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. This week I am returning to my avian obsession. Birds, birds and more birds.
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. This week I am returning to my avian obsession. Birds, birds and more birds.
The Eastern rosellas adore apple (which for some reason has to be green). The cockatoos and corellas also love it - and throw pieces to the ground. Where they are not wasted. Never wasted.
This male King Parrot was making it clear that sustenance was required. And then his female companion ate from my hand. Bliss.
There are some other birds visiting at the moment who are more camera shy: Bearded Ravens, Wattle Birds and Spotted Pardalotes. With luck, all of them will feature here soon.
Oh my goodness! How beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWe are: Clamco: They are. We are so very lucky.
DeleteI truly do love your bird obsession 🐥
ReplyDeleteDeniseinVA: Thank you - I do too.
DeleteYou have the MOST beautiful bird neighbors!!
ReplyDeletefishducky: We do. But so many people do.
DeleteNot sure why my little bird turned into a couple of question marks :)
ReplyDeleteDeniseinVA: I am clueless. I couldn't put the question marks in that way - let alone the birds.
DeleteI love it when tha parrots and rosellas come to visit your garden EC ~ they are so colourful. Not too wild if they are happy to eat from your hand though. Is it normal for them to be around at this time of the year with the cold still? Perhaps they are archive pics. Don't listen to me, I know nothing about birds.
ReplyDeletecarolincairns: Lots of the birds are around all year. The King Parrots go up into the hills when they are nesting - and it is always wonderful when they return - bringing the fledglings. Only two of the many birds that visit will eat from our hands. Which always makes me feel very privileged.
DeleteSuch color. I love these!
ReplyDeleteStephanie Faris: So do we. Rather a lot.
DeleteI cannot imagine the patience to draw a bird to your hand. Well done.
ReplyDeleteJoanne Noragon: Not patience (or not my patience) but luck. And a privilege. Someone else first convinced this pair that people are ok.
DeleteLove love love birds! All the bird pictures, yes please!!!
ReplyDeleteHBF: There are often and often birds featured here. I love them, welcome them and spend a lot of each day marvelling at them.
DeleteThe kingies certainly are placid birds. A flock of beautiful black cockatoos flew over and around here the other day finding perches amongst the trees. I love them, too.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a good week ahead, EC...purrs and snuggles to Jazz and Jewel from Shama and Remy...who are both snuggling up close and personal to me at the moment. They've been out for their morning scamper.
Lee: The King Parrots are a bit contradictory. They are the only ones who will eat from our hands - and only one pair of them. They are 'outranked' in the pecking order by the Crimson Rosellas - despite the King Parrots being bigger. Corellas, cockatoos, magpies, pigeons and wattle birds call the shots too.
DeleteJazz n Jewel agitated to go out this morning, and decided that frost was not their thing. They are having breakfast and I expect they will retire to bed shortly.
I hope you, Remy and Shama have a wonderful week.
I have song birds but nothing remotely close to these beauties. I would be enthralled watching them.
ReplyDeleteAnne in the kitchen: We spend a LOT of time watching the birds. Each and every day.
DeleteSo beautiful. Love birds, love nature. You do these beautiful creatures justice!
ReplyDeleteYolanda Renee: Me too. And thank you. When I upgrade my camera I am going to go to classes and learn more. Much more.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteYou have the heart, to appreciate lovely living gems
ReplyDeleteCloudia: I am sorry for anyone who DOESN'T appreciate, marvel at the magic around us.
DeleteYou are surrounded by the most beautiful birds! What a treat! Were Jazz n Jewel chattering in the window?
ReplyDeleteRiver Fairchild: Of course they were chattering, and chittering. Tough. They are (despite their protests) suitably indulged already. They have no need of bird on the wing.
DeleteAren't they just brilliant. You certainly see a large variety of parrots.
ReplyDeleteAndrew: We do. And I am still jealous of the birds that other people see. Greed.
DeleteBeautiful images of the Eastern Rosella, King Parrots, I love 'em all.
ReplyDeleteBob Bushell: So do I love them. So does my partner love them. So would Jazz n Jewel love them given half a chance...
DeleteJazz and Jewel if they had given half a chance, ha ha. I hope they don't????????????????????
DeleteBob Bushell: No chances. None.
DeleteI can't even imagine having such beautiful birds around...and eat from a hand!
ReplyDeleteBookie: I am just about holding my breath each time they deign to land on me. It is only the one pair, but I have had both of them on my hand together. Pure magic.
DeleteYou have lots of colourful visitors, they are always cheery companions.
ReplyDeleteMerle..........
Merlesworld: They are cheery companions - and sometimes cheeky with it. Particularly the cockatoos and the corellas.
DeleteLovely...Remind me of some of the birds I encountered in the tropics growing up. My dad had a yellow headed parrot as a pet that was stolen from our house, cage and all...
ReplyDeletee: Stolen? Hiss and spit. There are too many oxygen thieves in this world.
DeleteThe lady King Parrot (Queen Parrot? perhaps the Princess?) has cheeks just asking to be tweeked gently, along with a sweet smile.
ReplyDeleteMarty Damon: She is an Empress at least. And I wouldn't dream of tweeking her cheeks. I stand and watch in awe. She is pushy too. If she has eaten all the sunflower seeds in my hand she rakes the rest off, and chirps at me... And I obey.
Deleteoh wow, to get a bird eating from your hand is just magic.
ReplyDeleteand i love spotted pardalotes, it would be great if you could get a picture of them :)
kylie: The spotted pardalotes are moving faster (and less predictably) than greased lightening, but I have high hopes. Fingers and toes crossed.
DeleteAnd you are right about the magic of having a bird stand on you to eat.
I forget that you are so far ahead of me in time that it's already Sunday! I LOVE your birds, and marvel once again at their incredible colors. :-)
ReplyDeleteDJan: They are incredibly bright aren't they? The King Parrots are really well camoflagued in the camellias though.
DeleteWhat an awesome experience!
ReplyDeleteThings Are Looking U.P.: It is. Really, really awesome.
DeleteI'm a little jealous, a bird eating from your hand! I love the Eastern Rosellas, we don't get them over here. I don't see as many birds now that a lot of their trees are gone. Plenty of magpies still and a couple of weeks ago there were three of them on my lawn and porch, singing to me. I threw some bread for them, but they weren't interested in it.
ReplyDeleteRiver: My father used to feed magpies bacon rinds. Which they loved. And a delivery man who came to our door said he fed his cheese. Which surprised me. I do love their song, and was appalled to read a recent story that says their numbers (and those of a few other icons like the kookaburra) are declining.
DeleteDeclining?? oh No, that's a really bad thing. For both maggies and kookas. my brother feeds maggies over inn Fremantle, when he is home. He takes a baggie of mince to a park near his home at 4pm and they've learned this and wait for him, they sing as he feeds them. When he is away from home, his wife does the feeding but she takes bread. I thought about buying mince just for the maggies but they haven't been back and I can't keep mince in the fridge just in case. Apparently they'll eat quite a variety of man-given foods.
DeleteHow magical, to have such a lovely creature eating from your hand! I'm envious.
ReplyDeleteAlexia: Each and every time it happens my smile threatens to split my face. I smile nearly as much when the skinny one is feeding them.
DeleteBeing trusted by wild creatures is a magic all of its own.
ReplyDeleteKim: A very, very big magic. A precious magic.
DeleteI love your world and am so grateful you share it with us. The only time we ever see birds like that are in cages and that makes me anything but happy.
ReplyDeleteBirdie: We cage birds too. Damnit. But I have never seen Eastern Rosellas caged and I hope I never do. And rarely the King Parrots. Which is fine by me.
DeleteBirds should be free.
So beautiful!!!
ReplyDeleteTeresa Hennes: And welcome. So welcome.
DeleteKing Parrots, Queen Parrots - how wonderful to have a wild thing on your arm. thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteAnn ODyne: I never tire of it. It is magic, each and every time. And it only happens for a brief period each year, with one pair of birds. Which is fine.
DeleteLovely! And you are brave. I've been close enough to parrots to know those beaks and claws are not exactly dull! But it is magnificent to have a wild creature of any sort take food from your hand. I never get tired of looking at your beautiful birds.
ReplyDeletePaper Chipmunk (aka Ellen): She is forceful about raking through my hand searching out the favoured sunflower seeds but hasn't bitten. Earlier this morning both of them were on my arm jockeying for position, and there are a few scrapes where they skidded. I learnt my lesson and filled both hands and stood like a scarecrow. Problem solved. An arm each was what they wanted.
DeleteOMG, they are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteOn my bucket list: Get a bird to eat from my hand.
Sandra Cox: Good luck. It is an amazing experience. I am so grateful that this pair know I mean them no harm.
DeleteOH How amazing to have a King Parrot feed out of your hand. I am looking forward to seeng the Spotted Pardalotes asI love them and ermember my first sighting of them in a beautiful park on the outskirts of Sydney.
ReplyDeleteMargaret Adamson: I do love the Kings. And am hoping that I can photograph the spotted pardalotes. Little stunners aren't they?
DeleteBeautiful birds, they obviously like your garden and you.
ReplyDeletelynners: I am amazed at how well the camellia by the front door conceals the King Parrots. Almost perfect camoflague.
DeleteI have always been mesmerized by hoe exotic your birds are! The colours are magnificent.
ReplyDeleteCraig: Fish and birds do come in the most incredible colour combinations.
DeleteGorgeous gems of colour they are!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it lovely when they rest on your hand so willingly, and trustingly?
A true honour it is.
And, I adore bearded ravens - as you might guess ;)
Vicki: I am mesmerised by the bearded ravens. And how protective the male is. He looks around very, very carefully before he calls the rest of the family in. And scarpers as soon as I lift my camera.
Deleteso colorful and amazingly tame to eat out of your hand.
ReplyDeleteLinda Starr: Not tame - but very, very trusting. Which is a delight.
Deletelinking back to Kim of Frog Ponds rock ... of course she has gone totally potty now
ReplyDeleteiODyne: Kim always did beautiful work. I knew she is much more often on FB now - which is sad because I don't play.
DeleteReally wonderful photos.
ReplyDeleteBlogoratti: Thank you.
DeleteThat's amazing she landed in your hand to get the food.
ReplyDeleteGreen apples only? Picky birds.
Excellent photos.
Alex J. Cavanaugh: Picky? Or discriminating. They will eat red apples, but made it clear they are decidedly second best.
DeleteSuch beautiful photos. It's awesome that she ate from your hand. You have the magical touch my friend. :)
ReplyDeleteMason Canyon: It is such a privilege. Yesterday they both ate from my hand. And were jockeying for position on my arm.
DeleteThose birds have beautiful colours....when seen up close there are always more colours.
ReplyDeletewhiteangel: I am always amazed at how much blue there is on the King Parrots. A blue you rarely see...
DeleteI can't believe you had a Parrot eating from your hand! She's pretty :)
ReplyDeletemshatch: She is very, very pretty. Unlike many of our native birds, her call is often pleasant too. A soft chirp. They also have a screech though.
DeleteA wild parrot eating from your hand, that's awesome.
ReplyDeleteStrayer: Beyond awesome. It doesn't matter how often it happens, I love it.
DeleteHow lucky and magical!!! I am so jealous of the maginificent birds who visit you! And to eat out of your hand-- she is SO beautiful, too. Wild parrots hang out at my mom's house, but I've yet to see one. Beautiful photos as always!
ReplyDeleteRaquel Somatra: We spend a lot of time each and every day marvelling at the birds who visit. And learning. The hand-feeding is rare, but lovely.
DeleteLove Mrs King Parrot eating out of your hand
ReplyDeleteSue in Italia/In the Land of Cancer: We do too.
Deleteahhhh. Loved those beautiful faces. I wonder if I have the patience to sit and...nope.
ReplyDeleteAuthor R. Mac Wheeler: They make it clear when they want food. Perched in the camellia, looking in. On those days, no patience is required (from me). If I go out with a handful of food they are down.
DeleteI've just googled bearded ravens and within the images is that final photo of Mrs King Parrot eating from your hand. :) :D
ReplyDeleteRiver: Bearded ravens are beautiful birds. The beard looks like a mane...
DeleteOh lucky you, having this most beautiful bird eating from your hand! You must have felt so blessed! One of those heavenly moment that you just don't want to stop.
ReplyDeleteCarola Bartz: Definitely blessed. Beyond blessed.
DeleteThe Eastern rosellas look for all the world like someone dipped them into a dozen different paint pots at random! How vivid their colouring is; it makes me smile just to look at their pictures.
ReplyDeleteAnd to have the parrot eat from your hand - bliss indeed! (Unless they bite ... has one ever tried to nip you?)
jenny_o: She is quite forceful 'raking' through the seed in my hand to get the tastiest ones (sunflowers) but has never shown the slightest inclination to peck or nip. Just as well. I would assuredly bleed.
DeleteThe Eastern Rosellas disappear when they put their heads down and eat in the grass - which always amazes me given their colouring. Budgies on steroids.
What a transcendant moment that had to be, to have her eating from your hand!
ReplyDeleteI've only met Rosellas once, at a friend, but one of them took a real liking to me; climbing all over me and rubbing her face against mine; I was enchanted. I'm enchanted all over again, looking through your photos.
Jacquelineand...: Oh it is. An amazing moment. This morning she and the male were both on my hand again. And my smile disected my face.
DeleteStunning pics!
ReplyDeleteI guess I just live in an ugly part of the world. We have robins and they are greasy looking and a bit plucked. Maybe I just look at things in the wrong light. LOL
Sonya Ann: I am pretty certain that you see things I never see, that would have my mouth open, and unattractive drool emerging.
DeleteSuch beautiful pictures! Love how colorful the shots are and I could watch birds all day long. so fun when one eats out of my hand. :) Lucky you!
ReplyDelete~Jess
DMS ~Jess: We do watch birds all day. Or it sometimes feels like it.
DeleteI'm stunned by the sheer beauty of these fine feathered avian creatures. They look so delicate and innocent, yet their instincts told them to trust you which is hardly surprising. It must be a delight knowing you've made a new friend.
ReplyDeleteSpacerguy: These friends are more beautiful and less demanding than some of the bigger two legged wingless variety. And have reserved a very big place in my heart.
DeleteThose birds are like rainbows with feathers!
ReplyDeleteladyfi: A brilliant description. Thank you.
DeleteI love birds! They're just so.. cool :) These are lovely and bright!
ReplyDeleteMadilyn Quinn: We do too. I am fond of the little brown jobs too. And if I could have a super power, flying would be the one I chose.
DeleteFlying as a super power would be very convenient! But I think I'd prefer control over some element (toss up between fire and water). :)
DeleteMadilyn Quinn: If I could fly, neither water nor fire could hold me. And I could crap (from a great height) on those who irritated me.
DeleteWhat stunning birds! We don't have any here like that!
ReplyDeleteLisa @ Two Bears Farm: We are really lucky with the birds that visit regularly - but there are amazing birds all over the world.
DeleteThe female corella eating from your hand is impressive indeed! The feathers must be so soft and your hand is so blessed.
ReplyDeleteSusan Kane: It is a King Parrot rather than a corella - but the blessing doesn't change. At all. Their feathers are soft, their claws are not, and the gift of trust is amazing.
DeleteSo very nice that you got her to eat from your hand. And you were lucky enough to get pictures too!
ReplyDeletemail4rosey: I was lucky to get the photo. The next day when I had to play scarcrow because both of them were eating from my hand was too early for himself and there are no photos.
DeleteExcept in my head and heart.
Ooooh she's gorgeous! Such kind looking faces on the females, and you have them eating right out of your hand too. Happy days indeed.
ReplyDeleteAll Consuming: She is beautiful isn't she? Glorious colours, and that alert stance. Bliss. Big bliss.
DeleteOh wow. How beautiful these photos are. I love birds and I'm a bit jealous that you have them eating out of your hand. :)
ReplyDeleteT. Powell Coltrin: It isn't all the birds, or even many of them, which will eat from our hands. A gift though. A much appreciated gift.
DeleteYou have such colorful, exotic birds over there. They make me smile.
ReplyDeleteBe well, EC.
Rawknrobyn: They make us smile too. And thank you for the wellness wishes. Necessary at the moment.
DeleteMy goodness - how wonderful the bird ate right from your hand! Gorgeous creatures.
ReplyDeleteLynn: Birds are amazing. Incredible. Awe inspiring. And I love them.
DeletePretty cool to have them come right up and park on your hand! Super shots, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteTerri @ Coloring Outside the LInes: I can't express just how magical it feels. When they land, my smile dissects my face.
DeleteOh I hope you neve stop taking pictures of birds. I am enthralled by how you attract them to your yard. I absolutely love the pictures of the parrot eating out of your hand. I think we can experience bliss vicariously. I just did.
ReplyDeleteMyrna R.: Thank you. I am always happy to share the bliss.
DeleteHow did you get her to eat from your hand? Did you have to hold out your hand for a long period of time?
ReplyDeleteSandra Cox: We have two bird feeders and fill them several times a day. We also hang apples in the tree for the birds. They are used to us, and some of them make it very clear when we have been lax and the feeders are empty.
DeleteThe King Parrots were in the camellias outside the lounge room windows - peering inside. Obviously peering inside. So when I took some food out to the feeders, I put some in my hand and held it out. She landed very, very quickly.
That is just so amazing.
DeleteI think you're right about them letting you know when the feeders are empty.
When I would fill mine up the cardinals would start cheeping like they were saying, 'Soups on. Come and get it.'
Sandra Cox: They aren't backward about coming forward. My youngest brother also feeds birds. One afternoon his wife found a cockatoo who had let himself into their sun-room (opened the sliding door) and was attempting to open the bird-seed container. It had obviously watched where its food came from - and where it was kept.
DeleteOMG. That's fascinating. Birds are really smart.
DeleteSandra Cox: Bird-brained isn't the insult that people think...
DeleteOh goodness, this is much more than just birds! Incredible markings and colors, they are just gorgeous and so precious to sit for a spell with you as well. They are indeed the best of feathered friends.
ReplyDeleteKaren S.: We are so lucky. And appreciative.
DeleteI had to Google what a bearded raven is and now I want to see one in real life :P
ReplyDeleteMichael G D'Agostino: They are beautiful birds. I do hope you see one. I hope ours get less skittish and I can take their photograph too.
DeleteI went back to look at all your lovely photographs as I had not been on the computer for a while. I love the birds in your area – they are quite beautiful – and to have one eat from your hand … how lovely is that! We have many birds coming to our backyard bird feeders but they are very shy.
ReplyDeleteI read your post about being a greedy reader – I am one as well. Because of my trip west I have been reading about the early pioneers who traveled west by wagon in the mid 1850s then, because of these readings, started reading about the Native Americans and all the treaties they lost. It makes for fascinating reading but it is also difficult to read.
Vagabonde: I knew you were also a greedy reader - there are a lot of us about. I love that your reading takes you down paths of discovery, despite the fact that some of those paths are paved with unpalatable facts. Our history is very much the same.
DeleteMost of our birds are shy too. Which is fine.
I think those birds would actually be kind of neat to have in the back yard. At this point, all we have are blue jays, and they're assholes.
ReplyDeleteRiot Kitty: The King Parrots are too low in the pecking order to be arseholes - and the Eastern Rosellas are even lower. Lovely looking, and definitely not a feisty feather on their bodies.
DeleteLook at those colors! A bird is a work of art, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteLux G.: Definitely a work of art. All of them. As is nature more generally. I will try and visit you in a bit - but often have trouble getting into your blog.
DeleteIt's sad I never see these birds in nature (exept in zoo). These looks so nice and lovely, all of them.
ReplyDeleteHave a happy days.
orvokki: They are lovely. Truly lovely - and I am glad they are free.
DeleteA happy week to you and yours.
absolutely stunning.
ReplyDeleteWOWWWW. xxxx
My Inner Chick: They are beautiful aren't they? How are you? Hugs.
DeleteOn how beautiful is that....the feel of a wild creature being so trusting. Those birds are so lovely and how fortunate for you to have them pay a visit.
ReplyDeleteSorry to be late but only 4 days is doing well for me right now.
Mimsie: You are welcome whenever you drop in - and are never late.
DeleteI hope life starts to treat you a little more kindly.
THANK you for these beautiful moments!
ReplyDeleteI can almost feel the warm weight of those lovelies
in your palm. What a gift:)
-Jennifer
Jennifer Richardson: It is a gift. And one I treasure.
DeleteI've said it before, and I'll say it again.. I just think it's wonderful to have wild parrots there in the neighborhood and they are trusting enough to eat out of your hand.. wow :)
ReplyDeletePS: Thanks for your kind assistance re. my recent book request. I will reply to the (comments) email that I received, but if that doesn't get to you, my email is mark.koopmans@yahoo.com.
If you don't hear from me by tomorrow, please shoot me a note and I'll respond immediately :)
Mark Koopmans: Thank you. Your email (and your book) have landed. My greedy bookaholic self is sooooo looking forward to diving in.
DeleteWith such an array of brilliantly colored birds, how could you NOT be obsessed with them?! Thanks for sharing your obsession with us. :)
ReplyDeleteHappy weekend!
Susan: And a happy weekend to you and yours. I am so glad that you are comfortable with my obsessions.
DeleteAwwwww. They're so cute. They make me think of the birds I used to own (Dusky Headed Conure as well as a few different Amazons). Very nice pictures!
ReplyDeleteRobert Bennett: Welcome and thank you. They are cute. Incontinent vandals - but cute with it.
DeleteIf you click on #5 and #6 really really quickly, the bird head goes up down up down up down...tee hee.
ReplyDeleteneena maiya (aka guyana gyal): Just like it does in my hand. She is a v rapid eater.
DeleteBeautiful colours. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteKB: Welcome and thank you.
DeleteYou are the blogging queen of birds! And such a good friend of them it looks. Jazz might wonder about you, Dear!
ReplyDeleteCloudia: Both Jazz n Jewel believe that I am failing in my duty, and that I should bring the King Parrots in to them.
DeleteWhich is not going to be a happening thing.
Oh, what beauties! Must have been awesome to have that gorgeous bird eating from your hand!
ReplyDeleteKaren: It was. It is. There are only two which will eat from our hands, and they don't come every day - but any day when they do appear is immediately a good one.
DeleteWhat a treat to see your birds...so tropical and exotic to me.
ReplyDeleteDonna@LivingFromHappiness: I love looking at birds the world over. And marvel at how what seems exotic to me, or to you, is commonplace for someone else.
Delete