Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Sunday 23 August 2015

Sunday Selections #238

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 young crimson rosellas and king parrots, yet to come into their adult plumage have been visiting.  The crimson rosellas have moved much quicker than my shutter finger, so I have trawled through photos of them taken in 2007 to show you their adolescent garb.


First an adult, resplendent in red and blue



Then an adult and an adolescent.


I assume that their plumage is green until they reach adulthood as camoflague.  It is surprisingly effective too.  If they put their heads down they almost disappear into the grass.

Then to the king parrots.  Adult male King Parrots have red/orange heads and breasts.  Their beaks are also reddish.  Females and young birds are green.  The females have a greenish beak though.

Here is a young male, starting the journey to adult plumage - again an old photo.


And another young male who did deign to stay still long enough for me to take his photo this week.  His chest is a glorious bright red, but there is, so far, just a tiny touch of red above his beak.





And a pair of adults for comparion.



Beautiful birds - but they do look a bit scruffy as their adult colours come in.

And, because I know some of you don't share my bird obsession, some clouds.





140 comments:

  1. You have such gorgeous birds in your neighborhood!!

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  2. Your birds make me feel so happy. Their colors, and then seeing your hand...you lucky lady.

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    1. Susan Kane: That is the skinny one's hand and arm this time - but yes, lucky, lucky, lucky.

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  3. Wow, I didn't know they would eat out of your hand like that. Love the bird pictures and the sky ones, too. It's just always nice to see you and your world, EC. :-)

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    1. DJan: It is only a very few of the king parrots who will eat from our hands. A privilege. A huge privilege.

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  4. I love your birds. My shutter finger has failed me for birds, too. I resort to pure luck now.

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    1. Joanne Noragon: Luck, and being able to delete a zillion failed pictures are both wonderful things.

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  5. All pictures are gorgeous but I do love that first one of the bird with so much red. How I wish he would visit my yard!

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    1. Bookie: There is a family of crimson rosellas visiting at the moment. Two adults, two adolescents. Very, very welcome.

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  6. Those crimson rosellas are amazing =)

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    1. CrimsonAnna: They are. Beautiful, amazing and a delight. A daily delight at the moment.

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  7. I had an idea their feathers changed but I had not seen them when they are young, so that was really good. The cloud over the valley shot is nice.

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    1. Andrew: If I am lucky I will be able to capture that young king when his whole head is pibald. Looking down into the valley below is something I do many times each day. Often very nice indeed.

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  8. Parrots are so cute, but I see them very seldom, that is just in a zoo.
    The sky is beautiful, but the fig. 10 is an incredibly gorgeous, I like the scenery.
    Have a happy times
    Hugs

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    1. orvokki: Thank you. That view down the valley was taken from just outside my house.

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    2. You really have a wonderful view from your home.

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  9. I always marvel at the gorgeous birds in your country and you're so fortunate to have them right in your yard! I, like others, have to go to our local zoo to see such beauties....but I also know that I'm fortunate to live in an area that has a fabulous zoo. If that's your arm, you've certainly charmed them, haven't you? And why wouldn't you?? You're such a wonderful person!! Always love any of your photos....and I love clouds, too!

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    1. BECKY: It is the skinny one who is the charmer in these shots - I was the photographer. I love clouds and still make stories in my head about the shapes they make.

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  10. I love them, the Parrots. Love also the wildness, fantastic EC.

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  11. I've not tried eating upside down, but I'm sure I'd get a massive dose of indigestion if I did!

    Every time I step outside the kookaburras start laughing. I'm not sure if they're laughing at me or greeting me because they are the family of kookas I give meat scraps to every afternoon. For my own vanity, I choose to believe it's the latter reason! ;) The butcher birds regularly sit on the little patio area out from my sliding door and chatter away in their melodious tones...I love hearing them and I'm sure they do it because they know I'm in here.

    Fog is descending rapidly as I write...

    I hope you have a great week, EC and I hope the Skinny One is doing fine. Cuddles to your two rascals. :)

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    1. Lee: I too would have a massive dose of indigestion. And a headache. I would undoubtedly fall off.
      I envy you the kookas. We hear them occasionally but rarely see them. And have magpies and currawongs rather than the butcher birds. All welcome though.
      No fog here. Cloud. With rain promised. Fingers crossed.
      I hope you and your furry overlords have a great week.

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    2. I have the maggies and currawongs here, too...and similar to your thoughts...all are welcome here, too...and all make their presence known to me. There's often quite a blending of bird calls outside my front door...and I love them all. :)

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  12. Birds, books, clouds, sunsets, flowers ~ nothing wrong with any of your obsessions EC. The colours of their plumage is spectacular.

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    1. carolincairns: So many obsessions, so little time. And yes, that plumage is special. I hope you are well on the way to recovery now.

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  13. My favorite photo is the young male against a white sky. So beautiful. Such different bird life you have. Ah I still have my hummingbirds making sure the other doesn't feed in peace.

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    1. Sue in Italia/In the Land of Cancer: I do envy you the hummers - despite being very grateful for 'our' birds.

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  14. Eating out of your hand, wonderful! Rosellas & parrots are such stunning birds. We are blessed to have such birdlife in Australia, and you, to have it in your backyard!

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    1. CountryMum: Our bird life is very special isn't it? So are the animals. So very special.

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  15. I have tried many times to take their photos but so far never got a very good photo they are rather quick, you have done well.
    Merle...........

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    1. Merlesworld: The smaller birds particularly make greased lightening seem slow and predictable don't they?

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  16. WE don't see the Kings here, but they used to arrive in numbers when the wild tobacco was flowering.(Parrots pay NO attention to the Weed Police !)

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    1. dinahmow: I don't think any birds pay attention to the Weed Police. Or would accept our definition. Mind you, at the moment someone is beheading my daffodils. And pecking at the unopened buds. Which doesn't please me.

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    2. Possibly woolly bear caterpillars? They've started over here and I pick off at least one daily, sometimes two. They've eaten all the leaves off my Blue Chalk Sticks (senecio) and one of the green aeoniums.

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    3. River: No evidence of caterpillars. No pooh, and I haven't seen any caterpillars either. It is almost certainly the cockatoos, who I have seen beheading tulips.

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  17. I love clouds AND birds...so enjoyed all :O]

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  18. The birds and the clouds are gorgeous. But I love the cats being good and bad the best. I must share a picture of my Champ with you. He was a twin of Jazz and Jewel. And what a character.

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    1. cleemckenzie: I would love to see a picture of Champ. Jazz in particular has a LOT of character - mostly bad. And is a much loved resident anyway.

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  19. Birds are such acrobats - so fun to watch, when they let us. I kept a budgie as a pet years ago - caged most of the time, which makes my heart ache now. At the time, I enjoyed his company so much. He was an acrobat too, and had a lovely personality. Loved radio music and sang along (or screeched along!). Always looked like he was smiling. Your pictures reminded me.

    We've had hot, humid weather the past week, and today some thundershowers. Hopefully the air will clear now. Your blue skies were very welcome on my screen tonight. Hope you have a good week, EC.

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    1. jenny_o: Budgies are birds of immense character aren't they? Completely disproportionat to their size.
      Our skies have been grey for the last few days. Wasted grey, because virtually nothing moist has fallen from those clouds. The weather boffins are promising rain - but are strangers to the truth.
      I do hope your air does clear. Humidity is vile. Heat and humidity nurture my psycho bitch.

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  20. How could we not share your obsessions, when they are presented to us so beautifully? Birds, clouds, sunsets and sunrises, flowers and gardens - all more than fine by me!

    Have a lovely day.

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    1. Alexia: Thank you - and a wonderful day to you too. I am so glad to have found people to share my obsessions with.

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    1. KB: They are. And they know it too - which is lovely.

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  22. I certainly do share your bird obsession! They actually come onto your hand? I guess when you have food in them. This makes me so jealous. I have to come to Australia one day to see this myself.

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    1. Carola Bartz: Very few of the birds will land on our hands, but each year there is a pair of King Parrots who honour us this way. And they bring their family with them, so we have hopes of more. In the interim we enjoy them on the trees, the feeders and in the air. I hope you can get to Oz some day. I really hope it.

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  23. You got some great shots of these pretty birds. How lovely it must be to see them just flying around so freely. Love them!

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    1. DeniseinVA: It is wonderful to have them visit. And even better that they come of their own free will.

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  24. Parrots are the clowns but I love the thoughtfulness of magpies.

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    1. J Cosmo Newbery: And I adore the magpie warble. It sings of home to me.

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  25. You know I am thrilled and delighted every time I come here and see your beloved birds. I now have a standing request to let the GS know, so he can come look as well.

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    1. Jaquelineand...: What a lovely thing to say. They are beautiful critters and I don't know how much time we spend each day watching them and tending to their needs.

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  26. I'm missing our birds, so seeing yours is a treat. the rainbow lorikeets and corellas have mostly moved on now the trees they fed from are gone. I'm hoping they'll come around again when the weather warms more.
    Love the clouds, one almost looks like a seahorse.

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    1. River: I hope they do come back. A neighbourhood NEEDS trees and birds. Or I think so.

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  27. Lovely photos, I share your passion for birds and clouds!

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    1. Karen: They are addictive obsessions aren't they?

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  28. Lovely, I enjoyed this :) Thank you!

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  29. Lovely to see these 2 beautiful birds and although i have seen both birds as adults I have never seen them when they are young so that was a treat and I have again learned something new. Your sky images are awesome.

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    1. Margaret Adamson: We are lucky enough that the adults bring the young round. Family groups visit - and then the young start coming on their own. And we believe they come back year after year.

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  30. Gorgeous! Such a joy, those parrots aren't they?

    I have a wee crimson rosella (with a distinctive lime green feather patch on his right wing) that visits every day. He seeks me out at every window in the house til he finds me.
    If I'm absorbed in my work and ignore him, he stares at me and then begins to gnaw at the wooden window frame until I scoot out and give him a few seeds. Every window has tiny chew marks on them. Naughty him. Naughty me ;)

    And, along with your bird pics, you know I adore your sky shots. Sublime.

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    1. Vicki: They aren't backward about coming forward are they? Beautiful things, and yes, they do some damage, are less than continent, noisy - and I don't care. Birdseed and apples for the birds are a constant on our shopping list.

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    2. His royal redness has me very well trained. And they say "we" can "train" them... works both ways :)

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    3. Vicki: I am much better trained by the birds and the cats than they are. Much, much better.

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  31. I'm wild about clouds, they are as good as bridges in my book! Not that I tire of the beautiful birds, for I do not. I particularly love the cloud hovering over the valley with the mountains in the background. Why don't I live in your shed?!!

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    1. All Consuming: Clouds are more common here than bridges. Much more common. And often lie in that valley. Lazy clouds...
      And you would be more than welcome. No shed, but the house would accomodate you happily.

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  32. The birds are just beautiful, do like the colours. Clouds are always interesting.

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  33. Interesting the changes in color.
    Like that shot of the clouds low in the valley.

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    1. Alex J. Cavanaugh: When I think of the time I spend watching things - the birds, the clouds, the garden it isn't really surprising I get so little done. And I (mostly) don't care.

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  34. You have such interesting visitors. I'm not sure which I can say is a favorite photo this week, they are all so beautiful even though clouds do draw me in.

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    1. Mason Canyon: Thank you. It is just coming up for dawn here, and the early indications are that there will be clouds. Lots of clouds. And the birds have already arrived at the feeder - despite the dark.

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  35. I'm a huge fan of all your obsessions! Gorgeous colors on those birds.
    The clouds rolling low to the ground are especially interesting - sort of creepy looking. My imagination populated them with an assortment of threatening events. ;)

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    1. River Fairchild: That valley is a cloud trap. There are often clouds lazing in it, skulking in it, lurking in it. And who knows what is hidden...

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  36. What glorious sights you have to look at every day.

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    1. Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe: And we do. And revel in them. Every day.

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  37. The rosellas are beautiful birds. I love that you have the king parrots on your arm. The name gives them auto respect, I suppose, but the plumage adds emphasis to the respect thus given. Sometimes the scrub jays want to land on my hand. I'd like that if they did.

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    1. Strayer: There are lots of different rosellas, but we get the crimsons here. Bright splashes of colour. Always welcome.
      I hope the scrub jays do land on your arm. Though it is difficult to take a photo of your own arm I have discovered.

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  38. You post such beautiful pictures and all I could think about was this.........

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T1vfsHYiKY

    Forgive me.

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    1. Sonya Ann: Apology NOT needed. I am smiling very, very broadly. And laughing too.

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  39. Who among you don't share a compassion for birds ... especially these gorgeous specimens. I love clouds as well, but would never trade a good bird picture for a cloud picture ... maybe a cloud with a bird flying though it, Ha! I am trying to get back into my blogging. When you are forced away from it as I have been for many weeks, one tends to find other things to do ... now I have to sort through my preferences so I can optimize my time with my favorites. There just isn't enough time in the day, I guess ... at least that is the feeling I get as I try to do it all. Good to be back though ...

    Andrea @ From The Sol

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    1. Andrea Priebe: It is good to have you back. And no, there is never enough time to do the things we need to do - much less the things we want to do.

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  40. Your scenic pictures are beautiful, but I love those birds. Hope you''ve had a wondrous weekend.

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    1. Sandra Cox: Not wonderous - but pretty good. How about you?

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    2. It was good:)
      I see you've got them 'eating out of your hand' again. I continue to marvel at that. It must be such a rush.

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  41. Hi human, Sue,

    Such pretty parrots! I love parrots and I have the occasional chat with one. Do those parrots have Australian accents ?

    And yes, I love the scenery you get to see. Thank you for sharing your lovely photos, human Sue.

    Pawsitive wishes and doggy kisses,

    Penny xx

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    1. Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar!: Of course the parrots speak Strine. Loudly. And not musically.
      Pawsitive wishes for you and your tired human too.

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  42. I share your bird and your cloud obsessions. What lovely photos to start the day! Your pics always make me smile.

    Although I admit the parrot pics can be a little bittersweet for me. I grew up with a parrot in the house who lived a miserable life imprisoned in a too-small cage with people who didn't understand how to care for him properly. It's balm for the soul to see them as they should be -- flying, eating fruit off of suburban porches, flying...

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    1. Ellen: I am glad.
      And sadly we shared our home with a bird in a cage when I was growing up. The cockatoo ate his way out and was never recaged, but the peach-faced rosella stayed caged. Which I regret.

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  43. I do share your bird obsession!
    ▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▄▄▄▄▁▁▁▁
    ▀▀▀██▀▀▀▀▀▀█▀▒░◕░▇◣〜♪
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    ▁▁▁▁▁▁▍░▍▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
    ┈┈┈┈ ♥ I LOVE BIRDS ♥ ┈┈┈┈

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    1. Birdie: How I love and admire the text drawings you create!!! And that bird is one of the best I have seen.

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  44. If I saw birds like those in my pine tree,
    well, I think I'm do a flip!! xxxx

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    1. My Inner Chick: Oh we do. Each and every time, each and every day.

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  45. You have the most colorful birds there. I had an Umbrella Cockatoo for over 25 years. He was just white, mostly. We had other birds, finches and such, but never anything so colorful.

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    1. Jono: I had to google the Umbrella Cockatoo which I didn't know. What an incredible bird. We have both the colourful birds here, and quite a lot of little brown jobs. Which sing much more sweetly than the coloured birds. A trade-off?

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  46. Very colorful! It's a little sad to see summer go, although fall is my favorite season!

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    1. Stephanie Faris: I am NEVER sorry to see summer go. My least favourite season. The other three have equal billing.

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  47. Stunning birds. (And clouds! And scenery!)

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    1. Cathy Olliffe-Webster: Lovely to see you again - and thank you.

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  48. Those are beautiful birds! (but you did well with the clouds too ;))

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    1. Michael G D'Agostino: Being able to delete a zillion failed photos is wonderful - but thank you.

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  49. oh but I do share your bird obsession. such a miracle that any of them find enough food and survive vicious weather and tiny featherless ones grow ... big enough to kamikaze their beaks straight into the back of anyone's head in October when I wasn't the slightest threat to the nest 40m up in the damn tree.
    Just joyous to have King Parrot on an arm. hello birdie.
    [then he went and ate every bud off your camellias]

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    1. Ann ODyne: Feathered enchantment - one and all. And you are so right about the camellia carnage. Worth it though.

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  50. Marvelous photos...I started watching a documentary on parrots last night...very interesting birds, very smart. My Dad had one once as a pet that was stolen, cage and all, from our home in the dead of night. They can live for about eighty years but many are endangered now. Have a good week and thanks for coming by.

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    1. e: They are fascinating birds. And some of them are too smart for our own good.

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  51. Your photos are so pretty. I love birds so much. Even had a pair of finches once who produced a Junior. They were a happy family until an outside kitty slipped inside and ate the dad.

    If they didn't live so long (because I'm no spring chicken) I would adopt a parrot.

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    1. T. Powell Coltrin: I am bird obsessed too, but prefer seeing them free. Our cats are also bird obsessed, but fortunately don't get what they want.

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  52. They are so cute! I used to own a number of parrots (Conures and Amazons, primarily) and it kind of makes me miss them.

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    1. Robert Bennett: I would miss them badly if I couldn't see them each day. And we now recognise some regular visitors. Which is lovely.

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  53. If I had such beautiful birds in my back yard, I'd be obsessed too. They are so beautiful! Thanks for sharing them. Oh, and the sky pics are great too.

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    1. Myrna R.: I have a lot of obsessions. And can't see me stopping any time soon. And definitely not on the bird front.

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  54. The final cloud shot is mystical.
    I love your bird photos. All I seem to sea around here are gray pigeons, so please keep them coming.

    Take care, EC.

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    1. Rawknrobyn: I suspect even your grey pigeons have a quiet and understated beauty. Often hard to see when they congregate in masses though.
      Have a great week.

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  55. I love the birds and the clouds! Clouds are just so magical looking and they look different every second. I am a big fan of bird watching and I loved seeing your photos. Interesting to see the difference in color from adolescence to adulthood! Thanks for sharing. :)
    ~Jess

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    1. DMS ~Jess: I hope I never lose my love of clouds. Or birds. Have a great day.

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  56. I wonder do birds feel exhilaration as they soar through our skies. Creatures with emotional intelligence have ways to let us know when they're up or down, I wonder if birds ever realise they're the masters of our skies.

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    1. Spacerguy: I hope they do feel exhilaration. Flight is the super power I would most like to have. And I have certainly seen birds who appear to be having fun. Not eating, not mating, just playing.

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  57. Gorgeous birds and skies!

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  58. Beautiful birds! I remember feeding them when I visited cousins in Australia a few years ago.

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    1. Shammickite: Welcome and thank you. Which did you feed? The King Parrots or the Rosellas? We can only feed (occasionally) the kings here.

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  59. You're the opposite of all the mean, hard news.

    I could feel myself softening, looking at these photos. Found myself thinking, yet again, if only we taught children to be outdoors more, to enjoy nature.

    Thank you for taking the time to post your photos :-)

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    1. neena maiya (aka guyana gyal): I find increasingly I can't do the news. It hurts my heart and head and I can't do anything about it. Nature is a healing balm.

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  60. Montana and Australia seem similar in many ways - but I am envious of the beautiful birds you have there. Admiration of clouds and sky is a bit of a passion of mine as well.
    I just read that firefighters from Australia are coming to the Western US to help fight our wildfires. Many, many thanks!

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    1. Susan F.: Your firefighters have helped us out often enough. Turn and turn about. I hope you get some relief soon.

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    2. Thanks EC. It is good for all of us to have friends around the world!

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  61. The green camouflage is wild! Does it actually hide them from prey? I imagine they typically eat worms that can't see them. Or is it that they are hiding from bigger birds and mammalian predators?

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    1. John Wiswell: I think their camoflague probably does work quite well. They are vegetarian so it doesn't help them sneak up on their own preferred prey. However other birds and mammals can be a threat.

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  62. I do share the bird obsession! :D So pretty! The clouds are nice, but really gorgeous birds. It's cool that they have that camouflage .. I imagine they would be hard to see waddling around in tall grass..

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    1. Madilyn Quinn: When the young rosellas put their heads down they disappear. And the King Parrots have perfect camoflague for the camellias by our front door. They hide in them - and rip apart the buds.

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  63. Such beautiful birds and lovely clouds....what on more could one wish for? Thank you for sharing. We don't have such a selection of parrots in Perth.
    Incidentally, did I hear on last night's news that Canberra had had a deluge?

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    1. Mimsie: Some parts of Canberra had a deluge. We got some rain - and rather a lot of wind. The rain was lovely. Gentle soaking rain, and we could do with some more.

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  64. They are gorgeous! I wouldn't mind parrots in the backyard. The brightest birds we get are blue jays, and they're jerks.

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    1. Riot Kitty: Some of the parrots have less than stellar characters. Bullies. And the wattle birds dive bomb the cats - which always makes me laugh. And a magpie crapped on a cat. I swear it was deliberate too.

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  65. I love the bright red of these birds...exotic red. Then the soft gentle colors and shapes of the clouds...a nice mix.

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    1. Donna@LivingFromHappiness: I like them both too. And enjoy the contrast.

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  66. Just amazing that you have those gorgeous birds around you and as always, I am so glad they can be right where they are - uncaged.

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    1. Lynn: As I type there are at least four species, squabbling over the feeder. Bliss.

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