On the Path

On the path to Hell's Gates today

I saw one large goanna

slithering under the pandanus leaves

one small frill neck lizard 

standing on a rock

looking out to sea

a number of pods of small dolphins

and a family group of black cockatoos 

Dad is holding a banksia nut

the flower seeds of the banksia shrub

and he is using his beak and dexterous tongue

to pick the seeds out

He's the dad because he has a pink eye ring

and a dull yellow cheek patch

and he's BIG

over here in the banksia

is another male 

the males have a darker beak

and lighter yellow patch

look at his

beak and tongue up close

and the way he grasps the nut

in his claws

Alaine my blog friend has told me 
that cockatoos always grasp food 
with their left feet
isn't that fascinating...

and left behind in the tree

and indignant is a juvenile

making quite a noise 

until she too takes flight

to join her family

See her tail

These are yellow tailed Black Cockatoos

the biggest of the cockatoos

and they usually herald the advent of rain

They flap deeply and slowly

in a heavy fluid motion

you can hear them coming

by their wing beats  

and their loud eerie mournful wailing calls
I have seen them 
in this cluster of banksia trees before 
perhaps it's a favourite family haunt...