An opportunistic bird

@JudyEv (381837)
Rockingham, Australia
December 11, 2021 10:15pm CST
We have just returned from a night spent with Vince’s brother who lost his wife several months ago. Yesterday would have been their 50th wedding anniversary. About 24 of us gathered to celebrate Kerry’s life. She enjoyed her cups of tea so we used all the lovely fine china that she loved so much and had an afternoon tea in her honour. A smaller group stayed for a barbecue and five of us stayed overnight. There is a lovely patio area with a number of hanging baskets and two little birds have established a nest in the base of one of the containers. My brother allowed the plant to die so that the nest wouldn’t get accidentally flooded. I’m sure there are baby birds there now as the two parents went in and out all day with morsels of food. They were very hard to capture with the camera. This is the best shot I managed. I have about ten of the hole but with no bird in sight. The old saying ‘the bird has flown the nest’ was very true in this instance.
13 people like this
12 responses
Anna
@LadyDuck (502208)
• Italy
12 Dec 21
I can see the little bird out of the hole. They are smart little animals.
3 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (502208)
• Italy
12 Dec 21
@JudyEv Every time that I see interesting animal scene my camera is not ready.
3 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Dec 21
@LadyDuck I sat there with my camera up to my eye until my arms were aching. Then the bird would appear and I'd jerk the camera.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Dec 21
I was in such a hurry to get a photo of it, I would jerk the camera and of course the photo would be blurred. I had some really nice clear photos of the hanging basket but not a bird in sight.
2 people like this
Ptrikha_2
@ptrikha_2 (49753)
• India
12 Dec 21
Watching the Baby birds would be even a thing of bigger delight! Vince's brother would be quite happy at your visit. How has he been dealing with the loss of his companion so far?
2 people like this
Ptrikha_2
@ptrikha_2 (49753)
• India
12 Dec 21
@JudyEv That is good that he has his kids to help him and give emotional support as well.
2 people like this
Ptrikha_2
@ptrikha_2 (49753)
• India
13 Dec 21
@JudyEv Yes being in vicinity is even better!
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Dec 21
He misses his wife terribly but he is keeping busy and seems to be coping reasonably well. He has two daughters nearby and helps them with minor repairs, child-minding, taxi duties, etc.
2 people like this
aubrey
@averygirl72 (38849)
• Philippines
16 Dec 21
Good that these birds find a home in the hanging baskets
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Dec 21
It would be a very safe nesting place for them.
2 people like this
George B Vieto
@Deepizzaguy (122076)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
12 Dec 21
Nice picture of the baskets and the little birds.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Dec 21
Thanks. It is a very safe place for a nest.
2 people like this
George B Vieto
@Deepizzaguy (122076)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
12 Dec 21
@JudyEv You are welcome.
2 people like this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
12 Dec 21
How cute is that little bird. The celebration of life was somber I know.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Dec 21
It was just a shame that we had to have it without her.
2 people like this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
13 Dec 21
@JudyEv I do understand.
2 people like this
Scott Andersen
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
12 Dec 21
that is such a cool picture and what a kind thing to do!
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Dec 21
Thanks. He has very yellow eyebrows, hasn't he?
2 people like this
Scott Andersen
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
13 Dec 21
@JudyEv quite an impressive bird i would agree!
2 people like this
changjiangzhibin89
@changjiangzhibin89 (17239)
• China
12 Dec 21
What a lovely little bird popping its little head from the hole ! It is a good candid photo !
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Dec 21
I sat for ages with my camera poised. When the bird appeared I'd be so anxious, I'd jerk the camera and the shot would be blurred. lol
2 people like this
Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (135601)
• Marion, Ohio
12 Dec 21
That one was worth the effort and time.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Dec 21
I sat with the camera at the ready till my arms ached. I have some great photos of the hanging basket with no bird!! lol
2 people like this
Fleur
@Fleura (34935)
• United Kingdom
8 Feb 22
Great picture finally! It's so hard to catch them as they pop in and out so quickly! What kind of bird is that? So sorry your sister in law is gone but glad you celebrated her life and that you were there with Vince's brother on that special day which I'm sure would have been tough for him on his own.
1 person likes this
Fleur
@Fleura (34935)
• United Kingdom
8 Feb 22
@JudyEv Thanks! Never heard of those before.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Feb 22
@Fleura It actually is a striated pardalote but it's become a bit of a joke among photographers and bird people. If you can't identify a bird you say it's a striated pardalote. I suppose it does sound a bit impressive.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Feb 22
It's a striated pardalote - which sounds pretty pretentious. It's quite common. It's been good to be much closer now to Vince's brother and able to pop in more often.
1 person likes this
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (21503)
• London, England
12 Dec 21
That's nice. Even so, I am sure it was a bit of a hard decision to let the plant die, but birds need all the help they can get
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Dec 21
It would be hard to water the plant, wondering if you were drowning the nest.
2 people like this
LindaOH
@LindaOHio (222285)
• United States
12 Dec 21
What a great picture. I'm so sorry for Vince's brother. We just celebrated our 51st anniversary; and I can't imagine losing my husband. I'm glad he had a lot of support.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Dec 21
It is sad but we shared memories and stories of all the good times.
2 people like this
Rashna Gandhi
@Rashnag (30597)
• Surat, India
12 Dec 21
Glad to know about your party. Sorry to hear about your friend
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Dec 21
Thanks. It was nice to gather together and share stories.
1 person likes this