Meerkat Magic

Everyone loves a meerkat. This one was the lookout. As much as I wanted to pop him in my bag and take him home with me and as much I loved snapping away, I feel compassion for these creatures – locked up, far from home and having to put up with pesky humans and helicopters.  Amazing to watch though. Beautiful and fascinating and SO curious about us. Thank you dear meerkat.

Snake Charmer

I can barely look at a snake, let alone photograph one. But I'm glad I did – even though I can barely look at it! Melbourne Zoo.

Very Zen

I was at the zoo on a photography workshop. This stunning pelican forced me to stop in my tracks and allow me the privilege of taking this picture. Stunning and strange! I can only imagine how many times this creature has been photographed. Thank you dear pelican.

Bird on a Mission

I was hanging out with the honeyeaters when I heard  "screeeeeech!!" up above me. 

Happiness In A Hound's Body

Murphy explores her inner kangaroo.

Mud Fest

She won't be going to Crufts anytime soon. Filthy, dirty girl – happy as a pig in mud.

Fly Over

The swallow does a lot of air time. Quite the aerodynamic avian aviator. 

Snuggle Up

How many dicky birds sitting in a tree? Is there an actual dicky bird? I remember sitting on the mat at kindy and singing that song ... we'd all be giggling gleefully.

Bird Nirvana

Ok – so there I was snapping away at the New Holland Eater and at the exact time I took this photo – I felt a little something land on my leg. I looked down and here was a tiny little bird ... it LANDED on me! It all happened in a nano second and I have no photographic evidence of said event – that would have been wild. But it did happen and there's a bird out there who knows the truth. I do hope we meet again.

The Ones That Got Away

The little one spotted me and dobbed me in.

One day I'll get a decent snap – not this day.

Hanging Out With The Honey Eaters

The New Holland Honeyeaters just seem to ignore me now and we all hang together and they let me snap, snap, snap while they do their thing. Its a happy arrangement.

Hmmm Honey

Plant a banksia and the honeyeaters will come. Mind you I planted a NZ flax and no sign of any tui's yet ... sigh.

Kanga Stampede

They saw me!

Nice Wing Work

Can you imagine cruising through the air like this? A beautiful day, a few grubs in the belly, the wind in your feathers and a song on your beak. Not a bad birds life.

Wildlife Through The Window

I was sitting at my desk, uploading bird pics, when something outside caught my eye.  This little sweety was watching my every move. Until I turned the camera on him.
Here's an old rhyme I dug up – seems apt!
Once I saw a little bird
Come hop, hop, hop;
So I cried: "Little bird,
Will you stop, stop, stop?"
And was going to the window
To say: "How do you do?"
But he shook his little tail
And far away he flew.

Hi Ho Silver!

Silvereyes are nomads – they're always on the move – chasing the food supply. They must have loads of Frequent Flyer points. 

Busy Busy Busy Bird

Had to be quick to snap this one.

Fire Tails

Fire-tail finches hanging with the flock. 

Little Brown Job

I'm pretty sure this is a wee Thornbill – otherwise known as an LBJ – Little Brown Job. She's equipped with the perfect insect plucking, seed cracking bill. The day I took this there were spider webs everywhere. I suspect Little Miss LBJ was gathering some for her nest – perfect stuff for binding it all together. She looks like a woman on a mission.

The Very Beautiful Crimson Rosella

Some pretty impressive feather work going on here.

Mr Crimson

Just contemplating life and the universe. 

Tree Birdies

Ok .. so this is me mucking around in photoshop. Two good New Holland Honeyeater mates, just hanging out. 

Dusk Bird

A dusky, avian pattern. 

Night Flying

At dusk the cockatoo's around here go crazy. Screeching and careening and generally making a bloody great ruckus.

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

Bird on a mission. 

Living the High Life

Girl maggie's do all the nest building – gathering materials, construction, decorating – the lot. Thoroughly capable bird-women. AND they can belt out a fine tune!

My Magpie Story

Back in New Zealand, my Aunty Margaret had a great old house by the beach. We spent a lot of time there and we were allowed to cut through the neighbours backyard to get to the sea a bit quicker. They had a pet magpie in a cage (weird I know but remember this was NZ in the 1970's). Percy could talk!  I can't recall what he said, but he was lovely and friendly and we spoke to him every time we passed by - all part of the 'going to Aunty Margaret's place going to Tahuna Beach' ritual. We loved old Percy. Magpies are everywhere here in Aus and they're all Percy's to me.

Wren Boy

Life on the gutter.

Snapper and Friend

Hmm ... maybe Murphy helped keep the birds away.  But she has got the softest ears in the universe.

It's a Hard Dog's Life

LOVE this action shot of Murphy girl – shaking it after a big old swim up.

Wet Wild Dog

Nothing like an Autumn dip. This lake was bone dry a few years back. Now a haven for fishes and boats and pooches.

Wild Flying Dog

Ok. So I went out hunting birds today (in a nice way!)  But it was pretty unsuccessful. There were heaps about but they were all playing games with me, mocking me with their sweet little tweets! So ... more doggy shots. WILD doggy shots.