Couple of Visitors

We have had a female Koala and her baby in our yard for several weeks. Mum is confident enough now to leave bub high in the tree, and today came down very low,and I was able to get very close with the 40-150mm



And one for Ross's opinion.

I was surprised at the state of this Suphur-crested Cockatoo's beak. Ross - Do you think it is an older bird - or just a grubby boy?

[Wee man]

Nice shot of mother she looks tired.

[Ross the fiddler]

Very nice Lyn. Maybe the cocky is an older 'grubby' boy.

Originally Posted by Wee man

Nice shot of mother she looks tired.

Teaching littlies to climb trees wears you out Ed!
Sorry the photo is so big. The E-M5 had a hissy fit and I did a complete reset but forgot to take Large back to Normal.

Originally Posted by Ross the fiddler

Very nice Lyn. Maybe the cocky is an older 'grubby' boy.

You're a big help Ross!
I can't recall seeing a cockatoo with such a dull, messy beak, almost looks damaged. Goodness knows what it had been up to.

[OM USer]

Nice ones Lyn.

[Imageryone]

Those Koalas look sooo cuddly, Lynn, but, I understand that they have to be treated with caution?

[pandora]

Amazing to have a Koala visit you Lyn, and how wonderful to hear that she has a 'cub'(?).

[Beagletorque]

Wonderful shot of the Koala!

[PeterBirder]

Great shot of the Koala Lyn and interesting background information.

Thanks for sharing.

[Mrs T]

Lovely capture. They look cute but I should imagine them being quite fierce.

[Barkly]

Travelled this country all over many many times and only seen 1 koala in the wild. Great pic.

[Harold Gough]

Two good expressions.

Harold

Originally Posted by Imageryone

Those Koalas look sooo cuddly, Lynn, but, I understand that they have to be treated with caution?

They really are not too bad David - they are "high" on Eucalptus leaves most of the time which makes them very sleepy. In sanctuaries they don't mind tourists nursing them. They have very sharp claws which you have to watch, but I have found them quite docile. A couple of times I have met one in the garden ambling through, but never felt threatened. They are usually quite keen to avoid me. The males can be quite large. I met one once whilst in my garden (surprised us both) and when he stood up on his legs he was almost shoulder high. Their back limbs are quite long. We looked at each other and he wandered off.

Originally Posted by OM USer

Nice ones Lyn.

Thank you OM.

Originally Posted by pandora

Amazing to have a Koala visit you Lyn, and how wonderful to hear that she has a 'cub'(?).

Not so amazing Mark. They follow corridors of gum trees. They can eat out a tree quite quickly so move through their corridors. We are lucky to have big gums in our yard and nearby. I also planted a Peppermint Gum years ago whch they seem to love. Like an After Dinner Mint I guess!

Originally Posted by PeterBirder

Great shot of the Koala Lyn and interesting background information.

Thanks for sharing.

Originally Posted by Mrs T

Lovely capture. They look cute but I should imagine them being quite fierce.

Originally Posted by Beagletorque

Wonderful shot of the Koala!

Thanks Peter and Andrew.
Amanda - they really are ok. At mating time they make a most unusual noise.
Rather like a chainsaw.
We have enjoyed this mother and her baby very much. It has been fascinating watching her train him to leave her and climb higher into the tree. She would start low in the tree and then push him off of her and then climb higher and wait for him to follow. We would hold our breath as he clumsily dangled from a limb.
He is now able to scamper quite confidently up very high, and when I took this photo of her, he was in another tree quite seperate from Mum.