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Swans and the Peacock in the Phoenix Park.  Maudie and the swans 11 August 2009 Billy and I went to the Phoenix Park on Tuesday evening at five and found the swan family resting on the grassy bank. The youngsters were grooming themselves and the parents were just lying around and keeping a watchful eye out for them. We had to scale a 30 inch rail to get close and it was as much as I could manage to get my leg over but Billy found it much easier. It wasn't a bad night but it was a bit overcast with a so so threat of rain and there wasn't a sinner around that Billy could ask to take a picture of us with the swans in the background. Post can be used again] We hadn't bothered to bring any bread because at that time of the afternoon the lake is usually awash with bread floating about. As it happened, we didn't get any indication of whether the swans would have been interested had we brought any bread. [post 109339] Having finally struggled over the rail I got very close to the swans even though the adults looked like they'd be ready to pounce on me should I venture too close to their . The cygnets are continuing to grow apace and the first signs of whiteness are beginning to appear on their backs and necks. They are about two weeks younger than the ones in Blackrock Park and those cygnets are a good bit whiter and their wings more developed. [post 109338] After we gotten sufficient pictures to adorn this post we decided to stroll around the perimeter of Dublin Zoological Gardens which is very close by but before we'd left the swans behind Petr, a polish man walking a named Sparky, came along and we asked him to take a picture with the swans in the background. Billy asked him to take three or four of the same pose. It took him ages to to take the 'pictures' which turned out to be just one picture and even then it was too badly out of focus to upload here. There are two houses inside the Zoo grounds that look like something out of Hansel and Gretel or Willy Wonka. [post 109336] As we passed by the houses and entered the back lane at the extreme rear of the gardens we saw a peacock perched on the ten feet tall railing that surround the entire zoo. [post 109337] Billy took a picture of it for insertion here and we were thrilled to see that it came out clearly against a backdrop of trees but then, just as we were about to move on, the bird hopped down in front of us and it gave the impression of being unable to fly as it flitted about just enough to stay out of arms reach but close enough for us to get some really good shots as we manouevred it into a corner. [post 109335] [post 109334] At any moment we had expected it to take flight and be gone but the extent of its displayed agility was only sufficient to take it off the floor with a leap onto a four feet high gate. [post 109333] From there it soon dropped down the other side and twaddled out of view behind a tied cottage. At that point we called it quits and rushed home to see how well the evening's shots had turned out. Maybe the next time we happen across a peacock at the back of the zoo he'll spread his wings for us in a staged show of flamboyance, but we were just as happy to have him close up and in our sights for as long as we did. We hope you enjoy the pictures. We'll be back with more next week. |
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Nice to know that Billy found it easy to get his legover in Phoenix Park, Maudie. I was somewhat surprised however when you decided to announce it in a blog! Alfie... 
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In demo post #5, it looks like a pillow fight took place right before you got there / feathers everywhere. Another nice tour ~ thanks.
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8/13/2009 6:35 pm |
Nice to know that Billy found it easy to get his legover in Phoenix Park, Maudie. I was somewhat surprised however when you decided to announce it in a blog! Alfie...  Great tour Maudie... lolol Happiness is where we find it, but rarely where we seek it. J. Petit Senn
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Alfie, Sometimes I like to be a bit on the naughty side with occasional double entendre. Do you remember the 'leg over' incident on Test Match Special involving Ian Botham, Jonathan Agnew and the inimitable Brian Johnson ? It's available at You Tube. Drew, Well spotted, but we've seen scattered feathers like that several times before. It's probably just a result of the grooming. LadyN, The park is 100 metres from our house, as the bird flies, but we have to go a round about way to gain entry that measures about 400 metres Sandy, I wondered if anyone across the pond catch on to the 'leg over' . I'm sure glad someone did and now I'm sure you're not the only one Try listening to the radio clip of the 'leg over' incident at You Tube. Feed in the names above. Destiny, in the UK and Ireland getting one's leg over is a colloquialism for that other business. You know........ do you ?   Teresa, Good to see you. You've already been there several times and seen most of it for yourself. I'll drop you a few lines shortly.
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8/14/2009 4:04 am |
another interesting blog maudie ~ Billy and yourself make a stroll in the park an adventure loved the peacock checking out billys dodgy shorts ~ flashing legs like that in a public place is enough to terrify any small child ~ just teasing !!
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Destiny - Getting ones legover is an English euphemysm for what you Americans so coarsely refer to as getting laid.
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I had never heard the expression....'Getting a leg' over until I met Alfie. I got it right away Maudie and laughed when I read it, both yours and Alfie's comment.
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