Category: Native Species List

This is a photographic record of native wildlife and plant species we have found on our property.

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

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)

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)

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)

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

Beginning to Emerge: Nodding Greenhoods

I can’t claim these are the first Nodding Greenhoods to appear this season – I saw others a few days ago which seem to have been eaten before I photographed them. I hope the Swamp Wallabies enjoyed the meal.   Nevertheless, it is fantastic to see the graceful flower heads rising up from the earth … Continue reading Beginning to Emerge: Nodding Greenhoods

A Better Look at the Red-browed Finches

Much to my surprise, the Red-browed Finches were back at the bird feeder today, and they allowed me to walk toward them with the camera without getting too frightened.   Knowing it was best not to push my luck too far, I managed to capture a few photographs which show off their beautiful plumage.  The … Continue reading A Better Look at the Red-browed Finches

Wood-sorrel: Exotic or Native?

I’ve discovered there are two species of yellow flowering Wood-Sorrel (Oxalis) which look very similar, and are often confused.  One is native to Australia, the other is an exotic (weed) originally from South Africa. Looking at the flowers of both species, I believe this could be the Australian native plant Grassland Wood-sorrel (Oxalis perennans).  Can anyone … Continue reading Wood-sorrel: Exotic or Native?

A Tragic Summer Drowning

On hot Summer days, it gave me great pleasure to see the Swamp Wallabies cooling off in the dam.  They would move slowly through the water, parallel to the shore in the shallows. As they moved their hind legs, the rounded shape of their knees rising and lowering at surface level suggested the motion of a … Continue reading A Tragic Summer Drowning

A Gallery: Twenty Minutes at the Bird Feeder

On this day, only three bird species turned up to the bird feeder, but it was still a constantly shifting feast.  Each species jostles the others out of position, and it is a constant flurry of wings.  Missing were the Galahs, Bronze wing Pigeons and Australian Wood Ducks.  The Ducks tend to wait for the … Continue reading A Gallery: Twenty Minutes at the Bird Feeder