Observe, wait, wait, wait…click

With the onset a few years ago of a serious vocal cord problem, my international business focus as a corporate trainer/facilitator and presenter had to stop. Medical specialists recommended that I needed to find other means of expression – a “new voice”.  This has evolved into photography, art and writing.

Our temptation to anthropomorphise is strong i.e. to give animals, for example, human attributes and behaviour, such as speech and a magical sprinkling of humour.  Consider the wonderful books and movies such as: Winnie the Pooh, Peter Rabbit, Alice in Wonderland, Babe, along with Dr. Dolittle and Animal Farm. As a young child in the 60s I was enchanted by a British TV series – Animal Magic – where the presenter gave a human dialogue to animals, along with humour.  It was one of my favourite programmes.

In exploring my new voice, please forgive me for gifting some of the charmingly photogenic animals and birds below a voice and a sense of humour.

Great Egrett – “Hi – welcome to some amusing moments and outtakes”. Photo taken in a creek near Corrimal Beach, north of Wollongong.

Australian Pelican – delighted having just been thrown a sizeable fish carcass by a fisherman.  Photo taken at Bellambi Harbour, Wollongong, NSW.

White-faced Heron – “Just one of my yoga exercises.”  Photo taken at Long Reef, Dee Why, Sydney.

Silver Gull – “Er – now what – I think this fish is bigger than I can swallow!”  Photo taken at Long Reef, Dee Why, Sydney.

Sooty Oystercatcher – “They all went that way!”  Photo taken near Wollongong, New South Wales.

Sooty Oystercatcher – It’s not often you feel that you are being saluted by an endangered species.  Photo taken in on the coast near Wollongong, New South Wales.

Kookaburra and Noisy Miners – “Are you going to share that grubby old apple core with us having just stolen it from us?”  Photo taken in Lane Cove National Park, Sydney.

Tawny Frogmouth – “What…you cannot be serious!”  Photo taken in Lane Cove, National Park, Sydney.

Tawny Frogmouth – “I can turn my head on its side.”  Photo taken in Lane Cove, National Park, Sydney.

Tawny Frogmouth – “…and I can even turn my head upside down!”  Photo taken in Lane Cove, National Park, Sydney.

Great Cormorant – “I love a good yawn!”  Stretching upwards with feather from preening stuck on its open beak.  Photo taken in Lane Cove, National Park, Sydney.

Sulphur Crested Cockatoo – “Mirror, mirror in the tree, that doesn’t look much like me.” Photo taken in Lane Cove, National Park, Sydney.

White-faced Heron – “Just shaking my tail feathers!” Photo taken in Lane Cove National Park, Sydney.

Rainbow Lorikeet – “Hey, it’s the weekend!” Photo taken in our backyard, Lane Cove, Sydney.

Rainbow Lorikeet – Oops! Photo taken in our backyard, Lane Cove, Sydney.

Little Pied Cormorants – Another oops! Photo taken in Lane Cove National Park, Sydney.

Echidna – “What these ants crawling over my face don’t know is that my other name is a Spiny Anteater.” Photo taken in Lane Cove National Park, Sydney.

Little Corellas – “I’m just checking your undercarriage for damage”. Photo taken in Riverview, Lane Cove, Sydney.

Royal Spoonbills – when feathers can’t cope with 50kh/hr winds. Photo taken in near Wollongong, New South Wales.

Little Corella – I couldn’t resist inverting this photo taken in Riverview, Lane Cove, Sydney.

Australian Pelican – going beyond a yawn? Photo taken in Port Stephens, New South Wales.

Australian Pelican – stretching vigorously? Photo taken in Port Stephens, New South Wales.

Australian Pelican – are you really going to swallow that? Photo sequence taken near Wollongong, New South Wales.

Australian Pelican – “yep, watch this!

Australian Pelican – “mmm, it’s quite large but here goes!”

Australian Pelican – “…and I can still fly!”  I do get concerned when I see large fish left by fishermen.  Birds might be tempted to try to swallow them.

Australian Pelican – “With my neck mobility I can scratch anywhere”. Photo taken near Wollongong, New South Wales.

Little Pied Cormorant – shedding weight before taking off! Photo taken in Lane Cove National Park, Sydney.

Eastern Yellow Robin – “zombie” shot!  Photo taken in the bush near Wollongong.

Galahs – “You’ve got some food debris left… just there”. Photo taken in Mudgee, NSW.

Galahs – “That’s the spot, right there. Ooh yeah!” Photo taken in Riverview, Sydney.

Laughing Kookaburra – “Yay…rare roast beef sandwich filling!” Picnic leftovers. Photo taken in Lane Cove National Park, Sydney.

Laughing Kookaburra – Its laugh makes me smile.  Please see the poem I have written.  Photo taken in Lane Cove National Park, Sydney.

Great Cormorant – “I’m not going in there, it’s only 16 degrees C!” Photo taken near Wollongong, NSW.

Great Cormorant – “Wait, that’s not my best angle today!” Photo taken in Lane Cove National Park, Sydney.

Eastern Water Dragon – “One push-up is enough for today”. It suddenly rose off the tree into this position. Photo taken in Lane Cove National Park, Sydney.

Eastern Water Dragons – seemingly being amorous. Photo taken in Lane Cove National Park, Sydney.

Peron’s Tree Frogs – “I can hear you but where are you?” Ok it was night-time. One was croaking directly above the other. Photo taken in our backyard, Lane Cove, Sydney.

Sooty Oystercatcher – Two heads, three legs. Photo taken in near Wollongong, New South Wales.

Sooty Oystercatcher – “This is my favourite yoga position”. Photo taken near Wollongong, New South Wales.

Seagull (Silver Gull) – “I’m not sharing these fish guts with anyone”. Photo taken near Wollongong, New South Wales.

Seagull (Silver Gull) – “Have a look, my throat was a bit red yesterday too.” Photo taken near Wollongong, New South Wales.

Australian Darter – “I’m still watching you, watching me!” Photo taken near Mosman, Sydney.

Crested Tern – Other birds flew overhead at this moment. Photo taken near Mosman, Sydney.

Rainbow Lorikeet – “Hurry up, before I doze off to sleep!” Photo taken in our backyard, Lane Cove, Sydney.

Australasian Darter – “Mum, mum… I can balance!” Photo taken near Mosman, Sydney.

Magpie – “It’s not what you might think.  The pipe is leaking!” Photo taken at Middle Head, Mosman, Sydney.

Silver Gull – “Oh so happy, so happy today!” Photo taken on Balmoral Beach, Mosman, Sydney.

Silver Gulls – Photo taken near Towradgi Rock Pool, Wollongong.

Little Pied Cormorant – “Hey! Never mind your feathers, never turn your back on the surf!” Photo taken near Wollongong.

Little Black Cormorant – “My beak comes in handy when vertical take off against a brick wall fails.” Photo taken near Farm Cove, Sydney.

Eye to Eye

Magpie – looking somewhat windswept.  Photo taken at Tacking Point Lighthouse, Port Macquarie.

Little Raven – looking intensively at the camera.  Photo taken at a harbour just north of Wollongong.

Galah – Photo taken in Riverview, Lane Cove, Sydney.

Great Cormorant – Photo taken in Lane Cove National Park, Sydney.

Little Pied Cormorant – Photo taken near Wollongong, NSW.

Australian Pelican – Photo taken near Wollongong, NSW.

Rainbow Lorikeet – Photo taken in our backyard, Lane Cove, Sydney.