January 12, 2016 – Birds as Poetry —— Just because I WANDER

Here is a visual delight. Geoff Park has some wonderful shots of a Peregrine Falcon.
To me it would be a once in a life time opportunity.
Enjoy

Natural Newstead

It pays to be in the right place at the right time … the thing is, that when you are, it’s often a complete fluke!

Sunday afternoon out on the plains, I was watching a male White-fronted Chat, perched on a gate. This same spot is often a good place to observe Zebra Finches and I’ve seen a Black Falcon on more than one occasion.

Male White-fronted Chat, Moolort Plains, 10th January 2015.

Suddenly the chat and a bunch of other small birds scattered in all directions as a dark shape propelled into sight, at eye-level, along the fence-line.

Fence-line with Gorse and Tree Violet.

An immature Peregrine Falcon, one of the world’s swiftest birds in level flight, headed directly towards me and then banked abruptly to reveal its wonderfully patterned undercarriage. This hunting technique is typical of falcons and very often successful – this time the chat and its companions…

View original post 64 more words

Dah dah, An easy one today. Add a Header Image.

So I’ve chosen a new header image, and it will be static for a few days, then I’ll add it back into the random set.

Falcon at the Harris Gate

A mentor of mine John Harris by name, well he was both a mentor, torMentor, inspirational creative, and all round great bloke, came down to the Treatment Plant with me one day. We drove around and he was more impressed by a gateway than perhaps anything else. “Always look at the details, look at the obvious as there is always a highlight there somewhere, that others aren’t seeing. That is the diamond. Look for it always.” to somewhat paraphrase a long lecture.

On the way home he discussed a Gateway he’d seen and wanted at some stage to make another trip down in late evening light to photograph it, in his inimitable manner.

But, life didn’t play him that card, and he passed on to finer scenery not long afterward. In his honour, I’ve searched out that gate and named it the “Harris Gate”.

The other night on the way back home we passed the Harris Gate and lo and behold a Brown Falcon was enjoying both the gate, and the evening sunshine.

So John, it might not be the series that you saw in your minds eye, but old mate, here is the best I could do.