Weather and Wedge-ies
Life is kinda crowding me at the moment … in the nicest possible way! I completely missed Weather Wednesday last week (cannot even keep to my OWN rules!).
…
I am so freaking busy I can hardly keep track of what day it is – but I have snuck off while my school holiday visitors are nana-napping (and kids watching Dr Suess on DVD) to share a little somethin’ special from our trip away last week. We were late leaving Granite Glen (not unusual for me) in the late afternoon, on our way to drop the ankle-biters off with Aunty Neat And Uncle Are, before heading to Rock-Vegas for a rare night alone, before a bull sale the following day.
…
Earlier in the day I had dashed into Dash’s school for a photo presentation (a little project I had been doing with his schoolmates) when I had accidentally hit a roo with the Prado. It sometimes happens and never fails to make me feel a little sick (I may be a bushie, but I am a girl and killing a creature – even accidentally – gives me serious guilt waves).
…
Anyway as we rounded the corner on our away trip in the afternoon, we spied some birds at the roo carcass. Birds who flew off into the trees as soon as we stopped.
…
I am so freaking busy I can hardly keep track of what day it is – but I have snuck off while my school holiday visitors are nana-napping (and kids watching Dr Suess on DVD) to share a little somethin’ special from our trip away last week. We were late leaving Granite Glen (not unusual for me) in the late afternoon, on our way to drop the ankle-biters off with Aunty Neat And Uncle Are, before heading to Rock-Vegas for a rare night alone, before a bull sale the following day.
…
Earlier in the day I had dashed into Dash’s school for a photo presentation (a little project I had been doing with his schoolmates) when I had accidentally hit a roo with the Prado. It sometimes happens and never fails to make me feel a little sick (I may be a bushie, but I am a girl and killing a creature – even accidentally – gives me serious guilt waves).
…
Anyway as we rounded the corner on our away trip in the afternoon, we spied some birds at the roo carcass. Birds who flew off into the trees as soon as we stopped.
Not just any birds though…
These guys…
They are wedge-tail eagles – enormous birds of prey that live throughout rural Australia.
And they are gorgeous in an arrogant, imposing kinda way…
They are wedge-tail eagles – enormous birds of prey that live throughout rural Australia.
And they are gorgeous in an arrogant, imposing kinda way…
and have been known to lift baby calves from the ground and take off.
It’s a little hard to really get the sense of size and majesty of these birds from these photos… and as we drove off I lamented to Mr I that I didn’t have a better zoom lense, because we don’t see wedgetail eagles too often.
And then we pondered how long it had been since we had LAST seen a pair…
I have only seen one other pair (they seem to always be a couple)
and Mr Incredible had seen a few more, but still less than ten, in the two-and-a-half years we have been here…
WHEN…
We came up a rise and there, before us, feasting on another dead roo was…
ANOTHER pair of wedgies… 
I kid you not.
I kid you not.
(One had flown off into the long grass, while this one stayed feasting).
I demanded we stop the Prado. Again.
Mr I began to mutter silently about our inevitable lateness.
I ignored his concerns.
This guy was too beautiful!
I am very sorry about constantly bombarding you with carrion this post,
but encourage my gentle readers to focus instead on the amazing bird pecking away at it
(I know… sorry again!)
This bird would be more than knee high in height…
and yes, I realise ‘knees’ is not exactly an official measure, but I am totally guessing here and knee variations will let me get away with a wild ‘guesstimate’!
Of course, I nagged Mr I to keep edging the car closer and closer to the eagle…
finally getting too close for comfort and he took off…
Giving you a good glimpse of the incredible wing span of these creatures…
And also the distinctive ‘wedge’ shape of the tail
(for which they are named… duh, BB!)
See ya, Big Fella…
And yes, my husband was at this point muttering:
See ya, Big Fella…
And yes, my husband was at this point muttering:
Now? Now can we go?
And yes, we were late.
Again.
Totally acceptable excuse though, don’t you think?
…
Oh, and weather this week – HOT.
Hot and sweaty.
Currently 42 degrees celsius in the sun on my kitchen bench.
Yah.
14 Comments
Leenie
Totally acceptable excuse. Spectacular birds. Great shots.
Anonymous
FANTASTIC shots! What a beauty!! BTW you are a very good sport Mr. I 🙂
signed
Theresa in ALberta
Jenni
They remind me a little of the turkey vultures that live near us. We have a large flock, sometimes two large groups totaling between 25 and 50 birds that like to hang out on our property and close by. I think they like the trees and cliffs on our side of the road for roosting in at night and the pasture across the street and nearby roads for hunting during the day. I've walked up the road to get photos of them so many times, but I can never get close enough before they fly away. Sticking around and being still doesn't seem to help, either. I think I need to try approaching in the car as they seem very used to cars–and probably expect the vehicles to dispense a meal for them.
Debby
Holy crow. That is a big bird.
The turkey vultures that Jenni referred to are huge, and they wait until the very last minute to lift up and fly away from their rotted carrion feast. You just get used to them getting out of the way precisely in the nick of time, and don't give them much thought. A couple months ago, I was driving along, came upone the familiar gruesome scene…and the darn bird lifted off a split instant too late. He hit the front of my grill, slid back on the hood, hit the windshield in a poof of feathers, and voila, the carrion eater had become carrion. Part of the circle of life I suppose.
Kate
Gorgeous! I love eagles and those guys are beautiful. Their beaks are huge! I know what you mean about hitting the roos. It's deer around here and even though i dislike them generally i feel so sick when i hit one. And then, like the other girls said, the turkey vultures descend. Your eagles are MUCH more beautiful though. There is a reason ours are called 'turkey' vultures. Not the prettiest birds. Thanks for taking the time to post. We've missed you!
A Novel Woman
Cool beans!!
Kelly
Great photos!! Like the others said, turkey vultures and black vultures (I think some folks refer to either as a buzzard) were what came to mind. Had to laugh at your comment about hitting one, Debby. They tend to stink and will throw up on you!
The weather here is sunny today. A wonderful sight after getting more than 17 inches of rain at our house during the past week. Sadly, though, more rain is in the forecast starting tonight.
Debby
You know Kelly, you're the second one who has told me this. My friend Dixie said they will rise in the air, jettisoning their stomach contents. I've never seen this, but I don't sit and watch for puking birds. (Although I've been paying much closer attention since Dixie told me this amazing thing.
BB – That first picture where the bird is sitting with outstretched wings? Was he flapping his wings or just sitting there with outstretched wings? Ours do that over here when they are trying to warm up in the morning. I once drove past three of them sitting in the same tree with their wings extended just absorbing the early morning sun.
Mom L
I'm sorry you hit the roo, but I hope you are a sturdier soul than I. I have cried over hitting a rabbit, a dog, and – my final death so far – a woodchuck. Sigh. What a wuss. But your eagles are amazing, even if you did interrupt their dinner. I don't recall knowing that particular type of eagle, but your photos are amazing.
Pencil Writer
I know the muttering about "can we go now?" Stuff. Love to laugh! The pictures are, as usual, freaking fantastic. And those birds are a LOT to behold. Thanks for taking the time and trouble–please pass thanks along to Mr. I–for the photo op! And for sharing them with us. Hope your night away was smashing!
Woman in a Window
It is not 42 degrees!!!
ARGH! I'd never survive and those darned eagles would be eating my dead arse in the kitchen! (Menacing things, they are.)
Bush Babe
WIAW – you crack me up! Your arse would be fine – we'd just crank up the air con for your soft little Canadian tush…
PW – I am still recovering from you saying 'freaking'… as bad as my Mother saying 'WhatEVER!'… cause we all know what THAT means!
Mom L – apparently I am a heartless cow then. I feel awful but no tears have been shed recently over roadkill. Does that make me callous?
Debby – I love it when you take over my comments section… especially with puking vultures. You too Kelly… Gross, girls!!! *swallows hard*
And Kelly – 17 inches? Of RAIN? You tease… we would have mud falling from the sky if that arrived here… and I would throw a party to celebrate!!!
Pam – cool beans? Does that mean you like them too? Or that the repeated sight of roadkill makes you hungry?
Kate – thanks for missing me… and for admiring our awesome eagles. Is it wrong to be drawn to an animal of prey so?
Jenni – let me know how you go!!!
Theresa – I shall probably keep that comment to myself. Mr I needs no encouragement… already tells me he's the easiest going bloke I know. I am yet to be convinced!!
Leenie – thankyou, thankyou, thankyou.
🙂
Life with Kaishon
Oh my word! That is so interesting. They can lift a small calf away? WOWZA! My son is out playing right now but I going to bookmark this to show him when he comes in! He will LOVE this : ) And TOTALLY worth being a little later for : )
Kate
Wow. That bird is huge! I bet it did come to your knees!
Kate´s last blog post ..Cycle of life