It would be remiss of me to overlook the first Waxlip Orchid of Spring, which we saw yesterday afternoon. Last year, we had many Waxlip Orchids, so I hope this is just the first of many.
Smooth Parrot-Pea (Dillwynia glaberrima)
Last week I posted a photograph of an unidentified pea flower, which was subsequently identified by John as a Smooth Parrot-pea (Dillwynia glaberrima). As John mentioned in his comment, Dillwynia species of plants have a few distinguishing characteristics, and once I was alerted to these, I couldn’t resist looking up the Smooth Parrot-pea in Enid Mayfield’s … Continue reading Smooth Parrot-Pea (Dillwynia glaberrima)
Narrow-leaf Bitter-pea (Daviesia leptophylla)
This is the first Bitter-pea I’ve noticed on the property, but it has probably been growing here in other years. I think I have been so focused on Orchids and more showy flowers, it was easy to overlook these tiny pea flowers. Firstly, because they are so small, held on slender stems, and secondly because … Continue reading Narrow-leaf Bitter-pea (Daviesia leptophylla)
A Swamp Wallaby Sighting
Since the sad February drowning of the female Swamp Wallaby, I haven’t seen any Wallabies around – until this morning! This one came up and over the wall of the dam, which it skirted, and then up to the house to feed on a patch of cape weed leaves. However, it didn’t hang around for … Continue reading A Swamp Wallaby Sighting
Pea Flowers
One of my projects this Spring is to work out how to identify the many different species of wild pea species. I have tens of photographs of pea flowers from last Spring which I’ve been unable to identify because I didn’t photograph the leaves or the calyx well enough. Both of these features are important … Continue reading Pea Flowers
Ornamental Plum Blossom
We have so many eucalypts and native plants with unobtrusive flowers, it feels fantastic when the ornamental plum tree is in full blossom. A real burst of colour which attracts both birds and insects. This week, two Red Wattle Birds have been feeding from the blossoms every day. I’ll post the bird photos tomorrow. Today I … Continue reading Ornamental Plum Blossom
Disputed Habitat: Pacific Black Duck vs Australian Wood Duck
This morning I awoke to a wonderful surprise, a Pacific Black Duck with approximately eight ducklings (it was difficult to count them from a distance). I’d not noticed a nest, so I don’t know if they were breeding on our property or a neighboring one. With such young fluffy ducklings, they had obviously walked … Continue reading Disputed Habitat: Pacific Black Duck vs Australian Wood Duck
Calling Orchid Enthusiasts: Help Please!
In an earlier post I reported that I had found one solitary Maroonhood Orchid. Since then, I’ve discovered three small colonies. However, I’m unsure if one of these colonies is the same species, or a sub-species. Can anyone help me to correctly identify it from the photographs below? I have spent quite a bit of time … Continue reading Calling Orchid Enthusiasts: Help Please!
Our Eastern Grey Kangaroos are Back
My last post on the Kangaroos was in June, when it looked like the young joey was going to emerge from the pouch for the first time. However, from that moment, the kangaroos kept their distance from the house. Then, late in July they left the property. One morning, a different mob of five kangaroos arrived, … Continue reading Our Eastern Grey Kangaroos are Back
Mayfly Orchid (Acianthus caudatus)
I’ve been watching a tiny patch of Mayfly Orchids grow for quite some time, checking on their progress every couple of days. As they are growing on the edge of a track created by wildlife, I’ve had my fingers crossed that the orchids didn’t become breakfast for a creature before they flowered. Fortunately, they seem to be … Continue reading Mayfly Orchid (Acianthus caudatus)
Tall Greenhood (Pterostylis longifolia)
I found this Tall Greenhood yesterday when I decided to veer off the walking path and investigate a track created by animals. This track just led from the walking path to the boundary fence, and was the way on and off our property for wallabies and kangaroos. Nearby was a healthy population of Maroonhoods, which … Continue reading Tall Greenhood (Pterostylis longifolia)
Climbing Sundew Flowers (Drosera macrantha)
I’ve posted a few photographs of the Climbing Sundew plant, including macro images of the amazing pod-like leaves, with their red, sticky hairs poised to capture insects. This week, the flowers have emerged. The swollen, hairy buds almost look like Poppy buds. The flower itself looks similar to the Scented Sundew flower, with the surprising addition … Continue reading Climbing Sundew Flowers (Drosera macrantha)
Blunt Greenhood (Pterostylis curta)
We’ve had Blunt Greenhoods growing in reasonable numbers each year we’ve been living here, and I have photographed them each year. For some reason, they haven’t yet featured in a post – until today! At the moment we have two small colonies of Blunt Greenhoods, with the prospect of finding more. They seem to be just … Continue reading Blunt Greenhood (Pterostylis curta)
Maroonhood (Pterostylis pedunculata)
It felt like a Spring day today, even though it is still Winter in Australia. The sun was shining, the air was still, and all around me I could hear the calls of a myriad bird species. Knowing I could probably have taken some good bird photographs if I had changed lenses, I stuck to … Continue reading Maroonhood (Pterostylis pedunculata)
Mind Shifting Moments 2: Art
Photography has always called me, but until we moved here, I really had no time to learn any photographic skills. I would simply take snapshots, usually of family, friends and pets. The first photographs I took on this property were snapshots too. A quick, unthinking capture of a bird or plant for identification. Sometimes I … Continue reading Mind Shifting Moments 2: Art
Common Beard-heath (Leucopogon virgatus)
Last year, I tried to show the tiny flower of the Common Beard-heath, photographing it against a ruler, so it was possible to see just how small. Unfortunately, the lens I had at the time was not powerful enough to show the intricate detail of the flower and buds. I’m happy to report that the … Continue reading Common Beard-heath (Leucopogon virgatus)
What’s Nesting Here?
In the last week I’ve noticed evidence of something nesting in a relatively low to the ground hollow – approximately 6 feet off the ground. The hollow seems to have recently been refurbished with carefully shredded pieces of bark and small sticks. I’m not sure how long this has been occurring, so I will make this one of … Continue reading What’s Nesting Here?
Fully Open Helmet Orchids at last!
For those who are on the journey with me, here are some photographs of fully opened Helmet Orchids. I’m not completely sure, but I think I may have photographed two different species of Helmet Orchid. We certainly have the Slaty Helmet Orchid (Corybas incurvus) and looking at distinctions of colour, shape and curve, I think we … Continue reading Fully Open Helmet Orchids at last!
Unfurling Helmet Orchid Flowers
As the Helmet Orchid buds swell, it is difficult to tell if they are flowering simply by looking at them. The only way I can work this out is to photograph them and look at the photos on the computer. In the process, I have captured the way the flowers open, which I’ve found utterly … Continue reading Unfurling Helmet Orchid Flowers
Pink-Bells (Tetratheca ciliata)
A relative of the Black-Eyed Susan, which grows in New South Wales, the Pink-Bells flower is very beautiful. Usually blooming in Spring, the couple of flowers I photographed were very early. I wasn’t the only one who liked them. When I went back today to check on their progress, I noticed they had been … Continue reading Pink-Bells (Tetratheca ciliata)
Here they come! Orchid Buds
It’s exciting to see the new season orchids beginning to bud. Here are some that I’ve found this week.
Regrowth Forest
In Australia, regrowth forest has been in the news recently. Our conservative Government requested that an area of regrowth forest be removed from the World Heritage listing. Thankfully the request was refused because this regrowth is part of a beautiful old growth forest in Tasmania. Over the last few weeks, when I ventured into areas of local … Continue reading Regrowth Forest
Slaty Helmet Orchid Bud (Corybas incurvus)?
I’ve placed a question mark in the title of this post because the bud is so small and it may prove to be something else. However, from a little bit of research, I’m fairly confident that I’ve finally found a Helmet Orchid! Looking at other photos on the Internet, I think I have enough information … Continue reading Slaty Helmet Orchid Bud (Corybas incurvus)?
A Gallery of Favourite Shots 1: Birds
As a companion piece for the “Mind Shifting Moments” series, I will also compile some galleries of my favourite photographs from the last two years. My A – Z Species list Birds page currently has links to 38 different species of birds I’ve photographed on our property. In reality there are more as I have … Continue reading A Gallery of Favourite Shots 1: Birds
Fifteen Acres 