Firstly I was sent this link by a friend, and I thought it struck a similar chord to some of my recent meanderings on visualisation. It also has some useful in-the-field bird photography advice. Funny how it’s taken a lockdown for people to realise that ‘awareness’ is not some app on a phone.
Tiny Wonders by Jessica Martin ABC News
She talks about developing a “Sense of Awe”
Quick quote,
“In many ways, then, these tiny, simple things we’ve been savouring lately — a flower, a bird’s pitch-perfect trill, how the sun hits the wet grass after a night of heavy rain — are the big things.
There are silver linings in all this.”
Hope you find it encouraging.
Back to the Kites.
I’m just now getting to working through the images of a couple of months back to consolidate them into working groups of similar actions or events.
The young had been on the wing for a couple of weeks and had developed their in-flight feeding skills. Poor old Bronson, had more work than a one-armed paperhanger keeping up with their voracious hunger. The female, Belle, seems to play no part in their early training or feeding once they are on the wing.
From The Global Headquarters of the Doona Hermit
Remain
Hard to keep them filled up and quiet.
Birds as Poetry —— Just because I WANDER - --doesn't mean I'm LOST 
A wonderful series of shots as the young ones hone their skills. Poor dad has to take a few thumps in the belly while they try to get it right!
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Thanks Eleanor, from what I’ve observed he is also quite capable of giving them a quick,’clip’ if they set to much out of line. I’ve a few shots that I’ll post next week that shows him laying down the law.
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Jessica’s blog was a good read, nearly as good as yours ;-)! We are surrounded by beauty and wonder if only we will open our eyes. And while apps can be handy they really don’t fix most real world problems (think Covid Safe among an ever growing list).
A wonderful series of images! Hopefully, not too much longer til we are back out on the track again. I don’t need to go to Ensay, just Sneydes Rd. will do!
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G’day David, all good.
Yep, my CovidSafe app hasn’ t exactly worked hard the last 10 weeks. I don’t think of many people I’ve spent 15 minutes or more with. 🙂
I missed why you picked Ensay, unless its for the potatoes. ?
I’m not a great believer in the ‘we all think good thoughts and good things happen, brigade,” rather hope people enjoy the reality that is around them.
I found this buried in the old note book.
“Things turn out the best for people who make the best of the way things turn out.” ~John Wooden
9 and a Wakey by my count
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Have had some great birding days up around Ensay.
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“Things turn out the best for people who make the best of the way things turn out.” ~John Wooden
I Hit the send key before adding this.
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These are amazing images!!! I have rolled through them several time
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Hello Nina,
Good to hear from you. We were extremely lucky that the birds were local, and we had time on our hands as travel was restricted, so it made it easy to be out there most days.
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Fascinating captures, David. I’ve never had a chance to observe the education process of young kites. You are filling this gap in my education perfectly. There are Black-shouldered Kites in the area of Braeside and I’m making it my new project to discover where their family grounds are, once we are free to explore again.
“Tiny Wonders” sound intriguing and I know your links are worthwhile to follow.
I also enjoyed reading your Learning to Isolate. Thanks for your thoughts.
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Hi Adam,
I’m not expert. Just happen to have assembled a quanitity of anecdotal sightings. It’s a bit hard to really draw deep conclusions, but it does give something to look for when you get the opportunity. We did spend up to 3-4 hours most days for nearly 6 weeks.
Blogs are funny. We can all glean something of value from others vision of the world around.
Less than two weeks to go. 🙂
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Stunning flight shots David ! wonderful captures.
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G’day Ashley, It would be hard to imagine a much better location to work with these birds, unless it was in my backyard. 🙂
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