Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Saturday 28 July 2012

Lucky, lucky, lucky

Today we woke up to fog and grey skies.  The weather was chilly (some said cold) as well.

At around eleven the skies were still grey, when we were blessed with splashes of colour.  First the cockatoos arrived with their feathers fluffed up to defeat the chill.  We see cockatoos almost every day but they are still welcome.





Then a pair of adult Crimson Rosellas landed on the feeder.  Lovely, lovely birds who are bringing their adolescents to visit.  Just the adult birds this morning.




Next a family group of King Parrots came to join us.  We were still pleased - but also much more excited.  Months can go past without them appearing in our neck of the woods.  This group seemed to include not only adult birds, but also some juveniles.  The adult males have the red head and beak, where the females are green.   It is often difficult to determine the sex of the juveniles - until you can see the colour of the beak.











The adults were being extremely patient with us as we took shot after shot of them.  So I wondered whether they were hungry enough to eat from our hands.  They were!!!  Each of us was able to hand feed the male, and the female ate from the hands of the skinny person's sister.









When we came inside again all of us were on a high.  And shortly afterwards the last of the fog and low cloud cleared away to a bright and beautiful day.

PS:  I am just starting to be able to visit blogs again but have discovered that I have a problem.  If your comments are embedded beneath your post and you have the reply to comments individually option I can no longer read your comments or add my own.  This has happened to me before - but has usually been very temporary.  So my apologies if I am unable to join in the fun at your place.

75 comments:

  1. I always love when the birds visit. The sky served as perfect backdrop for these beauties. Peace...

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  2. Breathtakingly beautiful.
    I'm so happy that you had a lovely day!

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  3. And over here they cage them. I need to let them know where they should fly to. Just lovely - amazing really.

    I don't think I have that embedded option, so come visit when you can. I've missed you very much!

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  4. Yes, you are very lucky to have such amazing birds visit you. I can 't get over the fact that you can actually hand feed them.

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  5. I love your beautiful birds! And to have them eat right out of your hand like that, I would be on a high, too. I removed my embedded comments option because of several people having problems. The full page works just fine except people can't reply to a particular comment. I rarely go back to visit the same post a second time anyway. :-)

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  6. Just stunning. "Wild" birds visiting and eating from your hands is a thrill.

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  7. Lovely lovely lovely pictures! The cockatoos with their lovely yellow crest will always be my favourite - they look so happy and so cheeky.

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  8. Oh my goodness, such beauty!! Talk about enchantment. I've just showed these photos to my guys and we were all oohing and ahhhing over them. As for them eating from the sister's hand - just completely WOW!!! I would've been riding that high too. Amazing...thank you so much for sharing this! Truly made my Saturday morning. :)

    Sorry you're having trouble commenting but we all know how it goes with Blogger. You just never know what glitches will appear from one day to the next. Grrr...

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  9. The birds of your world are so beautiful.. its lovely to see them living free and not in cages.

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  10. What an amazing gift to be given....lucky lucky indeed.

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  11. Wow! I was filling our birdfeeders this morning, but have never, ever been able to feed any of our birds by hand. How cool is that? Great photos.

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  12. I'm so pleased this happened for you, it must be a rare thing.
    When we're camping, we often have a chaffinch move in with us (for morning toast) . . . I have a phobia of birds so you can imagine the flapping, and that's just me ;-)
    Even when you can't comment I can still hear you, especially if I begin to give myself a hardtime!
    Love to you all x x

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  13. Oh wow, that's so cool to have the birds eating out of your hand! Great shots.

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  14. This is marvellous and the photos of the birds are breathtakingly beautiful. And oh yes, appreciating the wonders of nature can make us feel at peace with the great outdoors.
    Have a peaceful, positive day.
    Gary

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  15. Kylie: It was indeed fantastic.

    Linda: We spend soooo much time each day watching them. And not a minute is wasted.

    Alexia: It was just lovely, and boosted all of our spirits.

    Lynn: People here cage birds too - a sadness. How lovely of you to have missed me - thank you.

    Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe: It is not every King Parrot we can hand feed, but such a treat when we can.

    DJan: We love our beautiful birds too. It is nice to know that other people have problems with embedded comments...

    Joanne: Wildish? They are certainly not tame, but have settled into the suburbs well.

    Kath Lockett: I agree with you about cockies - they do seem to be such a 'happy' bird.

    Jenn June: It was such a treat for all three of us. The smaller portion's sister offended him a little by saying it was the highlight of her trip.

    Pam:): We often have five or six of our native bird species visit each day - and are so grateful.

    mybabyjohn/Delores: A gift was exactly what it was.

    One Minnesota Writer: It is rare for us to be able to hand feed our birds - but such a treat...

    Teresa: Wow it was.

    bugerlugs63: I am glad you can hear me. Now stop that beating up on yourself. Stop it now.

    Karen: They were very patient birds yesterday - I had over a hundred photos on my camera and I think SP's sister had more.

    klahanie: They add a little magic to each and every day. On days like yesterday they add a lot of magic.

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  16. Your birds must be such a delight for you and I can surely see why. To have a wild bird eating out of my hand would send me over the top with joy. I really enjoyed these photos of some of your spectacular birds.

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    1. Ron Dudley: They are a delight, each and every day. And yes, having them eat from our hands was a very rare thing. Much (quiet) jubilation.

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  17. Replies
    1. Riot Kitty: It was amazing. Completely amazing.

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  18. Replies
    1. J Cosmo Newbery: Three times lucky. One for each of us.

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  19. You take lovely pictures, EC. So happy you had this wonderful experience today. I chuckled at your comment that SP was offended his sister found the birds to be the highlight of her visit! :) Sounds like a bit of normalcy after so many grueling days - very welcome, I am sure.

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    1. Jenny_o: Thank you. The birds went out of their way to drape themselves in photographic poses. And were a more than welcome contrast to the emotional roller coaster of the last month or so.

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  20. Hand feeding wild birds!! I wish I could have seen that in real life. The photos will do instead. They're so pretty. I'm thinking of hanging a feeder in the garden bed here in the spring, that will give the birds time to get used to it, then I can put seed in it next winter.

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    1. River: I don't think the birds will need six months to get used to your feeder. Ours took very little time at all to start coming by after we started throwing food out for them.

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  21. Wow wild birds eating out of your hand...(a beautiful way to see color for a grey day).

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    1. Kim @ Stuff could...: It brightened our day very quickly indeed. Face hurting smiles all round.

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  22. Fantastic! It's like you live in Noah's Ark, with the proviso only birds and cats are allowed hahaha, love the pics. x

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    1. All Consuming: I would welcome a few other wild beasties as well....

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  23. Such beautiful birds! What an amazing experience!

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    1. Crack You Whip: It was a simply magical experience. They have been by since (or others of the same breed?) but have been shyer or less hungry. Still a delight.

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  24. I can't believe they ate out of your hands like that! Incredible, and incredible photos too! I'm so jealous! :D

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    1. CarrieBoo: It was an incredible start to the day. And they were so patient while we faffed around trying to find the best camera angles....

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  25. Dear E,
    I can't believe these fabulous birds fly out in the wild.

    My heart leaps. I did a flip.

    What do your cats think of them?! Xxx

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    1. My Inner Chick: We have had flocks of up to a dozen birds cruising around our place. We have some large trees for them to perch on, and seed on the feeder. We also spread feed on the lawn after the cats come in for the day. They would of course love a bird or two. Jewel in particular longs for a cockatoo of her own - despite the fact they are probably bigger than she is. A girl cat can dream.

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  26. I had a similar and thrilling experience with Gray Jays, which are famous for begging, but for crying out loud--red and green? Do I have to go somewhere hot to see that? Might be worth it. I mean, gray jays are nice. But they're--gray.

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    1. Murr Brewster: No, heat not required. We are in one of the cooler parts of Oz (not that any of it is that cool by your standards). There was quite a heavy frost on the morning we fed the King Parrots. And Gray Jays sound pretty exotic to me.

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  27. Back to the routine. So normal. You are lucky to have so many species visiting your garden.

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    1. Christine: And such a wonderful routine it is. We appreciate each and every species we see, and are often lucky enough to see five or six different native species a day.

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  28. Wow! Just, wow! Thank you so much for this post. Are the birds where you live loud? Do they wake you up in the morning
    ?

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    1. Birdie: Many of our birds are loud, and very few of them are precisely musical. I love them just the same - including the ones who wake me up well before sparrow-fart in the morning.

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  29. Dear EC, those photographs are lovely and they make me want to visit Australia and see all the birds you picture--many I've never heard about before.

    As to the commenting problem, I'm not technologically savvy and so I'm not sure what you are telling us. But I know that when you have time to stop by, you will. Peace.

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    1. Dee: My commenting problem comes and goes. You are sadly right about the time issues though.
      Should you make it to Oz, you would be more than welcome to drop in on us.

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    2. Dear EC, thanks for the invitation! I just might take you up on that one of these days. Peace.

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    3. Dee: That would be truly lovely.

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  30. oh my gosh! amazing!! and I thought I lived in a zoo with all these kids .

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    1. Annmarie Pipa: Aren't they amazing? And while our birds are loud, I suspect the decibels at your place are higher.

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  31. It's a whole other world over there - the animal life is just simply amazing. Beautiful shots!!!

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    1. Deb: Thank you. We are well aware how lucky we are.

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  32. Nice work ... it was a cold foggy morning and the birds are hungry. We had 35(!) cockies in the back yard last week ... the noise was ear-splitting!

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    1. Geoff: They are noisy, destructive birds but anthromorphism or not they also always seem to be happy birds. And I love their cheeky charm.

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  33. You are so fortunate to have such beautiful visitors to your garden. We in suburbia have less and less birds visit these days.

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    1. Mimsie: Welcome. Many birds came down from the surrounding hills in the dreadful drought. Most of them have now gone home, but some, appreciating the easier food supplies I suppose have stayed. And are more than welcome.

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  34. Congrats on the blog awards from Gary, you seem to fully deserve them :). Kisses.

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    1. Unikornia: Thank you. I must go and check out the awards of which you speak - and welcome to my space.

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    2. Hi The Elephant's Child,
      I note that our lovely friend, unikorna, has got here before me. Please feel no obligation, however I have bestowed a double award for your good self over at my blog. All the best to you, my friend.
      Gary :)

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    3. Hi Gary,
      I am really touched at the double bestowal. Megathanks.

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  35. Oh wow, what a beautiful abundance of birds that came to call! Lucky X 3 indeed!! They're just gorgeous, and as always you got spectacular photos!

    It's always such a thrill when a critter who is wild and free and would normally be afraid (or at least very cautious or shy) trusts enough to come that close, and to take food from our hands. I'm glad they were able to satisfy their hunger at your generously hospitable home and offered you such wonderful photos in return!

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    1. Laloofah: I am still smiling thinking about it. The King Parrots have been back, but have not be prepared to eat from our hands again.

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  36. So glad the skinny portion is home and eating. It will be better when he puts on a little weight and his body gets accustomed to regular meals. I admire your strength in dealing with all of it and his, OMG, what the poor man has been through. God Bless all of you. And, then to be able to step aside from your medical issues and share with the beatiful birds in your area. They have come to you as a way of reminding you that there is good in life and you don't have to go far to find it. Your pictures are beautiful and the thrill of hand feeding wild parrots ... I can't even imagine. I have kept you in my prayers as have many of your other followers. Wish we could be closer so we could help relieve you of some of your burden. Have a blessed day ...

    Andrea @ From The Sol

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    1. Andrea: Thank you. On many counts. The birds are a constant reminder to me that there is magic everywhere.

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  37. Dear E,
    when you have time...go to my contact and give me your address.

    Xxx

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  38. What pretty parrots that royalty makes.

    Curious about your commenting problem. I have embedded and tiered comments, but believe you've commented on my blog recently. Has it simply been a problem you overcame a few times for my sake?

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    1. John Wiswell: The King (and Queen?) Parrots are a delight.
      My commenting issues seem to come and go. The last time I had troubles it was some days before normal service could be resumed. Today a brief glitch only.

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  39. I would be beside myself with joy looking at your colorful birds. Great photos of them, such beauties!!!

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    1. Denise: We are also beside ourselves on the (rare) occasions when we are so privileged.

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  40. Lucky you :) I like birds and really enjoy photographing them.
    Those parrots look gorgeous! Thanks for sharing :D

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    1. WildBlack: Welcome and thank you. We are also more than fond of birds.

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  41. Late to the party - again! Lately, we've seen and heard a few more galahs and corellas than usual.Not sure why;no one else(around our locale) seems to have noticed.

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    1. dinshmow: You either notice them or you don't. We have watched people walk or drive by without a second look when there have been literally hundreds of birds on our front lawn. On the other hand, these people are not likely to have an accident while gawking...

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  42. goodness me, i'm on a high just seeing this, and the feeding, i'm lost for words, i can't imagine how it would have been to see and do this alive. lucky lucky lucky indeed, what an amazingly perfect way to start the day!

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    1. Pia K: I was truly wonderful and gave us a high when all of us needed it. They are truly beautiful birds - and to give us that much trust was incredible.

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