Say ahhh

An overdose of optimism made this week’s post later than usual, my apologies.

I thought I’d be fine to work on the post when I got home from a hospital dental appointment yesterday afternoon but for some annoying reason I fell asleep. In honour of everyone in and around the dentist’s chair I’m sharing some ‘say ahhhh’ images this week.

Gannet chicks have one of the largest opening mouths I’ve seen, surely they’d be a dentist’s delight. It’s interesting that they beg with their mouths so wide open as when they’re actually feeding their bills are inside the parents’ mouths as they take the regurgitated offerings.

I photographed this youngster at Point Danger which is home to Australia’s only mainland gannet colony.

This awesome honeyeater was singing it’s heart out at Cranbourne Gardens. Its bill is so wide open that we can see the brush-tipped tongue it uses to take nectar from blossoms.

This Welcome Swallow was photographed at the Western Treatment Plant, when it called out to a passing swallow. I often wonder what birds are talking about. There are so many calls, including contact calls, territorial songs and alarm calls.

This Little Penguin has its burrow visible, in the distance, from the boardwalk at The Nobbies on Phillip Island. It looks quite fierce in this image but it wasn’t begging, singing or calling. It had been happily preening in the late afternoon sunshine when it stretched its tiny wings and yawned.

This Cape Barren Goose was also photographed at Phillip Island and the image made me think of all those times a dentist might spot a stray bit of spinach lurking among the molars – hopefully not too often!

Happy birding, Kim

~ Facebook page Kim Wormald – lirralirra
~ Facebook group  Ethical Bird Photography