All photos by Doug Spencer, southwest shore, 13.05.19. Final image unmasks previous post’s fearsome foot.
3 CommentsTag: birds
Actual? Imaginary? Animatronic? Whose foot is this?
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The featured image shows a New Zealand bellbird, Anthornis melanura.
(photos copyright Doug Spencer, all taken on Mou Waho, 21 March 2019)
However, this post’s star is a less “glamorous” but altogether more curious bird – in both senses of “curious”.
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The former is a popular street tree in Perth.
Generally known as a “Cape Lilac”, it is in fact originally from the Himalayan region.
The latter is an endemic local – a magnificent, endangered bird.
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A teaspoon of sugar weighs around 4 grams; 3 teaspoons make up a tablespoon.
The bird in this post’s featured image weighs around 7 grams.
Imagine an old-fashioned set of scales with a 1 ounce weight in one bowl.
To “balance” those scales would require 4 such birds in the other bowl!
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This post is not a 2018 Melbourne Cup field update!
However, it will answer a question that you probably have never asked:
How does an echidna scratch itself?
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The reptile is one of two tiger snakes encountered within five minutes of each other, whilst my beloved and I were walking up Mount Oberon, on Wilson’s Promontory, four days ago.
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Photographically, location and light were less than ideal, but these images – taken within a few seconds of each other – do document just how fearless and feisty is one small Australian bird.
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I am lucky enough to live in a city where it is utterly commonplace – even on a busy street – to encounter wattlebirds…and many other birds.
(the featured image’s wattlebird was photographed in Grant Street, Cottesloe. All photos copyright Doug Spencer)
Even inner-urban railway stations are quite busy “airports”.
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This sequel to preceding post was made possible by yesterday’s long-awaited arrival of the lens that I ordered in January.
(Q: do mega corporate entities still treat Australia as a “distant colony, there to be exploited, rather than served or serviced promptly?” A: Yes, alas)
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