Lemmings are NOISY!

It’s a sad fact of life that lemmings are NOISY!

The younger two lemmings with the middle lemming sporting a new hair-cut!

They might not mean to be but I don’t think they can help it.  This morning’s ramble was NOT what I would call tranquil.  It wasn’t just ONE lemming that joined us .... or even TWO .... it was all THREE and an EXTRA.

It was only the younger two that came to the view-site.  I think the youngest was hoping that the Cockatoo would be there again today, but it wasn’t, so he talked instead.

Not that he talked to US mind you.  He and his sister talked to ONE ANOTHER .... non-stop, all the way up and all the way down .... about some books the middle lemming is reading called Hunger Games.  It’s not often I see him so engrossed in a conversation that he’s oblivious to anything happening around him.

The other lemming and the extra found us on the beach.  They were just in time to help Julia catch Indy who was having one of THOSE days.  As is usual, he was delighted to see the lemming and went bounding over to say hello, little realising his freedom was about to be curtailed.  The silent treatment ensued as we headed to the Co-op for our first fix of the day ... I think some of us needed that fix more than others.

But back to yesterday’s surprise visitor at the view-site.  It’s not every day I get to meet a fully grown Cockatoo.  I often see other early morning voyeurs at the view-site but never one with a COCKATOO sitting on their shoulder!

His name was Chuckle ... the Cockatoo that is, not his owner.

The hound’s seen big birds before.  The Black Swans are huge and she’s very wary of them.  This one was different.  It was AS interested in her as she was in it.  I sat her a couple of metres away whilst I took photos.  

Chuckle had other ideas!

His owner sat him on the railing so I could get a clear photo.  His feet touched the railing and, rather clumsily, he made a dash for the hound.  Cockatoo’s are NOT the most elegant of birds ... particularly when they’re trying to run .... TRYING being the operative word.  His head bobbed up and down as he repeated the word hello over and over again.  I think he was waiting for the hound to reply.

She was transfixed.  Here was this rather large white and yellow entity, bobbing up and down and heading in her direction ..... and it TALKED! 

Fortunately she DIDN'T answer back.  I can only imagine the havoc she'd have caused had she barked.  Chuckle's owner might not have been chuckling QUITE so much had Chuckle flexed his wings and taken to the air.  They're not regulars in our area and have no idea of the exercise session they'd have participated in had Chuckle chosen to drop  in on Ladies Bay.

Never a dull moment in my part of the world!

The gatecrasher!!