From my study window, I can see a kangaroo along the front fence, looking over towards the road. Eastern Grey Kanagaroos are perfectly coloured to blend into the bushland around here..

I document the speicies I find on our property, so a bird call I don’t recognise captures my attention as soon as I step off the decking onto the grass. I will need to consult my field guide to work out what it is when I come back inside.

I walk the fifty or so metres to the letterbox, and get the mail, then turn left along the front fence as I come back in the gate. The kangaroo seems to have gone for the day. .

An Acacia tree, just inside the gate is beginning to blossom. It’s such a beautiful tree.

I’m looking out for new plant growth, and interesting colours, so this patch of ground attracts my attention every day.

Turning right at the edge of the property, I come to the bushland path flanked on both sides with trees and native plants. The interesting bark and birdlife abound here. Note the White-Eared Honeyeater at the top left of the branch.

The bark peels off the trees every day – from bird activity, from wind, from animals climbing up the trunk. I love this strewn path. I never know what interesting textures and colours I will find. The brown stems could be bracken or native orchids emerging. I will need to wait and see.

In some ways, walking up the pathway on the South side of the property is like a tunnel with thick canopy covering the pathway all the way along.

I’ve been trying to find an Echidna since we moved in. I keep finding holes, like this one, dug into ant nests, so I suspect they are here. Just good at hiding, I guess. The tiny green leaves are native orchid leaves. I’m waiting for them to emerge.

The Western end of our property is covered in bracken. Parts of it, like this section of the path, are open to the sunlight.

There is evidence that a Swamp Wallaby has been through here. I am becoming expert at identifying where animals have been. It is much more difficult to sight the animals!

At some points on the track, I stop and listen to the birds calling. Some mornings it is glorious. Other days, very quiet. Today there are many birds, and I manage to photograph a species I have not seen before. Another one to look up in the field guide.

A timber seat was constructed by the previous owner. It is placed under the trees a short distance from the dam. For me, it is just a little too far away to see the waterbirds clearly, but it is a peaceful place to sit and think.

Some ten metres behind the seat, I find another reptile egg shell. Our friend found the first two yesterday. It is soft, flexible and around 2cm long. Snake or lizard, I wonder?

A cushion of bright green moss or lichen contrasts with the dry surroundings.

I could walk straight to the hosue from the seat, but I always walk around the dam too. Just to see if there are any birds or plants of interest. This morning, the sun emerges from beneath a cloud just in time to highlight the rich colours in the trees.

One day I am going to paint a landscape. Each time I look at these tree trunks, they seem like a perfect way to start playing with texture, tones and a limited colour palate.

As I round the dam and come back towared the decking, I hear a different bird calling. I stop for five minutes to try to see it, but all I capture is this bunch of leaves… it’s in there somewhere! Oh well, time for a coffee. I head back into the house to consult my field guides. Watch out for a post on White-Eared Honeyeater tomorrow..