I was sitting on a clifftop with my camera, watching black-browed albatrosses battle to land in a high wind. The size of these birds is extraordinary... they have a wingspan of 7 -8 feet.
One landed, then another. They greeted each other, walked right past me as though I was a spare rock, then started 'necking'.
These have to be the most beautiful creatures I have seen. And they are totally trusting. No fear at all.
(If you click on a photo, I think it is a file big enough to fill your screen. Click on this last one... see how gorgeous this couple are!)
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5 comments:
They do look so cool and fearless...love their eyes and that incredible whiteness.
Thanks for posting.
Absolutely beautiful! Great pictures, they made me feel calmer.
Thanks both... and yes, they do make you feel calm. Even sitting there on the cliff edge, almost blown off into the sea pounding far beneath, surrounded by these huge birds, those eyes are so wise, and calm... really mesmerising.
No wonder the albatross has such a history of inspiring stories and poems!
Yes (or Yar!) I shot one once, wingspan as wide as a ship almost, shot it dead with an old cross-bow, one minute circling the ship like an angel and the next it fell out of the sky. It's a great story... I should tell you about it sometime, not now, but at some inopportune moment when you are hurrying off to an appointment you dont want to be late for.
D (with a glint in his eye)
D, you bugger. I hope you jest, sirrah.
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