Searching for smiles

I don’t think these are easy times for any of us and sometimes things can seem a bit overwhelming, so I went searching for smiles.

This sweet little fairywren was one of a family of eight that appeared one by one ahead of me on a pathway. I stopped to watch them, I expected them to head back into the bushes when they saw me – but they didn’t. They came closer, and closer, right beside me, foraging around my feet. I was so moved by them that I sat on the ground at the edge of the pathway, listening to their gentle contact calls as they flitted around. And then they returned, coming even closer than before. I took some photographs but then just watched them, marvelling at the beauty of their feathers, the catchlights in their eyes and how incredibly tiny they are. Looking at them through a long lens makes them seem larger than they are but when they were right beside me, almost touching my hands, there was no doubt about their size. They stayed beside me for a long time, and I sat there for ages after they had moved on, smiling.

I visited the Spirits of the Sky free-flight display at Healesville Sanctuary. It was overcast and cool, and only a dozen or so spectators turned up. This beautiful Pink Cockatoo seemed to pose for me, just long enough to get two or three nice shots before it flew off. Capturing this shot made me smile, as did the memory of the many times I’ve seen these magnificent birds in the wild.

I wandered around the wetlands at the sanctuary which is a quiet little spot that is missed by virtually everyone. The only other person in the area was a sanctuary worker who was pleased to see someone enjoying the waterbirds. I first remember seeing this species at Crows Nest in Queensland. They are spectacular with their beautiful colouring, dark barring, yellow eyes and eye rings, and those magnificent dark-edged plumes.

It wasn’t just birds that made me smile.

This goanna was lazily sunning itself with its head resting on the ground and its eyes closed. I was surprised when it stirred, delighted when it looked towards me, and pretty amazed to capture this shot just as it flicked out its tongue to catch any smells in the air.

It’s not every day that I see a wild Swamp Rat – I’m very fond of Swamp Rats. These little critters live in my garden but I’m rarely lucky enough to see them. They have dark brown fur, dark tails that are shorter than the length of their head and body, and dark feet. Victorian Swamp Rats apparently can have the ginger tinge that this little one has. Isn’t it cute.

Happy birding, reptiling, native rodenting and smiling, Kim

~ Facebook page Kim Wormald – lirralirra
~ Facebook group  Ethical Bird Photography