Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Sunday 16 October 2016

Sunday Selections #298

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

Starting with home.  Well in the general vicinity anyway.

Shortly before himself headed off, we went to a  guided 'Breakfast with the Birds' at our National Botanic Gardens.  It was an early start (much earlier than he usually arises) but afterwards he told me it was worth it.  

Over 200 species of birds are known to visit the Botanic Gardens, and for one month (co-inciding with Floriade) they open the gates early on weekends so that small groups of people can be shown some of them.

We had a lovely time.  Very few bird photos follow (many were small and moved faster and less predictably than greased lightening), but there are some shots of the beauty of the gardens.






I do love kookaburras.


If you embiggen you will see several birds nests in the tree above.


The Wood Ducks at least stayed still long enough to take their photos...



In the prolonged wet weather we have been having some surprisingly large trees have slid to the ground...




Orchids were coming out everywhere.


The early morning light and the bird song made a beautiful start to the day.  And the cafeteria opened early for us too, and the after walk breakfast was also a treat.

And now to more exotic treats.

Of course himself had to see pandas while in China.  I believe that pandas are 'reluctant breeders', but you would never know it from his photos.





And some shots from a market place he wandered happily through.



He tells me that ginger cats are almost the only ones he has seen in China.  Which surprised me.



He tells me that this is 'furry tofu'.  Which is so very wrong on so many levels.


Noticing the fish, I asked whether the markets smelt, and he said that he has smelt much, much worse. 

He is still having a lovely time, and still having his photo taken on a regular basis. 

154 comments:

  1. I love your trees which are completely different from our in europe. Ginger cats look interesting but I prefer black and wwhite

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    1. Gosia k: Thank you. I like most cats (not fond of the hairless varieties) but for some reason have never shared my life with a ginger.

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  2. Oooooo!!! I love the little pandas! And that kookaburra is very cute, too. Love your trees but am not sure about that fuzzy tofu. Blyech.

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    1. Kathleen Valentine: I agree on the furry tofu front. I like tofu, but...

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  3. I visited the National Botanic Gardens with my cousin when I was in ACT. None of your photos look familiar though! I took some photos, will have to go and look at them for comparison.
    I thought ginger cats were almost always boy cats.... although we did have a ginger girl cat once.
    I'll have to post the latest video put out by Toronto Zoo all about the first year of our baby Giant Pandas. So cute!

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    1. Shammickite: The National Botanic Gardens are constantly being updated, and we didn't cover quite a lot of it that morning. We will be back. I believe that ginger cats are usually males. Interesting that you had a girl.

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  4. I love the green in that first photo. It's so intense, so vivid. Thanks.

    Greetings from London.

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    1. A Cuban in London: The gardens are greener than I can remember seeing them.

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  5. I know that feeling of not being able to see let alone photograph the small birds in the woods. They move quickly and then blend in so well that even my camera can't pick them out. But, you did manage to get a few good bird shots in this group.

    I love that your husband is in China having a wonderful time, but I missed how that all came about. I have perused your blog and am embarrassed at how much I have missed. So many wonderful outings and pictures and things that you commit to ... you do amaze me. But, I still have not found where you explain about why your husband is in China (without you) getting his picture taken as well as sending you wonderful shots ... love the panda's and have to agree on the furry tofu :( I have come over to try your Wednesday words, but haven't been able to come up with anything. My so called friend told me I don't have the gift ... hmmmm. So that shouldn't really matter, but it really put a stop to my few futile efforts. I do look for something that I can illustrate in a picture form and will find something someday. Sorry I have been such a poop ... I am busy all of the time with who knows what and I miss out on so much good stuff ... as for you, you never miss saying something nice to me. I hope that I make it to Australia someday so I can give you a big hug ...

    Andrea @ From The Sol

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    1. Andrea Priebe: Travelling is his passion. He is (sort of) well enough to travel again, and has dived in with both feet. I cannot travel as he does, so remain home - or we would both compromise any pleasure away.
      Ignore your friend. We would love you to join us some day with Wednesday words.
      Hugs.

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  6. Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree; merry, merry king of the bush is he. A good Aussie song that escaped into the world.

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    1. Joanne Noragon: And a song I think of every time I see or hear them...

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  7. Now I've got that song about the kookaburra wafting through my head. I might have to go look it up. Love the pandas and the Chinese market, it brought back my own memories. :-)

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    1. DJan: Now we all share an ear worm. I hope your memories are as positive as his seem to be.

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  8. pandas grab my heart strings every time

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    1. only slightly confused: I like pandas, but it is animals closer to the top of the food chain which are dearest to me, the tigers and the polar bears. Which probably says something about me.

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  9. You really have wonderful time now.

    Pandas are wonderful. We recently had a TV program of pandas.
    Fish in the last photo is a strange looking. I do not think that I would like to eat it.
    Have a nice week.

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    1. orvokki: The fish in that final shot were alien to me too. Sometimes I am glad to be vegetarian. I wouldn't eat furry tofu though. I hope you have a lovely week too.

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  10. I love Pandas, of course, everyone loves Pandas. They are beautiful EC, love them, and again I keep saying, love them.

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  11. Such a lovely early morning, EC. A feast for body and soul by the sound of it.

    The pandas a adorable!

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    1. Marie Smith: It was a lovely start to the day. And the bird song was incredible. Even when we couldn't see them.

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  12. I love seeing cats lounging around in markets - something which would never be tolerated in the US. And as for furry food? Ugh. I'm an adventurous eater but I don't want to eat anything described as furry!

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    1. River Fairchild: That cat looked totally at it ease reclining on the jewellery didn't it? And would have made me take a closer look. They wouldn't be welcome in our markets either. Our loss.

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  13. My blog list didn't say you had a new post this morning and I started to panic just slightly about you possibly being unwell and alone!
    I used to be sensible and rational but the older I get the more I worry.

    I love your shot of the kooka

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    1. kylie: Blogger at its tricks again. I put it up shortly before five this morning. Sadly, worrying is one of my skills. I cross my bridges before I know there is a river. I am sorry to have given you any qualms though.

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  14. I guess the Chinese have a thing for redheads.
    That's a lot of baby pandas...

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    1. Alex J. Cavanaugh: That is indeed a big puddle of pandas. Something I would never have expected to see.

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  15. Everything looks so wonderful from your photos, and I do so love pandas. What beautiful, fun animals they are.

    Have yourself a good week, EC...cuddles to the two Js. :)

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    1. Lee: Thank you. I hope you and your furry overlords have a wonderful week too. Are you still cat-sitting Molly too?

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    2. Yes, I am, EC....until 27th October. I'll be glad when it's 27th October! :)

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  16. My late brother-in-law was a veterinarian & he owned a long series of cats, all ginger & all named Alex!!

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    1. fishducky: We had a friend who had a series of animals called Otis, but they ranged from cats to dogs to birds...
      Your brother-in-law was obviously an efficient man.

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  17. Not being a great panda fan,I'll leave quietly...

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    1. dinahmow: As I said earlier, I like pandas but LOVE tigers and panthers and polar bears. I lean towards the carnivores it seems. Odd in my vegetarian self.

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  18. Great photos of the Botanic Gardens, but how to compete with photos of pandas.

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  19. There are times when being 'guided' can be a good thing - this early morning adventure certainly seems to be one.
    I still remember our long ago trip to the zoo in San Diego (2000) to see the Pandas.
    Cathy

    Cathy @ Still Waters

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    1. Cathy: The guides were familiar with the gardens and have considerably more birding expertise than I can muster. One of them was talking about a CD of bird song she played until she could identify the bird sight unseen.

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  20. A wonderful selection of shots as always, EC. I heard or read somewhere recently that pandas are no longer listed as endangered, which is great to hear. Some of them have obviously been really pulling their weight!

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    1. Alexia: I didn't realise that pandas had been taken off the endangered list. Wonderful news. Hopefully we can do the same for other species too. Elephants. Tigers. And sadly too many others.

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  21. Replies
    1. Author R. Mac Wheeler: You might have mentioned it once or twice. I do too. You would have liked our Botanic Gardens.

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  22. Breakfast with the Birds sounds like a wonderful way to spend a day. Such lovely photos at home and at away.

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    1. Mason Canyon: It was a truly delightful start - which even the world champion sleeper-in acknowledged.

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  23. Thank you for taking us around with these lovely images. My favorites were the Gardens

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    1. Martin Kloess: I am fond of the gardens too. Thank you.

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  24. "The Wood Ducks at least stayed still long enough to take their photos..."
    You know where my mind went ... yeah .. because they were wood!
    Sick sense of humour, I know.
    Thank you for sharing your pics EC, from both the homefront and abroad.

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    1. carol in cairns: How could I have missed that. Perhaps that IS why I was able to take their photo, and failed on so many other counts.

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  25. SO much here to enjoy! Thank you Dear

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  26. Looks like it would be just my place. Absolutely love wooded areas and birds so this place looks fantastic. Also kookaburra!

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    1. Robert Bennett: It is a beautiful place - and within walking distance of the city centre. Which blows me away.

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  27. I love the general vicinity of your life!!! So beautiful!!!
    I'm thinking that hanging fish would be STINKY!

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    1. Sonya Ann: Thank you. We do live in a pretty city. I thought the hanging fish would be truly vile too. He says not, but I suspect he was lying like a pig in mud.

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  28. I am with you on market place charm. It can only go so far.

    What a beautiful country.

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    1. Susan Kane: I do like markets, and share his fondness for third world markets. But fish markets? No.
      China does seem to be surprisingly (to my ignorant self) beautiful. I am pretty certain I wouldn't like the big cities, but I don't like them here either.

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  29. Breathtaking photos. I can't pick a favorite because they are all fabulous. I love the baby pandas and the playful one of the panda on his back. The ducks are gorgeous. Thanks for the show.

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    1. Melissa Sugar: Welcome and thank you. When he returns there will be many, many more photos.

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  30. all the lovely baby pandas, how wonderful to see the all together, and I am inspired somewhat sadly by the large tree fallen, it's bark seems so interesting

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    1. Linda Starr: I loved the bark on that tree too. And hope that another gets planted.

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  31. I would love to have all that greenery in my back yard, or even half of it. I love kookaburras and their laugh, I have two plastic ones hanging in my plum trees, but they're the strong silent type.
    Love the photos from China, what exactly is 'furry tofu'? Not made from animals surely? it's bean curd, so can't be..
    Odd that only orange cats are seen, perhaps there's some luck attached to the colour.

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    1. River: Furry tofu was how it was described in the markets apparently. And it looked furry he tells me. And my gorge rises at the very thought. I have no idea how they make it and don't want to know.
      I would love to have as much greenery as the Botanic Gardens too. However, given that I can't manage the garden I have, more space isn't a good idea.
      I wonder about the lucky orange cats thing. They are relatively rare here...

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  32. What a beautiful Botanical Garden. It must have been such a treat to see all the birds and plants.
    It looks like he is having a great time in China! How are you ever going to deal with his swelled head after all those people taking his picture!

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    1. Teresa Hennes: It is a delightful set of gardens. And there is so much left to explore. I doubt his swelled head will last long. The cats will pull him into line quickly.

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  33. Replies
    1. Tammy Theriault: These are taken on his phone, I expect even better captures from the camera - and am constantly awed that he can switch between the two.

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  34. Wonderful gardens to wonder around and great for you both to hear the bird song in the morning. I love the PAndas

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    1. Margaret Adamson: They are truly delightful garden, and the birds are an added bonus.

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  35. Lots of intriguing photos from both you and himself. I LOVE the shots of the trees against the sky - beautiful. And I have to confess I like pandas very much just because they look so goofy, like they are smiling hugely over a private joke. I hope you are doing all right, EC, and have found some ways to cope while your partner is away. Hugs.

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    1. jenny_o: Thank you. I am sort of managing. Partly by ignoring some things.
      And as you know I too love tree bones against the sky. You are right about pandas goofiness. They make almost the perfect stuffed toy - and I still have one I was given before I could walk.

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  36. I would love to have breakfast there with all the surrounding birds. The photos from China are great. When we visited China I was not blogging and I only had a rubbish little camera so not much to remember it by :-( Have a good week Diane

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    1. Rhodesia ~ Diane: Thank you. It was a really lovely place to start the day. I hope they do the early opening thing more often. All these photos are taken from his phone. I am looking forward to seeing the camera shots too.

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  37. Dear EC
    Thank you for sharing your visit to such lovely gardens (and for the few birds that stayed still enough to appear in a photo). Those baby pandas are so sweet - it's good to know that there are some wildlife protection programmes in China.
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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    1. Ellie Foster: Not only wildlife protection programs, but very successful ones. And yes, it is lovely to realise though my cynical self knows that pandas are a money spinner.

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  38. Do you ever travel EC, or just him? Furry tofu, what in the world is that, or dare I consider? Lovely gardens and so many birds are incredibly fast, and don't hold still for a camera op.

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    1. Strayer: I think my travelling days are done. He refuses to give up. Furry tofu still has me shuddering. I don't know what gives it the fur - and don't want to.

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  39. Hi EC - wonderful photos of your botanical paradises ... interesting to see the trees down because of the rain - we get that happening, when it's been dry down here in the south. Love the kookaburra and the wood-ducks .. wonderful colours.

    So pleased he himself is enjoying his travels and posting photos back for you to put up here ... that furry tofu - has very definitely put me off!

    Love the orchids though ... cheers Hilary

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    1. Hilary Melton-Butcher: Furry tofu is an ugly thought isn't it? I loved the orchids too, particularly because the birds here have vandalised one of ours.

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  40. My wife and I went to see the Panda when we we in Washington DC. They are beautiful creachers. Of course Jilda said, "I want one."

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    1. Rick Watson: Just a little panda? There must be room at your home...

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  41. I have questions about the only ginger cats but I'm not sure if I want the answers...as for the pandas, I love the one laying back with the bamboo (I assume), and the pile all crashed.

    And yes, furry tofu is WRONG!
    :)

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    1. mshatch: Yes, some questions have the potential for ugly answers don't they? Pandas seem to be fairly laid back critters, dinner in bed looked v comfortable and I did love the puddle of pandas.

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  42. Look at those sweet babies!
    What a lovely idea for a breakfast.

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    1. Sandra Cox: It WAS a lovely breakfast. Even for those in this household who don't 'do' breakfast.

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  43. Furry tofu? Gak. Wrong, wrong...hell tofu itself is wrong....Love the shot of the cat laying on the table. You'd think they'd be after the fish.
    Hmm.

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    1. Carolyn McBride: I like tofu. But agree wholeheartedly about the wrongness of a furry variety. I wondered about the fish stall and the resident moggies too.

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  44. I continually love seeing the animals, pets, cats, birds, and ginger cats! YES! And PANDAS! WOW. xxx

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    1. My Inner Chick: I love the animals too. Always. Hugs.

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  45. Loved the tree photos and the panda photos and also the pathway leading into the garden, so evocative. I have been away for way too long...

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    1. Nilanjana Bose: Pathways always exert a siren call don't they? Particularly paths though a wood...

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  46. What a lovely outing for you. I love the wood ducks! Pandas are cute too, but the wood ducks feel peaceful!

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    1. Bookie: The wood ducks were peaceful. And very happy - which made us happy too.

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  47. Compared to China, I'll take Australia. And you didn't take a photo of your breakfast! waaaaah

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    1. lotta joy: There are parts of China I would love to see. Including the Terracotta Warriors - who are on his agenda.
      It didn't occur to me to take photos of breakfast. Sorry about that.

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  48. Your pictures of the Botanical Gardens are lovely. As I have said before, you have a wonderful skill with the camera.

    It was fun seeing the pictures of the Panda bears. Those babies are as cute as can be.

    Someone told me once that ginger cats are mostly male. A female ginger is a rarity. I might be wrong.

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    1. Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe: Thank you. I still turn to the instruction tome (800 pages) quite often.
      The puddle of pandas was lovely wasn't it.
      I had heard that about ginger cats too. There are obviously 'enough' females though.

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  49. The open markets in China are not smelly. That's not the case for Hong Kong's closed markets. You must go early to shop. After the heat starts, the smell is an appetite killer. I was always there at opening and gone before the sun rose too high. He's having a wonderful China experience! Thanks for showing us his pictures.

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    1. cleemckenzie: Himself is not an early riser, so I doubt it was early when he got to the markets. It probably wasn't hot though. He is indeed having a wonderful time in China. Three Gorges Tour today I believe...

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  50. Furry Tofu! I don't think I want to ask more questions.

    Great photos of the gardens. The birdsongs over breakfast would have been delightful no doubt.

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    1. CountryMum: No, I don't think either of us would like the answers.
      Breakfast with the Birds was delightful and a Bower Bird was begging at some of the tables outside. Too quick for my camera though.

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  51. The panda photos are precious. I am surprised to see so many babies as I was under the impression they rarely mated.

    I am a bird lover, you should have seen me today there was a heron near a lake and I had to stop the car and quietly wiggle myself through the brush to snag a picture with my cell phone. Crazy!

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    1. Truedessa: I had heard that about pandas too. It seems we were wrong. And I am glad to be so.
      I would wriggle to snag a picture of a heron too. Every time.

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  52. I'm pretty sure I would have enjoyed the breakfast with the birds as well. I can only imagine all the bird song. How very lovely.

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    1. Carola Bartz: It was. The Botanic Gardens are very, very close to the centre of town - and you would never know. And the range of songs was incredible. And beautiful.

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  53. The ones with them sleeping? Oh my gosh. Cutenss overload. Love it.

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    1. The Happy Whisk: It is isn't it? I understand it was a sort of trampoline they were resting on.

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  54. Looks like beautiful weather is being enjoyed by all creatures on two or four legs. I feel envious of those pandas. They look so content.

    Thanks for stopping by. Loving thoughts your way.

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    1. Rawknrobyn: Here today we have wind and dampness. And it is still beautiful. He is about to go on a three day cruise of the Three Gorges. I hope the weather is kind to him, but he will enjoy it anyway.

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  55. May we display your header on our new site directory? As it is now, the site title (linked back to your home page) is listed, and we think displaying the header will attract more attention. In any event, we hope you will come by and see what is going on at SiteHoundSniffs.com.

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    1. Jerry E Beuterbaugh: You have put a lot of work into your site director. Thank you for the offer.

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    2. Thanks! May we display your header to make it easier for people to find this site there (and enhance the appeal of ours)?

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    3. Jerry E Beuterbaugh: Feel free.

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    4. Thank you so very much for giving permission. Aside from the All category and the slideshow on the Home page, you can see your header under Daily Life, Land/Sea/Skyscapes, Photography and Australia.

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  56. That sounds like such a lovely outing - I'm glad you got to do that and share the photos with us! Do Kookaburas laugh like that little childhood song I remember said?

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    1. Lynn: Kookaburras do indeed have a laughing call - and I smile whenever I hear them.

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  57. Forgot to mention - I love pandas. We have some at our zoo in Atlanta, complete with Panda Cam. Sounds as if himself is having a grand time!

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    1. Lynn: He is having a wonderful time. Action packed. I suspect he is going to be a v tired puppy when he returns.

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  58. In Taiwan, they have a dish called 'stinky tofu'. Wonder if it is furry too. Love the baby pandas. And we did sing that song about the kookaburra in the old gum tree too.

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    1. Sue in Italia/In the Land of Cancer: Stinky AND furry? Shudder.

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  59. Interesting that he's only seeing ginger cats isn't it?

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    1. Sandra Cox: It is. And a bit disturbing. It is quite a while since I have seen a ginger cat here.

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  60. Furry Tofu. HAHAHAHAHAHA. That's all I have to say about that. Your pictures make me want to be where you are more than in China, but boy those baby Pandas are cute. X

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    1. All Consuming: You are stronger than I am. Furry tofu envokes the EEEEEEUW clause rather than laughter. You would like our Botanic Gardens I think. Lots and lots of trees. Of many varieties.

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  61. Lovely shots of flowers and spring! And so nice to see pandas... I lived in China for three years and never got to see furry tofu or pandas! ;-)

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    1. Lady Fi: No pandas? That is sad. Not seeing furry tofu wouldn't cause me to lose sleep though.

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  62. Simply love those pictures of the pandas. Always thought they looked so cuddly but I guess I couldn't cuddle a panda in my lap.

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    1. Rasma Raisters: You could certainly cuddle those babies. More than one at once.

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  63. You surprised us with the Pandas. I love them so much. Also love ginger cats. We had a male ginger Tom running around here before I had my cats all fixed. Meanwhile I kind of hoped I would get a ginger kitten. I did not but my my neighbor's did.

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    1. Granny Annie: Despite always having had cats, and loving them, I have never had a ginger one. Some day. Perhaps.

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  64. The early morning trip to the gardens sounds perfect, I especially love those little greased lightning birds. And your man's trip looks spectacular; two different worlds. I eat quite a lot of tofu but it would be in the bin pretty quickly if it looked furry - I'd better go check those use by dates ...

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    1. Kim: I too eat quite a lot of tofu, and the furry variety would be binned very, very quickly. The early morning bird walk was wonderful. And educational. One of the guides told us that she has a CD of bird songs and played it and played it until she can recognise a bird sight unseen. Which could get challenging identifying some who are skilled mimics.

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  65. Lovely photos! I especially enjoyed the one of the Kookaburra as I love them too. Really neat photos and I enjoyed the ones from China. Market scenes are always so interesting. The Panda's are real cute. I have read somewhere that the conservation program for Pandas has been very successful, there was some talk of taking them off the endangered list. Do you know if this is true?

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    1. DeniseinVA: Talking to a friend yesterday (who is not long back from China) she told me that the pandas numbers have increased through artificial insemination. She was told that if it was up to the pandas, they would die out. So they still sound endangered to me.

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    2. Thanks for letting me know. They are such lovely animals. The ones we have at our zoo are being sent back to China, so am hoping we will get new ones to replace them.

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    3. DeniseinVA: I hope you do too. I believe that pandas are often leased to other zoos...

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  66. Sounds like himself is also an animal lover.

    Have a perfect Tuesday.

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    1. Sandra Cox: Wednesday here, and I am glad to have left Tuesday behind (funeral of a friend). Himself does love animals. When our relationship started in the dark ages he believed he didn't like cats. They proved him wrong.

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  67. Oh I understand how fast the birds move! You still have great shots of the nests in the trees, ducks. Pandas are so adorable...pretty place. I am not an early riser either but a good breakfast makes it easier

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    1. Kim@stuffcould...: I am an early riser, but don't usually get treats like this. And having breakfast presented fully made (and cleaned up afterwards) definitely falls into the positive side of the equation.

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  68. Wow you are taking us along and I appreciate seeing a part of the world I may never see. Your photos are incredible. Enjoy enjoy I know I am. Hug B

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    1. Buttons Thoughts: He is taking me along - it is a part of the world I don't expect to see. I am enjoying his photos though.

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  69. Here, the expression "for the birds" means something is less than desirable. That's kinda funny, because I think having a meal in those gardens with so many kinds of birds flitting around would be rather heavenly. You must have loved it!

    We have pandas at our zoo here in Atlanta, and they've bred very nicely... usually birthing twins. I think the zoo pays something like a million dollars a year to "lease" them, and after a few years, the young ones have to be sent to China. But I've never seen THAT many pandas in one place. It must have been amazing.

    Furry tofu? I think I'd pass on that...

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    1. Susan: Breakfast in the gardens was lovely. And not crowded, as the cafe gets later in the day. That many pandas at once was amazing wasn't it? The marvels of artificial insemination I suspect.

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  70. I would have loved to have attended the bird tour. Sounds like fun and I bet the birds were flying fast. Your pictures are all fabulous.

    Thanks for sharing the traveling photos. The pandas are too cute. I can only imagine the smell from all those fish!
    ~Jess

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    1. DMS ~ Jess: He tells me, and another blogger concurred, that the fish didn't smell. I don't think I would like it in the middle of the day in summer though.
      The breakfast with the birds tour was wonderful. A few weeks ago - and it still makes me smile.

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  71. The amazing, wonderful gifts of nature!

    The laughter of the kookaburra is the best! Ever! Ever ever!

    Then there are the pandas.

    That is one cleaning looking fish market.

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    1. neena maiya (guyana gyal): Nature gives us wonders doesn't she? So many of our birds are NOT musical - but I love the kookaburra's call. So much.

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  72. Still trying to catch up and hopefully will do so soon.
    Would love to be able to stroll through the botanic gardens so thank you for sharing them with me.
    I loved the pic on TV of the little panda falling off the bed and then just laying there and going to sleep. Wonderful animals.
    It is good to see the other side of China that tourists see so thank you for sharing the SP's pics.

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