Thursday, October 18, 2018

Back from Australia

     Yesterday, we arrived back from Australia, after a long flight home, interrupted by an unplanned overnight stay in Hong Kong, but more about that in a later post. 
     I just wanted to say "Hello" to everyone. I will get back to your blogs shortly. I did in fact read a few while away but it was pretty hit and miss - we were busy! And I had iPad trouble to boot.
     One of our very frequent companions throughout three states was the enigmatic Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita).



     This species is very common to abundant in many areas and is viewed with less than unalloyed affection by many, especially if it tends to destroy all your efforts at gardening - before proceeding to shred the weatherstripping around your windows.  For us, however, it was spectacular, exotic, and often singularly confiding.



     We fell in love with Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, and our ardour never diminished.




     Their raucous cries were akin to a symphonic suite to us, their antics rivalled Olympic gymnasts, their sense of community was heart-warming. The affection displayed by a committed pair was palpable and evident.





     For me, and I suspect for Miriam, Franc and Carol too, the bold, brash, noisy Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, like Australians themselves,  is a symbol of joy and delight, it imparts a sense of independent thinking, a joie de vivre and the toughness it takes to survive in what at times is a harsh and unforgiving climate.



     Thanks for making our trip so memorable Cockie. We will never forget you!
David M. Gascoigne,
David M. Gascoigne,

I'm a life long birder. My interests are birds, nature, reading, books, outdoors, travel, food and wine.

42 comments:

  1. Hi David.

    Wonderful these Cockatoos.
    What are they beautiful.
    You've made beautiful photos.
    Super for you to be able to see it in real life.

    Groettie from Patricia.

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  2. Welcome back, David and Miriam - you have been sorely missed! It sounds as if you probably had a great time, and I'm looking forward to reading of your Antipodean travels. The Sulphur-crested Cockatoo is a good start! My love to you both - - - Richard

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  3. Hello David,
    welcome back. It seems you had an very interesting trip. Australia, wow. I'm looking forward to your blogs. You start off here with a lovely tribute tot this Sulphur-crested Cockatoo; in text and pictures. The bird is beautiful, and so are your images (especially the color in the first one).

    Best regards, Corrie

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  4. Glad you enjoyed yourselves on your travels. When I was in Australia a few years ago the cockatoos were having a fine time stripping insulating material from the overhead cables - a rather dangerous hobby for any bird to have.

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  5. A little rascal, perhaps, but such a cute rascal. :)
    Welcome back!

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  6. It's nice to see you post again, i'm looking forward to reading more about your trip, the Cockatoo is a gorgeous bird!

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  7. Hej och välkommen tillbaka David! Jag förstår att ni haft en underbar och spännande resa, det är ju en annan kontinent med ett klimat som är helt annorlunda än hemma.

    Ja, papegojor är otroligt vackra fåglar men att vara vacker är inte alltid en tillgång. Jag tänker på alla dessa burfåglar som aldrig får sin frihet och tvingas leva sina liv i fångenskap.

    Ser fram emot bilder från er resa!

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    Replies
    1. It is true, Gunilla. We do like to imprison these beautiful creatures.

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  8. Good to see you again, especially with these beautiful pictures David.

    Greetings Tinie

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  9. welcome home!! what a beautiful bird, you captured some beautiful pictures. you didn't miss much on my blog. recently, i have been spending time with my feathered friends and have some nice pictures i will be sharing. thanks for coming by!!

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  10. Hello David
    Welcome back! I’m sure you had a lovely and interesting stip visiting Australia!
    Great captures of the beautiful Cockatoo birds! You can see them everywhere!
    My dad likes to feed them from his window! He really enjoys watching those preety birds and the Rosselas too!
    Waiting you to show us more pictures from the city’s and the Australian nature!
    Dimi...

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  11. Hola David, un placer leerte de nuevo. Las fotos son preciosas y el ave no puede ser más espectacular. Un abrazo.

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  12. Hello David,
    Wonderful series of photos of this cockatoo.
    Perfectly photographed, my compliments.
    Best regards, Irma

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  13. Hi David - welcome home ... and looking forward to your stories. The Cockatoos are just delightful aren't they - yet of course destroyers of plants et al ... but beautiful photos - cheers Hilary

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  14. David welcome back! You were missed.
    These birds are so special, so sweet. I have never seen them before. Your photographs of them are beautiful. I am glad that your enjoyed your travel. I am sure it was very interesting and memorable.

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  15. Welcome back David, and of course Miriam. Beautiful Sulphur-crested Cockatoo , it is superb.

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  16. Looking forward to reading more about your travels. Such beautiful photos.

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  17. Encantado de leerte de nuevo amigo David, después de esas merecidas vacaciones. Y como siempre un maravilloso relato de esa preciosa amiga Cacátua. Que pájaros más encantadores y bonitos.
    Un fuerte abrazo amigo

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  18. Hari Om
    Oh my beloved OZ... am envious of your visit and sharing time with these fellas!!! YAM xx (still wristless on the left...)

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  19. Welcome back David. The Sulphur-crested Cockatoo is beautiful. I'm sure you had a wonderful trip and I'm looking forward to reading more about your travels. Beautiful photos as always.

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  20. Cockies are destructive vandals - and I adore them. I am so glad that their charm won you over too. Looking forward to seeing more of your trip.

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  21. Hello David. Nice to read your blog again, and I have missed it. Beautiful Cockatoos. I always gets sad when I see them in birdcage. They deserve a life in freedom.

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  22. Hi David,
    Welcome home to you both and look forward to a full report and images of the trip.
    The Sulphur-crested Cockatoo is such a beauty and a wonderful start to your blogs on the trip, mind they can be very destructive with that powerful beak.
    All the best to you both, John

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  23. Hi David !
    Cockie is very beautiful ! I am happy to see your futur post and it is funny because we will go in Australia in short time :-))

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  24. They are beautiful birds. Your story reminds me of the scarlet macaws in Costa Rica. Not sure which one I would pick of more handsome though.

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  25. Beautiful birds are cockatoos. I'll read your next posts when we arrived from the Andes, we take some days in vacations

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  26. Hi David,
    It is always a pleasure to visit countries differing a lot from your own. I once visited Australia and your coming posts will probably bring back good memories. Wildlife is so much different over there. you can imagine I look forward to posts dealing with trip. The cuckatoo is a great and promising start.
    Greetings, Kees

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  27. Welcome back David. Hope you got your mojo working after that exhausting journey. Not sure that those parrot thingys are real birds, so I look forward to reading your coming posts to explain why they could be.

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  28. What a great trip! As I have (too often probably) commented on Stewart’s posts, the ‘backyard’ birds in his country are amazing....it must have been so wonderful to see those beautiful cockatoos in the wild, as they are supposed to be. Fun to know that they have a quirky personality to match their u usual looks. Looking forward to more.

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  29. WOW!!! I have heard the same thing.....but I would't care. These are amazing parrots and beautiful!!! Nice shots and welcome back!

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  30. They are so beautiful birds !! I also like this red bird on the blog heading!
    Greetings

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  31. Fantásticas fotos de la cacatúa australiana, me he quedado con ganas de seguir viendo más fotos de tu aventura por Australia. Un fuerte abrazo desde España.

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  32. Hello David, welcome back! I am sure your trip was wonderful. I love the pretty Cockatoo, lovely collection of photos. I am looking forward to reading more about your trip and all the great birds you saw. Enjoy your day!

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  33. Welcome back - wonderful photos of the beautiful Cockatoo. Look forward to reading the posts about your holiday. I would so love to go to Australia.

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  34. Hi David,
    This is a remarkable bird for a start ;-) Nice captured!
    I am looking forward to your see and read your Posts about your stay in Australië !
    Welcome back!
    Best regards, Maria

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  35. I do enjoy trips vicariously. I'm not up to travel. Lovely birds, best viewed wild and free.

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  36. Hi David, Good to read you're save and sound in Canada again. The holiday in Australia must have been wonderfull and the two blogs I saw are a very nice warming-up. I'm sure you'll make some more wonderful blogs with exotic birds.
    As you might have noticed, I wasn't very active blooging in the meantime because other isseus needed my time and attention. But I don't really care because I'll be back when it's time.

    Kindest regards,
    Marianne

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  37. "Familiarity breeds contempt", as the saying goes. I am with you - I would never tire of watching these glorious creatures and all their antics. Thanks for sharing these lovely photos, and I look forward to perusing your future posts for more of Australia! Thanks for your recent visit to my blog - I agree with all your comments, sadly.

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  38. Hello David,
    I am glad that you are back in perfect health and health.
    There was then an unplanned overnight stay but you are back home again.
    The pictures of the cockatoo are very nice :-)
    Kind regards, Helma xx

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