Crested Pigeons can look quite dull, but this one looks exquisite and if they were rare we’d all be super excited about seeing their colours.
1/1250, f/6.3, ISO 1600
Canon 5DSR, Canon 200-400 L IS USM EXT
I was at a recent Save the Kinley Kangas children’s activity event at Lillydale Lake when I noticed a Crested Pigeon racing around the grass, so I raced around the grass after it. Actually I didn’t do that, I tiptoed to a better spot and stretched out on the grass, hoping the bird would stay within reach of my camera. The sun was low, casting long shadows and glowing with a beautiful warmth. I like the way it lit up the pastel colours of this pretty little bird. Its crest stands out against the blurred background and its pink-red foot is raised as it races towards a seed to make sure it doesn’t escape – I think they have quite tiny brains. Though it may have been racing after a bug as they do take occasional insects.
Imagine the palette you’d need to capture all the colours of this bird; greys, oranges, browns, black, pink, red, purple, magenta, green, aqua, blue – I’m sure I’ve missed some.
It’s been another challenging week and I hope this week’s post finds you all safe and well. As well as lockdown, Victorians coped with horrendous storms over the past couple of days. 94mm of rain fell here, my roof leaked, my garage door broke and I was without power for two days and two nights. It was so cold and wet but my neighbours were awesome and there are many who are still struggling without power and with concerns about flooding. I’m hoping you’re all warm and safe.
Happy birding, stay safe, Kim
~ Facebook page Kim Wormald – lirralirra
~ Facebook group Ethical Bird Photography
Oh so sorry to hear you had so much trouble Kim. Thank heavens for good neighbours – good to hear you are ok. So hope the repairs can be sorted out quickly and not be too costly. Love your beautiful pic and commentary. Your paint such a lovely word picture – I can just see you so carefully following that lovely pigeon and lying down flat to get this lovely portrait. Stay warm and take care! Kind regards, Denise.
Thanks so much Denise, that’s really kind of you. There are others who still have no power, I hope they are all managing to keep warm. I’m glad you like the pigeon and love the picture YOU paint of me lying on the ground! I’ve always thought it’s neat that some people are lucky enough to have ‘bird names’, Ravenscroft is perfect, Kim
I adore the crested pigeons and often watch them and marvel at their subtle coat of many colours. Nature has a superb palette and the most spectacular galleries.
I am so sorry to read that you got hit with an excess of ‘weather’. We had buckets of rain (and snow) predicted. No snow, and an incontinent pigeon could have produced the rain we had (splat, splat and it was gone). I do hope your repairs can be completed very quickly.
“Coat of many colours” – I’ll have to try to remember that for a post heading one day. I’m glad your excess weather predictions didn’t come true, and love your comical descriptions! I’m feeling very lucky that my power came back on as I have friends who are still without power, though one has a generator which is great. Generators and solar panels are the way to go. Panels first really as some people with generators haven’t been able to access fuel. Keep warm EC, Kim
Hoping you are able to repair your home quickly and the weather improves for you. Beautiful photo as always.
Thank you so much Carolyn. It has been a bit wild and woolly (what a strange expression that is) but will hopefully settle now. I feel very lucky to have a warm home again. I hope you weren’t caught up in any of it.