A tītitipounamu (aka Rifleman) which was hanging around outside the house we were staying in, up in the mountains. Every morning (and every time we went outside) it would dance from branch to branch, flicking its wings and cheeping it's high-pitched cheep. Its mate was often present too, and they let us get within a few metres of them.
They are NZ's smallest bird, averaging 6-7g (1/4 oz), and 7-9cm (about 3") in length.
I always love finding solitaires when I'm walking in the woods. They make a sweet, bright "tew!" like a little perimeter alarm, and they really know how to floomf up for winter. They remind me of my cat, who is likewise a fierce, adorable grey ball of floof.
Anyway, I guess solitaire's not the only game in town if you're also round enough to cue for billiards? #borb
Bonsoir Mastodon! Toujours dans la série « heure dorée », photo d’un rouge-queue noir qui a eu la gentillesse de prendre la pose et d’attendre que je me débatte avec le zoom et le focus de mon appareil photo 😆
Picture me here just off camera, staring up into the trees from the river trail, utterly smitten by the strange, molten gold of this little bushtit. I was sure e must have fallen under some kind of enchantment to be such a color and hopping along beside me so fearlessly in the box elders until we both found the right tree in/under which to stop and chat.