Last week I mentioned that I’d been spending a lot of time cuddling premature babies at the hospital… so many cuddles, such beautiful babies. Making sure that we have time to spend many hours a day with the babies means racing around while we’re not at the hospital; and that’s what I recognised in today’s first photograph.
The Australasian grebe that is racing across the water is in its subtle, non-breeding plumage. I love the way the golden light highlights its warm brown feathers, its yellow eye while the effect the light has on the background reeds and the water is quite delightful.
The breeding plumage of the Australasian Grebe is far more dramatic than the non-breeding plumage – they almost look like different species. They change from brownish-greys to having distinct facial markings that include a rich chestnut stripe that goes from their eye to their neck, the feathers on their heads are black, and the patch of bare skin at the base of their bill turns pale yellow and becomes more noticeable because of the contrast with the darker facial feathers.
Young Australasian Grebes are seriously cute with striped markings on their faces and bills that help keep them camouflaged amongst the reeds. They are able to swim as soon as they hatch and will be driven away from the area if the parent birds re-breed that season, which they often do at least twice and sometimes three times.
The lirralirra calendar is looking fabulous. I’m waiting for the printer to call me back, we’ve been playing phone tag a lot as I’ve been spending so much time at the hospital with the premature twins. I need to increase the number of calendars I expected to have printed so there is still time if you’d like to add your name to the lovely long list. For the next few days you can contact me for details at kim@lirralirra.com or order directly via Lirralirra Calendar – Etsy
As I’m getting ready to share this post the kookaburras started laughing, a pair of Grey Fantails began chasing each other around and around, and the fairywrens took a leisurely bath – blissful. And now to get in scurry mode before relaxing with a tiny twin in my arms.
Happy birding, Kim
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