These peacocks live in North Macedonia, where they have, uninvited but none the less welcome, taken up residence at the hotel we stayed at on the shores of Lake Ohrid, St. Naum. I think they can speak for themselves – as they did, very noisily, every morning.

The rear view proved just as interesting as that draped tail.








… for a few moments – at rest.

And now … a peacock in action. Not for nothing is one of its collective nouns an Ostentation of Peacocks.
I’ll be honest. I conceived and wrote this post as a Monday Portrait. But then Tina’s Lens-Artists Challenge dropped into my in-box: ‘The eyes have it’. I’m not entirely sure she had peacocks in mind, but the hundreds of ‘eyes’ that make up the peacock’s tail, and that slightly penetrating gaze displayed in that head shot allowed me to think I might get away with including this post in the challenge.
A promise fulfilled, Margaret. Superb! Have a happy week.
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Thanks Jo. You too. In our case, the weather is not on-side …
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Ah! Sorry 😟☔💕
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You know you’re secretly smiling, Jo 😉
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Not at all! I really enjoyed our slightly cooler week when my friends were here, though they had an anxious eye on any clouds that showed up. 😊💟💟
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There’s Portugal Cool and UK Cool though.
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Excellent photographs of an astonishing bird.
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These peacocks were astonishingly cooperative. They loved the limelight, apparently.
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Oh Margaret this is a good one. Lots of eues 👀👀👀👀
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Thanks Teresa. Yes, lots indeed!
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The eyes certainly have it here!
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Tee hee!
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😂
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Beautiful. I love peacocks. Although I was once terrified on hearing them in the night as a child. Convinced someone was being murdered. Whipped my sisters into a frenzy and we all piled into our parents’ room completely hysterical 😱
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Ha! What fun, a family of hysterical daughters. But I do understand. They do sound manic.
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Lovely creatures. I’ve seen them mingle with hotel guests too.
Great photos! Plenty of eyes!
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Oh yes. Plenty of eyes.
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It still amazes me when I see them roosting in trees and the way their chicks sleep under the canopy of Mum’s feathers!
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D’you know, this particular colony had not one female, so therefore no chicks. Not that I have ever seen a peacock youngster anywhere. But trees – yes, as much of a challenge as a bride with a long train shinning up a tree I’d have thought.
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Oh I was just about to comment on all that spectacular display with ‘where are the peahens?’ and then read your above reply. Why no females? How bizarre or is that the norm with keeping domesticated ones?
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They aren’t domesticated as such. Nobody brought them there or constrains them in any way. So the lack of females remains a mystery – at least to us.
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They are quite proud of themselves, aren’t they?
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They are. They probably feel quite proud of those tails.
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Beautiful photos Margaret. I love all the different angles.
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They were keen to pose, so it was a fun time.
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Lovely & loud! One landed on our roof once. No idea where it came from. Beautiful captures.
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A peacock on the roof? That’s taking one-upmanship too far!
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Cheeky indeed Margaret! A fabulous idea to include this proud fellow in this week’s challenge! Definitely eyes in his feathers and you’ve also included a beautiful image of just the eye – well done!!! They are loud when they squawk though aren’t they?!?!
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Just a bit loud! They were decent enough not to kick in before 7.30. Thanks for not drumming me out of the blogosphere without delay!
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Oh I think your peacock eyes are perfect. I so love them when they show their plumage. Gorgeous post. 😀
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They’re quite the showmen, aren’t they?
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Brilliant eyes
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In every sense …
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😊
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Amazing images of this gorgeous bird! Special eyes!
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We were so lucky to get so close to these astonishing birds.
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They really are fantastical birds – hard to believe they are real! Your captures are great and seeing the bird slowly rotating round while displaying in the video is lovely. Yes the eyes definitely do have it!
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I got a few videos of these birds pirouetting and displaying,with not a female (of the peahen variety) in sight. Extraordinary moments.
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Wow!
This is so amazing, Margaret.
Getting a chance to see peacocks this close is certainly wonderful 🙂
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We definitely thought so – quite a privilege.
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Bird bums indeed Margaret….and yours have eyes 😂
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Ew. What a thought.
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At least they are coloured eyes 👀😂
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What a great way to start the week. it’s Tuesday and I am on the road, I’ll have to keep my eyes on the action. Great photos and story as always. Peace.
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On the road eh? Back to the lake? Whatever – have a great week.
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Thanks for stopping in. I’m on a road trip. I started in New York and I’m in Washington DC right now. I’m traveling to New York City to see a baseball game this evening. Tomorrow I’m on to another city and after that three more cities it’s exciting and exhausting and a lot of fun. Also taking time to take in the sights, sounds, and tastes. Making everyday count!
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Have fun – but don’t overdo it!
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Margaret – you captured the beauty, elegance and grace of this amazing bird.
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It has all those qualities. But by gum, it knows it!
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So well caught and chosen, Margaret! A LOVELY display of eyes – Wowza, as Cee sometimes express it!
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So many wowza moments on that holiday. But the peacocks started us off in style.
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Indeed!
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Gorgeous bird! I love your take on this challenge.
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Thanks Dawn. A bit of serendipity here …
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Great shots. I love the close ups of the lugubrious looking eyes. We had peacocks on the nursery back in the day and they caused quite a good bit of trouble one way or the other. The babies were super cute though, like large rabbits, but I was warned not to startle them or they might die!
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I’ve clearly missed out by not having seen chicks. Still, best not to complain when we had ring side seats for the males!
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Excellent! Evolution is sooooo strange. 🙂
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I know! If you made a peacock up, people would tell you to take a grip.
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Indeed!
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Just found this in my spam folder! Aaagh WP ..
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😱🤷♂️😂
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Great shots. I love the name in Spanish: el pavo real – the royal turkey!
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Oh yes! That really works.
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