Recently, I wrote about the falling water level in the Dam. I’ve noticed many small plants growing close to the new perimeter of the water. These have all grown naturally from seed dispersed in the air or deposited when birds and mammals go to the dam for a drink. I thought it might be interesting to … Continue reading Natural Re-vegetation Around the Dam
Category: Native Species List
This is a photographic record of native wildlife and plant species we have found on our property.
Little Pied Cormorant
Over the Summer months, we often have Cormorants fishing in our dam – this week it has been the Little Pied Cormorant. Previously, I’ve photographed a Darter, and a Great Cormorant, but for some reason, the Little Pied Cormorant has not been added to my A – Z Species list even though I am sure I have … Continue reading Little Pied Cormorant
Reflecting on Ducks and Dam Levels
The late afternoon sun produced beautiful reflections on the surface of the dam, today. A group of six Australian Wood Ducks were enjoying the water with one duck of a different species. It looks like a Pacific Black Duck, but the neck is paler than I recall from previous visitors. It is possible it may … Continue reading Reflecting on Ducks and Dam Levels
Our 25th Orchid Species: Rosy Hyacinth-orchid (Dipodium roseum)
To celebrate the New Year, I’m posting the 25th Australian Terrestrial Orchid species found growing wild on our land – the Rosy Hyacinth Orchid. Unlike many of the other Orchids we have here, the Hyacinth-Orchid is large and showy. They can grow up to 1m tall. As the name suggests, they have a brown leafless stem … Continue reading Our 25th Orchid Species: Rosy Hyacinth-orchid (Dipodium roseum)
Eight Ducklings Are Flying Now (5 Photos)
If you have been following the story of the eight ducklings being raised by one male duck, following the disappearance of the female, you’ll be happy to know they are now flying! Two popular flight destinations are the bird feeders and the dam. Their father is still very vigilant. Today I saw him chase away … Continue reading Eight Ducklings Are Flying Now (5 Photos)
Jersey Cudweed (Pseudognaphalium luteoalbum)
Using the site VicVeg, with a narrowing to the Corrangamite region, and a search on medium herbs, I eventually worked out the weed in our back yard is Jersey Cudweed – a native plant. This weed looked similar to plants I had seen growing around the dam, and when I photographed it using the … Continue reading Jersey Cudweed (Pseudognaphalium luteoalbum)
A Better View: Grey Fantail
Once again a wild bird found its way into the fernery through some trellis – this time it was a Grey Fantail. You may remember the Grey Fantail nest I found early in November. At the time I wasn’t able to get clear photographs of the bird. The nest was quite a long way … Continue reading A Better View: Grey Fantail
Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus)
We saw this Sacred Kingfisher emerge from a hollow in a tree in November. Unfortunately the photographs are not close enough to determine if this bird is a male, female or immature, even though they each have slightly different colouring. The bird is sitting in shadow, which means the greens and blues in the feathers are also not … Continue reading Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus)
A Better View: Southern Brown Tree Frog
I’ve photographed the Southern Brown Tree Frog before, once under some carpet we were using to clear weeds, and once clinging to the wire door at night to catch insects. This one was in a new garden bed we were creating. It’s interesting that they seem attracted to areas where there is human activity. I … Continue reading A Better View: Southern Brown Tree Frog
Jumping Spider
Apparently there are more than 300 species of jumping spider across Australia, so I haven’t been able to narrow this one down to a specific species. It is an interesting looking spider though – as far as spiders go. I must admit I am not a spider fan. However, keeping a species list has meant that … Continue reading Jumping Spider
Spiny-headed Mat-rush (Lomandra longifolia)
I’ve been walking past a patch of plants with clumps of long, flat, green leaves for the entire time we’ve lived on our property, and only in the last couple of weeks did I realise these Spiny-headed Mat-Rush plants had beautiful white flower spikes hidden away. From the research I have done, it seems they … Continue reading Spiny-headed Mat-rush (Lomandra longifolia)
Eastern Yellow Robin(Eopsaltria australis)
This Eastern Yellow Robin was one of the many birds enjoying the sunshine yesterday afternoon, following a very welcome rainy week. Many times on my walks I can hear bird calls coming from behind bushy leaves. Rarely do I see many of these tiny ‘tweety’ birds, so I was so happy to photograph this one. … Continue reading Eastern Yellow Robin(Eopsaltria australis)
Australian Painted Lady (Vanessa Kershawi)
Along with the Common Brown butterflies, the Australian Painted Lady butterflies are plentiful at the moment. I’ve photographed this one on a 1.5 m high Xanthorrhoea (grass tree) flower spike. These flowers are a magnet for butterflies and honeyeaters. According to the field guide I am using, ‘Butterflies: Identification and life history‘ by Ross P. Field, … Continue reading Australian Painted Lady (Vanessa Kershawi)
Common Brown Butterfly (Heteronympha merope) Male
I’m only beginning to look at butterflies from an identification perspective, so here is one to start me off – the Common Brown Butterfly. It seems the air is alive with butterflies at the moment – tumbling, paired butterflies – and each time I put my foot down when walking through grass, I seem to … Continue reading Common Brown Butterfly (Heteronympha merope) Male
Yellow Rush-lily (Tricoryne elatior)
This year the Spring has been so dry that flowers seem to be behaving in unseasonal ways, including the Yellow Rush-lily which last Summer flowered in February. Having noted that, I have only found one small group of plants, so perhaps they are growing in a micro-climate that suits them and the others will flower … Continue reading Yellow Rush-lily (Tricoryne elatior)
Jacky Dragon in Bushland
I’ve photographed Jacky Dragons before, but each time they have been in our garden or in the house (courtesy of a cat, even with the cat netting), so it was lovely to see one in the bushland up the back, just minding its own business. I very nearly stood on this one because the Jacky Dragon defense mechanism is to … Continue reading Jacky Dragon in Bushland
Duckling Update: Growing Adult Plumage
It is now 25 days since I wrote about the female Australian Wood Duck being taken, and the male duck raising eight ducklings. In that first post I mention we had sighted the ducklings about a week before. So, give or take a few days, the ducklings are now a month old. We still have … Continue reading Duckling Update: Growing Adult Plumage
Kookaburra on Water Feature
We’ve been setting up a new garden which has a water feature at the centre – just high enough to be a good vantage point for Kookaburras. The birds have taken to sitting on the top-tier to spy insects and worms in the garden bed below. The photograph above was taken through my study window. … Continue reading Kookaburra on Water Feature
Hot Bats
On Wednesday, we had a fairly warm day which must have heated the space behind the fascia board on the deck, where there is a small bat colony. All of the bats were clambering over each other to get out of their den and into a place where they could cool down. Some bats chose … Continue reading Hot Bats
Gallery: Young Joey Practices Wrestling with Mum
A short time ago I posted photographs of a young joey jumping all over its mother. Well, this time the kangaroos were right in front of the house and the joey was quite aggressive – kicking the female kangaroo in the head and torso, as well as apparently drawing blood. I guess this is what … Continue reading Gallery: Young Joey Practices Wrestling with Mum
Drooping Mistletoe (Amyema pendula)
For many years I have wanted to have a red flowering eucalypt, so when I spotted what appeared to be red flowers on the ground, I got excited – only to work out that I have a red flowering Mistletoe. The Mistletoe is a parasitic plant which attaches to eucalypts and sometimes acacia trees. The … Continue reading Drooping Mistletoe (Amyema pendula)
Heath Teatree (Leptospermum myrsinoides)
I took these Teatree photographs in September of 2013 and they have been sitting in my ‘To Identify’ folder since then. The appearance of Teatree flowers again this Spring has prompted me to sit down and try to work out which species of Teatree we have here. Looking at the different flowering periods and differences … Continue reading Heath Teatree (Leptospermum myrsinoides)
Grey Fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa)
It has been a long time since I’ve added a new bird to our species list, so I am very happy to share these photographs of a Grey Fantail and the nest the pair of Fantails are building. It is in a position where we can peek inside without disturbing the birds and so far … Continue reading Grey Fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa)
Ducklings: Still Eight, and Growing Fast
Since the loss of the female Australian Wood Duck, we’ve been hoping the male can successfully rear eight ducklings on his own. Ten days later, the eight ducklings are still alive and seem to be growing fast. The family of ducks seem to live just over our boundary fence, and come in to graze or … Continue reading Ducklings: Still Eight, and Growing Fast
Fifteen Acres 