Greetings from Western Australia

By Alison James, Photographer Chris James

We are enjoying some sunny weather after all the rainy days last week but it is now much cooler and winter is definitely here. I thought of you when a mob of 28 ring necked parrots (above) came to bathe in the 2 baths in the back garden. They were flying from one to the other and pushing each other in and out while getting themselves totally soaked and making lots of noise. They had such a good time.

New Hollands (above) too enjoy themsleves at the waterbaths.

The pics above and below are of the white backed magpies from Western Australia (also called Wampies for short). When their wings are folded (as in the pic below) they don't look too different from their eastern magpie cousins.

A sparrow hawk has his eyes on the smaller birds, who have successfully dodged him for now.

Thanks Alison and Chris for the lovely pics of the birds in your garden. ---  Gitie House