I’m supposed to be packing for a short road trip, making some biscuits and treats for the journey and generally getting organised. But there are a few distracting characters at my back door and kitchen window dropping in for a chat. How did these Birdie Num Nums become my new best friends? They stand on the outside ledge of the kitchen window and watch me wash up, then follow me around the house. Mr T walks to the garden: they fly by his shoulder and sing good morning in his ear. They sit in the nearest Melia tree, like sparkling red and green Christmas baubles, singing or chatting to each other or to us. Sometimes they ask for a handout of sunflower seeds: mostly they are just looking, thankyou.
Strictly speaking, the title of Num Nums is reserved for the visiting gregarious King Parrots. We have many other visitors to our veranda. The loud, raucous hoodlums of the bush, the Sulphur- Crested Cockatoos are welcome if they behave themselves. I noticed a couple of Cockies grooming each other the other day and as I got closer, I became convinced that one was applying special Cocky gel to the other one’s yellow crest.
This well-behaved lone Cocky, looking like some lovely white garden prop, was an early morning visitor.
There are other less frequent visitors: Crimson Rosellas, Corellas, Galahs, Kookaburras, wild Wood ducks, Wattle birds with their scratchy, ex- smokers chatter, the mysterious lone Sacred Heron ( always too shy for a photo) and the smaller hovering honey eating birds, the Eastern Spinebill and the New Holland Honey eater, always in a flutter.
These characters come to remind me about the country life I love, as I toy with the idea of a move to the city. Thank you Birdie Num Nums and Friends.
I include the link below to a wonderful fragment of an old Peter Sellers film, The Party, which may help to explain the title of this post to those who haven’t had the joy of seeing this film before.
ALMOST ITALIAN 
I would very happily be distracted by these beauties! Safe travels Francesca xxx
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What lovely photos of your friends. So lucky to have them in your life. Our Australian wildlife is very special. Buon viaggio.
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Very nice distractions. I totally forget time when I have these kind of opportunities
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How glorious! Love the beautiful birds that visit, how lucky to live in a place with so many special visitors to share your life.
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Birdie Num Nums – have never seen The Party before, but it was a lovely and hilarious distraction from a morning doing accounts. Lovely birds you get just outside your kitchen. I am hoping to see a hoopoe, one of the more spectacular Mediterranean birds, but so far no luck. Perhaps it is the wrong season.
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I’m sure the ‘Birdie Nums Nums’ will be looking forward to your return. In my experience they are wary, timid birds, so that they trust and are comfortable in your surrounds is high feathered-ones regard indeed. I love the pics, your feathered friends are truly priceless 🙂
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They are lovely friends with the strange antics. They do really talk .
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Our TA Rainbow Lorries are friendly but the Kingies are very wary… we’re overjoyed even when they just visit the feeder. I look forward to the possibility of becoming friends with them. We have a resident magpie with a gammy leg who when I screech ‘Mags’ appears out of nowhere:)
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Aww, that’s lovely. I used to have an old ‘Maggie’ at the old house that would come when called. Your Kings will come when you take up residence. Copy that sound that thy make- a kind of monotone whistle.
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I love the birds…and the film. I am happy to be on my way back to Australia to the sound of our bird life. It is so loud and raucous. The Italian birds at Casa Debbio are much more subdued.
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Welcome back. Often overseas folks are enchanted by or birds that we take for granted.
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Beautiful num nums! Two things I don’t think I could live without-trees and native birds. I swear 2 of our king parrots have followed us from the old house 🙂
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I believe that, I think they know people.
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There is a whole new list of bird calls to learn here in Brissy, most have loud voices but are shy. i miss the showy Victorian birdlife, especially the gregarious king parrots. Happy holidays..
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Shy birds of Brissy- odd to think that ours are so brash.
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Fantastic Peter Sellers clip….brilliant:)
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Nice one to revisit.
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Hey Francesca .. What a fabulous post. Your bird life is gorgeous .. And such beautiful images. As for Peter Sellers .. Hilarious! And where are you off to Miss? Have a lovely weekend ..
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Lake Tyers on east coast of Victoria, then South coast of NSW. Expect some fishy posts Missy.
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Looking forward to it! Have fun lovely ..
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That movie and particular clip are a crack up. I remember my English mothers in-law’s first trip to our house (overlooking a valley). She expressed consternation at the screeching birdsong every morning and missed the delicate birdsong of the UK. How I love our crazy birds, except for the one that rocks up in spring and sounds like a firealarm, don’t love that one. Lovely birdie num num photos Francesca. Have a great trip.
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It s a totally weird film but funny in a timeless way.
I wonder what that fire alarm bird is?
Down at the beach where there are abundant Wattle birds ( they are attracted to Banksias) we compete with our imitations of their croaky talk. ‘Tobacco Road’ or ‘Buttermans Track’ or ‘Get up’ or other short phrases starting with the ‘F’ expletive are hot competitors, depending on the time of the day.
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oh my gosh they are so beautiful! I’ve never heard of them before!
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Exotic and friendly too.
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I love our native birds. They’re so adorable, especially cockatoos and kookaburras!
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