Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Sunday 22 November 2015

Sunday Selections 251

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.  I am continuing to experiment with the camera this week.  It is smarter than I am.  From time to time I get photos which please me, followed by epic failures - which are down to screw loose in the operator.

The sky:




Birds.  Some of the grubby corellas are still seriously dirty.  Others of them shine like a good deed in a naughty world (one of my father's phrases).











This charmer is a Crested Wood Pigeon.  They make a truly lovely whirring sound with their wings when they take off.

And to the garden, where I have been having a fine time experimenting with the zoom function and playing around with blurring backgrounds...




Two shots of the same rose - one with the background blurred.






I adore these double poppies and save their seeds each year.



140 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Teresa Hennes: Thank you. How are you? And your mama?

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  2. The crested pigeon is a new one for me. I see so much new fauna and flora on your pages. Thank-you.

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    1. Sue in Italia/In the Land of Cancer: As I do on yours. Osage oranges were definitely new to me.

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  3. Love the flora, especially. some of the fauna (ahem!), need to wash behind their ears before future appearance before such a fine new camera.

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    1. Damn one finger typing. Forgive the missing capital.

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    2. Joanne Noragon: I have never seen corellas quite this grubby. And they have stayed that way for a couple of weeks. I am wondering if it is going to take a moult for them to be white again. Don't worry about the missing capital - to visit and comment using one finger is a truly lovely gesture.

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  4. We see the crested pigeons sometimes, but nothing like the numbers when we were at Tamborine.
    You'll have a lot of "interesting" outings with the new toy.I have a fairly extensive list of curses if you need it...

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    1. dinahmow: I suspect my curse vocabulary will be up to it. We used to get more of the crested pigeons than we do now. I recently read that their numbers are in serious decline. Along with too many other birds. Including the kookaburra. And magpies.

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    2. we have the crested pigeons here, are they the ones I hear going coo-coo...coo-coo for hours on end between pre-dawn and daylight? And throughout the day too, but less often.

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    3. River: I suspect it is the 'common or garden' pigeons you hear. They are very much noisier than the crested variety.

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    4. Not the grey ones that are a pest in cities? We don't have any of those here, we have smaller brown birds like the crested ones but without the crest of course, we have some crested ones too,not many.

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    5. Never mind. The pictures in my bird book are just as confusing.

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  5. Some very nice pictures, I think. I especially like the bird crest and the branch that complements the lines. And you seem to be making very good use of that camera! Conquering it a little at a time. :-)

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    1. DJan: Thank you. There is a lot more conquering of the camera to do. A lot more.

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  6. You have a green thumb. Such beautiful flowers. It will be a hard freeze here tonight and it all will turn brown:( I can't imagine such beautiful birds at your feeder. Just unbelievable. Tiny little yellow oriels are eating sunflower hearts at mine. They must know how cold it will be tonight.

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    1. donna baker: For some things my green thumb is decidedly black. I love the thought of tiny yellow oriels visiting - and hope that they and you survive the freeze.

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  7. Beautiful, as always!!

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  8. Beautiful sky; beautiful birds; beautiful flowers...now we know where all the flowers have gone!

    I stood in awe at my kitchen window yesterday afternoon...just out from my window was one of the biggest crows I've ever seen. His jet black feathers were glistening. He was the most magnificent-looking creature. I wish I'd taken a photo of him but I was too lost in the moment to even think about my camera.

    I hope your coming week treats you well, EC. That man of yours must be getting homesick soon! Take care...cuddles to your two rascals of the furry kind :)

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    1. Lee: I suspect I would have stopped to watch in awe and wonder too. I am a big fan of the corvids - who are difficult to capture on a camera anyway.
      Himself is home. And probably itching to hit the road again.
      And a lovely week to you and your furry overlords.

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    2. There are two crows here who know when I have the camera out and hide in the tree tops, when they see me without the camera, they come down and tease me on the ground.

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  9. The Parrots are fantastic EC, and the roses, they are so wonderful.

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    1. Bob Bushell: I am fond of the birds and the garden too. Just in case you hadn't guessed. And thank you.

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  10. Amazing post dear! You have a wonderful blog:)
    What about following each other on Instagram, bloglovin, Twitter?.. :)

    www.bloglovin.com/blog/3880191

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    1. Irene Thayer: Welcome and thank you. I don't play FB, Instagram, bloglovin, or Twitter (I know, I am a luddite). I was glad to track you down through Google though.

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  11. Enjoyed this. Thank you.

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  12. I never ever get tired of your pictures! They are wonderful. thank you!

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    1. Mohave Rat: Thank you. I hope Mrs Rat had a wonderful birthday.

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  13. ah...you had some of your own purple fog.

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  14. You have such lovely colour in your part of the world.

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    1. Delores: I am loving it while it is here. We have been promised a hot dry summer so everything will be crispified and brown too soon.

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  15. This is what its like for me to look at your pictures-"Ohhhhh, that's my favorite." Then I see the next one and "Nope, that's my favorite." That is pretty much it.

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    1. Sonya Ann: You are a shameless flatterer. Thank you.

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  16. I love those double poppies, heck, I'm in love with your whole garden!
    Your skies are beautiful too.
    The difference between those two Corellas is amazing! The muddy one looks suntanned.
    And your site loaded here in seconds! Usually I go off and make toast or coffee while waiting for the pictures to arrive (*~*)

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    1. River: Yay for fast access. I am so glad for you. And our ISP boosted our allowance it seems. The new month ticked over this morning with double our usual allowance. Videos may be possible again.

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  17. I thought I was seeing a new species of corella - a brown one! That cactus is stunning. I have 4 which I grew from pieces I got from some of the small-leaved ones which grew in my college library, their flowers all different lovely colours. They have taken well and are growing furiously, but there is no sign of flower buds on any of them. Any tips?
    You certainly have a green thumb when it comes to plants, EC - (and a rainbow one when it comes to photos?)

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    1. Alexia: I suspect you are being too nice to them. They seem to do best if fairly cruddy soil. And like full sun. They don't seem to mind being dry either. We only have the red one (though we have a version with pink stamens as well as the white). I am lusting after a yellow one.

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  18. The corella is just dirty? It looks so different. It must have taken a mud bath. Its only the last couple of decades that I have been seeing the crested pigeons around Melbourne.

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    1. Andrew: As far as we can tell it is just dirty. Very dirty. It, and its companion, appear perfectly happy and healthy and dominate the feeders most afternoons.
      We had lots of the crested pigeons a few years ago. None last year that I saw near home, and a solitary pair this year.

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  19. The first picture is beautiful. Love the purple!

    Now why are some of those birds filthy and others are clean? Is that some mating ritual or defense mechanism?

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    1. Birdie: I *think* the filthy corellas were feeding by the road and got splashed as a car went past. Or were grubbing for seed in a muddy field. As far as I know it doesn't have any evolutionary advantage.

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  20. Great to hear your skinny half has returned home EC. And you are getting so much enjoyment from your new camera.

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    1. carol: I am getting enjoyment and frustration in probably equal measure from the camera at the moment. It can do rather a lot of things, which are new to me.
      His high and skinniness loved his trip. Which is wonderful.

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  21. Love the rose with the blurred background! It snowed heavily here this morning but did not stick.Yuck. Your flowers and birds are nicer to see!

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    1. Bookie: We so rarely get snow here that I am a bit envious. I am really, really looking forward to snowy photos from your side of the world. The grass is always greener...

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  22. I saw a crested wood pigeon in England last summer, at the Eden Project. I always envy you seeing all these amazing birds wild and free. I liked your Dad's saying by the way and I loved all these photographs.

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    1. DeniseinVA: You see some things I envy too. The blogosphere makes the world smaller doesn't it? Father had a number of sayings. That one was innocuous.

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  23. The flowers are gorgeous as always. :) I've never caught corellas dust bathing - I do wonder if it is as hilarious as when my chooks do it. :) Because that is funny to watch..

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    1. Snoskred: I have never seen the corellas (or the cockies) dust-bathing either. The pigeons and the sparrows love it. And the sparrows make little dust nests in my garden...

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  24. I especially love your roses!
    That one dirty corella facing you seems to be mighty pissed that you took his picture. I believe he's thinking of an appropriate revenge.

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    1. River Fairchild: I don't like having my photo taken either. And would be particularly unimpressed if I was as grubby as the corella. So I don't blame him. (Do you think that grovel makes me safe?)

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    2. No, but it was a valiant effort on your part. ;)

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  25. I love birds and flowers and yours are especially nice...one day, I'll tell you the story of meeting my first woodpecker...and I really need to find the directions to the small camera I have...Have a good week.

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    1. e: Thank you - and I would love to hear the story of you and the woodpecker. Which sounds sooooo exotic to me.

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  26. Your roses and cacti flowers are lovely. Mastering the camera, I see.
    My word those parrots are dirty.

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    1. Margaret-whiteangel: Not mastering yet. Practising. Hard. And have you ever seen such filthy birds?

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    2. No I haven't seen such dirty parrots. Looks like they have been bathing in mud :)

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  27. I truly enjoy your pictures of birds I've never seen and your flowers make me smile with their beauty.

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    1. Glenda C. Beall: Thank you. Both the birds and the flowers make me smile as well.

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  28. And isn't the sky just so beautiful. Always changing!! Love your photos.

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    1. CountryMum: The sky is an endless delight. I am very fond of our soft dawns too. I love that we both featured the Crested Wood Pigeons today.

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  29. I like the first sky photo, very dramatic and beautiful, and the first bird photo, looks so joyous and mischievous, at least compared to the dirty birds. Are you getting used to the new camera? Do you like it?

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    1. Strayer: All the corellas are mischievous clean or dirty. I hope they are also joyful. Anthromorphism it may be, but they do seem like happy birds.
      The new camera is a challenge but does (when I can get it right) take good photos. It makes my head hurt, but I do like it.

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  30. Your photos are wonderful, EC, and there'll be no stopping you now. I've never seen such dirty corella either though now and then we get a grubby sulphur crested cockie. I wonder what happens to them...

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    1. Carol: I wonder whether the dirty birds had been feeding beside the road and showered in muddy water. But they are sooooo dirty I am not sure it accounts for it.
      I am I think enjoying the camera, but it isn't easy. At all. Yet.

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    2. By a roadside, any muddy water may have also been greasy.

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    3. River: I thought of that, but their feathers don't look greasy. Just very dirty.

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  31. Lovely selecttion of bird shots and beautiful flower images from your garden. stunning sky shots.

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  32. Another lovely set of photos. Hope your weekend is going well. :)

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    1. LL Cool Joe: The weekend was pleasant, but is over. Sigh. A busy week ahead. I hope what is left of your weekend is wonderful.

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  33. "Screw loose in the operator" sounds like fun.
    Excellent photo experimentation EC. At the risk of sounding patronising, the more you take the better you will become - learning from your mistakes.

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    1. Yorkshire Pudding: Fortunately I am an obsessive, so I will be continuing to take photos. And hopefully not making the same mistakes too often.

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  34. As someone with a penchant for dramatic skies, I found your first photo superb. Thanks.

    Greetings from London.

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    1. A Cuban in London: I am an avid sky watcher, and often (and often) do mad woman with camera dances to salute it.

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  35. Hi EC - these are lovely ... your birds and your budding spring flowers in full bloom ... so pleased you're enjoying the camera ... cheers Hilary

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    1. Hilary Melton-Butcher: Summer is looming. Soon now. Sigh. In the interim I am enjoying the garden - and the camera. I hope your week treats you kindly.

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  36. That brown parrot is most unusual. I guess they really do come in all colors.

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    1. Alex J. Cavanaugh: The brown colour could be described (accurately) as dirt coloured. And reminds me of a brown tabby cat we had years ago whose name was Mud. So called because while we were choosing a name for her she defiled my clean washing. Twice. And her name was mud.

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  37. whirring wings.....I can hear it! thank you for that:)
    double poppies. I never knew.
    you and your world are delightful.
    thank you for sharing:)
    -Jennifer

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    1. Jennifer Richardson: Isn't the double poppy a joy. Broadcasting the seeds each year I hope for bumper crops. And I do love the birds.

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  38. How did the corellas get so dirty.
    Lovely flowers.
    Merle............

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    1. Merlesworld: I know not. I hope they can get clean - without a major moult.

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  39. Lovely rose photos! But that is one dirty filthy bird. Or are there several of them? How did they get so dirty? How do they ever get themselves clean? put themselves through the car wash? you can see I am intrigued by these birds.

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    1. Jenny Woolf: I really don't know quite how the birds got so totally filthy. Or how they will get clean. I first noticed it after a really good rainfall, and assumed that they would be clean again quickly. There are several that are a bit grotty and two or three which are absolutely filthy. They appear healthy and happy and it hasn't affected their appetite. Boy birds? Adolescent boy birds?

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  40. I feel all the weariness in me smooth away, looking at these.

    Is number 12 a hibiscus? I can't see the leaves too well. We have hibiscus that look like that.

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    1. neena maiya (aka guyana gyal): If it is the red ones after the roses it is a cactus/succulent. And I love it.

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  41. How do the birds get so dirty? They look awfully pretty after they get cleaned up:)

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    1. Sandra Cox: Mud bath? Showered by a puddle of dirty water? I really don't know. And hope that they do clean up. Before their next moult.

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  42. Fantastic photos with your new camera. There's some lovely, crisp details and good depth.
    It's fun playing around with settings - so much potential.

    Would love to see the corellas rolling and splashing in their muddy puddle or watering hole. Is there a swamp nearby?

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    1. Vicki: As the crow/corella flies there is a lake nearby (five or six kilometres) and dams closer. I really don't know where the grubby ones are acquiring their patina. It is sticking though.

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  43. When your spring becomes our winter, you and your camera capture the most awesome works of God.

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    1. Susan Kane: We live in a very, very beautiful world. Which we need to look after.

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  44. I am partial to the third sunset, the clean birds, and every last one of the flowers! I cannot take good photos to save my life.

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    1. rhymeswithplague: While I was told that a poor workman blames his tools, I have to give credit to my camera. It takes good photos, and as I learn more I hope/expect it will take better ones. I am fond of the grubby birds - just as much as their cleaner relatives.

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  45. The sky is such different colours in the first three photos of the Sister Trees (as I think of them). And all three are lovely.

    And that is one snappy hairstyle on the Crested Wood Pigeon! What a good shot you got of him. Or her.

    Hope your week goes well, EC.

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    1. jenny_o: I also think of them as Sister Trees now. And love the accent they add to the sky.
      The Crested Wood Pigeons are subtler than many of our birds - but very, very pretty.

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  46. Sue,
    your photos take my breath away.
    OMGOSHHH, I love that bird w/ the yellow crown!! xxx

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    1. My Inner Chick: The cockatoo raises that crest each time he/she lands, if it is interested, or alarmed. And noisy vandals that they are we welcome them.
      Hugs.

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  47. Sky, birds and flowers - a fabulous combination!

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  48. I envy your courage and tenacity with the camera. Your pictures are coming out beautifully. I'm so glad you're having fun with it and capturing such a diversity of birds and flowers. All so wonderfully gorgeous.

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    1. Myrna R.: Thank you. I am as stubborn as stains and the camera is NOT going to get the better of me. Or I hope it isn't. I am very grateful for the beauty I see, and want to share it.

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  49. Lovely, the very things I would photograph. I always say one day I'm going to take a class on photography. Never have, but one day!!!!!

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    1. Yolanda Renee: Me too. I have been thinking about a photography course for quite a while. Some day...

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  50. I'd never seen a crested pigeon before. You're right. He is a charmer.

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    1. Sandra Cox: And, unlike a lot of our native birds, their voices aren't grating. We have some beautiful birds - with awful voices.

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  51. Dear EC, that photograph of a crested wood pigeon is such a gift to all your readers. I've always thought your photographs were beautiful because you see beauty in nature and have a good sense of design.

    I didn't have a camera for maybe twenty years and then my niece bought a new one and gave her old one to me. But I'm too lazy--and technologically backward--to figure out how to use it! Peace.

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    1. Dee: The sense of design is nature's not mine. And she is an expert.
      I too am technologically challenged. But stubborn.

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  52. Those are some beautiful photos, wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving!

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    1. Lon Anderson: Thank you. We don't do Thanksgiving here, but I hope yours is lovely.

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  53. "...Others of them shine like a good deed in a naughty world..." That is a *brilliant* quote. Sounds like your Dad had a way with words - just like his daughter :)

    I never knew birds could get that messy!!

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    1. Mark Koopmans: I never thought about birds getting grubby either. Father did indeed have a way with words. Some of his phrases are a part of me now. And some I do my best to forget.

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  54. I love your photos, always. One of my most favorite pets were two zebra finches: Echo and Woody. Such sweet birds. IF parrots didn't live so long I would let one own me; they are so awesome. The thoughts of it outliving me makes me sad so I won't be getting one.

    Again you photos are so pretty.

    Teresa

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    1. T Powell Coltrin: As a child I had a much loved bird in a cage. I feel guilty about it now, and love seeing these ones fly free. And hope they live long and happy lives.
      Thank you for enjoying my photos.

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  55. Oh, by the way, the fifth sweetie down has a guilty look in his eye.

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    1. Susan Kane: I am not convinced they feel guilt. Like cats, they do what they feel like...

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  56. "Shining like a good deed in a naughty world" <-I like this as much as your lively photos, EC. It's always a pleasure dropping by. I hope you're in good spirits.

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  57. It's lovely to see a southern hemisphere sky (and sun) and beautiful blooms. I have a fondness for roses and poppies! Lovely.

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    1. Craig: Shortly we will be getting way too much sun. You would be more than welcome to it.

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  58. I love popping across to see your Sunday pictures.

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  59. I look across the open sky where I live and see the tree tops. The birds sing and the clouds waft breezily by overhead. Now thats freedom.

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    1. Spacerguy: Tree tops, bird song and sky sounds pretty close to heaven to me.

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  60. Those double poppies are pretty. So you plant from seeds?

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    1. Sandra Cox: They regrow from seed spread naturally and broadcast by me every year. I collect some at least of the seed pods because they are too precious to risk losing.

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  61. How majestic are His creations. Lovely!

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  62. How do you save seeds that small? I always admire your photos and am jealous!

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    1. Riot Kitty: I cut the seed heads off after the flower has finished and store the whole thing in a paper bag until I am ready to broadcast it the following year. Some of the seeds will have already fallen - and that is fine too.

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  63. So much beauty abounds in your life and that new camera is doing a great job,

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  64. Shining like a good deed in a naughty world - love that! And love all your photos - that orangey rose is breathtaking.

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    1. Lynn: That rose is a delight - with a gorgeous scent too.

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  65. These pictures are amazing! I love the sky photos- because I can look at those kinds of shots over and over again. I loved seeing the different between the blurred background and clear background. Interesting effect! :)
    ~Jess

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    1. DMS ~ Jess: Thank you for taking time out from your busy schedule to drop in. I hope your book does really, really well.
      And I am a sky addict. Anytime of the day, any season.

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