The original Post In a corner of our property, an area which has been slightly disturbed by small-scale mining in the 1800’s, I found a waist-high shrub with white flowers and thorns – Bursaria (native) or Boxthorn (Exotic) I wondered. It turned out to be Boxthorn, an introduced species which has the potential to become … Continue reading Boxthorn (Exotic) or Bursaria (Native)
Tag: nature
White-Winged Chough – Our 45th Bird Species
I wish I could display a close-up of these birds for the 45th bird species found on our property, but the flock of White-Winged Choughs were very shy. It is the second time I have seen them in two weeks, but I don’t recall seeing or hearing them prior to this. Their voice is very … Continue reading White-Winged Chough – Our 45th Bird Species
Colour Variation in Eastern Grey Kangaroos
Recently, we’ve had four Eastern Grey Kangaroos grazing near the house – our usual female and her joey, a young male and a new female. All four have slightly differently coloured fur. The new female is especially pale. I haven’t seen another Eastern Grey this pale, so I thought it would be interesting to introduce her … Continue reading Colour Variation in Eastern Grey Kangaroos
Huntsman Spiders
In the comments beneath the Leaf Curling Spider post, macmsue and I have been comparing Huntsman Spider stories, so I thought this might be a good time to post a photos of one. It has been sitting there, waiting for an opportune time! I rescued this spider from the flue above the stove in the … Continue reading Huntsman Spiders
Leaf Curling Spider (Phonognatha graeffei)
About a month ago, it seemed there were Jewell Spiders everywhere, but this week the Leaf Curling Spiders have taken over. As the name suggests, each spider uses a curled leaf suspended in the centre of the web as a protected hiding spot. I’m actually thankful to see the leaves suspended as it has saved … Continue reading Leaf Curling Spider (Phonognatha graeffei)
Archive Photos: Welcome Swallow
One of the reasons the Welcome Swallow images are in an ‘Archive Photos’ post is that I was hoping to get better photos of them. On a cold August day a pair arrived and began constructing a nest of mud on top of a high beam beneath the tin roof of our deck. As it was … Continue reading Archive Photos: Welcome Swallow
Out of the pouch, but still suckling
Female kangaroos can have one joey in the pouch and an older, almost independent joey out of the pouch but still suckling, while an embryo waits, suspended, until the pouch is once again free. I never tire of seeing the females tending their young. They are so patient and attentive. Joeys usually vacate the pouch … Continue reading Out of the pouch, but still suckling
Crimson Rosella Bathing
Crimson Rosella have claimed the water feature we placed in the middle of our new garden. They use it to bathe in each morning, and it has become their source of drinking water as well. The water feature is the centre of a new garden we are planting, just outside the study window. We’ve chosen … Continue reading Crimson Rosella Bathing
Tall Spike-Rush / Tall Spike-sedge (Eleocharis sphacelata)
I’ve often posted photographs of birds or the plants around the dam, featuring the thick clump of Tall Spike-rush in the background, so I thought it was high time to put this plant in the foreground. It seems that Tall Spike-rush is a former name and the current name is Tall Spike-sedge. I’ve included both names … Continue reading Tall Spike-Rush / Tall Spike-sedge (Eleocharis sphacelata)
Do Magpies Play?
I often see Sulphur Crested Cockatoos at play, but Magpies always seem so serious in searching for food or defending territory. Even when caroling, they seem to scan their surrounds, just checking to make sure everything is as it should be. Lately, I’ve witnessed a young Magpie engaged in a few incidents that could be … Continue reading Do Magpies Play?
Rain and Kangaroos: Is there a link?
Just as the rain has been sparse, so have the kangaroos. Since Christmas, I think I can count on one hand the number of kangaroos I’ve seen here. Those that visit just seem to spend one night, and then disappear for weeks. It has been very dry, which means most of the grass is brown … Continue reading Rain and Kangaroos: Is there a link?
Eastern Long-necked Turtle
At long last I have seen the Eastern Long-necked Turtles in our dam. We were told they were in there when we bought the property, but they have proved to be very shy creatures. On a couple of occasions we’ve glimpsed them for a split second. Until now, the dam has been so deep that … Continue reading Eastern Long-necked Turtle
Archive Photos: Little Black Cormorant
Featuring the Little Black Cormorant, this post is the first of a series of photos from my archive. We’ve been here for two and a half years now. As I look back through the photographs I’ve taken for the blog, I notice that some of them never made it into a post. Often this was because everything … Continue reading Archive Photos: Little Black Cormorant
Austral Brooklime (Gratiola peruviana)
Investigating the species of plants which are naturally re-vegetating the dam bank, I was pleased to discover that the most plentiful plant is a native species: Austral Brooklime. The seeds of this plant are apparently long-lived and can remain dormant in soil until the right conditions occur. The flowers are tiny – approximately 3mm to … Continue reading Austral Brooklime (Gratiola peruviana)
Natural Re-vegetation Around the Dam
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
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
Fifteen Acres 