Cockatoo!

I have never lived in a place with such dominate birds! The sulphur-crested cockatoo is one of the most common sights in the park by my house, as the one pictured attests to. :) It's actually quite entertaining to walk through the park right now. As long as you continually walk towards a predictable point (picnic table, swings, walkway...) the cockatoos will just continue to happily munch on whatever they are munching on. If you deviate, slow or speed up, they kind of run away, at least as much as any bird can run. The only time they squawk is when they are show off to each other or think they can get the food off of another bird.

What's in your pocket?

So I've become rather enamoured with pocket sized stuffed animals. This is Harold. I found him at Kinokuniya, one of the most amazing book shops I have seen in a long time. If you do not have a travelling companion, you really are missing out on something. Basically everyone I've introduced Heales or Harold to have immediately started playing with them. It's really is the best way to bring out the child-like glee in anyone. Also, Harold is soft and fuzzy and all around cute. :) He now lives in my shoulder bag.

Taken August 2010 - Town Hall Station, Sydney, NSW

Hunter Valley - Pelican

I still get a kick out of seeing pelicans just flying around. They tend not to like city life, so you do have to go 'up the coast' to find them, but hey, I'm not fussy! Pelicans have until recently been birds that I have only imagined. I know that I have seen my fair share of pelican images, but to actually see one in the feather is really quiet surreal. They are about the size of my old dog, and really do have the most impressive jowels I have ever seen! (and this is including the previously mentioned cassowary). I would also say that they are obviously birds that live in windy areas, and I don't think I've seen them fly so much as glide from place to place.

I'm hoping my next visit up the coast will be to a place I've been led to believe have basically tame pelicans. I'd love to get a proper close up look at these lovely birds. :)

Taken August 2010 - Damn (Australian for pond) in the Hunter Valley, NSW

Taronga Zoo - Giraffe

Giraffe are just to darn elegant. Their long eyelashes, and haughty expressions just makes me want to serve them tea and crumpets. (Though I think they would rather have carrots!)

The giraffe enclosure at Taronga is pretty impressive, as these four herbivores have a perfect view of the harbour. It is fantastically easy to shoot great pictures of these lovely ladies here. They stand to the south, down hill from the viewing area.

Nothing quite like putting the Zoo on some of the most expensive real estate in Sydney eh?

Taken August 2010 - Taronga Zoo, Sydney, NSW

Taronga Zoo - Koala and Joey

Can any amount of 'awwww' describe how cute this koala joey is?

It's always nice to get to see koalas at feeding time. Since they sleep 20-22 hours a day, it is pretty much the only time that you get to see them with their eyes open. This mommy spent about 10 minutes going up and down this tree to find a good spot to rest for the afternoon. It was the most active I have ever seen a koala. Their claws must be sharp and their fingers strong as she would jump from branch to branch and never slipped on landing.

Ah, to be a koala... vaguely high on life (or at least what they eat) and able to sleep for a day at a time. *sigh

Taken August 2010 - Taronga Zoo, Sydney, NSW