Could not believe my luck today. Driving back from Newcastle and just outside of Coff's Harbour, we stopped at a roadside rest area to have a break. Right next to the fast and furious Pacific Highway, with all it's trucks and noise was a thicket of bush that was full of these exquisite little birds. As we sat down they swooped around us and hopped from branch to branch, not at all bothered by us. The amazing thing is that most of the folk calling in there would rush off without even sighting them as they were so tiny and camouflaged.
Never ceases to amaze me how their little bustling world co- exists with us in a kind of "parallel universe" that many people are oblivious to.
I am glad I am not one of them LOL
Hope you enjoy seeing them as much as I did
:')
Cheers
Birdie
Beautiful birds and beautiful pictures, Birdie! I enjoyed reading your ideas about the parallel universe and the description of your break. Thank you for sharing that.
Carla Maxwell
Ha ha thanks Carla
I get a bit deep about this stuff... glad to know I am not the only one then!
You know, until very recently I had never seen one of these gorgeous birds? I used to be so envious of all the people on here who seemed to come across them so often.
Part of that I think, was that I wasn't "listening" to that parallel universe hard enough!
That and my ageing eyes I guess :)
Cheers
BIrdie
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Birdie what great photos. Thanks for sharing. They are a lovely little bird we see them all the time where we go camping but had never seen the male (except in photos) until the weekend when we were at Rhyll. This afternoon we went for a walk at the local gardens and i spotted one there. I was a bit far away but it was so exciting seeing them.
Thanks Cath and Shane. Me too ... I get really excited as soon as I hear their little twitters!!! I have had the most glorious time with my camera over the last few weeks. Unfortunately I had to pass by quite a few water birds and birds of prey as they were on the route and beside rivers but just not enough time to stop for them all.
I will definitely be returning to Yamba and the area around there, just loved it . All those rivers, home to White Bellied sea eagle, cormorants, etc. The cane field and farm areas were prowled by Black Shouldered Kites that got me so excited I nearly drove off the road!!
Carla, had a look at your blog , pretty cool life you lead too. Good to have you here on the forum and it is great that you have discovered the delights of that small world LOL
Cheers
Birdie
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Truly beautiful shots Birdie.....I love your description about the "Parallel worlds'.
I can really relate to what you are saying, I remember stopping at an old main roads gravel pad out west one day and in one of the old mounds of dirt were a pair of Spotted Pardalotes nesting. I sat there boiling the billy and watching them for a good hour and I was totally captivated by their little world for the entire hour.
Then it was time to come back to reality and get back on the road.
Top shots Birdie and thank you for sharing, it seems,from the other comments I have read regarding this post is that most of us share the same thoughts.
Hey Tassie
Thanks for that, and yes, it is very reassuring to know that most people on here are like minded, as it can be a bit lonely out there real life at times!! The other day I was packing the car to come home and the person I was staying with looked at me strangely as I hadn't realised I was staring off into the distance. I got the usual " oh not looking at birds again" routine. AND YES.... what I was looking at was a tree, in suburbia, in Newcastle, bare of leaves and decorated only by four king parrots. A jewel indeed as far as I was concerned!
I hear that but never get to see it here at home.
Love the story about the pardalotes Tassie. I can just see it :)
I have never seen one but have seen the holes they nest in.
Bet you dont get many of your truckie mates stopping by for stuff like that either. :')
Cheers
Birdie
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Great shots birdie :)
and i agree with the parallel universe - i have always loved birds but it wasn't until i got my camera and actually started looking for them, that i realised how many we actually have flying over or around our backyard
:)
just visited friends in marlee [wingham] nsw there must have bieng 50 or more of these every where while we sat in the back yard,30 odd hectres.now i know why there aren't many in penrith.
Thought I would just add the pic from far away of the King Parrots. I live in an area surrounded by them and hear them every day, but with so many trees and a high canopy it is hard to get a good sighting of them here.
Not a great shot but they were about 300m away
Cheers
Birdie
Sunshine Coast Queensland
They are really sharp shots of such lovely little birds. I think I have seen them at every place I've gone to around here to photograph birds, but I didn't notice any until I started getting into bird photography. Likewise birds of prey - I hadn't noticed any until about a year ago, now I see them almost every time I go out. To me they are the ultimate - I feel mesmerised when I see them - the difference between them and other birds (although I love them all except Indian mynas!) is like the difference between fighter jets and ordinary planes, if that makes sense
I agree completely Birdgirl. Birds of Prey still largely elude me but they are on my target list. And like you I see them regularly now that I am more aware.
I do find it hard to identify them and I don't know about anyone else, maybe it is just my eyesight, but against the blue sky, I find that as they soar higher they seem to just disappear from view! Then just as suddenly I will catch a glimpse again.
Sunshine Coast Queensland