Backyard Photography - Dogfight at the OK Corral!

Family Feud - Magpie Style
..... and Quardle oodle ardle wardle doodle The Magpies said.
                                                                from the poem by - Denis Glover





It all started with these two young fledglings in dispute over who know's what. One attacked the other then an airborne war errupted.

This photo is compiled from three photos.

Magpies hang out in large family groups so I am guessing the two young ones came from separate families as almost the instant they started to fight, the battle erupted in the skies above. There were about 15 magpies involved in the fighting - doing battle in the back yard and surrounding neighbour's gardens. I do not know if any of you have seen Magpies work together in their air battles with hawks, or other birds, but they are incredibly co-ordinated tactically, and move at frightening speeds - just like the old fashioned WW2 air dogfights and lethal , I can tell you!! It might have been a game to teach the young ones the art of aerial warfare but, whatever it was, it lasted a good 5 minutes and thrilling to watch. I did manage to get a few blurry photos from the many, many I took or thought I was taking of them fighting with no time to set my camera's settings, nor focus.  I could not even sight them in my viewfinder - it was just shooting from the hip as they swooped about the sky. It was so beautiful to watch and, had I thought of it, it might have been better if I had changed to movie settings to capture their amazing agility in the air and tactics in their art of warfare. I must add though that 'no bird was harmed or injured in the making of this post'!!

The funniest part of the whole event was one of the young bird which flew up on the roof of the veranda above me, freaking and attempting to hide to keep away from the dangers of the battle raging around him. He was so focused in looking out for his safety that he did not even notice that I was just three feet away taking photos. I could feel his trepidation and see the fear in his eyes as he nervously searched the skies for danger. I hope these few photos have captured his body language.

Can you see the fear in his eyes???

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Thank you for reading!
Denis Glover's poem, The Magpies, is one every New Zealander studies at school and one I am sure every New Zealander Loves
'link'

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Picture Perfect - Macro

Clover Flower Macros

Two photos of Clover taken recently.

For the rules of the competition 

http://fotofriday.multiply.com/

To enter the competition
http://fotofriday.multiply.com/journal/item/486/Pic_Perf_Macro_Theme

Photo and quote for today

THE GALAH

Rose-breasted Cockatoo

"Lots of people talk to animals.... Not very many listen, though.... That's the problem."

                                                                                                                                                          Benjamin Hoff, The Tao of Pooh

When you look at the photo what is the Galah saying to you??





 

Picture Perfect - Silhouette

Silhouette

Warming up by the river

For this week I have had to search my photo folders for this theme. Time is always an issue for me on weekends - most weeks am itching to enter a photo for the themes but can't.This week I have some time so here is my Silhouette from my collection. It's taken in our winter - a group of backpackers in conversation, warming up in the warm, early morning winter's sun.

Some more Silhouettes

Early morning surf

Silhouetted Dolphins

Morning surfers

For the rules of the competition 

http://fotofriday.multiply.com/

To enter the competition
http://fotofriday.multiply.com/journal/item/485/PPF_Silhouette_

Thoughts resulting from a reply from Marianne

Foundations of Self Esteem

"you are of more value than many Sparrows"
                                                                    Matt 10:31

Do we, as parents, Love our children more if they achieve or do
we give them our Love so they have a firm foundation with which to achieve??

We are more often raised with the belief that Love is a reward. We cannot be respected or admired or Loved without some level of performance or achievement. we go through life as performers and achievers thinking - when I ' do this' then I will finally be loveable. It soon becomes an addiction and eventually our achievements never seem enough - never will be enough  - we keep on doing and doing and doing, perpetually! It lowers our self esteem, we create doubts about ourselves and if we measure up - limiting our future.

As Christians

Does God Love us more if we achieve or does He give us His Love
so we have a firm foundation with which to achieve??

We are taught to believe that God would love us if and when we are good and change our ways - perform for Him so to speak. It is the way we are taught as young Christians and carry these thoughts into our adult life - be good, change your ways and God will reward you. But as in our daily lives if we continue in this way we will spend our lives always feeling we fall short and we never seem to be good enough or change enough. Creating low self esteem and doubts in ourselves as Christians. In fact what we forget is that it is 'Love' that changes us. It is not the reward for change - it is Gods, unconditional, given Love that will bring about the change. It is the experience of that Love that becomes the power to Change. More often it is our common religion that gives the inferior message - that God Loves us when I change, when I achieve (moralism) You are never holy enough, pure enough, refined enough or loving enough.

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Backyard Photograhy

Who killed Cock Robin??

Who killed Cock Robin?

I, said the Sparrow,

with my bow and arrow,

I killed Cock Robin.

                                             (link)

One of my latest blog projects is to photograph all the birds that come into my garden. There are many varieties of birds so will take some time to complete. Not because of the numbers so much as it can prove tricky plus I have to be so inventive to photograph them the way I want or the way I feel they look best. This one above I like because the sweet peas make for a perfect setting for the photo. It is taken on the fence bordering the garden next to my neighbours bird feeder. I thought it made for a nice photo - particularly with the early morning sun to back light the petals of the sweetpeas. To get it meant using the clothesline as a form of camouflage and then poke the lens through the hanging, wet clothes and to wait - very impatiently - patience is not my strength. The camera gets heavy because I have to sit waiting camera ready as any movement scares the birds away. In this way the bonus is that photography teaches me how to be patient. I have lots of little stories on the things I have had to do to get the photos I want, but will save them for future blogs once I have collected the photos I want. I am pretty sure all of you who read this also have sparrows visiting their gardens or streets - perhaps one of the very few things we all have in common.