Wild Bird Wednesday 45 - Little Birds.

Having just survived the tyranny of old age, I seem to be succumbing to a more insidious danger - too much work!  Well at least today anyway.  Normal service will be resumed soon.

These images were taken a while ago, but they show some remarkable behaviour.  These are Little Egrets and Little Black Cormorants hunting together in a shallow pool.  I don't think there is any doubt that the individuals of each species are working together - and it looked very much like the two species were cooperating.

The cormorants would swim along, line abreast pushing (what I assume are) small fish in front of them.  They would surface and turn in towards the shore, often with something in their beaks.  The egrets rushed backwards and forwards, keeping level with the cormorants and picking off food the escaped - or was pushed towards the shore.  All in all it was pretty remarkable - and a situation where I wished I had turned on the video!

Now it's over to you.  Click on the link below and off you go into the world of WBW.

An Australian Australian.

One of the things that has been most remarkable things about migrating to a new country, is coming to terms with the newness of the wildlife.  I have never had a time when I did not watch birds, look and flowers and generally pay attention - so coming to Australia was like entering a whole new world.

In many ways that is actually true.  So, here is a picture from my world - if you see one of these in the wild you are in Australia - or very close to it.  This is an echidna - or as I was taught as a kid in biology a spiny anteater.    If you dont know, this is a mammal that lays eggs and has hip bones like a reptile.  But it has fur, feeds the young that hatch from the eggs on milk and is "warm blooded".  There are only two other species of animals in the world remotely like it - the platypus and a much larger species of echidna.

So for your view of my world I give you that most Australian of Australians - Tachglossus aculeatus!

You can find more pictures from around the world at Our World Tuesday.

You can find more of my thoughts on things Australian at my other blog.

A Macro on Monday - Two Things.

These are the only two things that I have that were owned by my parents.  So, on a round figure birthday,  I think it's appropriate to look backwards at the same time as looking forward.

So, at the end of a (very) good day I decided to post this.

You can find more macro shots at Macro Monday.

Cheers SM.

PS:  If you feel like giving me a birthday present, why not visit my other blog and have a read!

Evening Sky

I like these gentle, painterly sorts of skies.  No big flashing lights or neon signs - but they are good to look at.

These pictures were taken from my back yard.

You can find more skies at Sky Watch Friday.