Off the Rails in 30 Minutes, Northern New South Wales, Australia

• Travels with Ben

It took me 30 minutes to write the skeleton to this post.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Paying attention @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

Live from the back couch as the lively scenes unfolded. Synonymous incidents are very common around here.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Trailer @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

But today’s circus was one to remember. I just never know what may happen next.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Monty? @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

Or who will enter the stage?

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Cool customer @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

And what big or small role they play today. Expect the unexpected.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Reality TV @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

This kinda reality show I do like. Just sit back and enjoy the spectacles in the front row. Coffee, please!?
I swapped my camera for my iPad and took notes. This is what I came up with. 

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Cute @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

Eight king parrots currently pick happily on seeds from the herb garden. The cereals end up in this oversized wooden box, as sloppy lorikeets chuck the grains out, they don’t like.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Acrobat @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

This creates a widespread feeding area on the first floor of the pavilion. The birds appear to be always hungry. But like everything in life, its all about timing.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Waiting game @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

Onlookers linger in the magic tree behind.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Next step @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

They are weighing up options and transpire strategies.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Airborne @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

Which often doesn’t look like a good idea anymore, once airborne.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Flying in? @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

The birds’ aerial version of ‘musical feathers’ still amuses me quite happily. White-headed pigeons have meanwhile joined the shuffle.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Arnie in Action @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

‘Arnie’ was the first to arrive and gradually invited his friends and family. It becomes clear how he earned his name. 

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Tranquil @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

To my right are Zoe and Joey resting in green pastures.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Scratch @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

It’s just great to see how comfortable they feel here now. 

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Lady Zoe @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

They are still adorable as ever.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Willie @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

Willy, the large Swamp Wallaby male has been following her for the past few weeks.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Like father and son? @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

Signs suggest, that he is Joey’s father.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Cool customers @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

No doubt he will continue his service.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Family @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

They happily graze together on this family outing.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Soaked @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

An afternoon thunderstorm has dumped water over the shire, a heat relieving gesture from above.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
March flies @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

It is hot and humid today and march-flies are increasingly active. 

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Turkey king @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

The bower is occupied by Thom, the turkey king. He has got the biggest yellow gobble of all visiting Brush-turkeys.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Keep walking @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

Thom chased the ‘ebony’ ducks out earlier. Political correctness doesn’t duck for everyone.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
What about me? @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

White ducks matter though, as ‘Whitey’ points out. 

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Up high @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

A female bowerbird tries to intimidate Thom from comfortable elevation. But he has none of that squawking business. Size matters around here, as Brush-turkeys fly surprisingly well.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Quit achiever @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

Strawberry Frodo meanwhile, who has been watching from the mouldy tree above, spotted an opportunity.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Sensible @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

He is the cautious and sensible kinda guy.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Slick @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

Like a thief in the night, his free-fall halts on the horizontal branch. The birds’ velocity cracked this pole in half.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Cable ties @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

Cable ties are needed to support the branch meanwhile, it has taken a beating.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Quick @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

Frodo doesn’t want to attract any unwanted attention and keeps quiet. Within a split second, he is already on to the buffet.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Hungry @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

He is far too hungry to waste precious time.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Watch and learn @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

The female, who had been watching, copies his behaviour and just like that;

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Gobble, gobble @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

Everyone eats happily ever after.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Who, Who are you? @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

Frodo couldn’t resist to whoo his dinner guest over.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Charmer @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

What a charming performance.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Coming through @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

Only a white stallion opposes them all. Sunshine appreciates bird seeds and fruits as well. Bananas are by far his favourite.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Roamer @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

Who else has a roaming horse visiting from time to time?

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Layered @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

The king parrots have been enjoying their grains immensely, adding some chatter here and there.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Keep calm @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

King parrots have an incredible calm character, they are lovers and not fighters.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Tranquill @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

It has been tranquil, the calm before the storm they say.  The pace is about to pick up a notch or two.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
High flyer @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

Two lorikeets flew in from the front porch, screeching and fluttering.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Incoming @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

They had no fear and ambushed Bruce Lee style.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Out of my way! @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

All hell broke loose. What an entrance to the stage, bravo.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Stampede @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

The stunned parrots panicked and fluffed around shrieking. A feather stampede headed my way.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Flight path @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

One red male scurried straight towards me but corrected his flight path just in time. It gets a bit crazy at times.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Quick @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

A few ‘kingies’ scuffed their beaks for a wee while longer. A short wee while.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
What goes on? @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

The deafening high pitch screams of the lorikeets spooked even Sunshine off. He does not like loud noises at all and he knows what’s coming.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Railway Police @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

That’s right. The locomotion alerted the railway police.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Incoming @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

Local matadors Lionel and Veronika are on their way over. They were the first lorikeets to feed on seeds in this shire and proclaimed their habitat. They willingly defend their territory at all costs.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Defender @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

Lionel and Veronika weren’t happy about earlier turbulence at all. And from previous experience, this is will get messy.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Scaredy Cat @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

Fudge me, that is some noise. If I hadn’t had my hands full, I would have covered my ears.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Fluff like a butterfly @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

Fluff like a butterfly and sting like a bee. And off they went.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
It’s on @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

Lorikeets were tumbling over the timber, pumping and jumping on testosterone.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Heavyweights @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

Gram for gram, lorikeets are heavyweights and wont back down.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Separation @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

The intruders were followed into the magic tree. Just to be sure, to be sure, to be sure. Other family members of each clan had meanwhile joined on different branches.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Kaffafle @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

Holey guacamole, feathers flying and all.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
To be continued @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

Neither party was giving in as various duels continued.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Branched out @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

Eventually, the groups were separated within the twisted maze of the Bumpy Ash, still very vocalised.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Take this! @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

Nothing wrong with a bit of verbal abuse from the distance.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Pumping @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

Veronika and Lionel returned as victors a short while after, still huffing and puffing.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Curious and cute @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

Both are easily recognised for their loyalty. And prevail to be soo cute and curious. Only friendly chatter was heard amongst them.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Peaceful @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

Peace had returned to the shire as it was quiet again. It’s a bit hard to take.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Washed off @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

Sunshine witnessed this show like a pro. He’s heard this kafuffle many times before, as he has heard thunderstorms. He still doesn’t like them particularly.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Let there be peace @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

The heavy downpour washed all trouble away. For how long I wonder?

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Duck! @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

The house ducks meanwhile returned in usual formation. Frodo and up to five females made the most of an unoccupied bower.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Agile @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

Sharing isn’t a bowerbird’s virtue either, but there’s plenty to go around.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Moving in @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

Zoe and Joey used the distraction to move in as well.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Joined @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

About 6 king parrots joined the two local lorikeets on the rail. They don’t really like sharing, but some lorikeets tolerate other birds as the rain showers continue. Another 4 king parrots and the defeated lorikeets are sitting quietly in the magic tree.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Locomotion @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

The White-headed Pigeons have returned as well.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Here we come @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

And so the merry-go-round continued.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Off the rail @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

One parrot doesn’t like another, who then shuffles someone else off.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Scuffle @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

Who then flies into the Bumpy Ash, pushing someone else off the branch.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Round and round @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

Only to land on the rail and swoops someone else off.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
All around @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

Round and round we go. It never gets boring around here.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Surprise @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

Another oddity is the following. I haven’t taken a single photo during this show.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
What? @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

I wrote as fast as I could, trying to remember all details. And staying out of the line of feathers.

Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Stage is set @Valla, Northern New South Wales, Australia

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s episode right here, at some time during the day. The show will go on. 

One thought on “Off the Rails in 30 Minutes, Northern New South Wales, Australia”

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