Fan-tailed Widowbird

 Good morning Blogger friends. In between a very busy week in the farm office (I'm licensing 11 farm vehicles online, among other tasks); delivering my last beauty products of the year and signing on new members to my Virtual Weigh-Less groups, and cleaning after guests, prepping for incoming guests, (these fortunately all long stays of four days),  Skabby and I make time to walk on the farm. 

As always, Skabby runs ahead and explores the interesting smells in the grass and then dives into the dam.

So many exciting smells for a dog to experience 

Then a dip in the dam 

Clambering up the bank

A good shake  ! 

I'm always fascinated how thoroughly a dog shakes itself. Feet anchored firmly on the ground, Skabby shakes himself from the tip of his nose, through his body,  to the end of his tail.

On the walk, I'm always on the lookout for something interesting to photograph. This day I wasn't disappointed. A Fan-tailed Widowbird sat swaying on a tall silver frond of grass; frequently nipping off a grass  seed and eating it. 

Fan-tailed Widowbird in breeding plumage 

They are primarily seed eaters but eat insects as well 

The Fan-tailed Widowbird's habitat is tall moist grassland; marshes and agricultural land 

It's call is a series of sizzling high-pitched twittering and chirping 

As always I love to photograph the wildflowers; here the statice also known as sea lavender 

Close-up this flower hs dainty purple flowers interspersed with light lilac flowers 

On the way home, Skabby and I stopped at the paddock above the milking shed where tiny calves often lie in the grass until Mum returns. Yesterday there were two calves. 

Skabby looks intently at the calf in the grass; fortunately there was a fence between us 

I'm linking to Saturday Critters with Eileen here

Thanks to Anni of I'd rather be birding here as well

HAPPY SATURDAY TO YOU ALL!