Wednesday, October 26, 2011

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...



10 comments:

  1. Toward the end the cockatoo looks a little cocky, as if he has just spied you focusing in on him. If he had an eyebrow I think he would be raising it, Delwyn. He sure has a good grip on that banksia nut!

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  2. I wish I was walking with you as you saw the cockatoo. He looked like he was really enjoying that nut. I am glad that I can walk with you this way.

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  3. Hello, Delwyn.
    I enjoy the close up photos of the black cockatoo although it is a little bit scary! What a skillful beak,tongue and claws it has!

    Thank you for your heart warming comment.
    I took the Chuo-line from Tokyo station to visit my mother. The train passed Nakano which you are quite familiar with.

    I wanted to take photo of the Tokyo station built with bricks that is a historical building. However the building has been under construction for its renovation.It will take a few years to complete.
    Have a good day.
    Tomoko.

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  4. Oh - I loved your description - did you get that rain? It's snowing here.

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  5. We had a few light showers Barb, not much...it's cloudy and dull today but I'll still go out for a walk...perhaps on the beach...

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  6. Delwyn, there is just something magical in your blog. I can feel the birds and see them flying... and you are so lucky to see dophin pods!

    Beautiful entry. I really did miss it.

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  7. I’ve heard the name Cockatoo, but this is the first for me to see them. A cockatoo is a kind of parrot, right? When I see a close-up of animals or birds, I feel closer to them and often wonder what’s the difference except wings ,fins, or physical characteristics between humans and them. Some people say humans are superior to them, is that true? Your place looks like a paradise of wildlife and also an oasis of humans to see them.

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  8. Beautiful cockatoos. Thanks for the photos. Almost as good as a real walk!

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  9. Lovely post. Occasionally we see the black Cockatoos flying over our home...hear them first! Their call is different to the white. We have many white Cockatoos visiting daily. One thing I noticed when we moved here 12 years ago is that they always eat with their left claw, never the right; a fact I haven't found in any literature on them.

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  10. What amazing birds, I would love to hear them when they fly. Your photos are just spectacular, watching them through your eyes is just amazing.

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