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.
Huge thanks to Cie who gave me this wonderful Sunday Selections image.
The meme was then continued by River at Drifting through life. Sadly she has now stepped aside (though she will join us some weeks), and I have accepted the mantle.
The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent. Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to me. Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.
I usually run with a theme. We are still mostly at home. With one exception all of my photos are from home this week.
Starting with the exception. On my last Sunday Selections post Snowbrush commented that he couldn't see what made our bearded ravens different to any other raven. So I dug out a photo which shows its beard better.
Back to home, but still with birds. These are some of the birds which we have been lucky enough to see at home. It is noticeably cooling down now, and the sulphur crested cockatoo is fluffed up to stay warm in the early morning.
Then a series of preening corella shots - for Susan Kane who loves them.
The king parrots are very low on the pecking order and don't get a chance on the feeders if there are other birds about. They have (I think cleverly) worked out that their chances are better if they eat from our hands and the seed bucket. However at least one pigeon has learned from them and bounces them off our hands. So they go around the back and look in through the kitchen window until I weaken and take them out some seed. So far none of the other birds have followed them...
I loved the peek-a-boo effect from the one on the roof.
And the very noisy youngster making his demands clear.
I have (of course) been out with the camera at dawn and dusk again.
I hope your week(s) to come is safe, happy, healthy and generously splashed with beauty.
I never tire of seeing your birds, I have put out a seed dispenser and many more birds are around. We have two bluebirds nesting in boxes we put up and also a robin in my newest crabapple tree, so glad to hear the baby chirps.
ReplyDeleteLinda Starr: How wonderful that the bluebirds are using their nesting boxes. I do love bird song - even though quite a lot of ours are less than musical.
DeleteYou can definitely see the beard.
ReplyDeletePigeons are jerks! Hope those parrots continue to outsmart the pigeons.
Alex J. Cavanaugh: It is an impressive beard isn't it? The pigeons are remarkably pushy. The cockatoos simply drag them off the feeder by latching on to a wing and pulling. The king parrots wimp out (but get their meal anyway by coming to the back door).
DeleteThese are fabulous and woven together beautifully. I really enjoy our time together S💋
ReplyDeleteCloudia: Thank you sister across the seas.
DeleteYou have such amazing birds that visit your feeders. I love seeing all the beautiful photos of them. Take care!
ReplyDeleteMason Canyon: We are very, very lucky to see so many birds. Which I remind myself as I scrub the front veranda free (briefly) of their deposits. Stay safe, stay well.
DeleteThat is a more pronounced beard than I've been on ravens around here. Makes sense that yours are a bit different than ours. And I also love those pretty parrots that you are spoiling so nicely. It's always lovey to visit you and your surroundings, dear friend. :-)
ReplyDeleteDJan: Seeing the raven in profile shows off that beard to its best advantage doesn't it? And yes, I suppose we do 'spoil' the visiting birds - and we are happy to do so.
DeleteI love those birds that frequent your home EC. Such big, colourful and fluffy creatures. I can imagine the noise! They make me smile every time you feature them.
ReplyDeleteMarie Smith: It is noisy. I suspect that some of our neighbours curse us. They make us very happy though.
DeleteStupendi quei Pappagalli bianchi.
ReplyDeleteBuona serata e serena domenica.
Giancarlo: Thank you. We love them - despite the noise, the mess and the acts of vandalism.
DeleteHave a wonderful day.
Love the birds.
ReplyDeleteJamie Ghione: We do too.
DeleteI love to see the colourful birds around your home, and I'm happy that you're spioloing those king parrots. Pigeons are a bossy tribe here too, they need to be driven off the bird feeders now and again to give room for other birds. Sulphur crested cockatoos are very beautiful.
ReplyDeleteCharlotte (MotherOwl): It isn't only the king parrots that we 'spoil'. We always have birdseed (and bought extra when there was a run on it). The birds love green apples (red are tolerable) so they are a fixture on the shopping list.
DeleteEach and every day both of us marvel at the birds.
Birds, I think you had Parrots glad receive that. But, my favourite the Bearded Raven, love them.
ReplyDeleteBob Bushell: We love them too. I had a family of bearded ravens visit just after first light this morning - and I was out there with food (and the camera).
DeleteThe birds are beautiful....such a flighty lot!!
ReplyDeleteI hope the coming week treats you well, EC...keep taking good care...cuddles to Jazz. And miaow from my two furry rascals. Shama is sitting on my lap as I type...having demanded she do! :)
Lee: Thank you. I hope that this week is kind to you and the furry overlords.
DeleteJazz went out (very briefly) this morning and is now curled up on the back of my chair in the warm.
Oh my! Corellas! Thank you! They make me happy for some reason. Your parrots are smart birds.
ReplyDeleteSusan Kane: I am glad that you came by - and know how much you love the corellas.
DeleteI don't know if we have bearded ravens here. I've not ever noticed one. I am surprised that king parrots are low on the pecking order. They aren't a particularly small bird. I guess it is about their lack of aggression. Great photos again this week.
ReplyDeleteAndrew: I expect you do have bearded ravens, but they may be more comfortable in the suburbs. The king parrots are remarkably unaggressive which does account for their lowly position. And thank you.
DeleteGoodness, the bearded raven is certainly bearded!
ReplyDeleteAlways enjoy seeing your colourful birds, and the dawn and dusk photographs are very nice.
Enjoy the remainder of the weekend, and have a good week ahead.
All the best Jan
Lowcarb team member ~Jan: It is an impressive beard isn't it?
DeleteThank you. I hope you and Eddie have a wonderful weekend and can enjoy being able to get out a little more.
All of these iconic Australian birds fuel my desire to return to see them again. Time for a feature on a Laughing Kookaburra, Sue.
ReplyDeleteDavid M. Gascoigne: I don't see (or hear) kookaburras nearly enough. I will have to go through my photo files and see what I can do.
DeleteThe corellas just ooze personality, don't they? The king parrots may be 'wimpy', but they are clever enough to get you to feed them! The birds must give you a great deal of pleasure. I think the raven is extremely handsome.
ReplyDeleteHope you are feeling well, and that all of those bulbs are safely in the ground!
Alexia: I do get an immense amount of pleasure (joy is not an overstatment) from the birds. It is still relatively early and we have had cockies, corellas, king parrots, a family of bearded ravens, a chorus of currawongs (and pigeons too).
DeleteThe bulbs (including the additional ones himself ordered) are in the ground. At times I wondered whether it would happen.
How clever of the king parrots, to devise a work around.
ReplyDeleteJoanne Noragon: Not only a plan B, but a backup plan for that as well. I do think it is incredibly clever.
DeleteFabulous...I would love to see them in person. Thank you for sharing these photos. Wishing you a safe and wonderful week.
ReplyDeletee: There are rather a lot of birds on your side of the world (and critters too) I would like to see in person.
DeleteI hope yours and Lukas's week is healthy and happy.
Thanks for the bird show. I would love to have such beautiful birds here on my patio. Pigeons leave their little little mess but they are not as pretty as your exotic birds.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the weekend.
Hugs, Julia
Julia: Believe me, our veranda is generously splattered with bird crap, and it is a losing battle trying to keep it clean.
DeleteHave a wonderful week.
I'm a king parrot fan, big time. Mark me down as that.
ReplyDeleteStrayer: They are lovely aren't they? We can hand feed up to half a dozen of them now - which is challenging because they don't share willingly.
DeleteI'm so glad you found a way to feed the king parrots and I hope the other birds don't discover it. The preening corella; in the 4th photo he looks like he's smiling at you. I heard a flock of corellas going overhead while lying in bed, but I've been sleeping so much I don't remember of it was this morning or yesterday evening. I was very glad to hear them though, I miss them when they aren't around.
ReplyDeleteRiver: You are right - he or she definitely looks to be smiling. We are still having our ears bashed by young corellas at the moment. A sound I will not miss.
DeleteSo far none of the other birds have discovered the back yard so the king parrots are safe. We get other birds there, but they are not seed eaters.
I probably don't have to say which is my favourite pic today...
ReplyDeleteThank you.
At present, the drongo [Dicrurus bracteatus] is the most noticeable around here.
dinahmow: We had a family group (four of them) just after first light this morning. I thought of you and wished you could see them. There was a group of carolling currawongs at the same time too, and I stood outside and marvelled.
DeleteI would love to see the Spangled Drongo and will admit to a little bird envy (which is greedy of me).
Well, what the king parrots lack in bravery they more than make up for it in smarts! Going to the back door seems to work for them.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your weekly dose of beauty. Hugs and stay safe out there in your part of the world.
River Fairchild: Definitely smart. There is nothing bird brained about them at all. I find them impossible to resist when they land on the plant immediately outside the kitchen window and peep at me. So does himself.
DeleteI am very happy to share the wonder and my joy.
You too stay safe. Please.
It's nice that you take the time to figure out how to feed the ones that don't get as much food. Good on you.
ReplyDeleteThe Happy Whisk: We get pleasure, they get sustenance. Win/win.
DeleteI love them all! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteBill: I am glad.
DeleteI liked all these photos. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteRomance Reader: I am glad that you enjoyed them.
DeleteDear EC
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing those lovely birds (and skies) with us. A beautiful way to start a Sunday. I particularly like the King parrots with their bright plumage.
Have a colourful and beautiful week too and stay safe.
Best wishes
Ellie
Ellie Foster: The King Parrots are lovely birds - albeit a bit on the wimpy side. We love them anyway.
DeleteI hope your garden is going gang-busters at the moment.
I was thinking of you the other day, because a beautiful little bird landed in our garden, and then I thought of the amazing birds you get in yours and ours seemed less impressive. Haha.
ReplyDeleteLL Cool Joe: I strongly suspect your beautiful little bird also has a beautiful song. Rather a lot of ours (including all of the ones I featured today) are less than musical. When my partner's sister's children first came out from the UK they were appalled at 'how ugly those beautiful birds sound'.
DeleteThanks for starting off our morning with such lovely pics! Sending you some air hugs! RO
ReplyDeleteRO: It is my pleasure. How are you doing? Safe? Well? I am sending non-infectious hugs and elbow bumps your way too.
Deletelove your dawn and dusk photos.
ReplyDeleteThe parrots are just so beautiful, I do love them. Thankfully we don't have them near with their noise :)
Take care.
Margaret D: Our birds are NOT musical on the whole are they? As I reply to comments it is not yet dawn and is quiet. I expect that will change soon.
DeleteI love those birds. We have feeders in our yard but the birds here are skittish which makes it hard to get pictures like yours.
ReplyDeleteRick Watson: Some of the birds who visit us are skittish too, but over the years quite a lot of them have become used to the mad woman with the camera.
DeleteOh, birds pictures are so cute! Great captures, such a joy to look at them!
ReplyDeleteNatalia: Thank you - they bring us joy too.
DeleteGreat photos. I love it.
ReplyDeleteR's Rue: Thank you.
DeleteThese birds are gorgeous, especially the corellas, Made my day.
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW
Wisewebwoman: I am glad to hear it. They make our day too. Each and every day is improved by seeing/hearing the birds.
DeleteThanks for making my Sunday more pleasant by seeing your lovely photos. Have a happy and healthy week.
ReplyDeleteMyrna R.: I hope your week is happy, healthy and packed with beauty.
DeleteWhat lovely photos!
ReplyDeleteDamyanti: What lovely birds (and thank you).
DeleteThanks for such generous splashing, Sue; these birds are such beauties. I love that you get to feed them! And the raven - that beard:) So dapper:)
ReplyDeleteHope those peach-kissed skies sing over you peace as you make your way through the coming week. Big joy to you and yours.
- Jennifer
Jennifer Richardson: I think many of our skies this week will be grey - and am hoping that they bring life giving rain. Dapper is the perfect word for the raven's beard - thank you.
DeleteLove the raven's beard. I see ravens out west (non bearded) but not around here in the Midwest.
ReplyDeleteThose king parrots have you trained.
Sue in Italia/In the Land Of Cancer: All of the birds (and the cat) have us trained. We seem to be easily convinced.
DeleteQuite the beard on that raven. Beautiful birds in your yard. Lovely pastel skies, so calming.
ReplyDeleteKaren: I so often turn to nature for peace, for solace and for beauty (with occasional generous splashes of humour).
DeleteWOW...the orange and green birds are gorgeous! Have never seen anything so brightly colored. We have lots of crows, and somehow they seem bigger this year. Such loud dirty birds. Beautiful sky.
ReplyDeleteSandy: We have a lot of coloured birds, and the king parrots are probably not the brightest - but very beautiful.
DeleteDo I detect you don't like crows? I do. I think they are intelligent and family minded and their call is no worse than many of our other birds.
I love the fourth pic of the preening corellas, it is looking at you as much to say"can I have a little privacy here!". They are gorgeous birds to have in your neighbourhood. You and David Gascoigne are very lucky with your birds. Your sky pix are lovely, it must be such a relief not to have smoke pictures any more.
ReplyDeleteJo: We are lucky. Very, very lucky. You are so right about the absence of smoke too. I was talking to someone walking the street a few days ago and we agreed that it is WONDERFUL to no longer see the air that we breathe.
DeleteI love those birds, especially the red and green ones.
ReplyDeletegigi-hawaii: The king parrots are lovely aren't they? As well as the red and green if you are lucky you can also see splashes of blue in their plumage.
DeleteI just love the birds. We do not see birds like that here so I just find it so fun to see the pictures.
ReplyDeleteMary Kirkland: I am so grateful that the internet (and the blogosphere) shows me wonders across the world. I hope to have made a paypal donation to help you and your husband. Thanks for the link.
DeleteDas Bild von den Raben ist klasse auch die anderen sind schön.
ReplyDeleteGruß
Noke
Noke: Thank you. I do love our ravens.
DeleteLots of beauty there, of sky and bird and everything.
ReplyDeleteMy selections, mostly from Mr. BA's garden, are over here.
messymimi: I thoroughly enjoyed your Sunday Selections - thank you for joining us again.
DeleteThose are such excellent shots of the birds. The bearded raven is a dashing fellow, and how exciting that you captured such a good photo of him. And your skies remind me of the sky here at dusk last night when I was out walking: the pinks, the greys, and the mistiness. Beautiful post, EC.
ReplyDeletejenny_o: Thank you for your always positive comments. Our sunrises are generally (but not always) pink and grey. Sunset is often brighter (and the last photo today was at dusk).
DeleteThe bearded raven had obviously claimed that bench in the city - and there was plenty of evidence suggesting it was there often.
Buon inizio settimana.
ReplyDeleteGiancarlo: Thank you - and to you.
DeleteGorgeous photos as always! I got a giggle over the fact that "king" parrots are at the bottom of the pecking order. I bet they wish their title meant more to the rest of the birds! And the bearded raven is very cool. We have a pair of common ravens nesting somewhere near us, and it's fun to watch them make their commute every morning. They fly along following the road just below tree-top level - I guess it's a more direct route than cross-country. Or maybe they need directions... ;-)
ReplyDeleteDiane Henders: Like our own 'kings' the king parrots have servants...
DeleteI suspect your ravens rather than being directionally challenged are keeping an eye out for road kill. If your roads are anything like ours there will be plentiful supplies.
Right, I didn't think of that! Clever you. (And clever birds.) ;-)
DeleteDiane Henders: The clean-up job they do is amazing. Sadly on some of our roads there are simply not enough of them to do the job.
DeleteHi EC - I know I'm late - had challenges with my Feedly reader ... seems to be back ok now. Wonderful photo of the bearded raven ... let alone all bird photos ... they amuse - love them ... thank you - Hilary
ReplyDeleteHilary Melton-Butcher: You are more than welcome anytime. I hope the tech issues are gone for good. The birds educate me, amaze me, amuse me and delight me. Stay well - stay safe.
DeleteThat is very interesting to know how the King parrots behave but they have been able to work it out themselves where to get food. Aren't birds clever. If only people would be this clever at times. Hope you are well and staying safe. Still on lockdown here!
ReplyDeleteMargaret Birding For Pleasure: I think it is super clever. If the king parrots hadn't thought outside the box they would very, very rarely get food from the feeder, and now they have a range of alternatives.
DeleteWe are fine - and I hope you are too. Our lockdown is lifting. Slowly.
Hi EC,
ReplyDeleteThe bearded raven's beard is far better than anything I can grow.
:o)
Cheers
PM
Plastic Mancunian: Perhaps you are not eating the right foods for optimal beard growth? Having said that a lot of the raven's diet tempts me not at all.
DeleteThat would be amazing to have them visit my garden. I love your photos of them. Great photos and beautiful scenery.
ReplyDeleteDeniseinVA: Thank you. You see things I can only dream about.
DeletePhenomenal birds <3
ReplyDeleteKinga K.: Thank you. We are very lucky.
DeleteBeautiful images!
ReplyDeleteTyrean Martinson: Thank you. Beautiful birds...
DeleteOh my gosh, these birds and their sky (and yours)are marvelous, especially that raven.
ReplyDeleteStay safe. Stay healthy. Thinking of you.
Sandra Cox: The raven is a stylish bird isn't he? I love them.
DeleteAnd you too stay safe, stay healthy, and stay inspired.
I was watching an Australian cooking show, and the audience applauded when the chef made a meringue.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised. Usually Australians boo meringue.
Mike: Australians boo meringue? I have never seen that. Pavlova (which both we and New Zealand claim to have invented) is a summer staple.
DeleteI put this on another Assie's page and I had to explain it to her. She mentioned Pavlova also. I looked it up. It looks really good.
DeleteSo here's the explanation...
https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/lemon-meringue-pie/
And then boomerang. As in boooooo meringue.
Sorry for the American pun.
Mike: I feel like an idiot for not picking up on the pun. I hope you will try Pavlova. It really is a delicious summer dessert.
DeleteYour bird shots are adorable!
ReplyDeleteLady Fi: As are the birds.
DeleteThose corellas just steal the show don't they?
ReplyDeleteYou have a day filled with cool breezes, just enough sunshine for warmth on your face and sparkle.
Sandra Cox: The corellas are very successful scene stealers. Thank you for your wishes. Today some gentle rain has been predicted and I am hoping. Rather a lot.
DeleteOh I really adore these stunning bird photos, and I've never seen a bearded raven. Such a magnificent creature!
ReplyDeleteYour sky photos are wonderful too... especially the one that resembles Turkish Delight! 😊😊
Have a great day...and stay safe.
Lots of love and hugs ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Ygraine: Magnificent is the word which springs to my mind when I see Bearded Ravens. Every time - even when they are dumpster diving.
DeleteSmiling at your description of the Turkish Delight sky.
You stay safe and well too. Today and every day.
Sky and birds!!! Lovely. They really (the birds) brighten your day. Colourful, friendly... : )
ReplyDeleteCaterina: They do brighten my day. It is still dark but I am anticipating their arrival shortly. And will welcome them.
DeleteI love the bearded raven. Just gorgeous. Birds can entertain me for hours. So fun to watch and listen to them. Thanks for sharing the ones near you with us. :)
ReplyDeleteAlso- lovely sky photos. Stay safe!
~Jess
DMS ~Jess: Thank you. Hours and hours of entertainment, education and fun. I hope that you are staying safe and that your relative is getting better.
DeleteHi Sue. Thanks for your 'generous splash of beauty.' Those corellas, especially, were magnificent. We mainly watch parrots feeding in the banksias beyond our fence. Black cockatoos are our favorites when they swoop in close to the end of the day, usually 3 of them together.
ReplyDeleteDenise Covey: Black cockatoos? Colour me jealous. We rarely see them close to home and that only when conditions in their home territory are bad.
Delete