Chicky babes
There’s been more chirping around the RUC in the past few weeks. I’ve got two Red Finch nests on the side of the house and those little cuties make a lot of noise demanding food. I haven’t climbed up the side of the house to take pictures of them for two reasons:
1. I don’t want to disturb the nests because the parent birds are very sensitive to interference and may not come back if they think I’ve had my big mug peeking into their nests
2. I’m too clumsy on a ladder and I don’t think you want me to break a limb trying to get a pic for you.
These are what the parents look like, so you will have to imagine how cute their offspring are. I’ll try and get a pic when the chicks are learning to fly.
I was very excited the other day because I found something extraordinary. Most people don’t get as excited as I do over birds, but this one is special. The Torresian Imperial Pigeon used to be prolific in this area, but were nearly pushed to extinction in the 19th and early 20th centuries. They were thought of as pests and were easy targets for recreational shooting. They also have a large breast (like a chicken) so were eaten regularly by early settlers.
Believe it or not, this is the first time I’ve seen one and here it is hiding in the tree outside the RUC.
After I spotted the pigeon and calmed myself, a family of plovers wandered into the yard. They have three chicks so I got a nice shot of one.
Then a fledgling of indeterminable species called out to me from a tree to my left. Its mouth was still open and screaming when I took the pic.
Sheesh – I feel like Dr Doolittle sometimes. Maybe they’re trying to tell me something!
Okay, as if my day wasn’t already full of excitement I saw this calf in the paddock of a property close by and wanted to take it home give it a cuddle.
During the afternoon dog walk I spotted these two very pretty butterflies mating (wow – life is SO full around here).
Now I’m off to have a pre-Christmas wine.
xxxHave a great week!xxx
I’m always tremendously excited when I capture something new with the camera. 🙂 The high is better than any drug.
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You’re so right, Theo. I did a happy dance when I saw the bird – neighbours are saying, “I’ll have what she’s having” lol 😀
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How cute is that baby Plover? Aww and the calf….and…. 😉 I wish I could visit. The pigeon find is great!
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They are all SO cute. I had a few more pics to go in, but thought I’d save them for another post. There is just far too much ‘life’ going on around here at the moment, Jackie 😀
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I love how the two birds in the top pic have their heads turned away from each other. Looks like they’re in the middle of a lovers’ quarrel!
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I’m sure they are, Carrie. I took this pic before they built the nest for the chicks – they must have made up in a big way LOL 😀
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I’m sure there was lots of chirping going on…
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Haaaa! There was! 😀
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Adorable pictures Dianne. You have the the bird whisperer touch that Sylvia has. Good for you! Life is good, isn’t it?
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Life is wonderful when you see all these beautiful creatures every day, Marsha. Sylvia has her lovely bird life too (as well as the random alligator) 😉
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Ah yes, Mr. Alligator always creeping up on folks, watching her every move. We have interesting wildlife here. Mostly raccoons, squirrels, skunks, and kit foxes, which are rare and almost extinct. Once in a while we get a mountain lion or a rattlesnake. The airborne critters are so hard to capture. I’m impressed that you caught yours with your camera. I must be too impatient, or have too short of a lens. Enjoyed yours, though. 🙂 Have a great holiday. 🙂
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I always enjoy your photos and I love watching wildlife! And calves
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Thanks, Dannie! The wildlife keeps me pretty busy sometimes, but I wouldn’t have it any other way 😀
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Nice shots, Dianne.
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Thank you, Tim. There is so much activity here, sometimes I’m not sure where to look next 😀
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What great photos. Wow, a walk in your backyard must be an incredible journey.
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It certainly is, Allen. There is sometimes an element of danger, but it really makes me feel like I’m living on this beautiful planet, instead of just existing 😀
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I’m a major birder, Dianne. I loved these photos! Your photography skills are amazing. How sad, the Torresian Imperial Pigeon is almost extinct…it’s beautiful.
Without divulging exactly where you live, could you tell me a nearby city? Derek is huge into maps. After seeing your photos, he’s dying to pinpoint the location on his map of Australia. 🙂
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It’s near Cairns, QLD, Jill. Have a look on a map. Semi-tropical climate, huge tourist industry, magnificent wildlife, and me (lol) 😀
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Thanks! I’ll pass it along, Dianne. 🙂
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And if Deriek askes – I love snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef!:D
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truly fun adventure – and i personally think it is so tough to chapter birds and so I think I extra appreciated each photo – and the calf too (awe) but the one of the parents was the best – could imagine some thoughts they might have shared –
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Those finches are such cute little birds and those two on the wire look like they were not on speaking terms before the chicks came along. I was hanging out the washing this morning and noticed two more building a nest. Population explosion! 😀
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Explosion indeed ! And nice captures
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I’m glad you like them, Yvette! 😀
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I enjoyed the photos, especially that pigeon. You did a good job of capturing it.
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Thanks, Joy. I was stunned when I saw it and tried to get a few shots, but it kept hiding from me. I guess that’s what happens when they become suspicious of humans who just want to hunt them. They’re protected now which is great 🙂
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We love the birds too, it’s always a thrill to see them even the common maggies & kookas. It’s a privilege to share our surrounds with them. Your resident pigeon is marvelous. Hopefully there are two, and they’ll set up camp in your tree to breed. It’s amazing how once the birds are familiar with us, they get comfortable and relax around us, like we’re furniture… or staff 🙂
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I love your “or staff” comment! So true. I haven’t got to the stage my brother is at (in Coffs Harbour) yet where the kookaburras sit with him while he’s having breakfast, but one day they might trust me enough to do that here. I’m thinking that because the RUC is so high, they just think it’s another tree 😉 It’s a wonderful life xxx
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Great pics, and not a bad selection of wildlife–for a day!
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They were everywhere, Alta. I didn’t know which direction to turn because they were all calling out (apart from the calf who, I’m sure, was begging me with it’s eyes to take it home) 😀
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You’ll have to stick to the wild animals. We have a word for that other impulse, cattle rustling.
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Oh yes – that was on my mind knowing where that little calf is going to end up in a few weeks. I’m a sucker for animals 😉
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You have lots of beautiful birds around the RUC, Dianne. The Red Finches are looking a bit glum, but I’m sure their babies soon cheered them up. That pigeon would make quite a good meal, I suppose 🙂 Lovely photo of the sweet little calf and the butterflies. Pre-Christmas wine sounds like a jolly good idea. xx
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I saw another pair of red finches half an hour ago building yet another nest at the side of the house, Sylvia. I’m going to have to start charging rent 😉
Cheers! xxx
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😀
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Do Mum and Dad Plover get a bit cranky when people come too close to their babies? Once, at a school I was working at, we had to close one of the ovals because the parent plovers were attacking the children as they played at lunch times.
The red finches are so pretty. I’m looking forward to seeing the babies.
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Oh those plovers get very angry when anyone comes near their chicks. They will actually stand in the middle of the road and spread their wings trying to stop cars if their chicks are on the road. It doesn’t always end pleasantly. Also, they mate for life s0 if one them gets run over the other will stand at the side of the road and mourn for months (I have to close the windows because it’s so sad) 😦
I can’t wait to see the baby red finches either, Jo. They will be SO cute! 😀
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You’ve done it again lol. This is Carol, not Jo! The thought of those sad plovers must have got to you Dianne!
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Haaaaaa! Good grief, Carol – I’m such a bad friend! There’s you, Jo, Sylvia and Marsha that I think of a lot and often get you mixed up. I do the same with the family and go through all the kids names (and sometimes the dogs) before I get it right. The next time I do it, just say ‘thanks Denise’ to pay me back 😉
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Not to forget Jude, Elaine and Yvonne. We are quite a community.
I’m the same. Do your children roll their eyes when you do that? Mine do.
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…and Nancy and Britt 😀
Yes – my children roll their eyes, Carol. Luckily I only have three of them. My mother had six, so it would take quite some time to get through them all before she got to me 😀
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I don’t know Nancy and Britt. I must look them up in your comments and pop over for a visit.
Mr ET is one of nine and his mother used to do it all the time. It was so funny.
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Wow – that’s a lot of children’s names to remember 😉
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That’s a lot of children to give birth to, feed, dress etc!
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Oh, and I’m thrilled to be in such illustrious company.
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Fun share, Dr. Doolittle Deux.
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Thanks, Nancy. I’m so glad you liked it 😀
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I think I want to cuddle a Plover chick LOL. So nice to see your signs of summer. We’re full of magpies, and brown sparrows stocking up for winter with the occasional Northern Flicker for good measure. No chicks.
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Your chicks will come in Spring, Suzan! That plover chick is so cute. Every time I try and get photos of them their legs are always in awkward positions because they’re always hopping about. I took about fifteen photos to get one where it didn’t look like it had a broken leg 😉
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I’ve taken a couple of wildlife photography seminars this year – 15 is nothing. These guys lay in mud swamps for 3 hours at at a time to get that ‘one’ shot of birds near the water, on the water etc. They’ll shoot 1000+ in a few hours. We talked to one who had spent 4 days in the bush scoping out a log that looked like an alligator. He got the ‘perfect’ shot of a little yellow bird sitting on the ‘snout’. So whilst my bird shots are ‘ok’, I don’t think they’ll ever be that good. I don’t have the desire or patience LOL.
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WOW – some people really put their entire lives into sharing those great moments with us 😉
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Love your feathered friends! Do they all land on your head and roost like in Ace Ventura, Pet Detective? So cute x
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Haaaaa! Chrissy! Great to see you here – it obviously worked for you this time. What a beautiful surprise! xxxxx
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Brilliant pictures Dianne, you must have known I have a real soft spot for birds. But, I’m not sure my heart can stand the strain of sexual encounters so early in the day, you shouldn’t advertise what a voyeur you are either. The calf was a little beauty so I can understand your reasoning though I’m not sure the owner would have if he found you cuddling it in your kitchen.
So glad you didn’t break your leg. Have a Fantastic week.
xxx Massive Hugs xxx
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Awww – thanks, David. I also took photos of geckos and bugs mating, but didn’t put them in this post – I thought the butterflies were enough excitement for one day 😉
The little calf was nearly saved by me – poor dear is now probably on his way to a not-nice-place 😦 But this is the way of life I guess. Have an awesome Christmas xxxx
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Love your bird photos, Dianne. Hard to get a good image of a critter flitting around, and you got great pics! You must be very patient as you build their trust in you. And the baby cow – so sweet. It looks like it’s contemplating going over to sit in your lap.
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I think the fact that my house is so high makes it a lot easier to capture the birds in the trees, Sharon (but don’t let my secret out) 😉
I’m so glad you liked the pics xxxx
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Lips are sealed – smoosh – not telling nobody.
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I think you missed your calling, Dianne. National Geographic needs your talent! As always, enjoyed living in Australia vicariously.
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Thanks, Barb 😀 I love National Geographic – maybe one day 😉
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What a wonderful world you live in, Dianne. I would be totally distracted from my writing. Like a horse, I require blinders!
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I’m constantly distracted, Jacqui. I might look into getting some of those blinders 😀
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Wow! Those birds are so beautiful. I thought we had some pretty ones here in Idaho after only seeing boring sparrows and pigeons in Nevada…but we have nothing like those cuties you ‘shot.’ You have a fun place full of lots of cool fauna and flora. I’m glad you share all your discoveries with us. It’s better than going to a zoo.
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Thanks, Char! I’m so glad you like and appreciate the pictures because I love sharing them with you! 😀
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Dianne, what fun you’ve been having! I really enjoyed your photos of what is happening around your home this time of year. So glad you caught them and shared them.
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Thanks so much, Lynda! It’s lovely here when the birds start nesting – living in the country is just beautiful! 😀
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Dianne must be so cool to have the finch nesting near your home, I only get to see them in an aviary down here. I would have been hyperventilating too over the rare pigeon species. Love all these wonderful nature shots. I hope you enjoyed the wine, so close now two more days and my kids are done for another year.
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I used to call this time of year the “school horrodays” 😉 Luckily my kids understood my wicked sense of humour! I really hope you and the family have a wonderful, safe and happy Christmas, Kath! xxxxx
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LOVE that!
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Only another great mother can appreciate this saying 😉
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Happy christmas Dianne
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Life IS very full where you live. And beautiful and amazing. Love the photos. Amazing birds. The calf looks like he wanted a cuddle – did you give him one?
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I would have loved to have given that calf a cuddle, Pam but he probably would have run away from me (or his mother may have charged me!) lol 😉
I’m so glad you like the photos xxxx
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Great pictures of the birds. I don’t think I have ever seen such birds – or maybe just not this close. that pair at the top is pretty.
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That is one of the joys of blogging, Cynthia. We get to see so many things that we wouldn’t normally see 😀
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Birds aren’t easy to photograph, and you got so many of them here! Life is full around there- mating butterflies and all, hahaha 🙂
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I left out the mating beetles and mating geckos, Janna (LOL). I thought that might just be a little too much 😉
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Haha, good move…. you might risk your blog being mistaken for the wrong kind of place 🙂
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Haaaa – so true! 😀
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I love your pictures, especially of the babies. I’m also very jealous! You have spring and we have at the least another three months before it gets to Iowa USA!
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Spring will come to you, Donna and then you’ll see all those little chicky babes flying around 😉 I’m so glad you like the pics, I love taking them xxx
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They must be trying to tell you something – they want to be included in your next book! I hope they all find a way in there somehow. And I hope you have a wonderful Christmas season filled with all kinds of celebrations of life and love!
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Thank you so much Sheila! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas season as well xxx
Not a bad idea putting those babes in my next book. Something to ponder over Christmas 😉
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Such lovely bird photos. Hope Mamma plover didn’t see you sneeking up for a photo of her baby. Jack had a very unfortunate run in with an angry plover mother. She chased him and he ran….
So pleased to hear about the pigeon making a come back.
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Those plover mothers are very protective indeed, Pauline! I was standing on my veranda and zooming in at a safe distance (LOL). Poor Jack!
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They have very nasty spurs that they attack with…
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Yikes! I’ve never seen the spurs. I’m going to take a closer look (with my zoom lens) 😉
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When they attack they angle down with the spurs on the end of their wings pointing at you, so take care. That is why Jack ran….
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The baby plover is so cute!!! No- no falling off ladders, especially this close to Christmas! Somebody’s got to cook the dinner. 🙂 Have a totally fabulous time!
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It’s so exciting, Jo! The red finch chicks fledged today (is that what it’s called when they take their first flight?) There are four of them (three females and one male) and I managed to get a couple of great shots! 😀
Happy dancing now 😀
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I’m bouncing up and down in the chair 🙂 🙂
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With all the amazing wildlife in your backyard, I’d have a hard time getting anything done! I love these glimpses into your amazing part of the world. 🙂
Have a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year!
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I got a shot of the baby finches today – they’re SO CUTE, Jacqueline! Of course this made me late for an appointment, but hey – the animals, birds and insects always come first 😉
And a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year to you too!!! xxxx
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I hope the wine was good. I might have some post-Hanukkah, pre-Christmas wine, too ;). Photos are fabulous! I am partial to the finches because I LOVE the little guys. I bought a pair of finches when I was 15 and kept finches for several years.
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They are just SO cute, Luanne. I just had a big screaming fit because a tractor went past and ran over the beautiful male chick. He must have only been stunned because when I raced over to see if he was okay, he flew away. I’m keeping a close eye on him now and he seems fine. My hubby thought I must have been bitten by a snake with all the noise I was making (LOL) 😀
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OH, you are like me! I would have done the same thing. Cool and calm until a sweet baby is threatened and then mama grizzly bear!!! I’m so glad he’s ok!
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They’re all so wonderful. I think the third one is my favorite, but then the calf is so cute, and the butterfly so pretty…. So hard to decide. Enjoy your Christmas wine!
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They’re all so cute, it’s hard for me to decide as well. mmmmm – Christmas wine, yum, yum, cheers:D
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Forget the birds, I want the calf! So darling.
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It’s pretty damn cute! 😀
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Nice to see summer shots as an antidote to our (admittedly mild) winter. Your surroundings are full of life and colour Dianne. Happy Christmas to you and the family from Jersey.
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Thanks so much, Roy. You have a wonderful, safe and happy Jersey Christmas! xxxxx
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What a joy to share these awesome examples of the truly important beauties of our world wherever we live…and you are a philosopher for sure. You feel, you participate in life – but mostly you observe and reflect on what you see, and that is what a philosopher does.
As Granny Selma used to say when she had her right mind, it takes one to know one. 🙂
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Lovely photos of life abounding. Lots of baby critters around, which is one of the many benefits of living in the country.
Please don’t climb up that ladder. A friend of ours just had a very nasty accident doing just that, and a nurse friend of mine said more people were injured in Sydney over the Christmas period from falling off ladders/roofs than in any other type of incident. We’re not as invincible as we hope we are.
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That is SO true. I remember one year when we had fires in Canberra and apparently more people were injured falling off ladders trying to get leaves out of their gutters than were actually injured from the fires. I really hope your friend is okay now xxx
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What gorgeous photos, Dianne. So much fun to look at. It’s a regular zoo where you live, in a good way! How amazing you saw the pigeon. I’m looking forward to the photos of the chicks, Dr. Doolittle!
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I could (and do sometimes) spend all day watching the critters around this place, Amy 😀
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