White-feathered lesser-brained birds

We all know crows are smart. All blacks, you see. I have a theory, which is mine (ahem) and this theory is that too many white feathers make birds silly. Your black feathered birds are cleverer than your birds with white feathers. In support of my theory, I submit the following photographic evidence.

All black Australian raven, sitting on the fence, minding its own business, when up comes a willie wagtail (with silly-making white feathers) and perches beside it. Note the size differential.

Wagtail takes exception to the existence, on the same planet, of the all black raven. Perhaps the wagtail is a wallabies supporter.

Raven seems to heave a sigh and looks the other way.

Wagtail becomes more insistent, dive bombing the raven and pecking at its head and tail feathers.

Finally, the raven eyeballs the wagtail. Don't know what clever thing it said, but that was the end of the matter.

Meanwhile, the wallabies play the role of spectator to the game.

(Below) Further evidence of white feathered bird silliness.

This a white necked heron, it stands as tall as me when it stretches its long thin neck out. It is as silly as a wheel. It has adopted our deck as its viewing platform and spends most of its days gazing vacantly around, standing right next to the house. Supposedly a wild bird. You could reach out and grab it. Which I do feel like doing on occasions when it poos in the doorways and then treads all over its own puddle.

If you look closely you will see that it has lost the tip of its top beak. It has done this by pecking at reflections of itself in the windows behind the metal flyscreens! The tip appears to have been grated off. The flyscreens have little holes in them. When it does this at 5am, you wake from sleep wondering if the army of the zombie undead is coming for you through your bedroom wall.

But we forgive him. Actually we are quite fond of our stoopid big bird. What should we name him?

In other news, I have been making seville orange marmalade. Marmalade supplies are now quite healthy. Come and stay and we might give you a jar.

Pool progress has been made. The jade coloured waterline tiles have been laid. I'm looking forward to the jade coloured water though. It seems to be taking a long time. Meanwhile, I am working 2 days per week to help pay for it. Business is picking up. I am filling 70% to 80% of my appointments now, and in fact next week is booked out.

A moonrise shot to finish. That's the view towards the sea from the pool deck.