Crackle crackle… plop! Crackle crackle…. plop! This is the sound I heard around me this morning on my walk. It is a still day, and I have heard the same sound on other still days. Having investigated the noise about a month ago, I recognise it immediately and smile to myself. This is the sound … Continue reading Crackle Crackle…. Plop!
Tag: Bushland
October Wildflowers – Part 1
Colourful flowers, including some Native Orchids caught my uneducated eye in October, as I began to investigate the bushland a bit more closely. Wax-lip Orchid (Orcidaceae Glossodia Major) The beautiful colour and form of the Wax-lip Orchid made them highly visible against the greens, yellows and whites of almost everything surrounding them. Dillwynia Many different … Continue reading October Wildflowers – Part 1
September Wildflowers – A Beginning
Helen commented on A Family of Four, reflecting on the way kangaroos were affecting the number of wild flowers in South Australia. This has inspired me to go back and keep a month by month record of the native flowers I have photographed since we moved in. This will build into an index of flowers … Continue reading September Wildflowers – A Beginning
Family of Four
At the risk of overloading you with photographs of Eastern Grey Kangaroos, here is an update. Three female kangaroos have been coming past the house to graze a couple of times each week. As noted in my previous post Three Morning Visitors, it appears to be a mature female with two female offspring from her … Continue reading Family of Four
Breeding Australasian Grebes?
In my last post about the Australasian Grebes, I left you trying to spot two white fluffy bottoms hidden among the reeds. This time, I managed to get better photos – as it turns out, inadvertently. I was actually trying to photograph the small birds in the eucalypts and acacias surrounding the dam. As soon … Continue reading Breeding Australasian Grebes?
One Magpie v. More than Twenty Ducks
This is a sight I have often seen, but never before with camera in hand! Finally, I have captured it to share with you. A pair of magpies lives in a tree near the house, spending much of the day on the lawn leading down to the dam. One of these magpies is particularly territorial, … Continue reading One Magpie v. More than Twenty Ducks
Return of the Australian Wood Duck!
After what seems like a long absence, we are beginning to see Australian Wood Duck again. The family of thirteen has not returned as a group – maybe because the ducklings are making their own way in the world. Or perhaps (horrendous thought) because of duck season. Maybe some of the ducks have found new … Continue reading Return of the Australian Wood Duck!
Playing around with Cockatoos
While I much prefer to photograph birds in their natural habitat, providing a little bit of bird seed does offer a fantastic chance to get some close-up shots of the Sulphur Crested Cockatoos. I wanted to convey the playful nature of Cockatoos, but also show their beauty. To other birds, in this case a couple … Continue reading Playing around with Cockatoos
Immature Golden Whistler? Identify this bird if you can!
On a calm day last week, many small birds were calling from the treetops, and I could identify where they were sitting from the rustling noises they made when they moved. I took many photos of one small bird which was hopping around the trunk of a tree at the point where the bark peeled … Continue reading Immature Golden Whistler? Identify this bird if you can!
The Colour of Long-Billed Corella
Every single day we have a large flock of Long-Billed Corella fly South over our land shortly after Sunrise, and return Northward just before Sunset. We don’t know where they come from, or where they go to each day. It is one of nature’s mysteries. Rarely do they land here. If they do, it is … Continue reading The Colour of Long-Billed Corella
Eastern Froglet
We’ve had more encounters with frogs this week than we have in the entire time we’ve lived here. They must be beginning to emerge after the hot Summer weather. Each time we have a small rain shower, the number of frogs ‘singing’ seems to increase! We found this little fellow in a patch of long … Continue reading Eastern Froglet
A Tiny Native Orchid
We have been trying to identify some of the small birds which hide in the undergrowth and treetops. Among the methods we use is to sit in the bush listening for their calls. Yesterday, while doing this, Richard spotted our first Autumn Native Orchid. So far I have not been able to identify it precisely, … Continue reading A Tiny Native Orchid
What a difference a little rain makes!
We haven’t had a lot of rain, but in the last few weeks, we’ve had scattered showers here and there over a number of days. Measured in millimetres, it wasn’t very much, but measured in newly growing native plants in the bushland, it has been extremely valuable water in our crunchy dry bushland. For a … Continue reading What a difference a little rain makes!
Looking for Kangaroos
People who know me well think it is hilarious that I have bought a book called ‘Scats, Tracks and other Traces’ which teaches readers how to identify the various animals which have been active at night, or when they can’t be seen. As indicated by the title of the book, sometimes this involves looking at … Continue reading Looking for Kangaroos
First Autumn Flower
Over Summer the ground has been so dry that we haven’t had any native flowers blooming. This is the first one I’ve spotted in Autumn. Although I’m sure it is some kind of pink heath, I can’t match it to any of the images in my field guides to Australian flowers. Right now, it doesn’t … Continue reading First Autumn Flower
Bushland Colours and Textures
Last weekend, we had a family gathering, including two guests from England. As we walked around the bushland at the back of our property, it began raining. The rich red colours of the bark were so striking when wet, it grabbed our attention. The artistic side of our brains began thinking of things to do … Continue reading Bushland Colours and Textures
Arhodia lasiocamparia
I’m starting to look more closely at leaves, bark and buds in an attempt to work out the precise mix of tree species on our land. Often it is clear that something has been munching on the leaves and if so, I am beginning to look for caterpillars and larvae. There are still so many … Continue reading Arhodia lasiocamparia
Regeneration
In November, when we built our new fence (to form part of the cat enclosure) we had to radically prune a few plants, including the beautiful Banksia Rose, a large daisy bush and the jasmine. In particular, the Banksia Rose was reduced to a stump, and I feared we’d killed it. Less than four … Continue reading Regeneration
Tall Sundew – Carnivorous plant
I took this photo in November, and was unable to identify the name of the flower. In my many Google searches to find the species of a caterpillar for a post, I came across a brochure called “Threatened Species of Central Victoria” designed for school children by the Koala Connect project, through the Australian Koala … Continue reading Tall Sundew – Carnivorous plant
Australian Native Flowers 2
The seasonal change has brought with it a new range of native flowers growing in the bushland on our property. I am yet to buy a field guide to Australian Native Orchids and wild flowers, so the only one I can identify is Dillwynia Juniperina, which is a small shrub (1 to 2 metres high) … Continue reading Australian Native Flowers 2
Australian Native Flowers
We showed a friend around our property today, and I took the opportunity to take photos of some of the wild flowers we saw along the way. I won’t pretend to know what they are all called, but the common feature is that the flowers are tiny.
A quick tour of our bush habitat
We are very fortunate to have friends who know much more than we do about the native plants on our land. It turns out that our property is rich in native orchids and native lillies. A couple of weeks ago, we had 6 species of native orchid in flower, and another six to ten which … Continue reading A quick tour of our bush habitat
Fifteen Acres 