Bird of the Week Challenge: 26th May - Outside the comfort zone

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Holly
Holly's picture
Bird of the Week Challenge: 26th May - Outside the comfort zone

Happy Monday everyone. Well done on a very challenging challenge last week. The changing themes each day kept everyone on their toes.

This week's theme is 'outside the comfort zone' - share your photos where either 1. you or 2. the bird is outside its comfort zone. Maybe the bird is somewhere it normally wouldn't be seen or you made a special trip out on a boat when you usually prefer dry land. Explain to us what makes the image one that is 'outside the comfort zone'.

Guidelines:

  • You can post more than once, but there must be three people posting images in between your posts (so after you post, there must be three more photos posted before you can post again). Please be sure to do this to ensure everyone has a chance to contribute.
  • The theme should be encapsulated in the one photo, not a series of mulitple photos.
  • The individual outside of the comfort zone could be the bird in the image, or you as the photographer - so be sure to give us the background to the shot smiley
birdie
birdie's picture

Great idea for a challenge Holly ... I'll start it off laugh

I was so definitely out of my comfort zone by the time I snapped this shot, as it was pouring with rain and I was determined to get something in such challenging conditions. I saw my favourite tree branch that hangs over the river , chocker block full of Little Pied and Black cormorants and in the middle this Egret ( intermediate? not sure) . They were all hunched up and kept preening themselves as if the rain was really annoying them , or maybe it was enabling a bit of a spring clean of mties or something who knows, but none of us were in any comfort zone I would say. I had just got a bit wet after finding my bar Shouldered doves all lined up on the power lines, and drove up to this spot... took a few then decided I neede my tripod for the longer lens as light was so bad..... and that was when I ended up on my backside in a mud puddle clutching my tripod and thinking..... why am I even doing this?????  ... totally out of my comfort zone to get this shot for sure!!!

Sunshine Coast Queensland

shoop
shoop's picture

Well this little Magpie fluff ball doesn't look at all pleased to be out of its comfort zone . By the look of those feathers I would say it ventured a little too early out of its nest and ended up in my backyard . Lucky it had some of the adult Magpies hanging closely by to ensure it's safety.

Kerry - Perth, Western Australia.

Araminta
Araminta's picture

Seconds after this Baby Wren ventured out of his comfort zone, the nest, for the very first time.

M-L

rawshorty
rawshorty's picture

The Lathams Snipe is usually seen foraging near protective areas so this guy looks well out of his comfort zone.

Shorty......Canon gear

Canberra

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/ 

birdie
birdie's picture

Well this is obviously putting everyone out of their comfort zones Holly!!!

This morning I found this Egret and it was definitely out of its comfort zone with my approach so I only had a few seconds to get a shot before is stretch turned into flight!!

Sunshine Coast Queensland

Annie W
Annie W's picture

Last year some time, with a couple of hours to myself, I decided a short trip to the beach would be a great way to unwind.  I packed lightly, ensuring I left my common sense and other unessentials at home, & off I went.  Arrived at a spot I hadn't had a chance to explore before, a very cliffed coastal area, and started my walk.

So completely absorbed with the beauty of it all, I'd been walking for about an hour when I realised I couldn't go further forward, as there was a large body of wet stuff in my way, the ocean I think it's called laugh.  Oh s**t, I'd forgotten to check the tide times.  Darn, I wish I'd packed that common sense after all.

I ran back in the direction I'd come, towards the previous headland, and realized I was actually completely cut off.  Late in the afternoon, on a tiny bit of isolated beach, that was getting smaller and wetter very fast, with only a steep cliff face behind it.  After fighting with the lime green seaweed on the lower part of the cliff, I managed to climb a couple of metres up to a small ledge and shimmy the rest of the way to the top of the cliff, by using a large old tree that had fallen down the cliff face.

It was then a long steep trek through three or four badly neglected paddocks, full of thistles and monstrous hiding potholes - even more special wearing open shoes - up even more hills, all the while waiting for a jake blake to pounce on me to complete the adventure.

Eventually I spied street lights over a rise, and just as I did, heard the most beautiful bird call.  It was a Striated Fieldwren, and a first for me.  Backlit with glaring harsh light, far away and muted with the haze of the afternoon (or that could have been perspiration in my eyes), but, I think it was almost worth the accidental effort it had taken to hear and see one.  The whole experience out of my comfort zone, ohhhhh yes, my word it was! laugh

West Coast Tasmania

sue818
sue818's picture

Hi Annie, what a wonderful story and bird,  Well done.

Sue

Annie W
Annie W's picture

Thankyou Sue!  Bit of an embarrassing "doh" moment so I almost didn't share, so glad you enjoyed it!  smiley

West Coast Tasmania

sue818
sue818's picture

Strong wind put these Corellas out of their comfort zone and as I was at the Barkly Homestead and well away from Sydney, perhaps the same could be said for me. Sue

birdie
birdie's picture

Oh Sue....   good one....I have a whole folder of corellas in gale force winds ha h a... they were so funny trying to hang onto the branches . I was thinking of posting them in this challenge but they look too happy cheeky ... even though they were desperately grippingn on for dear life !

Sunshine Coast Queensland

pacman
pacman's picture

in March '11 there were gale force winds in SE Qld

I found this Welcome Swallow sheltering from the wind on a rock behind a headland; he had been out of his comfort zone but was now in a comfortable zone

Peter

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