Sunday Selections #499!!!

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. And I OFTEN revert to one of my obsessions.  It is the bird obsession this week.

Heading into town early one morning a few weeks ago I watched a magpie gather sticks and arrange them in her nest.  It looked very flimsy and uncomfortable but I am sure it is much better now.

If you embiggen the last you will see she has some more nesting material in her beak.  I didn't go very close to her to give her some privacy.

In the weeks to come her choice of nesting spot will become unpopular.  Male magpies are very protective and will swoop people (beak clattering) if they think they are too close.  It is noisy and can be frightening and occasionally dangerous.  People will have to find a different spot to lunch in for a few weeks.

Mea Culpa:  Anna pointed out the error of my ways.  That is a currawong rather than a magpie.  Which I knew, but for some reason completely ignored when putting up this post.  The facts about magpies are correct, but the bird and the nest don't belong to magpies at all.

Then to a pair of corellas who delighted me at home.

I loved the very obvious affection between this grooming pair.

And then (again) to the yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo.  They are rare visitors at home and while I welcome them, I also know that they are visiting only because of the damage that the fires late last year and earlier this year did to their preferred habitat.  Damage that has not been fully repaired as we lurch towards another dangerous fire season.

Despite the name, the yellow tail was conspicuous by its absence in all of my photos, since the cockatoo stayed on the ground.  Better luck next time.

I hope your week is full of treats - expected and unexpected.
Next week, and probably for several weeks, I will be posting about my garden obsession and my city's celebration of Spring.  Again.

PS:  The very talented Charlotte(MotherOwl) has found a way for those of us who are less than impressed with New Blogger to remain with the Legacy version.  I followed her suggestions and have reverted.  If you are interested you can find the method HERE.