picture perfect!While hanging clothes in the backyard suddenly I saw 3 cranes wading the knee high water of the Ampang River behind my house just a few feet away. I ran in to take my camera but by the time I came back again, they were all gone to the neighbour's side!...Only one was seen and luckily I was able to snap its photo. She's a beauty isn't she?
No idea what's its called but have seen this type on Chinese scroll paintings....red markings on the head near the beak and black feathers on the wings and back. The cranes look so graceful, with their long slender necks standing on their two twig-like legs in the water. Their beauty and spectacular mating dances have made them highly symbolic birds in many cultures dating back to ancient times. I wonder if our dance in the ballrooms or the discos is a copycat of their mating dances, showing our dancing skills, moves and manouvers to attract the perfect mate!
Anyway, its my lucky day today to get a glimpse of these rare big birds so near human habitat foraging in the river, which I know have lots of fish especially after a heavy rain this morning. Athough a fleeting meeting, its such an exhilarating one! I hope someday I will have the chance to meet another river dweller there - the Monitor Lizard (biawak)!....Though not face to face, mind you, I have seen glimpses of it a few times, quite huge! Just far enough to photograph it!
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27 comments:
you are lucky to see one over the backyard.... its beautiful and elegant!
Wow! I share your excitement. It's beautiful and you managed to see three close by. Now, you may want to set up a tripod and some camouflage for yourself and wait for them to come back again. :)
Monitor lizards can be dangerous. Be careful.
Such a beauty....you are so lucky !!
You are very lucky.
Tell me your another date, I would like to have some pictures too.
How wonderful to see those cranes in your own back yard. I wouldn't want to get close to one of those monitor lizards either.
FlowerLady
I can't remember which culture believe in this but if you dream of this bird, something good will happened.
Bangchik, its a rare treat indeed to see them in backyard! Usually they can be seen only in the zoo.
One next time I will carry my camera with me even when Im hanging my clothes just in case they come again or some other new visitors decide to drop in unannounced! I know, the monitor lizards are a quite a scary thing to look at even a small one. A few times I heard the lalang near the river rustling when I came to hang clothes, then I saw a glimpse of it sliding into the water.
Yes Sun-ni, Im lucky indeed to be there when they came!
Rainfield I hope I will be lucky again next time, though this time I will have my camera ready!
FlowerLady, a rare treat to see them there! Me too I dare not come face to face with the monitor lizard...maybe just far enough to snap a few photos if Im lucky next time!
Diana, there are a few cultures that revere the cranes as mythical beings depicted in their paintings and dancing like Aegean, Korea, Japan, China,the Native American in North America.
Beautiful! We have great blue herons here and love seeing them. So large - almost prehistoric. What a treat to be able to see such a large bird so close.
How wonderful to have cranes in your own backyard! Thank you for sharing this beautiful picture.
I would love a big bird like that to visit. I have seen herons at the farm, but cranes are so majestic.
Holley, blue heron is a BIG bird..its such a treat to see these rare birds!
Masha, its just my luck that day to see them although Ive been staying there for ages!
Donna, its really wonderful to get to see them so near a residential area...very rare treat indeed!
What a blessing to see those beautiful cranes! And even more that you got a photo to share.
What beautiful visitors!
The cranes are such a good sighting from ones yard. Must have lots of solitude there!
you cheered me up with your enthusiasm. It is a beautiful bird. Let us have a look of your pictures taken of the monitor lizard.
What a great photo you captured of this elegant bird. :)
an exotic and exciting encounter. There is a lovely move in Tai Chi called White Crane raises it's wing - hope you have your camera with you next time to capture this.
Laura
I enlarged the photo and indeed that was a beautiful crane. We have a crane here called Sandhill Crane and it has a red head, but is different in ways from your crane. I love to paint them! The Sandhill Cranes mate for life; I wonder if this crane does,, also. Nice post!
crane ? wow! You must be very lucky to find 1 in the wild! that too behind your house!
Jennifer@threedogsinagarden
What a treat to see three cranes. We sometimes see grey cranes in the river here, but they are much plainer than this white and black crane.
Thank you Rosey, Holly..she is indeed a beautiful visitor!
Yes Randy, the river behind my backyard is a peaceful meandering water except after a heavy rain, might even be flooded..But teeming with wild lives like the monitor lizards, snakes (heaven forbid they dont visit my backyard!) and lots of fish!
Dont worry Alistair, if I snap one of the lizard, I will be more excited!
Racquel thanks for dropping by.
Laura, Ive heard of that White Crane move though I dont take Tai Chi which I find very graceful from of exercise! Im bringing my camera even when Im hanging clothes, just in case I see some new exciting visitor again!
Egretta hope to see one your paintings of the cranes...you are so good and detail in painting the feathers! I think some cranes mate for life, but recent research found that they do change mates in the course of their lives.
Malar, just a chance encounter, didnt know they come to feed at the river.
Jennifer, I still think whatever their colours, crances are such beautiful and graceful creatures to look at.
What a beautiful crane. I had to laugh because I liked to break my neck one day running to the house to get the camera to take a shot at a bird. LOL! Not a pretty sight at all.I am glad one of them stuck around so you could get a picture.
Wah, it is indeed a rare sight! It is a beautiful bird!
Nice and lucky photo! ;)
The crane is beautiful...you shot is excellent! Look forward to seeing the lizard!
How interesting to have a crane visiting your backyard! Fortunately you were there to witness it and able to capture this shot to share here.
Like rambutan tree is so big lor. Have to think twice coz i chopped off 3 rambutan trees when we moved into this house, this house (half wooden) was attacked by termites :( Thank u for the reply, it is informative ;)
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