Sunday Selections # 306
Sunday Selections will be taking a break the week after next, 25th, here anyway, I can't speak for others. But being Christmas Day, I'm sure everyone will be busy with family and friends and won't miss me.
Welcome back to Sunday Selections!
Began way back in the mists of time by Kim of Frog Ponds Rock and now continued by me, with a drastic relaxation of rules.
Originally meant for showcasing old photos lost in your files, never seeing the light of day, the meme has morphed into photos of your choice, new or old, good or not-so-good, anything you please, but nothing rude please.
If you are participating, please leave me a comment so I can buzz along and have a look.
Elephant's Child always participates, and her photos are always worth seeing.
I usually have a theme and today's theme is birds.
Sulphur Crested Cockatoos.
On my way home, walking through the grounds here, I heard such a racket of squawking and whistles, I just had to find out what was happening.
I walked towards the trees the noise was coming from and saw five sulphur crested cockatoos having very loud "discussions" with each other. There seemed to be some kind of argument going on.
Every now and then, one or two of the birds would spread their wings and appeared to be attacking each other. There was a lot of shuffling and position changing.
I'm guessing there was a territorial dispute underway.
at first I just took photos
they started in the peppercorn tree
and after a while, while they were quiet, I began whistling at them. this one appeared to be listening to me.
another one squawked at me.
then sat back as I whistled.
I tried "hello cocky" a few times, with no response, although they did seem to listen
the argument began again, with the raising of the crest
then the second crest, followed by much squawking
and then another look at me, perhaps for approval?
angry squawking at the one who looked at me, see the open beak there?
three birds in this shot, there'd been some shuffling around while I spoke to a neighbour who was also watching the action
this one is on his own now, there was a flurry of spread wings and flying back and forth between branches but I wasn't able to catch that on camera
things seemed to be settling down
then another flurry of spread wings and squawking began, I'd been watching for almost an hour by now
and decided it was time to get on home
I gave one last whistle and left them to it.
Welcome back to Sunday Selections!
Began way back in the mists of time by Kim of Frog Ponds Rock and now continued by me, with a drastic relaxation of rules.
Originally meant for showcasing old photos lost in your files, never seeing the light of day, the meme has morphed into photos of your choice, new or old, good or not-so-good, anything you please, but nothing rude please.
If you are participating, please leave me a comment so I can buzz along and have a look.
Elephant's Child always participates, and her photos are always worth seeing.
I usually have a theme and today's theme is birds.
Sulphur Crested Cockatoos.
On my way home, walking through the grounds here, I heard such a racket of squawking and whistles, I just had to find out what was happening.
I walked towards the trees the noise was coming from and saw five sulphur crested cockatoos having very loud "discussions" with each other. There seemed to be some kind of argument going on.
Every now and then, one or two of the birds would spread their wings and appeared to be attacking each other. There was a lot of shuffling and position changing.
I'm guessing there was a territorial dispute underway.
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Seriously cool creatures.
ReplyDeleteAuthor R. Mac Wheeler; yes they are, one of my favourites.
DeleteI didn't realize these birds were so big!
ReplyDeleteGrace; they are large, maybe among the largest of the cockatoo family. I think only the red tailed black cockatoos are bigger, or maybe it's the yellow tailed blacks.
DeleteHow amazing to be able to look out your window and see such sights.
ReplyDeleteonly slightly confused; it is amazing and I often see rainbow lorikeets too, although I haven't seen any corellas in a long while. Not close to home anyway.
DeleteHow awesome! Me - I get to watch sparrows and the like. Your wildlife is much more magnificent than here in Tennessee!
ReplyDeleteS.J.Qualls; around here the sparrows have all gone into the city areas where they can pick up crumbs dropped by people. I rarely see any in the suburbs now.
DeleteLove it.
ReplyDeleteThe 'beak-offs' are really impressive aren't they? The corellas here often challenge them too.
Elephant's Child; I enjoy watching the disputes, the beaks look like they could easily tear chunks off each other.
DeleteI love the birds of Oz!!
ReplyDeletefishducky; me too, the bigger the better. I love the small ones too, I remember living in the outback and seeing whole flocks of green budgerigars swooping around the sky.
DeleteAren't they just so much fun to watch. Imagine what it must have been like for the first Englishmen to see them as Australia was invaded, along with so many other of our animals.
ReplyDeleteAndrew; it's been a long while since I wondered what the first Englishmen must have thought. I'm so used to seeing all this and still I marvel.
DeleteThey are a beautiful bird, and always seem so involved in going about their own business. We've a lot of them up here on the mountain, too. and they roam about this property.
ReplyDeleteWe have many varieties of beautiful birds in this country, that's for sure.
I hope the week ahead treats you kindly, River....cuddles to Angel. Will he have pride of place on top of your Christmas tree? Run Angel, run!! :)
Lee; the complete unselfconsciousness of birds and animals is amazing. it's only humans who worry about what others might think of our actions, although I personally gave up worrying some time ago.
DeleteI really enjoy watching the birds go about their business.
Angel is not getting anywhere near the top of my Christmas Tree, because it is still in its box in the cupboard and there it will stay. I have nowhere to put it up where it won't be in the way.
Nowadays I don't put up a Christmas tree or decorations. I've not done so for a few years now. Too much of a hassle...and even more of a hassle having to take everything down! lol
DeleteI don't mind the hassle, but I don't want to come home one day and find the whole thing on the floor and Angel looking all innocent, with tinsel wrapped around his ears.
DeleteMy mom made me an amateur bird watcher, not an expert by any means. We have some beautiful and interesting birds in my area, but they are boring compared to your feathered friends.
ReplyDeletejoeh; I'm no expert either, but that doesn't stop me enjoying the watching, even if I can't identify particular birds.
DeleteCould you post some photos of the birds in your area?
What cool pictures. I love watching birds but we certainly don't have any species here that come close to being as interesting as cockatoos.
ReplyDeleteCheryl; what birds do you have there?
DeleteBeautiful.
ReplyDeleteDora; thank you.
DeleteWonderful parrots but rather noisy in the city. We have had two as pets in the past, neighbours complained so they went to a farm.
ReplyDeleteMargaret-whiteangel; we're a little way out of the city proper, in a suburb about 20 minutes by bus, with lots of trees and parks. Nobody minds the noise of the birds.
Delete.. wonderful photos and story River...
ReplyDeleteCockatoos are fascinating to watch....
..have a good day .... Barb xxxx
Barbara; I would have stayed to watch longer, but Angel had been locked up inside while I was out, I had to set him loose.
DeleteThose of us from the United States pay money to see the sights of nature that you get for free:-)
ReplyDeleteGranny Annie; you can see them online, but that's not quite the same as real life is it. There may be videos at you tube where you can see and hear them.
DeleteBeautiful photos of beautiful birds. Agree with poster above and not just in the US, ROtW.
ReplyDeleteNilanjana Bose; welcome to drifting. We love our birds and wish everyone could see them. Other countries have lovely birds that we don't have, so we have our little jealousies too.
Delete