Saturday 7 February 2009

Camera Critters, Botanical Gardens, Cairns, Australia.


Little Black Cormorant
Magpie- Goose
 
 
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Click on photos to see more details.

I might be mistaken of course, but I thought these geese were Magpie-geese and the other smaller birds were Little Black Cormorants. Magpie-geese are unmistakable birds with their black and white plumage and yellowish legs. The feet are only partially webbed, although the Magpie-goose will feed on vegetable matter in the water as well as on land. Males are larger than females. Unlike true geese, the moult is gradual, and there is no flightless period. The voice is a loud honking.
The Little Black Cormorant, Phalacrocorax sulcirostris, is a member of the cormorant family of seabirds. It is common in smaller rivers and lakes throughout most areas of Australia and northern New Zealand. It is around sixty centimetres long, and is all black with blue-green eyes.



Camera Critters is hosted by Misty Dawn. Thank you so much Misty Dawn.We all enjoy seeing and talking about animals. All creatures great and small give us much pleasure.If you want to see more Camera Critters click on the logo in the side bar.

40 comments:

Teena in Toronto said...

Interesting looking bird in the first pic.

I played too :)

Tink *~*~* said...

I recognized your cormorant right away - we have them here in Southwest Florida too, although they are sometimes mistaken for the anhinga. That's a great picture of a great specimen - he's all sleek and plump and healthy.

Tink *~*~*
My Mobile Adventures *~*~* presents - Ring-billed gulls, and "the circle of life"

EG CameraGirl said...

How wonderful to see birds from a part of the world I may never see in person. And thanks for telling us about them too.

Juliana RW said...

wonderful shots...

My entry for CC this week : in HERE. Hope you have time to visit . Thanks

Carletta said...

Great info on the pictures of your birds. I like that little black Cormorant - definitely a different kind of fellow than I see here.

Hope you're having a wonderful day.

Carolina said...

It's funny to see all the different animals from all over the world. Imagine if we saw an eagle in a tree in our backyard, or a bear :-o These birds are also new to me.
Groetjes,
Carolina

The Weaver of Grass said...

Reader wil - your headers give me such an incredible surprise when you change them - I click on your site and then wait in anticipation of a treat.

Carolina said...

Hoi Wil, had de video al bij iemand anders op de blog gezien. Heel lief!

George said...

Thanks for these neat pictures of camera 'critters'. Thanks, too, for the information about each species.

Brenda said...

I need to try and do more posts like yours. I always enjoy whatever you chose to talk about!

NoBS said...

Are the geese as "mean" as the geese in the states?

A friend was just telling me the other day of a yard she was passing one day where geese were used as guard "dogs" and she was chased all the way down the street by them just for walking past the property!

Too funny!

Misty DawnS said...

These photos are wonderful! I especially love the first two close ups. Great work!

Unknown said...

Great photos!

Susan Demeter said...

Definitely majestic looking birds!

My Camera Critters entry is here

Thank you for stopping by! :)

Grammy said...

How wonderful you have magpie there. The are so amazing.

Have a great week.

Smart Mouth Broad said...

Lovely geese! Your photos are the best!

Wisdom Of Heart said...

how nice and lovely...nature is so beautiful

thanks for sharing

hug, p

Anonymous said...

Can't remember ever seen a goose like in your first pic - you are a teacher at heart :)

Anonymous said...

die krijgen we hier niet te zien natuurlijk, mooi hoor.

Groetjes

Jane Hards Photography said...

Cormorants are fascinating birds. How those pygmy ones adapted to become flightless. Wonderful virtual tour.

Michele said...

You have such neat and unusual animals and birds where you live. It is fun and fascinating to learn about them!!
Great post, I enjoyed it!
Hug♥

Unknown said...

I do really envy you, you know a lot of these animals. I'm trying get some photos so I'd someday join too.

You also have a new layout. I did my layout too... Happy Sunday!

Janice Thomson said...

Both of these are unique looking birds and quite different from ours. It's always a thrill to see another country's wildlife. Great series of photos Wil.

Dianne said...

I like the first shot a lot! something about his gawky yet beautiful pose

??? said...

I had never seen magpie geese before, weird birds.
You asked about the whip spider: they live in Africa, the species I photographed live in Tanzania.

Miss_Yves said...

I'm very pleased to correspond with you, and your French isn't bad at all.
I am ashamed of my mistakes in English...!Generally, I can read and unterstand easily , it's less easy for me to write...
Your nice photos and knowledges about birds make me travel!

"Phalacrocorax "! This summer, a blogger (HPY)created a funny feuilleton , the main character of which was a cormoran called ..."phalacrocorax "! Everyone thought its name was a joke !
And I intented to propose to you a new game,from an idea of ...HPY!

The rule is very plain:choose , in your sixth album, the sixth photo, exhibit it, describe it(in the language you want) then , choose six friends to go on ...
There is a link on my blog towards HPY's blog.

Lilli & Nevada said...

Those are some interesting looking birds i love the scenery. And you have changed your scene on the blog which i totally love.

Miss_Yves said...

I think it's a game, not a work, so If you want to play , or if if you aren't too busy to play, you take which is more convenient for you (album and time )
Never mind, if you can't !

i beati said...

superb

Barbara Martin said...

Thank you, Wil, for introducing these new birds to me. New as in I've never seen them before.

KOSTAS said...

Marvellous post with beautiful and beloved creatures!

Anonymous said...

I don't know that much about birds, but I do like watching them. One of the golf courses me and my husband play at always has tons of geese and sometimes it's hard to hit the ball and not hit a bird. Fortunately, I never hit one with a ball.

raccoonlover1963/Lisa Myers said...

Hi Wil
What unusual looking birds! Too cool! I also love the animal pics on your side bar, especially the kittens. AWWWWWWW
Have a great week.
Lisa

Reader Wil said...

Thank you Geri, I wanted to thank you on your blog, but couldn't as it appears to be a medical page to be. Anyway it's nice of you to visit my blog.

Jo's-D-Eyes said...

Hi R Wil , Fantastic I love botanical gardens and the goose,

Happy weekwishes from JoAnn/Holland

Lapa37 said...

Wonderful shots beautiful birds.Thanks for the visit

antigoni said...

What a wonderful world! When i see these animals and the friendship between them, i understand why God leave the world keep living. So sweet and lovely animal's moments.

penny said...

I enjoyed your photos of the birds. I have a hard time sneaking up on them ;) We have Anhingas and Cormorants too but I have a hard time telling them apart.

Marja said...

Great pictures Very interesting creatures

Anonymous said...

Magpie asks: "Do not be like the unconscious ones that would wish to destroy us in our breeding cycle.
All it takes is respect and understanding of our ways..; to avoid a conflict."
Perhaps he brings to your awareness a situation or person that is challenging to you right now.
Saying: "Allow space. Opposites balance each other and harmonie will be once more.
Give people the space they need to learn their lessons and heal their wounds."
Respect your journey and your own differences, you are unique and you sing a glorious song...

Thanks says Blondie.