Backyard Zoology · 27 January 2023
2023-01-27T16:20:04+11:00
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It's been a week™️. But proving that once again I'm the luckiest gal in the world, I've been visited by some of my absolute favourites. 

Matt woke me up from the deepest afternoon nap yesterday. It was stupidly hot, with that steamy heaviness that only summer can bring. I didn't want to open my eyes. I had both dogs curled up, near me but not touching on account of the heat and the air conditioner humming over the top of me. I needed that sleep. I mean, I was drooling. But Matt persisted. And I'm so damn glad he did.

A Tawny Frogmouth was down in one of the lower branches, wide awake, beak open trying to cool down from the heat. We could even see the paper-thin tongue when the angle was right. I noisily changed the water in the bird bath, trying to show him that it was there if he wanted and even contemplated giving him (or at least trying to) a quick hose down. And then the sky rumbled. 

There was just one thick band of steel-grey cloud but it contained a storm and this Tawny was well aware of it. Firstly, I thought his exaggerated, throwing around of his head and looking up was due to a bird flying close. But no, it was due to the storm. Considering we've had a bit of hail recently, I guess it makes sense but it was fascinating to watch him tracking the storm as we did. 

And then the rain came. Those fat raindrops that smell amazing and that lead to steaming concrete and tar. He sat there, for a few seconds only. And then he started to wiggle and turn his head around every which way looking for a less exposed spot. A few more fat drops and he flew deeper into the backyard. Turns out, he'd rather be hot than wet.

Tawny Frogmouth
Northern Illawarra