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Corvid-2020 Weekly Challenge #2

It may come as no surprise to you, ladies and gentlemen, that I am not as clever as I think I am.  Now I am in a bit of a pickle corvid-wise.  You see, I have a lot of currawong photos that I hoped to share with you for the Corvid-2020 Weekly Challenge, but eek, I’ve discovered after starting this challenge that currawongs are not actually corvids (of the family Corvidae).  In fact, the only corvids in Australia are the crows and ravens.  Unfortunately, I have limited raven photos.  Do you think that the powers-that-be will consider, in these dark Covid-19 times, the scouring of the city for ravens to be an essential activity?   I guess we shall find out.   I fear I might have to resort to some very bad poetry for this challenge. Read more

Posted on by Reflections of an Untidy Mind

Corvid-2020 Weekly Challenge #1

Hello Readers, I know we are all busy just trying to stay alive (welcome to the world of many trapped in refugee camps and in poverty), but if you have enough time (and photos, stories, poems in your archive), you may wish to participate in a new weekly challenge.  I am calling it the Corvid-2020 Weekly Challenge.  No, the virus hasn’t evolved.  A corvid is a type of bird.  The challenge will come out each Tuesday, all being well (if you know what I mean). Read more

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Grey Days

The carnivores have moved into the neighbourhood.  Over the last couple of years, we have had the occasional grey butcherbird visit but they don’t normally stick around.  February has been the exception.  The butcherbirds must have a nest nearby because a juvenile has been practising its maniacal cackle.  It is very endearing.  On the other hand, there have been few smaller birds around.  Too tasty, I guess.  Read more

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Sunshine From Pure Desire

In the presence of royalty and Friday song day.

Dear Readers, can you guess from which song the title of this post comes?  It is the song that I have chosen as my Friday song day pick.  Welcome to my regular Friday song/tune day, where I pick a piece of music that reflects my mood or the times, to share with you.  This week my mood is decidedly buoyant.  After being down in the dumps over the past month, there was only one way to go, right?  Yep, chasing pure, unadulterated sunshine from pure desire.  In other words, a bird.  And not just any bird. Read more

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Singing With My People

Greetings, ladies and gentlemen and welcome to my regular Friday song/tune day, where I pick a piece of music that reflects my mood or the times, to share with you.

Those of you who follow the Aussie news, will know that the current heatwave and bushfire emergency, and the drought that preceded it, is having a catastrophic effect on our way of life, health, local economies and ecosystems.  I could go on and probably will at a later time.   However, I really need to be with my people right now.  That’s you, ladies and gentlemen. Read more

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You

Can a grey day fill the senses, ladies and gentlemen?  I used to think not.  However, on this particular grey day, after completing some chores, I stopped off at my new favourite bird watching spot.  I encountered another photographer there — a very nice man.  He had all the gear, but was lamenting the light.  The birds though, were making the most of it. Read more

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Birds Of A Feather

Dear Readers, I think I might be a little hooked on this bird photography caper.  As my True Love took some annual leave in early August, we’ve had plenty of opportunities to take some short excursions around our local environs to check out the birds and other creatures. Read more

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She – Red Capped Robin

Ladies and gentlemen, words cannot express how excited I was to see my first female red-capped robin recently.  Red-capped robins (Petroica goodenovii) are uncommon breeding visitors to the Canberra region (Australia).  I’ve only ever seen one male.  And, we had the camera with us!  Wonders never cease. Read more