It’s no secret that I love Tawny Frogmouths. Every day now I go out to look up into the bottlebrush tree and and see if my two new visitors are still there. They have been sitting well apart, and are mostly just visible as two blobs amongst the branches. Only one can really be seen in the dense foliage.
And he/she can see me, as this rather annoyed look shows. ‘So what you gawping at?!’
Or is it ‘Can’t a bird get some decent sleep around here?’
Most of the time they seem to take up the same separate positions on the branch each day, and sleep the warm days away.
I have seen them described as ‘grotesque’ but to me they are beautiful in a unique and characterful way.
Who could resist those softly patterned feathers, such clever camouflage that they can simply nap in view all day, unlike other night birds like owls?
Or that prominent tuft above the beak, which always impresses me as long eyelashes, although unromantically described as ‘bristles’ in my bird book
Then, after one especially cold night, early next morning when I went to check, I found them snuggled up together, feathers fatly fluffed. And so they stayed all day. My very cool couple, keeping warm.
Thanks Miryana. I can’t help but keep my eyes wide open for what Nature gifts me here in town – and capture it on film. Still miss all my Mountain wildlife, the wallabies and quolls and birds… but the Frogmouths beat a Crimson Rosella any day in my book!
Beautiful photos of two beautiful birds! I’m with you Sharyn – Ibthink they’re beautiful as well – in a rough gorgeous Aussie Bushvway! Congrats! Keep Yr photos coming! Miryana.
No tripod; just hold my breath. The little Fuijifilm Fine Pix camera has a great zoom. And the Frogmouths obligingly stay very still…!
Great photos Sharyn -are you using a tripod?
I know! I feel quite bereft when they disappear, or at least when I can’t see any in the yard trees.
Just delightful. You’re lucky to have their company. Thanks.