[danehower]

Had some fun in my mothers backyard today during my lunch break. My mother is a fantastic gardener despite an adversion to 100% native plants, she still has a nice magnet for some good critters. An escapee has found some comfort in her yard - a beautiful white Budgerigar with complimentary grey barring. He/she has gained godlike status among the local House Sparrows. They seem infatuated or truly concerned by this beauty. I couldnt help to think that its former owners could never appriciate its glory without seeing it fly - it seemed to have the true agility of a swallow - but with more strength and conviction in it's beats. It perched with dignity! lol - anyway - some other nice critters had lunch on the flowers.

PS I thought the "sphinx moth" looked like a flying crawdad ! - just had to say that,sorry

[Storm-Petrel]

sounds nice! the budgie must have been fun entertainment. the first one i saw (not in a cage ) was white too. like little angels.

[danehower]

So true David ! It does have an angelic appearance - that is kind of what I was thinking when I saw it ! I hope this little guy is ok come winter! - At least if he stick's around that long he will have some good camo.

[Storm-Petrel]

haha true! birds are good at surviving the cold, I'm sure he'll (Well, girl maybe? I know you can tell the sex of budgies by the cere color... ) be fine

[dolphinbride]

Great photographs, Dave, of birds, butterflies, and moths! Hope the escapee does well, a blessing its wings weren't clipped!

Kristina

[Mabel]

Nice one, dude! That a pretty cool escape to get! Nice fluttery things too!

[Storm-Petrel]

AHA!!! yer budgie there carries around a pair of gonads!!! i googled "sexing budgies" and the males have blue or pink ceres, while the females in spring have crusty brown ceres, and nonbreeding whiteceres with a tint of blue.

[Sue Wright]

Hi Dave,

Great to see such a good thread with some beautiful photos to compliment it. I think young David's trying to say that the Budgie is a male because of the blue cere, if so, he's right as you can certainly see it's blue in the perched shot, that is a great photo of it Dave.

Your first Butterfly shot is very much like our Red Admiral, any ideas what that one and the other Butterfly are called, both beautiful photos, but I think my favourite has to be the Sphinx Moth, such a superb Moth and a stunning shot of it Dave! I just looked up 'crawdad' and I can see what you mean though I much prefer the Shinx any day; aside from that....just how long would it survive under water!!!

A good thread and great shots Dave...I look forward to seeing more as soon as possible.

All the best,

Sue. PS. Sorry Dave, I've just seen that the 2nd Butterfly is a Monarch, super Butterflies with fascinating lives!