Day 195: When the cuckoo calls...

Day 195: ...there is much to see

First day of a faux rec leave fortnight. I don't have much to do except write. Although I will try to do some recreational-type things...like take photos, for something different. 

You will, dear reader, be aware of the variety of birds we find in the neighbourhood. The loris and kookas are standard, the baza hangs around a bit and occasionally we get visits from what we believe is a pallid cuckoo. The noisy miners are, as always, our first indication. 

And indeed, on this morning, the cuckoo appeared in distant trees. Unfortunately, in the closest I got to capturing it, it managed to perch itself in well-camouflaged tree and in direct sunlight. It didn't make much of a picture. 

Featherweight...

But while waiting, I had a closer look around the garden. I found a feather...and played around with a few dials on the camera to capture the sunlit bougainvillea. One shot looks far more atmospheric than reality, and that just came from varying the shutter speed. 

Sunlit spot

The other one, again on a faster shutter speed, just reminded of a Japanese-style ink brush painting in need of a haiku. I'm not one for doing any post-pic manipulation but the 'effects' function just seem to suit this one. 

In need of a haiku

I am on recreation leave, after all. In the meantime, we'll await the cuckoo's return. 

[Camera : Canon EOS 60D, 300mm; 9.38am, 9.39am, 11.02am]