After it rained and rained and rained this weekend, the rivers from the mountain flooded downhill into the city and beyond to the sea. At the point where the wild, gushing river force came crashing down into the sea, the sea-gulls circled, dived and swooped around, clearly enjoying the spoils of the flooded river-ways.
I was not sure what these birds were when they passed in front of my house one evening very recently. Possibly ducks (wisely escaping duck hunting season) or perhaps they were geese on migration to some place warmer? Were they an NZ native bird or a visiting feathered friend en-route to some-place else? They flew with a sense of purpose, in a line three times as long as my camera image….who they are, where they go…I do not know, but I do know they looked pretty spectacular from my window.
Although fairly well recognised around NZ and Australia in most parks and lakes, the black swan is not common in other places around the world and is regarded with some awe and mystery. Here it is almost regarded as a pest. But, the timeless tale of the ugly duckling turning into a beautiful swan still holds fascination for me. The black swan is undoubtedly a stunning and graceful creature, gliding effortlessly across the water with its elegant long neck craning and glossy black feathers ruffled as it searches for what…some food, a mate, her own “ugly duckling” babies? .
The fantail has returned. It seems that two have decided that the area round my home is a good place to live. I see them quite a lot, flitting about, chatting and flirting with each other like two love struck teenagers. I am thrilled. This little fellow followed me over to the hill, darting about and perching on the fence post. I am also thinking he is a very special little good luck token for my own “fantail collection” on my website at http://www.blackboxartstudio.com/index.html
The beach was deserted. Not a human in sight. Just one black dog and racing up and down the beach, in and out of the waves, without a care in the world, chasing seagulls with seemingly unlimited energy and joy. The seagulls laughing at him it seems….they wait until he gets close, then quickly they fly away, taunting him with their squawks.
I spotted this tree in Auckland recently. It’s silver white trunk was so smooth and shiny and seemed to go on for miles and miles toward toward the sky.
I imagined what it would be like to be a bird flying around and resting at the top of the tree, in the shelter of the branches, and looking out at the world from there.
She was elegant. Perched on one leg, grooming herself, and completely absorbed in her own ritual, she was oblivious or seemingly unconcerned about those of us watching her…she seemed no different than any woman preening before a special date.
Her feathers glistened in the morning sun, each one highlighted in stunning silvery white.
That she was all alone at the zoo seemed so sad.
I came across this delightfully whimsical scene while visiting down-town Sydney recently. It completely enchanted me.
That’s what I love about walking around in new places…the anticipation, the joy of discovering something unexpected. That feeling of surprise and delight when you find something a wee bit special…such as this. It might be a marketing gimmick, a publicity stunt, a modern art display or street art. To Sydney’s urban dwellers it may not even register a second glance any more.
But I noticed. And I found a tiny, quite special, magical space. Just lovely.
I spotted this delightful pair recently at our local zoo park. I just loved the rich colours and the way they were dining together…taking turns and sharing. They gave a bit of brightness to an otherwise grey rainy day.
Islands are intriguing, beguiling, fascinating. This one is, I believe, a bird sanctuary. You can appreciate it’s inherent beauty, you can look at it, draw it, photograph it, sail around it, swim or kayak around it. But generally, you cannot land on it. And you certainly cannot live on it. It is a refuge for the native bird population. A safe home for protected species.
It is a spectacularly beautiful island. And it is serving a very worthy purpose in its isolation. And it is a relief to see some land that is clearly not “developed” by humans. But…I cannot help but feel that it reminds me of a gilded cage. Perfect, stunning, beautiful, safe, and intended to protect the vulnerable. But in the end, still a cage.
Black Box Art Studio 
You must be logged in to post a comment.