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, like most of the world, I have been largely confined to home. That is where most of my photos come from too - with a brief divergence down to the lake to admire (old) kangaroo photos.
Starting with kangaroos. I took these photos in 2012.
This first poor mama has a VERY full pouch. Looking at the size of it I think it is time that the pouch potato was evicted.
This next kangaroo (which may or may not be the same as the first) is being very patient while her big baby has a drink. At that size he is more than capable of feeding himself, but obviously felt the need for the comforts of home.
Then to our garden.
I took this photo of the red rose bud not long after first light and loved the way the colour of the rose is echoed by the light on the hills behind it.
Another, rich, red, heavily scented rose - also taken just after first light.
I *think* that this incredibly delicate (and fragile) funghi is Coprinus plicatilis which is also known as Japanese parasol or Japanese Umbrella mushroom - and I can see where it got the name. It is a tiny thing, and lasted only a few hours.
I really like this emerging dahlia with its burgundy stripes and splashes on a cream background.
We have only just entered Autumn but the anenomes are already starting to poke through the ground in a number of beds. I hope they survive the winter.
The Christmas cactus is similarly confused.
And then to some of the tuberous begonias which live on our front veranda. I thoroughly enjoy both the foliage and the blooms and the birds (mostly) leave them alone.
I am going to finish this post with visiting birds too.
Starting with corellas. As you can see this youngster is very nearly as big as its parent. Which doesn't stop it demanding to be fed. Noisily demanding to be fed.
These next three photos of the youngster in full voice were taken looking outside from our loungeroom window. It drowned out the television and we missed an incoming phone call when it was in full screech too.
Then to the rainbow lorikeets. Who knew that purple, green, orange and yellow could look so good together. I really liked the second photo of it playing 'peek-a-boo' with me. That piece on its beak comes from the green apple (it has to be green) that we hang for them and some of the other birds.
This female king parrot was wondering whether she dared land on my hand for some seed. She did, but one handed I simply couldn't take her photo.
The sky was been a joy too, but with so many photos already it can wait for another time.
Stay well, and stay safe.
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. We are still in busy mode. The roofers were coming on Monday just gone. They didn't. Ditto Tuesday. I finally tracked them down on Wednesay - 'We will be there first thing Monday'. So naturally they arrived just after I left to go to Lifeline on Thursday.
Poor Jazz. He has been suffering. He doesn't like visitors at the best of times. And noisy visitors are even worse. Hopefully by the middle of next week it will be largely over.
In the middle of the insanity last week we took a mental health break and headed down to the lake.
After watching the kangaroobies for a while we drove a little further and spent a happy half hour watching people revelling in the breeze.
Heart balm.
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. River is having a
blog break at the moment (and will be missed), so I am keeping the meme warm in her absence.
Like
River I usually run with a theme. This week? Sort of. I was on call for Lifeline one night last week. It was long, tiring and stressful. When I got up the next morning after less than four hours sleep I felt jaded. And disinclined to do much. So we went down to a park beside the lake. I was hoping for a kangaroo fix, but the lake is always calming. And beautiful.
Win/win.
Kangaroos relax well.
And then we spotted a poor over-burdened mama kangaroo and her joey. Who was most definitely a pouch potato. In the twenty minutes or so we watched them, the joey looked outside the pouch but didn't bother emerging. And its head and a leg or two hung outside. It looked most uncomfortable (for the mother) and that pouch was FULL.
The joey's head looks almost as big as his mother's doesn't it? And it didn't matter whether she was standing, lying down or moving, that joey wasn't getting out.
They didn't seem bothered by our presence but we left them in peace to soak up the peace and quiet...
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? More from the Tommy Tourist Trail. After watching the balloon launch, and wandering through the nearby rose gardens we headed home along the lake which is, while perhaps not the quickest, our preferred route.
We were trailing a few of the balloons.
At this point we were so close to Weston Park (our usual kangaroo fix venue) we decided to drop in.
There were plenty of kangaroos, reclining in the early sun. And there were birds too. As you know birds are one of my obsessions. Himself's sister is also bird obsessed.
We spent quite a while watching this pair of red-rumped parrots (who had tucked their red rumps out of sight). The female is a pale shadow of her mate, but I suspect she is able to hide better too.
A pair of swans were the next stop. They were totally oblivious to our presence. This first one was grooming and intermittently trying (unsuccessfully) to remove its green ribbon (as an aside, what place does a green ribbon signify?).
I am amazed at how supple they are. This swan 'folded' down to almost nothing, closed its eyes and went to sleep. So we headed off, leaving the roos and the birds in peace.
I am going to finish with birds, but on a sadder note. My avian fixation means I follow the blogs of a number of supremely talented bird photographers. Kim from lirralirra has devoted a few posts lately to the 'season of shame', duck hunting season in Victoria. I will be upfront here. I do not understand hunting for pleasure and do not and cannot see it as recreation or sport. It makes my heart hurt.
So far three states in Australia have banned recreational duck shooting on cruelty grounds. However each year during an open season in Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, some species of duck can be shot.
There are limits to how many birds each hunter can kill, and some species are protected. Both of these regulations are apparently routinely ignored. Ducks (and other water birds) are also injured, many dying slowly and painfully.
Please stop by Kim's blog here. It contains birds (and a hunter I can accept), beauty and an update on the Season of Shame.
If you wish, and if you can, I would really like it if you add your voice to those calling for recreational duck hunting to be stopped.
I have listed (taken from an earlier blog of Kim's) some of the places/ways you can help below. Thank you.
- Write or re-write to Premier Dan Andrews – daniel.andrews@parliament.vic.gov.au
- Write or re-write to Minister Jaala Pulford – jaala.pulford@parliament.vic.gov.au
- Write or re-write to Minister Lily D’ambrosio – lily.d’ambrosio@parliament.vic.gov.au
- Write, re-write to, or phone your local member of parliament, regardless of which side of politics they support
- Comment on social media, especially on bird-watching and
environmental pages – let’s support each other and make it okay to speak
out, ignore the trolls
- Donate to the Coalition Against Duck Shooting, Animals Australia and/or similar organisations
- Support the group Regional Victorians Opposed to Duck Shooting by voting ‘yes’ in the poll
- Help to raise awareness by sharing this post, and others like it, on social media and with family and friends
- When at lakes, wetlands and reserves report sighting of listed species as this can close the area to shooters
- When at lakes, wetlands and reserves be watchful for injured birds that need assistance
