Monday, December 12, 2011

Our World & World Bird Wednesday - Birds of a Feather . . .


I've had these up my sleeve for a while, it's getting a bit crowded
there so, here goes . . .

OK, OK Susannah, I'm listening already . . .


Lake Burrumbeet at Ballarat Victoria, where the Olympic rowing
was held in 1956. Luckily it has water in it for the birds to nest
this year. A couple of years ago, during the drought, it was
completely dry and people were walking across it.


The swans had obviously had numerous cygnets, in the
foreground, is one already changing to adult plumage while
the one in the rear is a much younger bird.



There are nesting islands for any number of waterbirds in the lake
as well as lawns for grazing, waterlilies for tubers and walkways
for people to admire, photograph and feed them.

Feed me, feed me, feed me . . .


hey, wait for me . . .


a family with small children tossed in loads of bread, everyone
was happy, including the tiny tots who were eye to eye with the
swans and just a tad overawed by it all.



The gulls moved in to clean up the leftovers while the cygnet
and waterhen looked on


and the grownups were at leisure to pose for photo opportunities.



If you like birds, you can enlarge them, if you are not a birdlover,
just disregard this post and and go check out someone else's world.

50 comments:

  1. Hahaha, i love that first one, they seem to be in a heated discussion!

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  2. I do love the birds, your photos are terrific and I always enjoy your captions! Such gorgeous birds! Hope you have a good week, Arija!

    Sylvia

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  3. Great shots of the birds. I especially love the ones where they are drawn up flapping their wings.

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  4. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  5. They're beauties!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  6. Whoa! Look at the coloring of the bill on the last photo! Amazing!

    I should like to take a ride up in your sleeve. I'm sure it's cozy. :)

    xoxo

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  7. They are such pretty birds, they look so graceful. It's good that there is now enough water to provide habitat for them.

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  8. I love these photos. Enjoy the captions too.

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  9. Wonderful pictures. I love the spread wings on some of the birds.

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  10. Beautiful shots! Love the cygnets' wings.

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  11. Now, you know how much I adore birds and your share in just incredible! Will write more later~

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  12. Very nice - I think the last photo is my favorite!

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  13. I live in a concrete jungle. Apart from the few birds and animals in the vicinity, the only place I see animals are in the zoo or on holidays!!! I loved the swans and the white swan in an earlier post and the animals and the flowers and the sunsets. I cant even imagine seeing a kangaroo or a swan flexing its feet in water. Infact if we have any water here it is filled up immediately for scare of some malaria or dengue. I totally loved your world and your blog!!!

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  14. Hi there - still remember the first black swan I ever saw - such a surprise when I was just used to white ones!

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  15. beautiful set of pictures!
    loved them!

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  16. Oh, I love birds and I did go out on a bird-watching trip on Sunday. So I enjoyed your photos very much! So beautiful...all of them!

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  17. such beautiful birds and all are wonderfully captured.

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  18. wow, I adore those swans. I think I could go to your place just to see them. Even the young is gorgeous. :)

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  19. I love birds but have rare opportunity to see various birds at one place at the same time. I like the first image: I wonder if they are a couple or chatty middle-aged. Is there an ugly duckling among the cygnets? Wish this paradise for birds last forever.

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  20. It’s nice to see captures of birds seeming to joyfully play in this big puddle of water … rather than simply foraging for food. It must have been difficult for all wildlife when the lake was dry.

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  21. I am a birdlover, though I lack the knowledge of the ornithologist. But I learn a lot from blogging.
    You said something about the word "angst".As a matter of fact it's the Dutch word for fear. The word "angstig"means frightened.The English word "angst"means anxiety or feeling of guilt or remorse. Of course it's also a German word, meaning fear like in my language.
    Well many English words are derived from German, or even Dutch. It's always been interesting to me to find similarities in languages.
    Well I say now in Dutch to you:"Vrolijk Kerstfeest en gelukkig Nieuw Jaar" ! I am sure you'll understand.

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  22. Very beautiful pictures of the birds !

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  23. I love these Black Swans.
    We get a few here, and occasionally at my local lake.

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  24. Wonderful set of images from the lake. The swan looks great.

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  25. Beautiful bird shots. Love the close-up at the bottom.

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  26. A very nice variety of waterbirds there. Of course, the black swan takes the portrait prize!

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  27. Love your comments accompanying each intriguing photo! The swans with outstretched wings are so dramatic!

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  28. I love your bird post, the swans are lovely. Beautiful captures, Arija!

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  29. Wonderful shots! I remember feeding the birds when I was a kid, this brings back some memories.

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  30. These birds are gorgeous. Thanks for sharing these.

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  31. I must go to my Western Springs to check if our swans have those white feathers at the tip of the wings. i always thought they are black.

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  32. Hi there - I have to admit that when I went to the Grampians about 4 years ago - i.e. still in the drought - I did climb the rock face - but got a bit stressed coming back down!!

    Oh well - I live and learn!

    Cheers - Stewart M

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  33. Great story told in pictures! A new swan to me, with beautiful red beak.

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  34. Sweet series Arija! I'm so glad the drought broke and the pond refilled. The action there is fantastic!

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  35. I love the waterfowl..how could you not be a bird lover after seeing these photos...hugs..

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  36. Wonderful birds to see... I have had a pair of breeding Black Swans on my local pools for the past few years... never succesfully as all the lovely young birds were predated.. I have only seen asingle local bird this year but there is another (seen on my 12 month video) about 10 miles away..
    Maybe they just split up...

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  37. I love all of the photos you put here! Lovely post!

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  38. Heisnn!

    Oh, what a list of wonderful photos of birds!
    They are sp charming ;:OD)

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  39. Is there any photo blogger who doesn't love birds? I am just jealous of your beautiful pictures though that is certainly not a reason to skip your beautiful post! I just wish I could learn how to take such good pix by looking at yours!!

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  40. Beautiful swans! I like the red bill!

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  41. Dear Aria, I love birds and I love nature. Your photos are beautiful and they soothe me while I watch them. I could spend hours there, far away from the city bustle and from the reality.
    Thank you for your always beautiful comments on my blog, I always read them more times.
    Hug

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  42. Wow how wonderful those swans are! I have never seen them before.

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  43. Exotic swans to me--are they a species found only in the southern hemisphere?

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  44. very sweet post; lovely photographs. "A couple of years ago, during the drought, it was
    completely dry and people were walking across it" ... is this the one near to the Ballarate Botanical Gardens? I did see this one at that time, dry.

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