You didn't have to be Trevor the Weather to predict today's rain, as by 06:00 as I watched the forecast the sky was already fully covered and getting blacker by the minute. Not until it's belting down will I consider staying home, but it was 'lean pickings' along the way with just this
male Chaffinch close enough to photograph and just a couple of dozen Sand Martins of note at Radipole. Walking along the sea front one of the
Condor Channel Island Ferries was conduction some kind of sea trials, and by the time Greenhill was reached the precipitation had started. Only about half a mile from Lodmoor it was thought best to continue, reaching the sanctuary of Edward's Folly just before the start of a heavy downpour. Predicting I was going to be there for a while, the alternative being a soaking, counting how many species were on hand seemed a good way of passing the time.
A pair of Wigeon still remain on the Moor, and although distant
they did climb out of the channel to feed on grass.
Otherwise just these 2 Mallard ventured into camera range and with no likelihood of improvement I made a dash for the bus. On such a dull day, it's was considered a little colour might cheer up our readership so here are a few Australian Parrots in the hope of doing just that.
Double-eyed Fig-Parrot - believe it or not this tiny bird is 2cm smaller than the House Sparrow. Arriving at Karunda (known as the village in the Rain Forest) close to Cairns, Australia we found the tree full of these minute Parrots which stay for just 2 or 3 days each year before moving on to other feeding grounds.
Elegant Parrot
Western Rosella
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
Rainbow Lorikeet (front)
Rainbow Lorikeet (back)
Galah
Red-capped Parrot
Ringneck (Port Lincoln)
While probably not the most colourful of this selection of Psittacines Carnaby's Black Cockatoo is certainly the rarest. Confined to just a few small pockets of South Western Australia. it is considered 'rare' and likely to become extinct.
'Peach Blossom in the Crau' - Vincent Van GoghHaving spoken to Roy the Fenlandwalker today (see Comments) and viewed some of his artworks, it reminded me of my own love for the Impressionists and my second favourite painting ever.
