Galahs

A couple of days ago I was wandering across an oval where a sprinkling of Galahs were nibbling seeds in the drizzle.

 

1/1000, f5.6, ISO 1600
Galah (Eolophus roseicapillus)

 

I liked seeing the way each Galah would pause for the briefest moment as it decided which seed to nibble.

These images from the oval clearly show the narrow plane of focus along the blades of grass. Grass in the foreground and background is well blurred which means that the Galah stands out.

 

1/1000, f5.6, ISO 1600
Galah (Eolophus roseicapillus)

 

Once each Galah had chosen a seed it would stand upright to quickly eat them, the seed can just be seen in the Galah’s bill.

Their colouring is exquisite; such a vibrant pink for many of their feathers, with softer pink on their heads and a soft mix of greys on their backs, wings and undertails.

 

 

1/1000, f5.6, ISO 1600
Galah (Eolophus roseicapillus)

 

The image above makes me smile as the Galah seemed to be wondering why on earth I was lying on the damp grass.

 

 

1/1250, f11, ISO 800
Galah (Eolophus roseicapillus) – female

 

I took the portrait above a while ago, in much brighter light conditions, with the background deep in shadow. Female Galahs have pink eyes. The ‘oval’ bird’s eyes appear brown which would make it a male, but the lighting isn’t good enough for me to be sure.

Happy birding

Kim

 

NB   If you have a spare moment please call or email your local MP, or write to a newspaper, or support the Coalition Against Duck Shooting to help prevent 100,000s of our native waterbirds being shot – thank you

 

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12 comments to Galahs

  • Jason

    Today I saw a pair of galahs ‘working’ a hollow in an angophora with small sticks with leaves as well as pecking with their beaks!
    I saw it In Beecroft Sydney 😃

  • Alyssa

    I really adore galahs, they are so exquisite! I still think of them as bringing good luck too 🙂

    What an interesting fact about the eye colour! Such a stunning image with the black background.

  • Merri

    I was talking to a woman a few days ago and she described seeing a Galah use a tool. It was a stick with leaves attached which the bird used to ‘sweep’ out a hollow in a tree prior to moving in to nest. I have heard of ravens using sticks as tools but this is the first time I have heard of a Galah from doing so!

  • Geoff Millar

    Love the way they hang upside down with their wings open when it rains

  • Alison Moore

    Dear Kim
    What a lovely way to accompany my lunch, reading your latest blog on gorgeous Galahs. Now there’s some pinks I would like to see on a paint card!
    Will write again in protest about duck slaughter😔 Thankyou for keeping us alert to this matter, there are so many ‘things’ which need our urgent attention.
    Warm regards Alison

    • lirralirra

      Hi Alison, thank you for your beaut message and commitment to write again about our poor ducks. You’ve got me imagining paint cards, not that I’d have a clue what to do with them. All the best, Kim

  • I adore Galahs, and smile as I welcome our galah coloured dawns.
    How I hope the obscenity of duck shooting can be relegated to history soon.

    • lirralirra

      So good to have you back EC. I watched a Galah coloured sunset tonight, just beautiful. And yes, I hope you’re right about the obscenity of duck shooting.

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