Black Kites and Rainbow Bee Eaters have been obsessing me, (or should it be the other way around), this last few days. Both are common birds here so it would be a travesty to leave for home and not get the very best photos that I could. I posted the best of my Bee Eaters "in flight" shot on my last entry but I took a picture on Saturday that I am really excited about. I have a sequence of one stretching and showing the beautiful plumage. I love these birds!
The picture was taken in the morning, in my usual place, and on the way back home, at the side of the road, and in a built up area was a dead "road kill" rabbit. It had been killed during the night and was very fresh. I was immediately excited because I could envisage the photo opportunity……. dead carcass and bird of prey feeding on it…….. always the way my mind works! Later that morning, I returned to fasten the carcass to a tree with strong twine and the hope that the kites would find it. They did! I went back in the late afternoon and sure enough two kites were perched in the tree above, after having a little "pull" at it earlier on, evidence would suggest. They were too shy to actually come down while I was there, but I returned first thing in the morning, certain that they would be raring to go. I hadn't reckoned on something "waltzing" off with it during the night……….. there was no sign of it whatsoever! Dingo? I will never know, but something strong enough to break the twine and carry it off. Gutted to say the least.
During yesterday afternoon I went to the beach with Jenny and I walked up to the World War 2 gun emplacement situated overlooking the headland at Palarenda. It was windy and very pleasant and a Nankeen Kestrel was in it's element. I watched it hunting for insects, and then when it did a stoop and disappeared I guessed correctly that it was on the rocks below. Anyone knowing me well would know that I am not as fit as I used to be so it was a job and a half to creep up on the bird, perched beautifully on the rocks with the blue surf as a backdrop. I took some cracking photos and really enjoyed watching it sat there so perfectly.
Jenny is now 100%, thats's really good news and I am thrilled………. and so is she……… that she is now feeling well again.
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