NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY

Following Mom and Dad

Monthly Challenge — Animal Pairs and Groups

Once again I was more than just a few meters behind my husband busy taking photographs of a scene. An old building, a flower, or simply the sky. I can’t remember what I was capturing when all of a sudden I heard and saw my husband trying to get my attention without making too much noise and too many movements.

He wasn’t telling me what it was but there was clearly an animal around the corner.

I quickly stopped what I was doing without lifting the camera from my eyes.

And there they were. A mother and daughter duo walking across the park. Peacocks. I should have known that’s what my husband saw because we had heard them as soon as we entered the park in the Portuguese city of Évora.

But while I might have hoped for the colorful and feathered dress of a male peacock, I never would have expected to see a mom with a young one. In fact, I don’t remember ever seeing a young peacock. And what are they called?

Peachicks.

The internet tells me young peacocks are called peachicks. That’s kind of cute. And funny at the same time.

I’m watching these two clearly in a rush of crossing the walking path in the park. The dad might be the one leading the way being just a few meters ahead on a huge wall. His blue neck is standing out in front of the green bushes.

Mom jumps up on the wall. Effortlessly.

And before I could ask if the little one would follow, the only peachick in the family was up already. Too quick for me to capture the moment without any blur.

The duo now walked along the wall. Clearly following the path dad had chosen.

They disappeared in the bushes.

The father appeared again from the other side showing off his colorful feather dress. I wasn’t expecting him to open it but zoomed in on the beautiful patterns.

It was enough of bird watching as my husband was telling me. I could see he was getting annoyed and or hungry. Time to move on.

Anyhow, I’m so happy he called me to see the first peachick in my life. It was a very unique and gorgeous animal sighting.

“The better I get to know men, the more I find myself loving animals.” — Anonymous

This is a writing prompt response to the June and July monthly challenge of “Wildlife Trekker”. Yes, I’ve included animal pairs and baby wild animals at the same time. Thank you Randy Runtsch for the inspiration.

June Monthly Challenge: Baby Wild Animals

July Monthly Challenge: Animal Pairs and Groups

And if you like wildlife photography, have a look at my most popular article on animal sightings:

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