Sunday Selections #507

 

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.  This week I am returning to my avian obsession - and telling you about my treat.  

Starting with the birds we see at home.  Regular readers will have heard/seen me complain about the Sulphur Crested Vandals more than once.  We feed the king parrots (who are low on the pecking order) by hand.  This cockatoo watched with interest.  It then walked up my partner's leg and settled on his knee - evicting the king parrots.  They are not tame birds but trust us - which is an incredible privilege.

Then to a less regular visitor - which is also welcome.  We hear the yellow-tailed black cockatoos but rarely see them in the garden.  Over the last couple of months we have seen them in a neighbour's garden feeding on banskia nuts.  I suspect their presence is a reflection that the food in their 'home territory' has not yet recovered from the fires we had late last year and early this.

This is not a great photo but...  I was trying to photograph the cockatoo perched in the tree when I got photobombed.  You can clearly see in this shot where the name Yellow Tail comes from.

Now to my treat.  And it was HUGE.

On Wednesday afternoon I went to our local zoo and had an up close and personal encounter with two Barking Owls, Rocco and Ruby.  Both of them perched on my (gloved) forearm and I was even encouraged to pat them gently.  This treat was delayed by our catastrophic fires, by Covid 18 and by the owl's breeding season. 

This video (three minute or so) is worth watching.  You can hear the owl call at about the 2.30 point.

Less talk, more photos.  Lots more photos.

 It really was an incredible treat.  Of course while I was at the zoo I took other photos, which I will undoubtedly show/inflict on you some other week.

I hope you find joy this week too.