I was quietly sitting in my studio, working on my computer when I heard this commotion outside on the bird feeder. When I looked outside, I saw a male Red Bishop feeding his baby seed! Luckily, my camera was right behind me on the desk, I grabbed it and waited for the right shot. I don't know about you, but when I wait for the right moment to take a photo, I get almost nervous... I really don't want to miss the perfect shot, sometimes I almost feel as if my hand is shaking from excitement and then I press that button on my camera... and how amazing it feels when there it is... Today was kind of like that with these two birds.
I'm not sure at all but isn't it unusual for the male to be feeding his young? I have seen him in the garden over the last few days with his little one. It's too gorgeous, really, he follows this young Bishop all over and the minute another bird comes near, he puffs up his chest so much, makes a tremendous noise and swoops down on them, chasing them away!
I am so happy I was able to capture him feeding seed to this little one whose wings kept flapping so furiously and tweeting at the same time as if to say, "Hurry up dad, I'm hungry!!" The male would fill up his beak with seed and then feed it all to his little one, a precious moment indeed!
And then this Grey Lourie arrived on the scene, spread out his wings and all bird life cleared the area.
I just want to thank everyone who wrote to me about the 'embedded comments' on my blog, magically when I did my next post, the button started to work, I am so happy about this, now I can reply to your comments as they are posted :)
My hubby is off to London tonight until Saturday for business, we have never been apart this long, I am going to miss him tremendously....
You have the most beautiful birds where you live. I am sitting here watching cardinals all over my yard and at the feeders.
ReplyDeleteI know you will miss your husband, find a great book or knitting project to help the time pass, prepare something easy for dinner and just relax [I speak from lots of experience]. :)
Thanks Tracey:) I am just going to work on pattern writing this week, you are right, that will help the time to pass:)
DeleteAch, how I hated it when G would go away on business. I'd start at every sound all night and sleep with the light on. But when the children came, it was easier. How wonderful that your partner in life is so good that he is woven into your joy and your function - rather than it being a relief that he is gone and you and the children are free to be yourselves, as it sometimes goes.
ReplyDeleteThose shots of the birds are truly wonderful. We should research this and see if it's typical behavior. Hope the daddy got some food, too, before the great gray personage chased everyone away. And by the way, you don't need to wait for the perfect shot - the professionals shoot everything and then choose the ones that are perfect - three hundred shots to get one or two - and without film, we are free!! It's amazing to me, after all my years of being tied to a number of film frames.
And you live in the middle of such wonderful nature - so rich, your environment, in color and interest and passion and life. Not easy, outside your walls, but still compelling. And you are good enough to lend us eyes in a place we may never see for ourselves.
I wanted to ask you this, as well - does it bother you, after having taken the trouble to write plainly that you do not wish your photographs or content to be duplicated without permission, to find yourself on pinterest from time to time?
ReplyDeleteHi Kristen:) Thank you so much for bringing this up, quite a few people write to me to ask if they can post my images on Pinterest and link back to my blog. That is perfect, I have actually changed my message on my blog to say, please don't take my written content, but sharing an image on Pinterest is fine as long as there is a link back to my blog:)
DeleteThat is such an awesome moment. :)
ReplyDeleteWell done! I tend to be trigger happy. Instead of waiting for the perfect moment I just start snapping photos and usually end up missing the shot because it is in the middle of me being too trigger happy! :)
ReplyDeleteHope the time apart flies by! If you need someone to chat to, I am here.... Love the loerie, one of my fav birds!
ReplyDeletexx
Nat
You have some amazing-looking birds in South Africa! Great photos. I miss bird watching! I stopped feeding the birds when they started decimating my garden in spring. Maybe someday I'll regain my patience. :) Only hummingbirds for me, now.
ReplyDeletewell done on the sightings and photos linda! i can't believe a grey lourie in your own backyard. i don't think i've seen a red bishop, it is such a pretty little bird.
ReplyDeletei hope your man is back home in the blink of an eye. london! did you slip the name of any knitting shops in his bag? ;)
Glad to see the comments are figured out!
ReplyDeleteI love seeing different birds from around the world, and while these species are not here in the US, I think it's safe to say that many birds (including the daddy) help care for their young after fledging. We watched robins from nest-building until their babies fledged, and it was common to see the babies (now almost as big as their parents) hopping and flapping around the yard, begging for food that they were perfectly capable of getting for themselves. Teenagers? ;) (The male robin of the pair would actually let my kids feed him. They'd dig up worms from the wet area in the yard, and toss them to him a short distance away.)
*BUT* I think it is less common for the more polygamous birds (like your bishop) to take part in the rearing of the offspring. No matter what, this is such a sweet picture!
Hope the week without your man passes swiftly!
Oh, what beautiful birds! I get nervous too, when I'm trying to get a shot like that. I'm so glad you had your camera nearby, so that you could share these pictures here.
ReplyDeleteYou can tell that Grey Lourie has some real rockabilly attitude. Must be the hairdo...
ReplyDeleteAmazing photos! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThese are such gorgeous photos my friend. I am never quick enough to take photos of the birds that are in our garden. I hope you are keeping well :)
ReplyDeleteWhat fantastic birds, Linda, and in your own back yard?!?! How wonderful!
ReplyDelete...and how exciting that you still feel such love for your husband. Sighhhh...it makes me utterly happy to read that!! :)
I love the bird experiences you share with us from your garden Linda! They're always so heart warming and beautifully captured ღ
ReplyDeleteI hope you are coping okay with your missing hubby. Only days now, until he is back for a cuddle.