Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Sunday 12 March 2017

Sunday Selections #318

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? The smaller portion's sister is here.  We have been busy.  We are busy.  We will be busy.  So this week I am giving you the kangaroo fix she said she needed - and thoroughly enjoyed.  As we did.  With a few other things.



 You will probably need to embiggen this.  It explains why some of the females have ugly collars and ear tags.  If it works it is much better than the culls we too regularly have.

And as this poor long suffering mother shows, the 'babies' stay dependent for a loooong time.  Pouch potatoes.


  
There were lots of kangaroos about - and some of them were big.  And all of them were relaxed.





  
There were other things to delight us too.


A bearded raven.




The fountain has been turned off (for repairs) for nearly a year.  It was nice to see it back.






It really is a lovely spot, and we are so grateful that it is less than half an hour away from home.

This morning we are hoping to see balloons inflate and launch, and will be going to the markets after that.  I will visit you  later, but will be late and unreliable until the end of this week.

   

156 comments:

  1. Beautiful photos, EC. I hope the program does the job for the kangaroos. Have a great week.

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    1. Marie Smith: I hope that the contraceptives are a stunning success. It will be a v busy week for which I will pay later but there have already been some highlights.

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  2. I love the bearded raven. Haven't seen those. A the black swan was gorgeous. I thought the water was a geyser. Glad they are able to prevent pregnancies rather than cull them. I had a feral cat colony at the barn that I had on birth control. Worked very well.

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    1. donna baker: The culls are protested every year and there is doubt about their necessity. Contraceptives are a MUCH better option. I am very fond of the bearded ravens and the swans too. And today captured more swan shots - plus reflections.

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  3. Thanks for the roos. I like the term pouch potato.

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    1. Sue in Italia/In the Land Of Cancer: I am glad you enjoyed the roos. They are definitely pouch potatoes. I have seen them fill that pouch to incredible size.

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  4. Pouch potatoes! Excellent :) (There's a perfect use for an exclamation mark if I ever saw one)

    Gorgeous pictures, EC. I am especially taken by the bearded raven shot. He gave you a good once-over from the look of things; did he keep his beak to himself? I can't get that close to our crows.

    Lovely scenery there. And I'm glad to see they are trying birth control with the kangaroos. It's much more humane than culling, even with the darts and collars. And it's good they have explanations posted.

    I hope that entertaining the visitor will bring you and SP many good memories.

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    1. jenny_o: I am glad to see that you felt free to use the dreaded exclamation mark.
      The bearded raven was wary, but did keep his beak to himself. (Just as well).
      The explanation has been a long time in coming and I do hope the program succeeds.

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  5. Pouch potato! Love it.And thanks for the raven.I've never seen them here.

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    1. dinahmow: We have a family of those ravens visiting home at the moment. They are warier than the ones by the lake though and disappear as soon as I lift the camera. Beautiful things.

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  6. Love those roos!!

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  7. The big bucks certainly have powerfully formed chests...it's little wonder they can cause damage if so inclined!

    I hope you had a great day watching the balloons and at the market. The market is on here today just across the way a bit at the showgrounds...they're held the second Sunday of every month.

    Enjoy the coming week, EC with your visitor..I hope it's a good one for you all. Cuddles to Jazz. :)

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    1. Lee: The bucks are very, very powerful and not to be underestimated.
      We had a WONDERFUL morning watching the balloons launch. The markets were good too. A tiring day, but a good one.
      Jazz is even tolerating her. Which is almost unheard of.

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  8. Wonderful photos. Love the kangaroos and the birds. Hope the coming week is great for you.

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    1. Rasma Raisters: Thank you. I am glad that other people enjoy some of my obsessions too.

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  9. good idea about the birthcontrol for the kangaroos; the baby kangaroo is well fed and his mother looks skinny; the fountain looks like a natural geyser.

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    1. Linda Starr: The fountain (The Captain Cook Memorial Jet) was a gift to my city from Britain. It is good to see it going again.

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  10. You sound busy! I didn't realize you had a population growth problem with the kangaroos. That poor mother... I also didn't know the joeys hung around for so long! Pouch potatoes... hah! Love it! What a beautiful spot to go visiting in.

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    1. River Fairchild: Busy is an understatement. Today has been busy, but less so than yesterday. The sister has an app that tells us we had walked well over four kilometres before eleven this morning.
      There is dispute about whether the roo numbers are out of hand, but contraception is a much better option.

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  11. Pouch potato...Oh, I love that term!!!

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  12. Kangaroos are slow to move out of home or the pouch.
    I've seen then at our local gardens still going into the pouch and they are as big as mum.
    Merle........

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    1. Merlesworld: We have seen that too. It looks incredibly uncomfortable for the poor mother. Those claws are sharp and the legs are long.

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  13. EC, you live in such a lovely and interesting place. I just love your kangaroos. What fun animals they are to watch.

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    1. Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe: We love our kangaroos too. And never tire of watching them. We have seen them yesterday and today as well.

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  14. Fine, healthy and very relaxed looking kangaroos. I have a photo of the water jet seeming to come out of my partner's head, taken about 1983. Just an accidental shot. I didn't know there was such a thing as a bearded raven. I can see why it is called so.

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    1. Andrew: Sometimes the accidental shots are gems aren't they? The bearded raven is well named isn't it?

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  15. I feel like I have had my kangaroo fix now EC. Love these guys and how wonderful to see them just roaming around. Enjoyed your other photos too, the water shots, sparkling so beautifully. The black swan is one I would love to see in its natural habitat, though feel fortunate I have seen them in other places, even rarely.

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    1. Denise inVA: I am glad to have been able to give a global kangaroo fix.

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  16. Excellent photos of the relaxed roos, and I'm so glad they use birth control rather than the alternative. I fell about laughing at 'pouch potatoes' - brilliant. I too haven't heard of a bearded raven before; Wikipedia shows it as being endemic to Oz, and calls it the Australian Raven. Very interesting.

    Enjoy the balloons! we will enjoy seeing them.

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    1. Alexia: We were lucky with the balloons - and loved them. One of this year's feature balloons was a hummingbird. A huge hummingbird. Many photos will follow.

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  17. It's odd to see the kangaroos standing up like they are about to start talking to you. I hope the fertility program works. Are there kangaroos anywhere else but Australia? New Zealand?

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    1. Birdie: They do look a bit like that don't they? And often stand - to look around, to look big and before they start moving. They are native to Australia and no where else though I believe that fossilized giant roos have been found in New Guinea. Don't quote me on that though.

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  18. Replies
    1. J Cosmo Newbery: One of many over the last few days.

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  19. I really appreciate the wonderful look around. Thank you for taking me with you.

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  20. thank you for sharing more gorgeous images. the black beard on that black bird was well-spotted.
    Busy, busy - yes you are indeed as I see from your absence in the comments. lizzen carefully: my comment does not require response. wishing you peace.

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    1. Annie ODyne: Thank you. I have a stolen hour to myself. The man of the moment and his sister have gone shopping. Without me. Yay. And of course I reply to you. Peace would/will be lovely.

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  21. A bearded raven! The first I've ever seen. I like the kangaroos and hope the vaccination scheme works, control is better than culling for sure. Have an enjoyable week, but get some rest too.

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    1. River: Rest is going to be in short supply for the next few days. I have an interlude to myself now - and am loving it. It was a very early start to the day - we were at the balloon launch well before dawn, and went on to the Parliamentary Rose Gardens, down to the lake and then to the markets. All good things, but tiring things too.

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  22. The kangaroos amid those trees, now that is a typical Australian photo for me, it's great.
    Do like to see the roos from time to time.

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    1. Margaret-whiteangel: It is lovely to see them isn't it? And they blend into those trees so well.

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  23. oh I love seeing the kangeroos, they seem so natural among those trees!

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    1. Kim@stuffcould...: We love seeing them too. We see them often, and always smile. Today and yesterday were roo filled days as well.

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  24. as always some great photos and interesting information, thanks :)

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  25. Love the sign. Fertility control for kangaroo? It almost sounds like something from a fantasy novel. I can hardly believe it's real.

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    1. Olga Godim: If the program works there will be no need for any further kangaroo culls in my city. Which will please me mightily.

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  26. I love your roo posts! And a handsome raven too! Plus more! Thank you.

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    1. Paper Chipmunk: How nice to see you. I have been thinking of you and meaning to email for days. And days.

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    2. Paper Chipmunk (aka Ellen): Hugs.

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  27. I love seeing pictures of where you live.

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    1. Rick Watson: The blogosphere shrinks the world beautifully doesn't it?

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  28. I'm not sure why the raven photo captured my attention so much, maybe it was because it was such a beautiful close-up. The lake photos, ok all the photos are amazing. Always enjoy your photos.

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    1. Mason Canyon: Thank you. I am fond of those ravens. I have had quite a lot of failed photography attempts with them too.

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  29. Hi EC - glad you're enjoying the family visit - loved seeing the photos and that bearded raven ... yes the beard can be seen. Lovely part of your world ... and today enjoy those balloons and the local market ... cheers and see you when you're ready - Hilary

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    1. Hilary Melton-Butcher: The family visit is exhausting, but we are seeing some wonderful things. And the moment I am the only one up. Everyone else (including Jazz) is asleep.

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  30. Hello! Thanks for this post! A very nice sunday selection! Best part: Photos of spring! :D :)))....i missed the sund and I've been waiting for this time of the year!!! :))....Have a sunny day and best wishes from hotels schenna ( http://www.hotelwalder.com )...Maria ;)

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    1. Anonymous ~ Maria: Welcome and thank you. We are going into Autumn here - and I am glad.

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  31. Amazed by all the kangaroos and the sparkling water.

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    1. Granny Annie: They are good aren't they? Very good.

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  32. Pouch Potatoes, that's a good one! They're working on "chemical fixes" for dogs and cats, too, along with for other species like for some birds. They better not forget the humans! Our populations are getting out of hand also.

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    1. Strayer: I would like to see the fix extended to humans too. And think they are targetting the wrong gender. Males can keep on and keep on impregnating females.

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  33. Thanks for sharing your remarkable home with us dear! Gosh this is magical to us. Do enjoy your day, and be assured we will be so happy to see you whenever we see you. Nice to think of you out on an adventure! It's a real pleasure to have you back in blogville! <3

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    1. Cloudia: Thank you. I have indeed been having adventures - and some at least of them will find their way here.

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  34. To me they look like storybook characters!
    Pouch potatoes indeed! Go get a job!

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    1. Molly Bon: I am always amazed at how big some of the joeys are which are still drinking from their mothers, and still climbing into those pouches. No room at the inn doesn't stop them.

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  35. ah, loved the landscape of 15 and 16

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    1. Author R. Mac Wheeler: It is a pretty area isn't it?

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  36. Gorgeous photos! :-)

    Greetings from London.

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  37. I know what it's like to have company that wants to sightsee. It makes us busier than we'd like, but it does get us out to see the wonders we sometimes take for granted. I love the kangaroo pictures and do hope the contraceptive experiment is successful. Have a fun week.

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    1. Myrna R.: Much busier than I would like. We have been places I love, and places we do go to - but have packed all of it into a very small window. This too will pass - and leave all of us with good memories.

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  38. Aren't they adoringable, the Kangaroos. They are beautiful photos EC.

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    1. Bob Bushell: Since I am not a farmer I can agree. Kangaroos ARE adorable.

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  39. Hello, hope all is well, I know you must have really enjoyed yourself, these photos are just precious, they are sweet critters in so many ways. Great moments in nature too, yours is so much nicer than my return to winter again right now as I write this, it's really trying to create a blizzard out there! Enjoy your week!

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    1. Karen S.: I hope you can stay safe in the blizzard. I am hanging out for cooler weather and there are hints that it is on its way.

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  40. Wow I didn't realise just how big the kangaroos are until you see them standing by a tree.

    The Raven looks like he'd peck your eyes out if you pissed him off! Great photos.

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    1. LL Cool Joe: Some kangaroos are indeed big. And powerful. The raven does have a powerful beak doesn't it? And no doubt uses it. Mind you, when they visit us, apples are the victims.

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  41. I love these photos.The lake is stunning with the sparkles on the water and I have never seen or heard of a bearded raven. We once had a kangaroo farm or settlement near us. They took us on tours through the grounds in open carts. I loved to watch the kangaroos. But they closed the place and we can't go see them anymore. I enjoy so much your photos of your place on this big planet. I will never see it in person, but I feel I am seeing it through your eyes.

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    1. Glenda Council Beall: The lake is manmade - but beautiful and I cannot remember the city without it. A kangaroo farm? For meat? I hope not. And thank you.

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  42. I'm not gonna lie...that raven picture. It's so perfect and still: I genuinely thought it was fake. Hell, I'm still questioning if it's actually a real bird. haha

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    1. Robert Bennett: It is a real bird. I am not clever enough to fake it.

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  43. Kangaroo real fascinate me. But I live in the United States.
    Coffee is on

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    1. peppylady(Dora): Kangaroos fascinate us too. I knew you live in the US. Enjoy your coffee. I am sipping on a cup of tea.

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  44. Oh, I LOVE kangaroos, and black swans, terrific shots!

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  45. What a gorgeous area and great that is close to home for you. Love all the Kangaroos. Sounds like you are going to have a busy week, enjoy

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    1. Margaret Adamson: Thank you. It is going to be very busy indeed.

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  46. How lovely place and I really love the kangaroos. Black swan is not so usual, it looks also lovely.
    Happy this week to you.

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    1. orvokki: Thank you. Our native swans are all black. I think the white ones are exotic.
      A wonderful week to you and yours as well.

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  47. Haha pouch potatoes! Love that! Contraception way better than having to kill them off for sure.

    Your sky shots always flatten me with their beauty...

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    1. Nilanjana Bose: I spend a lot of time marvelling at the sky. And there are more sky photos (plus balloons) to come.

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  48. OOOOOOOOOO, I just love those muscular creatures. AMAZING. Beautiful. And that crow. Is it Poe's crow?! xxx

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    1. My Inner Chick: Nevermore's relative? Beautiful isn't he or she.

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  49. Toes crossed this works. I wish they'd try it on our mustangs and wild horses instead of their 'roundups'.
    The sun sparkling on the water looks glorious.
    Looks like you had a colorful day.
    Hugs

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    1. Sandra Cox: It was a colourful day. One among several very colourful days. Later today we are going to be 'cultured' with an exhibition at our National Gallery and I expect lots of colour there too.

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    2. Sounds like all sorts of fun. Enjoy.

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    3. Sandra Cox: We did. And then we headed back down to the lake. And enjoyed that too.

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  50. Pouch potato! Ha ha ha.. Great term. I imagine that the Kangaroos can be a handful. That raven is beautiful. I read once that if you see one that you should follow it. A sure sign of good luck if I remember correctly. Glad the water fountain is on again. I bet it has a lovely sound too.

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    1. Ginger Dawn Harman: We have a family of those ravens visiting at the moment. I take their visit as gift enough, but would love it if luck came with them.

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  51. Loved the pouch potato! And so glad they're being proactive and preventing those unwanted babies instead of destroying them after the fact.

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    1. cleemckenzie: I so hope it works. I am dubious about the need for the culls, but this is a far better alternative.

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  52. Kangaroos fascinate me, and I really appreciate all the close-ups of them.

    Hope you're having a wonderful time with sis.
    Take care.

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  53. I wish you a wonderful time and adored all the pouch potatoes!

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    1. e: Aren't they a joy? It doesn't matter how ofte we see them (and it is quite often) I always smile.

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  54. Nothing like a lengthy family visit to send you out to show them the beauty that astounds you! Doe the 'Roo Fertility clinic monitor breeding to spread out the gene pool?

    We had a couple visit us for two weeks. Never realized what a total jerk he was. Instead of taking public transport (which I told them they had to take, because I work), they expected me to ferry them around Ireland. Life was hard, but when they left, I sang the Hallelujah chorus on the way home.
    It was hard to be nice for two weeks with them.

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    1. Susan Kane: I think at the moment they are concentrating on numbers rather than the gene pool. It does occur to me that this group have probably been in-breeding for years. No ill effcts that I can see though.
      Fish and visitors smell after three days - and some smell earlier than that. I have seen lots of wonderful things while she has been here but I am very, very tired.

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  55. Lovely to see all of those kangaroos ... and your other photo's.
    It's good that this spot is less than half an hour away from your home - a nice place to visit.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Lowcarb team member ~ Jan: Thank you. It is a wonderful place to visit, and we go there often.

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  56. What a lovely spot! And thanks for the kangaroo fix. ;-)

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    1. Lady Fi: I am always happy to share kangaroo fixes. We all need them sometimes.

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    1. Sandra Cox: It is. It can get quite wet when driving over the bridge...

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  58. So glad the fountain is back up and running. Awesome that you have such beautiful places to visit so close to home. I can't even imagine seeing that many kangaroos in one place (or seeing one at all for that matter). Thanks for sharing and have fun playing tour guide.
    ~Jess

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    1. DMS ~ Jess: Thank you. There will be many, many more photos (and several posts) from our time playing Tommy Tourist.

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  59. Those roos look very happy in their home.
    Hope you have a colourful day.

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    1. Sandra Cox: They are happy. And thank you - I did have a colourful day. Perhaps a little too colourful. I was tempted to use some colourful words.

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  60. The kangaroos really are a strange looking animal!! I saw so many of them when I was on holiday in your area, I started to get used to them. But those long back legs... wow!

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    1. Shammickite: Oz is pretty good at weird animals. Kangaroos, echidnas and of course the platypus.

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  61. "Pouch potatoes"! So funny, even at half past three in the morning

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    1. Kim: What are you doing up at that time? And I am glad to give you a smile.

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  62. 1/2 hour away from home? How cool. You know, the more I look at them, the stranger kangaroos are to me. I mean, how many other animals do you see in the build of a kangaroo?

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    1. Crystal Collier: There are often kangaroos closer than that - but we go there for the lake, the birds and the roos. And I don't think there are any animals remotely like them.

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  63. It is good to see the powers at be researching ways to control the kangaroos rather than culling.

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  64. A year to repair a fountain? Seems like a long time. Thanks for stopping by.

    Pat Hatt once wrote a book about a blue guy looking for his blue suede shoe. Apparently it had been stolen by a kangaroo...

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    1. Blue Grumpster: Welcome and thank you. The fountain repair was complicated by asbestos removal. I am glad to see it back though.

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  65. That glitter on the water! It's one of my favourite things.

    I don't know why I think that kangaroos reproduce like rabbits
    :-D

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    1. neena maiya (guyana gyal): I love that sparkle too. Kangaroos do breed much like rabbits. In a good year they breed, and when food is in short supply the numbers drop.

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  66. I'm so glad the kangaroos were relaxed.
    Thank you for telling us that. I wanted them to be happy. Animals in captivity.....i'm always anxious to know that they're happy. Gorgeous creatures.
    Happy wandering about and sharing the sights with your sis-in-law.
    The biggest of hugs,
    Jennifer

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    1. Jennifer Richardson: These kangaroos are NOT in captivity, but free. Which I love.

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  67. Elephant Child...how long have you been blogging? It seems so long ago that we both wrote for Sunday Scribblings or another blog prompt thing.

    The pictures are so beautiful. I still love your words. Be well.

    Barbara Torris

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    1. Barbara Torris: Welcome and thank you. I have been blogging for a little over six years now. Six short years, and am so grateful for the warmth and wonder I find here.

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  68. I still love your words, too. (Reading the comment above.)

    So glad you are enjoying your SIL's visit. I like it when my family visits long enough to see Atlanta landmarks that I would not normally visit.

    Amazing that the kangaroo babies get so big! And love that sparkling water.

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    1. Lynn: Thank you so much. We didn't go anywhere we don't usually go, but packed it all into a very small window.
      I do feel sorry for the mama kangaroos when those big babies climb into the pouch. Which they do, leaving long legs sticking out.

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  69. HA! "Pouch potatoes"... that's the best line I've heard in a long time. Not only clever, but true! (Those poor mamas.)

    Great pictures, as always. It boggles my imagination as to how wonderful it would be to live so close to a place like that. Thanks for "taking us there with you." I hope you enjoy the rest of your visit with your sister-in-law. Have fun!

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    1. Susan: Thank you. She has now gone home, and I am in recovery mode. We saw a LOT of wonderful things in a very short time.

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  70. These are beautiful pictures! Thanks for sharing them.


    www.ficklemillennial.com

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  71. I was always fond of Skippy the bush kangaroo when I was a kid. God bless them but I still love creatures.

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    1. Spacer Guy: I love creatures more than people quite often. I hadn't realised that Skippy was such a successful export.

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  72. What a lovely spot to live near. Thanks for the kangaroo fix!

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    1. Jenny Baranick: I am happy to spread kangaroo fixes around. We had one most days while she was with us.

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  73. Oh how fun to see the roos, I would love that! Have a super weekend!

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    1. Terri @ Coloring Outside the Lines: They are a joy. Always.

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  74. Look at that duck!
    Hope this is a most colourful weekend for you.

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    1. Sandra Cox: That duck is a swan. I am hoping to get a big splash of colour just after dawn this morning. I hope your weekend is also going well.

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  75. That sure was a kangaroo fix! How lovely that you took us with you. I enjoyed this visit very much, thank you. Now I want to see them "for real".

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    1. Carola Bartz: I hope you can see them for real. I really hope so.

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