Black & White

 I was studying the black wing markings of three Whistling Kites when my son scared up a large bunch of water birds from the retreating waters of a local swamp yesterday.  My window of sky instantly became a white on white portrait.  Spoonbills, Egrets, Sacred Ibis & Pelicans wheeled in slow motion until satisfied there was no threat.  Although startled, their leisurely wing-beats inspired calm. 

Below the whites and in stark contrast, a small flock of Grey Teal darted, frantically flapping yet maintaining tight formation in what I assume was a preconditioned response to ancestral demons.   As the Teal continued to strafe, groups of Egrets settled picturesquely in small trees and the Spoonbills resumed their laconic head down skimming almost as if uninterrupted.

During this tumult the Kites maintained their earlier vigil, circling above the whites, literally uninterrupted by my presence or by the startling of the water birds.  It was a wonderful hierarchy of flight responses.

When we returned an hour later the Kites still circled but my window of sky was now filled by the black of a flock of ravens.

To think I was initially a bit annoyed with my son.

schulzzz, toolamba, vic