mickj1

Only just found this post.- can’t say about the army and Zulu Dawn - it was made 10 years after I was discharged ?

I must say the dog doesn't look very remorseful - more like it's done you a favour... cheers Mick

Well, the Australian Army used to think "Zulu" was tops - we conscripts (8th intake, April 1967) were all marched down to the theatre for a compulsory viewing during our recruit training at Puckapunyal. I think we were supposed to get off on how to use bayonets or something... (I never used one in Vietnam though). cheers Mick

For all you chefs, here's how to prepare and eat a cup moth larva (if you're a young Fantail Cuckoo). 1. first catch your cup moth larva 2. Shake it about a bit 3. To get shot of all the toxins 4. Then lightly toss and catch in mouth 5. finish with a discreet belch and smile Cheers Mick

Here's my take on the Swift Parrot and Olive Whistler on Snug Tiers today with Soundbyte - great day out - thanks Russell! Swift Parrot Olive Whistler cheers Mick

with those yellow eyes, I reckon it's a grey currawong - crows don't have yellow eyes, currawongs do cheers mick

It’s the Eurasian magpie - which is very widespread as the name suggests, but the Thailand form may be a distinct species, see here: https://www.thainationalparks.com/species/eurasian-magpie cheers mick

Yep, he was quite popular back in the day - he did an excellent album with the Oz jazz group Crossfire. cheers mick

@soundbyte Love the scrubtit pic. Mainlanders come down here trying to get pink robin pics, but little do they realise that the Scrubtit is the real Holy Grail - unless they're prepared to shoot fish in a barrel and go after an OBP pic at Melaleuca... cheers mick

Dunno - it's just something that I've done for 60 or so years now - must be habit forming.... cheers mick

Striated Pardalote pas de deux cheers mick

@Full Range it’s a pied butcherbird ??? cheers mick

@soundbyte the white vent under the tail is characteristic of the Grey Currawong. cheers mick

With those white under-tail feathers, I reckon it’s a grey currawong cheers mick

Funny thing, but I can hold my fingers in exactly that position, and still not sound anything like Grant Green!

Another great shot- easy to photograph, once you realise that it’s not a branch stub you’re looking at! But nice to get it with an eye partly open - they usually close right up and hope you’ll go away - it’s a joy to watch a couple of parents, sitting stiff upright, with a youngster in between who hasn’t learned yet, looking at you wide-eyed?? cheers mick

Yes, it’s an osprey - great shots though! cheers mick

Dragged out my original copy (1970) of this for a spin today, still plays beautifully - Pity Chris Spedding never quite got the recognition he deserved ?. cheers mick

@Full Range The NZ bird is Tui The others in order are: Laughing Kookaburra Pacific Black Duck Pale-headed Rosella Rainbow Lorikeet Nice Pics! cheers mick

Another composite - this time of a Grey Goshawk cheers mick

My first go at a composite pic: White-bellied Sea-eagle catching a fish cheers mick

Yes it’s a slow ballad, until the last chorus or so when he sings like a cross between Little Richard and James Brown on steroids ??? cheers mick

Nice pics, but I think it’s a Brown Thornbill - it doesn’t have the brown leading edges on the wings, or the ‘white underpants’ of the Tas Thornbill. Cheers mick

That would be me on 23 jan 2018. First time I’ve ever been called an ‘extremely cultivated individual’ ?????? cheers mick

Great song, but Dee Clark had an even bigger hit with ‘Raindrops’ cheers mick