Author: fifteenacres

Pair of Pacific Black Ducks

In mid-February we had a solitary Pacific Black Duck swimming around in the dam.  This was the only time we’d sighted one until this morning.  When I got up there were two Sulphur Crested Cockatoos, three Crimson Rosellas and two Pacific Black Duck searching for food in the grass near the house.  Just after I … Continue reading Pair of Pacific Black Ducks

White-Browed Scrubwren

We’ve recently returned to standard time after being on ‘Daylight Saving’ Summer time, so twilight sets in much earlier.  I often go walking twice a day – once in the morning, and once at around 5pm.  Over Summer, this meant that it was too early to spot mammals, and many birds were off feeding.  It … Continue reading White-Browed Scrubwren

Spotted Grass Frog / Spotted Marsh Frog

We’ve seen these small frogs in our back garden on a number of occasions.  The distinctive yellow stripe down their back makes them easily identifiable.  This one has a bit of a kink in the stripe, but most have a fairly straight line from nose to tail. As you would expect, we see more of … Continue reading Spotted Grass Frog / Spotted Marsh Frog

What a difference a little rain makes!

We haven’t had a lot of rain, but in the last few weeks, we’ve had scattered showers here and there over a number of days. Measured in millimetres, it wasn’t very much, but measured in newly growing native plants in the bushland, it has been extremely valuable water in our crunchy dry bushland.  For a … Continue reading What a difference a little rain makes!

Looking for Kangaroos

People who know me well think it is hilarious that I have bought a book called ‘Scats, Tracks and other Traces’ which teaches readers how to identify the various animals which have been active at night, or when they can’t be seen.  As indicated by the title of the book, sometimes this involves looking at … Continue reading Looking for Kangaroos

First Autumn Flower

Over Summer the ground has been so dry that we haven’t had any native flowers blooming.  This is the first one I’ve spotted in Autumn.  Although I’m sure it is some kind of pink heath, I can’t match it to any of the images in my field guides to Australian flowers.  Right now, it doesn’t … Continue reading First Autumn Flower

Breakfast

I find it interesting to watch birds drink from the dam, as this is when they seem to be most vulnerable.  They appear to stop and look around before they bend their heads to the water.  These cockatoos were drinking just after sunrise.  There was much milling around and one bird drank at a time, … Continue reading Breakfast

A Bark Weaving Experiement

Two recent visitors have wondered aloud about weaving bark, and how it might be possible to retain the wet colour of the bark.  This also interests me, so I thought I would give it a try while looking after our granddaughter.   We collected some bark which was close to the house, soaked it in water … Continue reading A Bark Weaving Experiement

Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoos

We’ve known for a while that we should get Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoos in our area, but until this week, we haven’t seen any.  Earlier in the week, on one of my walks I had spotted some black birds which seemed to be making ‘hyena-style’ laughing noises, but I couldn’t get close enough to see what … Continue reading Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoos

Curious Frogs

Tonight while we were watching TV, we wondered what the cats were looking at outside the window.  Investigating further, we saw two small Southern Brown Tree Frogs clinging onto the wire door.  Maybe they were attracted to the lights, or maybe they were after the insects which were attracted to the lights.  Either way, we … Continue reading Curious Frogs

A large fast-moving grass fire…

Intellectually, I’ve known that life-changing events can happen almost randomly.  This idea became a crushingly clear reality over the last two days after a large grass fire swept through our area, burning at least 16 houses and 18 out-buildings to the ground.  The fire took hold some 500 metres or so away, on land across the … Continue reading A large fast-moving grass fire…

Setting-up the Greenhouse

Over the last couple of weeks, we have began to use the greenhouse.  First, to hospitalise plants that were burned in the severe heat, and then to raise seedlings in punnets.  Thanks to family help, we also have one of the raised garden beds filled with soil, and have directly planted it with seeds as … Continue reading Setting-up the Greenhouse

Bushland Colours and Textures

Last weekend, we had a family gathering, including two guests from England.  As we walked around the bushland at the back of our property, it began raining.  The rich red colours of the bark were so striking when wet, it grabbed our attention.  The artistic side of our brains began thinking of things to do … Continue reading Bushland Colours and Textures

Arhodia lasiocamparia

I’m starting to look more closely at leaves, bark and buds in an attempt to work out the precise mix of tree species on our land.  Often it is clear that something has been munching on the leaves and if so, I am beginning to look for caterpillars and larvae.  There are still so many … Continue reading Arhodia lasiocamparia

Tall Sundew – Carnivorous plant

I took this photo in November, and was unable to identify the name of the flower.  In my many Google searches to find the species of a caterpillar for a post, I came across a brochure called “Threatened Species of Central Victoria” designed for school children by the Koala Connect project, through the Australian Koala … Continue reading Tall Sundew – Carnivorous plant

Four Spotted Cup Moth Caterpillar (Doratifera quadriguttata)

It has been very humid here for the last few days.  This means we get some rain later in the day, but not much. Just enough to make it hot and moist the next morning.  So it came to be that I was walking more slowly than usual, and taking a look at some of … Continue reading Four Spotted Cup Moth Caterpillar (Doratifera quadriguttata)

A pair of Eastern Grey Kangaroos

I know I have posted a few photos of kangaroos and wallabies lately, but we seem to have them for regular visitors this month.  They are looking for green grass and fresh leafy fodder in the very dry Summer we are having over here. Today we saw our first male/female pair of kangaroos.  Usually we … Continue reading A pair of Eastern Grey Kangaroos

Today’s Harvest

I haven’t written about the vegetable garden for a while, but we are enjoying the home-grown produce so much.  After a long time of producing a handful of cherry tomatoes, the tomato vine is beginning to flourish.  These small tomatoes are packed with full flavour – so much tastier than the ones available in the … Continue reading Today’s Harvest

Southern Brown Tree Frog (Litoria ewingi)

We had a roll of old carpet outside near the shed.  Its intended use is as weed matting beneath the raised garden beds that will be set up in the greenhouse.  Preparing for this, we unrolled the carpet to cut it to size, only to find a few frogs had made it their home. I’ve … Continue reading Southern Brown Tree Frog (Litoria ewingi)

A Better Look at our Swamp Wallaby

The rich green grass growing over the septic tank outlet seems to be quite a drawcard for macropods at the moment. Today we were out most of the day, and very surprised to find a Swamp Wallaby feeding outside the house during the daytime.  They are usually nocturnal creatures.   From the way it was eating … Continue reading A Better Look at our Swamp Wallaby