An Injured Red Wattlebird

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Today the light was eerie (click here for photos of the sky).  I took the camera out to capture the colour of the sky, and wandered onto the jetty without looking. A fluttering sound caught my attention, and I turned to see what I thought was a fledgling Red Wattlebird running up and down the … Continue reading An Injured Red Wattlebird

Swamp Wallaby Drinking

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Last Summer on a stinking hot day I photographed a Swamp Wallaby drinking out of the dam in the afternoon.  Usually, being nocturnal, we  only see them at dusk or dawn. Well, another stinking hot day, and another Swamp Wallaby drinking out of the dam in the daylight.  These photographs were taken at around 3:30 … Continue reading Swamp Wallaby Drinking

Spurwinged Plover or Masked Lapwing

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I’ve always know this species as the Spurwinged Plover, but my field guide to birds tells me that they have been renamed as the Masked Lapwing.  The name ‘Spurwing’ refers to the bony ‘spurs’ which the birds have on their shoulder, and which they can use for defence. Appearing approximately eight months ago, the Plovers … Continue reading Spurwinged Plover or Masked Lapwing

Marbled Xenica (Geitoneura Klugii)

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For months now, it has puzzled me why so many butterflies hover low to the ground above bark and leaf litter, and in thick grassy areas with no flowers in sight.  I’ve always associated butterflies with flowers.  Thanks to a wonderful book given to me by my sister for Christmas, I can now answer that … Continue reading Marbled Xenica (Geitoneura Klugii)

Western Bronzehood Orchid (Caladenia iridescens)

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Commonly referred to as a Bronze Caladenia, this tiny orchid is difficult to spot.  It really blends into the background!   However, we were lucky enough to find a couple that were  flowering toward the end of October.  According to David L Jones “Native Orchids of Australia” the blooms only last  from  two to five … Continue reading Western Bronzehood Orchid (Caladenia iridescens)

Eastern Rosella

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At last we have seen an Eastern Rosella!  The Crimson Rosella is a common species on our property (we see them every day) but it’s surprising that other common species of parrot aren’t more visible.  These birds were extremely shy, taking off at the first sign of movement. We saw them from a distance twice … Continue reading Eastern Rosella

Cats, Bats and Beds at 3am

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Hearing an unusual noise at 3am last night, we turned on the light to see that one of our cats had caught a bat, and was in the process of dragging it under the bed.  In our half-asleep state, we noticed a second bat laying on the carpet.  We’re not sure how one cat managed … Continue reading Cats, Bats and Beds at 3am

Branching Bluebell (Wahlenbergia multicaulis) and other Bluebells

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Throughout Spring and Summer a range of bluebells have been flowering on the property. Some are large and beautifully coloured, while others appear smaller. Some seem to have six lobes, while most have five.  I admit to having a bit of difficulty in identifying these through a lack of clear field guide photographs against which … Continue reading Branching Bluebell (Wahlenbergia multicaulis) and other Bluebells

Iridescent Feathers – the Straw Necked Ibis Returns

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The Straw-Necked Ibis must have thought the food worth a return visit, for it was back again this morning. Still solitary, it was sharing the bounty with two ducks, two Corellas, a kookaburra and a flock of Sulphur Crested Cockatoos.  My best guess is that there is some kind of burrowing larvae hatching at this … Continue reading Iridescent Feathers – the Straw Necked Ibis Returns

A Solitary Straw-Necked Ibis

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We rarely see ibis here.  In the sixteen months we have been here, I can count on one hand the number of days I’ve sighted them.  The last time we had Straw-Necked Ibis here, they arrived at dusk to roost and were gone at first light.  Given this, it was a surprise to find a … Continue reading A Solitary Straw-Necked Ibis

Red Beard-orchid (Calochilus paludosus)

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I’ve saved a special orchid for Christmas.  We only had one of these growing – at least, we only found one.  Even then, we would  have missed it without our friend’s sharp eyes.   At the time the bud was just on the point of opening. We staked it and visited every day to see it … Continue reading Red Beard-orchid (Calochilus paludosus)

Ivy-leaf Violet (Viola hederacea sensu Willis)

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Throughout Spring, and into Summer, we’ve had Ivy-Leaf Violets growing through the grass.  Looking down, they just appear as flecks of white and mauve among the green. When photographed, the true beauty of the flower is revealed.  In Australia, native violets are often recommended by plant nurseries as a good ground cover plant for cultivated … Continue reading Ivy-leaf Violet (Viola hederacea sensu Willis)

Prickly Starwort (Stellaria pungens)

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This post is the beginning of a weekly addition to the A – Z Plant Index showing plant species we have growing on our property.    I’ve started small, based on previously published posts, but I have a large stock of unpublished photographs to identify and add over the coming months.  This list will evolve … Continue reading Prickly Starwort (Stellaria pungens)

Battling a Reflection: Superb Fairy Wrens

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This morning I noticed two Superb Fairy Wrens chattering right outside the window between the  deck and the dining room.  Repeatedly they would fly to perch on a gardening tool leaning on the glass to chatter and scold.  At first I thought it was me they were warning away.  Later in the day, with a … Continue reading Battling a Reflection: Superb Fairy Wrens

Testing Their Strength: Young male kangaroos sparring

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Something told me to get up early today, and I’m glad I did.  Our kangaroo family were back, with two young male kangaroos tagging along behind.   My guess is  the female kangaroo was in season, as there seemed to be a lot of jostling.  The two young males put on a good show right … Continue reading Testing Their Strength: Young male kangaroos sparring

Is Anyone An Expert on Victorian Bats?

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For a while now, we have been noticing squeaks coming from within a boxed in gap in the fascia board surrounding the back deck.  We’ve suspected there may be a few bats living in this gap and over the last two weeks we have been trying to monitor their habits.  Right on the point of … Continue reading Is Anyone An Expert on Victorian Bats?

Pale Vanilla-lily: Arthropodium milleflorum

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We’ve had Chocolate Lilies flowering for a few months now, so it was exciting to finally see some Pale Vanilla-Lilies.  I’ve seen photographs of the flowers in field guides, with their fluffy purple and white stamens.  They have fascinated me for months. It turns out that the flowers are actually very small.  The field guide … Continue reading Pale Vanilla-lily: Arthropodium milleflorum

Dragons in the Garden

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Gardening in the hot Summer weather can spring a few surprises on those who are not paying attention… like the odd reptile sheltering in the weeds.  Luckily for me, it wasn’t a snake.  Also, fortunately, I had come across two Jacky Dragon’s previously – thanks to the cats – so I had already researched them, … Continue reading Dragons in the Garden

An Echidna Sighting at Last!

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For more than a year I have been finding holes dug by Echidnas – usually around ant nests and plant roots – without having even the smallest glimpse of an Echidna.  There was a moment, about a month ago, where someone thought they saw one.  By the time I got my camera out and we … Continue reading An Echidna Sighting at Last!

White-Throated Treecreeper

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I’ve been so focused on finding Australian Terrestrial Orchids over Spring that I haven’t really been looking out for new bird species.  Yesterday, I was still hunting for flowers when a bird landed on a nearby tree. Its habit of climbing up and around the tree trunk looking for insects alerted me to the possibility … Continue reading White-Throated Treecreeper

Familiar Faces: Wildlife, Home, and Making Contact

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The first thing I do when I get out of bed each day is look out the window to see ‘who’ is there.  We recognise individual birds and animals within a species because they  seem to have made their regular patch of turf the land outside our windows.  It is their home as much as … Continue reading Familiar Faces: Wildlife, Home, and Making Contact

A Privilege to Watch

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I couldn’t believe my luck this morning, when our regular Eastern Grey Kangaroo allowed her joey to suckle right in front of the study window.  She just stood there for twenty minutes or so while the joey (otherwise independent)  put her mouth into the pouch for a feed. Unfortunately, a car noise disturbed them, and … Continue reading A Privilege to Watch

Fishing for Yabbies

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These two White Faced Herons were fishing in the dam today.  We often wonder what lives beneath the surface of the water.  Not being fisher-person’s, we don’t really know the tell-tale signs, and we don’t own the right equipment to attempt to fish in it.  A photograph of one White-Faced Heron holding a yabby proves … Continue reading Fishing for Yabbies

X is for Xanthorrhoea!

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Last year I wrote a post about Xanthorrhoea, using my only reference guide at the time to try to determine the species.  A few comments suggested I had incorrectly named the plant as Xanthorrhoea Resinosa when it was more likely to be Xanthorrhoea Minor.  The feedback was probably correct. However, by the time I could check, the flowers … Continue reading X is for Xanthorrhoea!