Tag: nature

Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoos

We’ve known for a while that we should get Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoos in our area, but until this week, we haven’t seen any.  Earlier in the week, on one of my walks I had spotted some black birds which seemed to be making ‘hyena-style’ laughing noises, but I couldn’t get close enough to see what … Continue reading Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoos

Curious Frogs

Tonight while we were watching TV, we wondered what the cats were looking at outside the window.  Investigating further, we saw two small Southern Brown Tree Frogs clinging onto the wire door.  Maybe they were attracted to the lights, or maybe they were after the insects which were attracted to the lights.  Either way, we … Continue reading Curious Frogs

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

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

Four Spotted Cup Moth Caterpillar (Doratifera quadriguttata)

It has been very humid here for the last few days.  This means we get some rain later in the day, but not much. Just enough to make it hot and moist the next morning.  So it came to be that I was walking more slowly than usual, and taking a look at some of … Continue reading Four Spotted Cup Moth Caterpillar (Doratifera quadriguttata)

A pair of Eastern Grey Kangaroos

I know I have posted a few photos of kangaroos and wallabies lately, but we seem to have them for regular visitors this month.  They are looking for green grass and fresh leafy fodder in the very dry Summer we are having over here. Today we saw our first male/female pair of kangaroos.  Usually we … Continue reading A pair of Eastern Grey Kangaroos

Southern Brown Tree Frog (Litoria ewingi)

We had a roll of old carpet outside near the shed.  Its intended use is as weed matting beneath the raised garden beds that will be set up in the greenhouse.  Preparing for this, we unrolled the carpet to cut it to size, only to find a few frogs had made it their home. I’ve … Continue reading Southern Brown Tree Frog (Litoria ewingi)

A Better Look at our Swamp Wallaby

The rich green grass growing over the septic tank outlet seems to be quite a drawcard for macropods at the moment. Today we were out most of the day, and very surprised to find a Swamp Wallaby feeding outside the house during the daytime.  They are usually nocturnal creatures.   From the way it was eating … Continue reading A Better Look at our Swamp Wallaby

Pacific Black Duck

Mid afternoon we noticed a different species of duck in the dam.  It turned out to be a Pacific Black Duck – actually brown in colour.  This species is pretty common around most of Australia, but as far as we know it is the first time it has visited us. We were pleased to see … Continue reading Pacific Black Duck

Eastern Grey Kangaroo

Yesterday in Waiting for the End of Summer  I lamented that nothing much was happening around here.  This morning I woke earlier than usual and found an Eastern Grey Kangaroo feeding on the long green grass growing over the septic tank outlet pipe.  The Australian Wood Ducks like this spot too.  It’s certainly lush, and … Continue reading Eastern Grey Kangaroo

Blackwing Currawong: race Melanoptera

Just before midday, I collected the mail and walked toward the dam to see if any birds were active.  Nothing moved.  A gentle breeze rustled through the trees, then ceased.  All was still.  Except I could still hear bark clattering high up in the tree.  Looking toward the sound, I noticed the black head of … Continue reading Blackwing Currawong: race Melanoptera

Australian Magpie – Race Hypoleuca

Magpies are so much a part of an Australian landscape, both in the city and in rural areas, that it is easy to look past them to more exotic species of birds. It would be very remiss of me to leave them out of my species list. I have always loved magpies. Their carolling voices … Continue reading Australian Magpie – Race Hypoleuca

Swamp Wallaby 2: Ornamental Plum Breakfast

Our bedroom window faces East.  Yesterday morning, I had to get up earlier than usual, and I was greeted by a brilliant terracotta coloured sky at sunrise.  I got the camera out, intending to capture this brilliant colour, opened the door onto our decking and came face to face with a Swamp Wallaby in the … Continue reading Swamp Wallaby 2: Ornamental Plum Breakfast

Laughing Kookaburra

Lately, a bedraggled Kookaburra has been sitting in trees near the house in the afternoon.  When we first spotted it, the bird’s tail feathers were completely missing, and it looked like it had been in some kind of skirmish.  Even now, with half-grown tail, it looks very scruffy compared with many beautiful Kookaburras I have … Continue reading Laughing Kookaburra

Five minutes of good rain

For the first time in weeks – it seems like a couple of months – it rained here. Well, we had good rain for a whole five minutes.  After that, only fine drizzle for a few minutes at a time over an hour or so.  The forecast predicts more rainfall over the next couple of … Continue reading Five minutes of good rain

Hot Northerlies, Cooling Southerlies, and Rough-Barked Trees

Over Summer, we’re forever monitoring the wind direction. This is new for us.  Living in the city, we monitored temperature throughout the day, but wind direction was just a vague acknowledgement that  North Winds were hot, and South Winds were refreshing and cool. Also, when the Southerlies came in on the back of a hot … Continue reading Hot Northerlies, Cooling Southerlies, and Rough-Barked Trees

Black Kite

I was at the opposite end of the house to Richard when he called out ‘What’s that brown thing in the dam?”   Never too far from the camera, I caught a distant shot of a large bird, which we initially thought was a Wedge-Tailed Eagle.  This large bird of prey was taking a bath in … Continue reading Black Kite

Royal Spoonbill

Today was a day for unexpected visitors.  When I returned home at lunch time today, I found a Spoonbill walking around the dam.  I actually stumbled across the bird when looking for orchids.  Luckily it didn’t fly away, and I rapidly backed away from it, raced inside and grabbed my camera.  By the time I … Continue reading Royal Spoonbill

Australian White Ibis

When we awoke this morning, a small number of Australian White Ibis were wading in, and walking around the dam.  We didn’t actually count them, but there were about six or seven all in different locations. It is hard to tell if these were a family of ibis, or a flock of individuals.  Males and … Continue reading Australian White Ibis

Austracantha Minax (Christmas Spider, Jewell Spider or Six Horned Spider)

Sitting on the twine that supports our broad beans in the vegetable garden was a colourful  and  (we thought) unusual looking spider.  My internet research, verified from several differnt sources, including the Museum of Victoria, tells me that this spider’s scientific name  is  Austracantha Minax.   It seems to have several common names including the … Continue reading Austracantha Minax (Christmas Spider, Jewell Spider or Six Horned Spider)

Off-Camera Moments

For this post, I thought I would  move beyond sight, and explore some of the other senses. Twelve things I can’t capture in a photo: Breathing in the scent of peppermint eucalyptus after rain, and feeling it in my body all the way down to the bottom of my lungs. Being drowned out by the … Continue reading Off-Camera Moments