekend to see what is happening at the nest, and also try to nail some more inflight pictures.  I am being a little hampered here as one of my lenses is in hospital!  Oh well.

The slightly unsavoury image in the middle is exactly what you think it is!  What goes in, must come out!

I suspect that somebody - although not my brother-in-law - is feeding these birds, as one of the shots seems to show the bird carrying minced meat.  At other times the adults returned with worms and a small lizard.  Hungry chicks need feeding!

As ever (for the 275th time!) you can join in with WBW by clicking on the blue button below the thumbnails.  cheers  SM

An InLinkz Link-up

Around Grindelwald

More images from our time in Switzerland.  We stayed in part of an old farm house - and from the garden you could look at the The Nordwand (North Face) of the Eiger.  At 3,970 m high it's a rather impressive looking mountain.  In the past I had read many story of adventure and often misadventure on this mountain it felt really strange to sit below it, glass of wine in hand and to wonder how the hell people climb it.

As you can see, the whole area is pretty spectacular.  I'd love to go back.

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

Wild Bird Wednesday 274 - Ruddy Turnstone

While we were down on the beach at Apollo Bay we happened upon a small group of waders on the rocks in the waves.  There were some Red-Necked Stints, Knot (which I think were Great Knot, but they were very flightly) and some Ruddy Turnstone.  I was not geared up for photography on that walk, so I returned a couple of days later and managed to relocate the Ruddy Turnstones, but the other waders were less accommodating.

The Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) is a distinctive and plump little bird - which breeds in the high arctic and returns to Australia for our summer.  I take great delight is seeing them.

The shots here show almost classic habitat - tidal reef and rock pools.

To join in with WBW (as if you did not already know!), you just click on the blue button below the thumbnails.  Have fun and share as you feel fit!  SM

An InLinkz Link-up

Alpine Marmot

One of the animals I wanted to see on our recent trip to Switzerland was the Alpine Marmot, or just Marmot as I called them at the time.

I was able to get some good information from our Air BandB host, and as a result we got some pretty good views of them.

The Alpine Marmot (Marmota marmota) is a ground squirrel, in the same genus the American Groundhog.  We heard the Alpine Marmot before we saw them as they communicate with short, sharp whistles that seem to travel a long way in the alpine air.  These pictures were taken on the mountains near Grindelwald, when we were doing a walk from the First (pronounced to sound like 'fear', rather the the position in a race!) cable car station.   It was a truly wonderful part of the world - and there will be picture to follow!

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