We are finally seeing some Helmet Orchid buds. Most of them are still very tiny, but there are a few that are taking on some colour, and beginning to swell. If I look back at last year’s photographs I see that the fully open flowers appeared at the end of July, so hopefully in … Continue reading Here Come the Helmet Orchids
Category: Native Species List
This is a photographic record of native wildlife and plant species we have found on our property.
Kangaroo Courtship
Over the last three years, I’ve been fortunate to observe some of the Eastern Grey Kangaroo courtship behaviour. In Winter, a new tiny joey peeks out of its mother’s pouch and the dominant male returns to the mob for a while. This year, the new tiny pink face appeared toward the end of June. … Continue reading Kangaroo Courtship
Inspired by the Ballarat Field Naturalists
A surprise invitation to accompany the Ballarat Field Naturalists on an orchid seeking field trip arrived in my inbox on Saturday. With a little rearranging, I was able to take up the offer, so on a beautifully sunny winter Sunday we set off to some local bushland. Thanks to John for inviting me and to … Continue reading Inspired by the Ballarat Field Naturalists
Eastern Rosella: A closer look
At the unfinished end of the Honeyeater Garden, an Eremophila Maculata plant is about to burst into flower and this Eastern Rosella was very interested in the bush. One of three Eastern’s, presumably a family group, the bird in my photographs happened to be right outside the window, giving me a chance to get … Continue reading Eastern Rosella: A closer look
Wild Flower Hunting for Beginners: Ten Tips
Although it still only May, the wild flowers around the property are starting to grow. Small-Mosquito Orchids are flowering again; I see Climbing Sundews and Twining Fringe-lily stems winding around Bracken; the Guinea Flower and native Pea bushes are greening up and many other signs of the wildflowers to come are emerging after the recent … Continue reading Wild Flower Hunting for Beginners: Ten Tips
Tiny Sundew (Drosera pygmaea)
How exciting it is to find another species of Sundew – I love Sundews almost as much I love the Orchids. The striking foliage and almost alien shapes and colours really grab my attention. Add to that the contrasting purity of white (or pink in some species) flowers and I can’t stop looking at them. … Continue reading Tiny Sundew (Drosera pygmaea)
Parsons Bands Orchid – possibly a green form?
We have quite a few Parsons Bands Orchids in flower at the moment, but this one stands out through the lack of pink or red. Potentially it is a green form, as referenced on the Retired Aussies website. I have not found reference to this colour anywhere else. So, if you have knowledge of this … Continue reading Parsons Bands Orchid – possibly a green form?
Wings
With wings raised, it seemed to be a case of “I’m bigger than you!” and “Oh no, you’re not!” on the bird feeder this week. We have seen more Cockatoos than usual. They squabble among themselves for best position, squeezing out the regular feeders, such as this Common Bronzewing Pigeon. The Pigeon decided to … Continue reading Wings
Orb Weaving Spider Wrapping Butterfly
In December I photographed a butterfly in a strange position and subsequently discovered the Orb Weaving Spider in the process of wrapping it. At the time I was trying to document the various species of grass and butterflies we have here, so I wasn’t looking for spiders. At first I thought the butterfly may be mating, as … Continue reading Orb Weaving Spider Wrapping Butterfly
Autumn Wild Flower Walks (8 photos)
It is finally beginning to feel like Autumn, even though technically, it has been for a few weeks. Over the past few days I have been noticing many familiar wild flowers beginning to grow. This post shows a few of the plants I have come across this week. Some are just setting leaves, and will flower later … Continue reading Autumn Wild Flower Walks (8 photos)
Abantiades hyalinatus
This blog began with the question “What is it?” and I still find myself asking this question most days. The other night we came back from a meeting, and found this beautiful moth fluttering around on the path. It seemed to be in the act of dying, as it couldn’t get off the ground … Continue reading Abantiades hyalinatus
White-Winged Chough – Our 45th Bird Species
I wish I could display a close-up of these birds for the 45th bird species found on our property, but the flock of White-Winged Choughs were very shy. It is the second time I have seen them in two weeks, but I don’t recall seeing or hearing them prior to this. Their voice is very … Continue reading White-Winged Chough – Our 45th Bird Species
Colour Variation in Eastern Grey Kangaroos
Recently, we’ve had four Eastern Grey Kangaroos grazing near the house – our usual female and her joey, a young male and a new female. All four have slightly differently coloured fur. The new female is especially pale. I haven’t seen another Eastern Grey this pale, so I thought it would be interesting to introduce her … Continue reading Colour Variation in Eastern Grey Kangaroos
Huntsman Spiders
In the comments beneath the Leaf Curling Spider post, macmsue and I have been comparing Huntsman Spider stories, so I thought this might be a good time to post a photos of one. It has been sitting there, waiting for an opportune time! I rescued this spider from the flue above the stove in the … Continue reading Huntsman Spiders
Leaf Curling Spider (Phonognatha graeffei)
About a month ago, it seemed there were Jewell Spiders everywhere, but this week the Leaf Curling Spiders have taken over. As the name suggests, each spider uses a curled leaf suspended in the centre of the web as a protected hiding spot. I’m actually thankful to see the leaves suspended as it has saved … Continue reading Leaf Curling Spider (Phonognatha graeffei)
Archive Photos: Welcome Swallow
One of the reasons the Welcome Swallow images are in an ‘Archive Photos’ post is that I was hoping to get better photos of them. On a cold August day a pair arrived and began constructing a nest of mud on top of a high beam beneath the tin roof of our deck. As it was … Continue reading Archive Photos: Welcome Swallow
Out of the pouch, but still suckling
Female kangaroos can have one joey in the pouch and an older, almost independent joey out of the pouch but still suckling, while an embryo waits, suspended, until the pouch is once again free. I never tire of seeing the females tending their young. They are so patient and attentive. Joeys usually vacate the pouch … Continue reading Out of the pouch, but still suckling
Crimson Rosella Bathing
Crimson Rosella have claimed the water feature we placed in the middle of our new garden. They use it to bathe in each morning, and it has become their source of drinking water as well. The water feature is the centre of a new garden we are planting, just outside the study window. We’ve chosen … Continue reading Crimson Rosella Bathing
Tall Spike-Rush / Tall Spike-sedge (Eleocharis sphacelata)
I’ve often posted photographs of birds or the plants around the dam, featuring the thick clump of Tall Spike-rush in the background, so I thought it was high time to put this plant in the foreground. It seems that Tall Spike-rush is a former name and the current name is Tall Spike-sedge. I’ve included both names … Continue reading Tall Spike-Rush / Tall Spike-sedge (Eleocharis sphacelata)
Do Magpies Play?
I often see Sulphur Crested Cockatoos at play, but Magpies always seem so serious in searching for food or defending territory. Even when caroling, they seem to scan their surrounds, just checking to make sure everything is as it should be. Lately, I’ve witnessed a young Magpie engaged in a few incidents that could be … Continue reading Do Magpies Play?
Rain and Kangaroos: Is there a link?
Just as the rain has been sparse, so have the kangaroos. Since Christmas, I think I can count on one hand the number of kangaroos I’ve seen here. Those that visit just seem to spend one night, and then disappear for weeks. It has been very dry, which means most of the grass is brown … Continue reading Rain and Kangaroos: Is there a link?
Eastern Long-necked Turtle
At long last I have seen the Eastern Long-necked Turtles in our dam. We were told they were in there when we bought the property, but they have proved to be very shy creatures. On a couple of occasions we’ve glimpsed them for a split second. Until now, the dam has been so deep that … Continue reading Eastern Long-necked Turtle
Archive Photos: Little Black Cormorant
Featuring the Little Black Cormorant, this post is the first of a series of photos from my archive. We’ve been here for two and a half years now. As I look back through the photographs I’ve taken for the blog, I notice that some of them never made it into a post. Often this was because everything … Continue reading Archive Photos: Little Black Cormorant
Austral Brooklime (Gratiola peruviana)
Investigating the species of plants which are naturally re-vegetating the dam bank, I was pleased to discover that the most plentiful plant is a native species: Austral Brooklime. The seeds of this plant are apparently long-lived and can remain dormant in soil until the right conditions occur. The flowers are tiny – approximately 3mm to … Continue reading Austral Brooklime (Gratiola peruviana)
Fifteen Acres 