
Mother cormorant with her hungry chick.

Australian tawny frogmouth sleeps while keeping one eye on me.

Bush stone curlew looks to the sky for inspiration,

and leads me away from the nest.

Great blue heron,

with fishing line snared on his foot,

walks by me warily.
Cheers to you from our feathered friends~
Note: I thought this was a great blue heron, but my clever blogging friend Eliza Waters, informs me it is a white faced heron. I am so lucky to have blogging friends like Eliza, and you. Many thanks to all of you. It is wonderful to be a part of all of you. Keep on blogging~
Those are a lovely set of feathered subjects. I love the little frogmouth!
Thank you Lavinia. Isn’t that frogmouth incredible! დ
Dear Cindy,
I concur with Lavinia Ross. Thank you for featuring my avian colleagues in such good light.
Indeed, one of the nocturnal ground-dwelling and probably flightless birds in Australia is the curlew. It is very rare now.
In fact, my back street is called Curlew St, and I used to be able to hear a few calls at night, but in the last decade, there seems to be no more calls.
How I miss the cute and odd looking Bush Stone Curlew on my back street! The traffic, dogs, cats and rodents have really decimated them. Sigh . . . . .
Australia’s curlew can sound like a banshee too. I would like to inform you that you can see some photos of curlews on the first and second pages of my multi-page post published at one of my other websites:
https://queenslandorchid.wordpress.com/2016/07/23/charlie-robino-loving-orchids-in-far-north-queensland/
May you and Lavinia have a lovely week ahead!
Yours sincerely,
SoundEagle🦅
It is so tragic to have wild animals disappear from our environs. This has happened to wild creatures I used to play with and watch as a child. Some are on the brink of extinction. We are a foolish species. These wild creatures are our friends. I am so sorry the curlews are gone from your street. I understand how sorely you miss them.
Your blog photos are gorgeous დ
Dear Cindy,
I am delighted to hear from you, and you are very welcome to submit comments to Queensland Orchid International as you peruse the posts and pages there.
I can’t agree with you more about the plights of animals. I have many reasons to be interested in animals and defending them, as can be guaged in my multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary post entitled “SoundEagle in Debating Animal Artistry and Musicality” at http://soundeagle.wordpress.com/2013/07/13/soundeagle-in-debating-animal-artistry-and-musicality/, which is simultaneously witty and serious about a number of outstanding issues. You will find those reasons very compelling as well as fascinating and thought-provoking.
There is even a poll in my said post where I ask readers to choose between the Elephant and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.
How fascinating! I will enjoy perusing your posts immensely and the orchids are stunning დ
These are really clear and sharp photos, Cindy. Beautifully done. Too bad about the fishing line, and it’s so hard to get to the bird to help him.
Exactly. It would be so easy to remove, but if I tried, the bird would fly. Frustrating for the bird and I. Thank you for knowing დ
Lovely feather detail, Cindy. Such beautiful birds! (But isn’t that a white-faced heron, instead of a great-blue?)
Is it? I will change the identification and credit you if it is. Thank you Eliza for your attention. What were your cues? დ
I’ve learned a lot from my fellow bloggers. <3 🙂
So do I! Bloggers rock დ
Nice Birdies
They are very nice! დ
We have two pair of Tawny Frogmouth Owls, on my golf course, and you have know where there are to spot them…
So wonderful!! I want to beam over now….. Well as soon as we are all vaccinated against covid! დ
Apparently the Tawny Frogmouths are mates for life, and return to the same nesting spot each year…
So many birds mate for life. Fascinating isn’t it….. დ
Very expressive eyes of our feathered friends, And sharp eyes of our dear photographer. Bravo, Cindy! 🙂
Ahhhh, I so love my blogging friends. Cheers to you Fabio დ
Thanks so much, Cindy! Best to you and yours! 🙂
დდ
And the winner is…sleepyhead. 🙂 Too cute!
And the winner is? Sleepyhead! Too cute 🙂
He got tired of me, literally!!! But he still kept one eye partially on me. Very, very cute დ
You always bring beauty into my life. Thank you. <3
Visa versa 2UX2! Love to you Gigi დ
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The birds and I are so grateful for friends like you Gigi დ
Beautiful birds! Great shots, Cindy!
So sad to see the Blue Heron with fishing line tangling its foot.
Just another way humans waste our beautiful birds: beaks get stuck in plastic mesh bags, beaks get effed up in drink can tabs, they swallow garbage (usually plastics) that fill their bellies, but not their bones!
I am ashamed!
I agree with you Resa. Devastating for the bird. Sad დ
Shots like this, of yours… there are some in the “What are we doing to our animals” genre
should be catalogued. National Geographic, PETA, or others would want them! დ
Cindy, I like your pictorial storytelling very much. Texts and photos form a harmonious whole. Today’s post was a delight to view.
Your kind comments were a delight to read Peter. Thank you sincerely my friend & cheers to you დ
Beautiful photos, Cindy. The little frogmouth is lovely. So sad about the fishing line.
Thank you, and yes, very sad for this beautiful creature Lynette დ
Ever so beautiful feathers. 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
Thank you more for appreciating them & stay safe my friend დ
A Happy Thanksgiving to you!
And to you დ
So very beautiful.
Very pleased you like them. They are our fair feathered friends დ
🙂🌏
Absolutely gorgeous. Thank you.
You are so welcome my friend. Stay safe & well დ
Delightful birds and so bright and sunny feels wonderful to see Cindy ~ sending joy hedy ☺️💫
Awwww, thank you Hedy. Your kind comments always bring joy to me დ
I swear I have the same look on my face as that frogmouth right now. LOL! I hope the fishing line won’t cause the heron too much trouble. 🙁
I hear you about the frogmouth and concur! Probably he has the best idea, close your eyes, and just watch events with half an eye open! დ
Awesome photos! Nice to see these exotic birds!
Thank you. It is fascinating to encounter new species of birds დ
Very cool birds.
Thanks much Timothy & stay safe my friend დ
You could make an attractive coffee table book out of your photographs, Cindy! 🙂
That would be fun! დ
I was loving these until the fishing line which reminded me how we really don’t deserve this planet and its wonders.
Yes. This bugged me so much. I know sport fisherman well, catch and release, torture the fish, release it with a hook imbedded (he will be fine) and no thought for the sea birds that might go for the dying fish. I spent a long time looking at what happened to this gorgeous bird. The line wrapped around his ankle and foot. He pulled on it to get rid of it, causing it to more tightly wrap around his toe, cutting into to it more. I do think, it had been there for awhile with the line getting tighter gradually. I think it is possible the toe will fall off, and the bird will be free. At least I hope so. I have seen so many sea birds missing entire feet who live. I just have no understanding, and never have, of the joy of killing beautiful wild creatures. My father and brother are both sport fisherman. I was taught how to do it. Obviously it didn’t take. I remember my father scaling a live fish, telling me it didn’t hurt the fish. I was around six, I knew he was lying. დ
😥
Beautiful!!
Thank you John & hope you are safe and well დ
Thank you Cindy.
დ
That Australian tawny frogmouth is quite a character!
I want to go back to Australia yet again, if the madness in this country ever subsides, and any country is willing to welcome us back again. I wouldn’t blame them one bit if they didn’t დ
Wow! Amazing photos
Thank you for share!
Take care
Elvira
Thank you for appreciating the birdies & you take good care too my friend დ
Thank´s to you, for your kindness,
Best wishes my friend.
Elvira
დ დ
A hug
დ
Such glorious images, Cindy its difficult to pick a favourite your photography is really something special 🙂
Oh, your kind comment Carol touches my heart. Thank you დ
Well deserved , Cindy you have a wonderful eye and talent…Thank you for sharing with us 🙂 x
Were these all in Australia? Amazing photos. You have such a gift and we are lucky you share it with us. The cormorant photo was particularly interesting to me, because I’d never seen one up that close or seen a chick. Thanks.
I love cormorants. They were always around where I grew up, but I really learned to love them at sea, watching them best the winds and waves, dive, fly under water for the longest time, and emerge with a fish in their beak. Such skillful birds. Yes, these are all Aussies. Love to you Eileen დ
The fishing line on the heron’s foot – I hope he was able to tug it off somehow. Fascinating birds as always, Cindy.
I think he has spent time tugging on it, causing the line to get tauter and cut into the flesh of one toe. He’s functioning, and I hope eventually the toe falls off and sets him free. Poor bird. Sad story. Just a bit of lost fishing line, no big deal, except to this beautiful bird დ
Now this is really sad. Bless his heart. Such a beautiful bird…man’s thoughtlessness is too often visited upon the helpless.
დ დ
The birds certainly have personality in these shots! The blue heron’s feathers look like a cape from the 1920s. I’ve never seen a picture of one that close-up with as much detail.
Thank you smart lady! Women have worn feather capes that emulated birds like herons exactly. Fashionistas throughout history have emulated birds by stealing their feathers. It is easy to see why. დ
Indeed it is–although the birds wear them better than the fashionistas.
Natural always wears better! 😉
Uniquely beautiful birds they are!
I <3 my friends who <3 birds. Thank you დ
My pleasure, Cindy!
დ დ
I especially appreciated the mother cormorant with her hungry chick. A profound connection that you have captured beautifully.
I love to watch cormorants, especially at sea, or nesting with chicks. They are such skillful ocean hunting birds and such diligent parents. They fly just a wing tip from the waves, and then dive, and fly underwater დ
Fabulous photos of your feathered friends
Much appreciated. Thank you very much Sheree დ
You’re very welcome Cindy
Lovely birds, if only the last one could get rid of the fishing line. It’s a bit worrying. Hope he can shake it off eventually.
Yes. I hope it works it’s way off of him soon. Poor beauty is suffering დ
Reblogged this on Musings on Life & Experience and commented:
Pictures of some feathered friends taken by Cindy Knoke.
You are such a valued and appreciated friend. Thank you Patricia & stay safe my friend დ
I always appreciate situations, which show the importance of the MOTHER, like here above! Many thanks for your always most beautiful and detailed pictures:)
Bird mothers are such dedicated parents. They always impress me. Thank you so much Martina for appreciating all their hard work დ
The birds look very elegant Cindy.🙂
They do don’t they. Birds have an innate elegance about them დ
Mother and chick – lovely. And I so love the expression of the frogmouth – what a special bird. Hopefully the fishing line will fall off. Beautiful images as always – uplifting and love of nature.
I so appreciate your lovely and perceptive comment Leya. Thank you my friend დ
♥
Glorious shots as ever! I always look forward to your posts.
Ahhhh, means so much to me. Thank you so very much & cheers to you Margaret დ დ
Especially like #2 – that’s how I’m getting through Lockdowns!
Me too!!! Hibernating, except when the two year twins are here!! They are like a double jolt of expresso! დ
I think I could be friends with Australian tawny frogmouth 🙂
I know you could! დ
Cool images Cindy, and kind of creepy when I’m looking right into their intense eyes!
They look right into your soul don’t they! დ
Too intense for me!
დ
What a spectacular array of birds, wonderful photographs!!
I am honored & thank you Isabel დ
Beautiful photos, Cindy. I hope that fishing line can be removed. So sad to see.
I hate to see this and I see it too often. It causes protracted suffering დ
😰
So love these feather shots, Cindy! I’m guessing you would know that! 🥰
Visa versa 2UX2 my friend დ
😍
Amazing images!
Thanks so much to both of you & cheers! დ
That second photo, giving you the side-eye, is my favorite today, Cindy! I find myself feeling sorry for the poor thing with fishing line around his foot. No wonder he looks so wary … and miffed!
Yes. I see this too often. Fishing line wrapped around birds. It is terrible for them and very sad დ
Lovely characterful images
Thank you Derrick & I am happy you enjoyed them დ
I hope some sort of wildlife rescue place took care of that poor blue heron and got the line off its foot.
I hope so too. დ
Wow! Great images
Grazie mille დ დ
You capture so much personality in each one, Cindy. Beautiful. Hugs on the wing!
Hugs and thank you flying back to you Teagan დ დ
The pictures make me feel like you were doing “street shots” of these birds. They were carrying their own business like folks on streets. Oh, another thing this might just be me. For some reason, I just glued to look at the these feather friends’ eyes.
I love your comment and it is true. If you are quiet and still for long enough, birds do go about their business with you around, keeping you one eye on you at all times! 😉 And I agree. Bird eyes are mesmerizing დ
Thank you Cindy. The eyes certainly have it 💛👁💛
Gorgeous eyes aren’t they & Cheers to you Val დ
Is it me, or does everyone else look at these photos over and over again- because they are so very real?
Awwww, so kind of you Jennie & so motivating to me. Thank you & cheers my friend დ
I’m so glad, Cindy! Warmest wishes to you. 🙂
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😍 just beautiful! Thank you for all your wonderful posts!
Thank you more for your thoughtful appreciation დ
Yes! Another set of fascinating photos and birds. The Bush Stone Curlew looking to the sky for inspiration seems so familiar….🤔. Happy upcoming giving thanks weekend!
Visa versa 2UX2 & thank you Liza დ
Grossartige Bilder liebe Freundin…
Ihre Freundlichkeit wird sehr geschätzt. Bleib sicher und gut, mein Freund დ
These are wonderful! I love your photos. =) ♥.
I so love that you do & thank you Niki დ
Gorgeous shots!
Ahhh, honored. Thanks so much Sharon & cheers დ
Hmmm…I have missed this post under peckculiar circumstances. Heron my own again, admiring these beautiful shots. ♥♥ㄟ( ・ө・ )ㄏ♥♥
I am glad you managed to land back down here my friend დ დ
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, my dear friend
◟(◔ั₀◔ั )◞ ༘♡
Visa versa 2UX2 & thank you!! დ დ
(♡ ὅ ◡ ὅ )ʃ♡
Stunning photo, Cindy. I dont know how you get such intimate photos of these birds! You must be very patient and have a good zoom lens.
Thank you Emma. Standing very still and a good zoom lens is definitely the key დ
Love your bird photos…and that Australian tawny frogmouth …he’s somehing 🙂
Thank you very much & he is amazing isn’t he! დ
Beautiful Cindy. Happy, safe, Thanksgiving <3
Same to you my friend and thank you დ
Thank you <3
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Cindy, thank you once again for your beautiful photography!
Thank you more for your thoughtful friendship Charles & Happy Thanksgiving დ
Happy Thanksgiving.<3
Thank you Laleh & stay safe and well my friend დ
😘❤️
I love the little tawny frog mouth – so cute! Was the heron ever able to get the fish line off his foot?
I don’t know how the heron fared. My hope is that it will eventually take the toe tip and fall off. Poor beauty დ
Bush stone curlew..Love those eyes..
She sees more then we do! 😉
Great shots! Thank you for sharing.
Thank you Sande დ