I am going to attempt the x 100 for the second time (first was Bob Dylan songs and I got to 20!). To try to actually finish the challenge I am going to do 10-10 x 10 Thanks Peter www.flickr.com/photos/pixelatedsky/ and Andrew for encouraging me . I may not post all of them individually, some may end up in a single 10 x10 collage. I have picked my 10 topics, though a few may change. They are:
My birdbath
My Garden
My Postcode
My son
My daughter
Protests
Bob Dylan songs
Monochrome
50 mm
and a colour

Soooo-the first from my birdbath which I am most excited about. It was a very hot day and this Magpie was having a ball splashing about.

Tags:   100 Birdbath Flickr challenge backyard front or backyard magpie splash Flickr X100 challenge Gymnorhina tibicen

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While these Honeyeaters are quite common, they are very rare visitors to my backyard. I have been thrilled to have this lone one visiting often during the last couple of months. Fortunately I can spy on them from my study window where many of the images are taken-a great distraction from work!

It is going to be 43 C today, followed by brown rain with the expected dust storm. So no doubt the birds will be in great need of water. I have frozen big blocks of ice to leave in there to keep the water cool.

Tags:   Australia Birdbath Craigieburn Honey-eater Lichenostomus penicillatus White-plumed honeyeater backyard birds frontyard heat water weather yellow

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These are three honeyeaters (White-plumed, New Holland and Wattlebird) that visited my birdbath on the 43 C day on Friday. At one point during the day my car reading for the outside air was 47C. The birds were very stressed and I ended up re-filling the birdbaths about five times, despite the blocks of ice. The water became boiling quite quickly. I really thought the young White-plumed (I had two visit) was going to literally drop off the branch. It was flagging badly and could barely stay perched.

All three birds have their beaks open, a form of panting to help regulate temperature. Birds don’t sweat and have very rapid respiration rates.

Opening their bills is one of the main ways they are able to dissipate the heat. I am quite obsessed with my backyard birds, even the introduced ones (the ones shown here are all natives) (As mentioned before, on many occasions the eye-roller has accused me of loving the birds more than her ).

Working from home all day on your own can get very lonely and watching the birds through my study window and hearing them chatter and interact give me a sense of the life around me and makes me feel less alone.

That and my Cocky George and budgie Alfie reminding me very loudly that they don't want to be left alone either.

Tags:   birds Birdbath Backyard. backyard bird Craigieburn hot heat tryptich White-plumed honeyeater New Holland Honeyeater Wattle bird water splash Flickr X 100 Challange 2020

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This image was taken the day after our 43 degree (See previous image). The morning started with very high humidity, almost worse than the dry heat of the day before. But then the rains came and boy did they fall. My house sits under the flight path of these Rainbow Lorikeets and they often visit the garden, especially my Silver Princess Gums.

I was able to stand under the front veranda and take their picture. They didn't seem very impressed with the rain!.

Tags:   Birdbath Craigieburn backyard bath Lorikeet Rainbow Lorikeet frontyard Gum Trees Eucalypt Flickr X100 challenge My Garden bird Trichoglossus moluccanus Nikon D500 Nikon 200-500

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A starling bathes while two young New Holland Honeyeaters wait patiently on the sidelines.

I do often get a few species in the bath at the same time, all splashing about contentedly.

Tags:   Birdbath Starling backyard New Holland Honeyeater Phylidonyris novaehollandiae Phylidonyris novaehollandiae Sturnus vulgaris bath splash birds garden backyard bird

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