What you can't see in the photo is that there was a bush fire burning in the vicinity, billowing smoke into the clear sky, causing the light to change from its ordinary mid-day bright white into a soft orange hue. Normally a peahen's feathers are pretty dull, lacking colour, but on this day the filtered light transformed her plumage to be the golden brown colour that it is in this photo. Click the photo to see the large version. Isn't she beautiful?
An alternate theory, to a "first date", is her alleged suitor wasn't actually a suitor at all... perhaps he was simply in awe of (and probably jealous of) her unusually-pretty plumage!
Anina
Beautiful colours, how long did you watch them or must I rather ask how many photographs did you take before this specific one? Thanks I love browsing and seeing your work.
Paul
Post authorHa ha, that’s a good questions Anina. Yes, you’re right – I took dozens of photos, although many were blurred because the birds were most often in the shade and tended to move at precisely the moment that I clicked my shutter!
mjw
That’s a fantastic shot Paul.
Paul
Post authorThank you MJW! :)
Hamilton
I do like the glances they seem to be giving one another. Then again, they may be thinking “when will this guy leave us alone?”
Paul
Post authorI think you may be right Hamilton. But, I was tenacious and they eventually left the area, walking down the road. I’d like to say hand-in-hand, but that would be a lie.