Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Sunday 23 October 2016

Sunday Selections #299

Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim, of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files.
 
The meme is now continued by River at Drifting through life.  The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to River.  Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.
 
Like River I usually run with a theme.  For the next few weeks I am going to revert to the Home and Away theme I was using this time last year.
 
Starting with home, and some of my obsessions.

Shortly after dawn one morning this week.

   
And a more flamboyant dawn display a little while ago.


The birds who are gracing our yard.





You will notice that his crest is missing a feather or two.  I picked one up a few days ago, and here it is.








The garden continues to give me joy.  And work.  







Himself is still having a wonderful time.  An assortment of photos this time, showcasing the old and the new.

I was blown away when he mentioned the 'smallest' town he had visited had in the order of 5.000,000 inhabitants.  That makes me shudder worse than furry tofu.










140 comments:

  1. Those photos are so beautiful my friend, and for such a small place having such a huge population, that truly is shocking, but as for your place, my wife and I would love being able to be around birds like that.

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    1. Lon Anderson: Thank you. The birds are a joy. Incontinent vandals and still a joy.

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  2. That's a really big city at five million.
    He sent some great shots. And your bird shots are awesome.

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    1. Alex J. Cavanaugh: I can't get my head around that the smallest city he has been to, has that many people.

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  3. Lovely, lovely pics. *sigh* :-)

    Notice the sun has the cockatoo's crest.

    5 million people. That must be interesting. My entire country doesn't even have 1 million, and people are leaving thanks to the state of things these days.

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    1. neena maiya (guyana gyal): I cannot imagine living in a city that big. I don't want to imagine it.
      I will continue to enjoy the birds. And the sunshine in their crests.

      Delete
  4. I am vicariously touring a China I will never see. And loving my armchair visit, probably more than I would love the jostling of so many people!
    The garden? Pure joy and now I'm going to hoe some pernicious weeds...

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    1. dinahmow: A China I won't see either. Though I expect there will be MANY more photos when he returns.
      The garden is calling me too. And the pernicious weeds. And scrubbing the guano from the veranda...

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  5. China looks good but I love the birds more. I could spend all my time watching them, especially the kind you have.

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    1. donna baker: I spend a LOT of time each day watching the birds. And don't consider any of it wasted.

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  6. I am continually enthralled by the birds you have visiting your backyard. You do realize a lot of us have to visit a zoo to see what you get to enjoy daily, don't you!
    The pictures of dawn are amazing also.
    Thank you for sharing the pictures of the visit also. My world is so small!

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    1. Anne in the kitchen: I am so grateful to the blogosphere for expanding my world. Which is also small.

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  7. I'm fascinated by that "bug" on the building!!

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    1. fishducky: I think it is a bee. Or a wasp. And yes, I was intrigued too.

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  8. Gorgeous! That bearded sculpture looked quite fierce to me though :o)

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    1. HBF: Me too. I asked about that, and he tells me that lots of the older sculptures look fierce or angry.

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  9. The flowers and birds make me smile.

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  10. The colors are all so happy. Yours and himself's.

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  11. Wonderful pics. The birds really made me smile.

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    1. Rasma Raister: I am so glad. They make me smile too.

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  12. You did a wonderful job on this
    Thanx for opening my weekend

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    1. Martin Kloess: Thank you. I am glad you liked the post.

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  13. You had a sunny day. I am jealous. Cockatoos with a raised crest always look funny to me. I expect beauty in your garden but I generally don't think of China as being beautiful, but the camera does not lie.

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    1. Andrew: We have had a few sunny days. And rather a lot of grey ones. Some of China I expected to be beautiful. I am really looking forward to the full gamut of photos when he returns.
      Camera doesn't lie? Cue hysterical laughter. It can. Like a pig in mud.

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  14. Always love your sky shots and your saucy birds.

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    1. only slightly confused: I am glad. I do worry that I bore people to sobs posting my obsessions so frequently.

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  15. I shudder, too, at the thought of living among that many people!

    A lovely group of photos, as usual. I hope you have a great week, EC...cuddles to Jewel and Jazz. :)

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    1. Lee: That many people does my head in. I really couldn't cope.
      It was a mixed week - a funeral for a friend, but that is life.
      Cuddles to your pair too.

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  16. All of your pictures are always amazing and I couldn't imagine having such stunning birds around me, the first picture is now my all time favorite. Stunning.

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    1. Sonya Ann: Thank you. The birds are a joy. And the King Parrots are still letting me hand feed them.

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  17. It's strange, but since I started taking photos for my blog (and for myself), my appreciation for other peoples' photos has become even greater. It feels like I'm able to drink even more deeply of the beauty that others have captured. And there is so much beauty here, EC. Your garden is a delight. Your partner's photos are a different kind of delight. All so welcome.

    And I still don't know how those birds stay so white. It doesn't seem logical or possible.

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    1. jenny_o: I have photos on the blog of times when the white birds weren't. At all. Dirt coloured. I too am surprised they usually stay so clean. And wish my whites would instead of being a dirt magnet.

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  18. How wonderful! Not only birds but flowers, and incredible pictures from Himself. Wow! Life is good. :-)

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    1. DJan: Thank you. We live in a beautiful world don't we?

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  19. Too much of good things is wonderful! Your garden birds and skies sing of your relationship with them. And the China shots are mesmerizing. May I share the photo of the golden statue with my pals? Thanks Sistah <3

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    1. Cloudia: Of course you can share his photo. He has taken some stunners hasn't he?
      My relationship with the garden and the birds is mixed. I have been scrubbing the veranda this morning and have much more weeding to do. Just the same, I am grateful.

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  20. Beautiful photos, all of them! I shudder at the enormous populations but such gorgeous sites!
    Your flowers and birds are always a welcome sight to behold. Quite awesome to have such feathered friends to watch and the work you do in the garden really shows.

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    1. River Fairchild: Thank you so much. I am about to admit a rare thing. The garden is calling (as always) and I am too tired. I am ignoring it. And will feel guilt. Which is better than more pain.

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  21. I love to watch the birds at my house, but your birds are fabulous! So beautiful.

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    1. Glenda Council Beall: I watch other peoples birds with green eyes. Often. There are beauties around the world.

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  22. That gives "small town life" a completely new dimension...
    I am so jealous of the wonderful birds you have in your garden, even if they are messy. I love my birds, but yours are truly spectacular.

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    1. Carola Bartz: Small town life as I hope I never know it.
      The birds are messy. And vandals. Beheading daffodils, chewing on dutch iris, and snipping off an orchid flower spike. And welcome. So very welcome.

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  23. sing-song voice, "hello cocky"
    The king parrot was watching you quite closely, did you have an apple for him?
    I like the second dawn with the soft pinky purple.
    what is that purple flower under the iris photo? Is that a dahlia? And the yellow daisies with blue centres is so lovely, does it make a large mound?
    the photos from China are wonderful I like the bells and gongs one and the pagoda style gazebo is the best, I want one just like it :)
    I find it so hard to believe that 5,000,000 is a small town!

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    1. River: That king parrot is one of the ones we hand feed. It was certainly expecting (and received) food. The purple flower is a daisy. I have a white one with those twisted petals too. The yellow daisies are gorgeous - and have doubled in size from last year. I am hoping for a mound. And babies.
      I liked the gazebo too. I suppose that the towns he is visiting as a tourist are bigger, but like you I find 5 million unbelievable. To be fair, he said it was the smallest town he had visited rather than it was a small town but still...

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  24. The contrast between home & away is quite incredible. I hope he continues to enjoy this travels.

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    1. CountryMum: I think he is happiest when he is travelling. And yes, the contrast is amazing.

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  25. Hi EC - gosh wonderful selection of photos ... love the cockatoo, the parrot, then the wonderful plants and flowers in the garden (some I know) ... the skies are just gorgeous (mine has a sea fog over it at the moment!) ... then himself's photos ... amazing 5m people and that's only one city.

    My goddaughter went and loved it ... and her photos are similar ... just almost unimaginable for us lot!

    Cheers Hilary

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    1. Hilary Melton-Butcher: We live in a beautiful world don't we? World-wide.

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  26. Your photos always lift my day! I would move to your part of the world in half a tic only for the yard visitors :) and the sunrise skies :)

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    1. Nilanjana Bose: Thank you. What a lovely thing to say.

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  27. Your bird shots this week are some of your best!

    The Chinese garden with the flag stones, the first one, is my favourite. It's quite lovely

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    1. kylie: Thank you. I really liked that garden too. I would happily settle down there for an hour or two. Very happily.

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  28. Dear EC
    Beautiful photos of the sky, your garden and the feathered visitors.
    The Chinese trip photos continue to be fascinating too, giving us a snapshot of that incredible country.
    It is lovely to be included in your lives.
    Thank you.
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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    1. Ellie Foster: Thank you. I am so very grateful to have found the blogosphere. My world has expanded.

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  29. I especially love the wasp and its path on the building though the lanterns (or are they balloons) are a close second. A good friend of mine has a pet parrot. She collects his colorful feathers when he molts. A friend made a beautiful wall hanging of the feathers mounted on a silk screen. I can imagine all the colorful feathers you must find around your feeders, especially of the king parrot. Such beauty.

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    1. Sue in Italia/In the Land of Cancer: I found that wasp fascinating. When he returns I will have to ask what type of building it adorned (as in what type of business).

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  30. Oh yes, isn't that beautiful. The birds, the skies and more. Sunday is here when you put up lovely thing EC.

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    1. Bob Bushell: And, as I reply, it is a bright and beautiful Monday morning. Chilly, but sunny.

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  31. Some great photos here, well done. Hope you are OK. Diane

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    1. Rhodesia ~ Diane: Thank you. Ok(ish). How about you?

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  32. I am so envious of your birds. The other pictures are lovely but the birds are beyond gorgeous!

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    1. Kathleen Valentine: Thank you. As I type I can hear the birds requesting breakfast. And suitably trained, I will go out with it shortly.

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  33. EC your garden is fantastic. I am jealous of your parrots they are so wonderful. Have a healthy week

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    1. Gosia k: Thank you. And a healthy, happy week to you too.

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  34. that yellow feather photo should be framed, love it, and what a trip the skinny one is having, I miss traveling. perhaps this winter we'll get to the beach. Your garden is to die for I could walk around there for ages admiring all your flowers

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    1. Linda Starr: As an consummate gardener, I expect if you walked around ours you would be put to work. Weeding.
      He is having a wonderful trip, and I hope you can get away.

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  35. What gorgeous birds you get to look at in your own backyard! The most exciting birds I can see from my yard are hawks, although once I did spot one sitting on top of another bird it had killed, which was interesting. It's always fun spotting the mama hawks watching their babies nearby when it's that time of year.

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    1. Caitlin Lane: Hawks? I love them, and only see them as spots in the sky. And seeing one on its kill would be amazing.

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  36. Holy mackerel! The photos are stunning! The garden and birds are amazing - sulphur crested cockatoo and ?? King parrot or Crimson rosella? And we loved the China photos too!! I noticed that this is Sunday selections 299!! Wow!

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    1. Nicky HW: A male King Parrot. The crimsons are flightier and don't allow us quite as close. Still demanding though.
      Sunday Selections has been running for a while now. A fun meme.

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  37. Thank you for sharing your photos. Oh, I would love to see those birds in my backyard. Especially the white cockatoo. I was wondering if he is a regular visitor and has he picked up on any words?

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    1. Truedessa: We get lots of cockatoos. None talk to us, though on the other side of town one of my brothers has a visiting cockatoo who does say hello. Which would make me smile every time. Ours make their presence felt though. They are agitating for breakfast now.

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    2. Perhaps, if you repeated hello he would
      Return the gesture, imagine the joy
      I have a cockatiel who can whistle the
      same tune as I, I marvel at this wonder..

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    3. Truedessa: We do talk to them. Some day perhaps they will answer. And yes, there would be joy.

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  38. Wow, it left you a crest present! Have you done anything with the feather?

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    1. John Wiswell: It is better than rather a lot of the other presents they leave. I have put the feather aside for himself to see when he gets home again. After that we will see. An earring perhaps?

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  39. 5, 000, 000! Good lord. I would hate it. Capital H hate. I much prefer you birds, flowers and you. What is the second purple flower? Looks like a pinwheel?

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    1. Birdie: I would hate to live anywhere that big too. It would make me even more antisocial than I am now. That second purple flower is a type of daisy. I love it. Planted them last year and they are spreading and I am smiling.

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  40. Great, great photos. I love the bird with the yellow. So great. Love it.

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    1. The Spooky Whisk: They are charmers aren't they? Noisy, destructive, incontinent charmers.

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  41. I always love your birdie pictures. That cockatoo is a cutie!

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    1. Robert Bennett: Thank you. I love the birdies too. Always.

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  42. I agree Robert Bennet, he said what I was about to say.
    I don't cease to tire of admiring your yard birds.
    You have so lovely summer days (or winter as you say there? :). We have now rainy weather, not so nice autumn in some days. The temperature is ab. +5-8 °C on days.
    Wish you happy and lovely time.

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    1. orvokki: Thank you so much. The birds give us joy. All of them.
      We are in Spring at the moment. The temperature varies, but ranges between 2-18C at the moment. Which is fine. I am not a fan of summer.

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  43. Lovely that the birds pose for you so nicely! And your garden is lovely, too. Spectacular sky!

    His photos really capture the essence of that city, don't they? What city is it?

    And the bookmark arrived last week - thank you so much. It's lovely! You know I'll blog about that.

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    1. Lynn: I am glad the magnet arrived safely. I did send a magnet didn't I?
      I am not certain which city it is. He sends me photos with no commentary. There will be a kazillion questions on his return.

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  44. Such beautiful photos. I love the birds that come to visit you. The photos from Himself are amazing.

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    1. Mason Canyon: Thank you. The photos of his I am sharing are all taken on his phone. I am really looking forward to seeing what is on his camera.

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  45. I gasped at some of those photos, the cockatoo's crest and feather, and that spectacular purple flower after the irises. Oh my!

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    1. mshatch: Thank you. When I wander the garden each day I stop and revel at the clump of those purple daisies. Special aren't they?

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  46. The sunrise, birds and flowers take my breath away.
    So glad himself is having a good time.

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    1. Sandra Cox: Thank you. Over the next few days himself will be seeing the Terracotta Warriors. I am a tad envious - and looking forward to seeing the photos.

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  47. Did you think of me when you inserted those sky shots :)

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  48. It's so nice to be back viewing your wonderful photos. I've missed your skies, your guest birds and your beautiful garden and you, of course. Your husband seems to be having a great time. Nice of him to take all these shots. Good to be back. Thank you.

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    1. Myrna R.: It is lovely to see you back in the blogosphere. I hope life treats you a little more kindly.

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  49. Another visual delight. I really loved the single yellow feather against the black background.

    Americans have to visit China to understand the density of their population. It's staggering.

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    1. cleemckenzie: I took the photo of the crest feather on my cooktop - for the background/blackground.
      Australians have no concept of that sort of population density either. For which a big part of me is grateful.

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  50. Your birds seem like familiar faces to me now, like family almost. Did he lose crest feathers from molt, or pulling them out, or parasites? Your partner is seeing incredible sights! Very beautiful sights! But I cannot imagine such population density and I hope we never become that overpopulated here.

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    1. Strayer: I hope the missing feathers were part of a normal moult. There is a dreadful disease that cockatoos are prone to called Beak and Feathers. Their beaks keep growing and their feathers fall out and they have a slow and ugly death. This one looked healthy and happy though, so I am opting for normal moult.

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  51. The photographs are stunning. Never get tired of bird-watching. Thanks for sharing these beautiful snapshots.

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    1. Joylene Nowell Butler: Welcome and thank you. And good luck with your latest release.

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  52. Wonderful shots of sky, birds and flowers. Also a lovely series from China.

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    1. Lady Fi: Thank you. I really loved your post about the magic of autumn today.

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  53. I'm fascinated with the building showing the wasp... I wish I had one on my roof. That would shock the nosy neighbours wouldn't it??? Lovely yellow feather. Just recently in my Art Group we have been painting with feathers and ink. It's quite a challenge, the ink does whatever the feather wants it to, with very little input from me. And it's messy fun!
    I really like the purple starry flower.

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    1. Shammickite: Isn't that wasp incredible? I am going to have to ask him for more information about that.
      Painting with feathers would be very, very challenging. We went to an exhibit (last year?) where a miniature artist was working using a single cat hair. Which blew me away. He was remarkably precise with it too.
      I love that daisy too.

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  54. Your every photo, a work of art. Thank you, EC.
    Take gentle care and stay warm.

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    1. Rawknrobyn: Thank you. Nature is an incredible artist isn't she?
      Look after yourself too please.

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  55. I always find the images you post very evocative. Your 'home' pics never fail to stun.x

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  56. What a beautiful and insightful group of pictures. I love your garden shots and that last picture of the lanterns/balloons; absolutely georgeous. Thank you for sharing.

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    1. farawayeyes: Welcome and thank you. I think they are lanterns - but could be wrong. I will ask the traveller when he returns.

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  57. How lovely! More beautiful birds and I love the flowers as well as those very interesting photos from China.

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    1. DeniseinVA: Thank you. We are both in beautiful places at the moment.

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  58. No words to explain the beauty of the pictures. Each picture has it's own beauty...

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  59. Love the selections. The feather made me think of my 16 year old neighbor girl who is having to collect feathers for a dream catcher. She is having nightmares and the local Native American tribe will make her a dream catcher but she has to collect every feather herself or it won't work.

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    1. Granny Annie: I love the idea that your neighbour has to contribute to get the relief from her nightmares. And hopes she finds them soon.

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  60. ahh i want that red parrot .
    it is so amazing .
    big thanks for sharing the pleasure

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    1. baili: That is a King Parrot and at the moment he, and his queen, eat from my hands most days. And then fly free. Bliss.

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  61. I love that last picture with the balloons.

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    1. Sandra Cox: I am not sure whether it is balloons or lanterns - but it IS an explosion of colour and shape isn't it?

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  62. Those King Parrot shots are fabulous! Thank you :-)!

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    1. Louvregirl: Welcome and thank you. We do love the kings - and this fellow and his partner are still eating from our hands. And are greedy and demanding with it.

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  63. Dear EC - I've just caught up with your Sunday selection after an extended Labour Weekend break visiting a cousin. As always I am extremely envious of your birds and the beautiful plants flowering in your garden.

    Great pics of the other half's Chinese wanderings, too. Mr A is a dedicated sinophile - after he retired from being principal of our local College he made a total of 7 trips there, each time being invited to teach Chinese teachers how to teach English. Each year he went and taught for a term, either at a university or a teachers' college. He also did a lot of travelling around various parts of the country. Early on he brokered a student and teacher exchange programme between our College and several high schools in Jiading.He has also made several trips as a member of the local District Council, which has a sister city arrangement with Jiading (it's one of the cities which make up the metropolis of Shanghai).
    At the moment we're both greatly enjoying a BBC documentary series called The Story Of China which is brilliant.
    I've only been once, and then only to Shanghai - there are many other places I would like to get to before I would go back again.

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    1. Alexia: Old China, like Old Japan has a mystique which strongly attracts me. The newer cities? Not so much. What a wonderful experience for Mr A though. A wonderful melding of his profession and his interest.
      I will have to track down that BBC documentary series - for me, and for himself. Thank you.

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    2. I'm sure you would both enjoy it :)

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  64. Lucky for me that you take pictures of my favorite things- the sky, birds, and flowers. :) The pictures are beautiful and so varied. Looks like himself is having a nice trip too!
    ~Jess

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    1. DMS ~ Jess: You do say the nicest things. Thank you. Probably more of the same this Sunday. And himself is having a wonderful time. He was at the Terracotta Warriors yesterday.

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  65. I love your photograph of the cockatoo crest feather, I've never seen one of them floating around unattached, it's beautiful.

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    1. Kim: It is beautiful isn't it? I have seen them a couple of times, but not often.

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  66. I will NEVER tire of seeing your pictures of flowers and birds.

    Looks like your hubby is having a blast. How cool that he saw the Terracotta Warriors. We've seen a scaled-down model of them, and even that was amazing, so I can imagine how it must have been for him to see the real thing.

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    1. Susan: Thank you. He is having a truly wonderful time. He is considering climbing part of the Great Wall today.

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  67. Those are some breathtakingly beautiful skies...and I love the feathered friends :)

    I hope you have a great Halloween :)

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  68. Damn I missed this post, sorry. All these lovely birds again! My favourite photo is of the wasp/bee set in the side of the building in China. How clever!

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    1. LL Cool Joe: That wasp/bee was amazing wasn't it? I am going to have to remember to ask him about that when he gets back.

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  69. Sorry I've been a little tardy of late but intend to try and catch up ASAP
    Great sky shots....beautiful birds and flowers and so many interesting pics from China.

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