Tag: Photography

Tawny Frogmouth

On a warm January night, we were sitting in the lounge room watching TV when a loud bang on the screen door  startled us.  Initially, we couldn’t see anything outside, so Richard grabbed a torch and shone it into a nearby tree.   We saw a bundle of grey feathers and thought it was a solitary … Continue reading Tawny Frogmouth

Two Kookaburra Chicks

I thought I would start off 2018 with a happy story about Kookie, the kookaburra without tail feathers.   Looking back through my posts, I can see mentions of Kookie “the tailless Kookaburra” since late 2012, but we first really began to observe her in 2014.  Back then, we didn’t know if she was male or … Continue reading Two Kookaburra Chicks

Self-Seeding Cranberry Heath

When we first moved in, almost five years ago now, there were very few native plants around the dam.  We pulled out a heap of Agapanthus plants and a large cactus plant which, to us, were at odds with sclerophyll bushland surrounding it.  Since then, grass grew, kangaroos and wallabies grazed, and each year we … Continue reading Self-Seeding Cranberry Heath

Orchid Leaves

On my walk around the property this morning, I noticed many species of plants sending up new growth.  Among them were patches of orchid leaves.   The photograph above shows Small Mosquito Orchid leaves, Waxlip Orchid leaves and possibly a Helmet Orchid leaf.   In other places, many species of Greenhood are establishing colonies, the Gnat … Continue reading Orchid Leaves

The Latest Joey – 3 photos

At long last the newest Eastern Grey joey left the safety of its mother’s pouch in a spot close enough to photograph.  It was only momentary, and to our eyes, it looked like the joey might have fallen out while trying to hang too far out to eat grass.   This one is very active inside … Continue reading The Latest Joey – 3 photos

Orchid Season Starts Again: Parsons Bands

Technically, the Parsons Bands Orchid emerge after the first heavy rains of Autumn.  Well, we had a slight shower and here they are.   At the moment the Orchids are only lightly scattered here and there, so I am hoping for a heavy downfall soon to encourage more. The photograph below was taken with my … Continue reading Orchid Season Starts Again: Parsons Bands

Kangaroo Courtship

Over the last three years, I’ve been fortunate to observe some of the Eastern Grey Kangaroo courtship behaviour.   In Winter, a new tiny joey peeks out of its mother’s pouch and the dominant male returns to the mob for a while.   This year, the new tiny pink face appeared toward the end of June. … Continue reading Kangaroo Courtship

A New Photography Portfolio

If you are a long-term follower of Fifteen Acres, it’s possible you may be wondering if I have run out of species to photograph and write about.  The posts in 2015 have been fewer than in other years.  Happily, the answer to that question is “No!”  there are heaps of species I am either yet to … Continue reading A New Photography Portfolio

Tonight’s Colours

For a few fleeting moments, tonight’s sunset lit up a group of trees in glorious colours.  I always love the colour of the bark when it turns a deep terracotta. You can see where the birds and small mammals clutch the bark to climb up and down.  Also, the trees in the background look almost … Continue reading Tonight’s Colours

Orb Weaving Spider Wrapping Butterfly

In December I photographed a butterfly in a strange position and subsequently discovered the Orb Weaving Spider in the process of wrapping it.  At the time I was trying to document the various species of grass and butterflies we have here, so I wasn’t looking for spiders.  At first I thought the butterfly may be mating, as … Continue reading Orb Weaving Spider Wrapping Butterfly

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

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)

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

Australian Painted Lady (Vanessa Kershawi)

Along with the Common Brown butterflies, the Australian Painted Lady butterflies are plentiful at the moment.  I’ve photographed this one on a 1.5 m high  Xanthorrhoea (grass tree) flower spike. These flowers are a magnet for butterflies and honeyeaters. According to the field guide I am using, ‘Butterflies: Identification and life history‘ by Ross P. Field, … Continue reading Australian Painted Lady (Vanessa Kershawi)

Common Brown Butterfly (Heteronympha merope) Male

I’m only beginning to look at butterflies from an identification perspective, so here is one to start me off – the Common Brown Butterfly. It seems the air is alive with butterflies at the moment – tumbling, paired butterflies – and each time I put my foot down when walking through grass, I seem to … Continue reading Common Brown Butterfly (Heteronympha merope) Male

Tonal Landscapes Calendar

If you found my posts on Tonal Landscapes interesting, you may like to know that I have created a 2015 Tonal Landscapes Calendar, available from my Redbubble site.  I’ve also created a Central Victoria: Colours and Textures calendar and a Central Victoria: Flora and Fauna calendar. In all three calendars, the photographs representing each month … Continue reading Tonal Landscapes Calendar

Hot Bats

On Wednesday, we had a fairly warm day which must have heated the space behind the fascia board on the deck, where there is a small bat colony.  All of the bats were clambering over each other to get out of their den and into a place where they could cool down. Some bats chose … Continue reading Hot Bats

Gallery: Young Joey Practices Wrestling with Mum

A short time ago I posted photographs of a young joey jumping all over its mother.  Well, this time the kangaroos were right in front of the house and the joey was quite aggressive – kicking the female kangaroo in the head and torso, as well as apparently drawing blood.  I guess this is what … Continue reading Gallery: Young Joey Practices Wrestling with Mum

Grey Fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa)

It has been a long time since I’ve added a new bird to our species list, so I am very happy to share these photographs of a Grey Fantail and the nest the pair of Fantails are building. It is in a position where we can peek inside without disturbing the birds and so far … Continue reading Grey Fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa)