Tag: Wildlife

Frog Spawn

The Banjo Frogs were calling loudly from the dam in the middle of October.  A day or two later, lots of frog spawn appeared on the surface of the water.  I am guessing we will have a healthy population of Banjo Frogs next year. While I have not seen tadpoles in the dam in previous … Continue reading Frog Spawn

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

A Mixed Flock

Last Monday was a good bird day.  We often have birds sitting on the jetty railing.  Usually, Australian Wood Ducks;  often Little Pied Cormorants;  rarely, a White Necked Heron.   On Monday, all three species were sharing the space. The Little Pied Cormorants have been here every morning since then, diving for food and airing … Continue reading A Mixed Flock

Duckling Story 3

Duckling Story 3 may be a continuation of Duckling Story 2 – it is a bit difficult to interpret these events.   An hour or two after the seven ducklings disappeared into the long grass, we saw a female duck with two ducklings grazing in that green spot all of the ducks seem to love.  We … Continue reading Duckling Story 3

Duckling Story 2

For some reason I associated the disappearance of the seven ducklings with the first sighting of the Swamp Harrier.   When I check back through the photographs, I note that the single duckling disappeared on that date.  The seven ducklings made their first appearance a week after that date. As is common, the adult Australian … Continue reading Duckling Story 2

Duckling Story 1

In my last post, I added the Swamp Harrier to my list of birds sighted on the property, lamenting that I had not seen the seven wild ducklings since it appeared.  After going back through my photographs for December, I realise I actually have three stories about ducklings  – all of them ending in mystery. … Continue reading Duckling Story 1

Swamp Harrier (Circus Approximans)

It has been a very long time since I was able to add another bird to the list of species found on our property.  Usually this is a cause of celebration.  However, I am not sure if I am pleased to have spotted this small raptor.  A few days before it appeared, a pair of … Continue reading Swamp Harrier (Circus Approximans)

A Resilient Echidna

Last year I photographed this Echidna hiding under a log. It was dug firmly into the ground and I had no intentions of disturbing it.  As you can see, the spines on its back are badly damaged, as is the fur.  We have had bushfires in our area, so perhaps it survived a fire, or … Continue reading A Resilient Echidna

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

Intermittent Return of the Eastern Grey Kangaroos

While I would love to be able to show you photos of last year’s joey out of the pouch and being independent, I can’t.  After living on our place for just over two years, the female Eastern Grey Kangaroo and her joey disappeared in August 2015, and as far as I have been able to … Continue reading Intermittent Return of the Eastern Grey Kangaroos

White-Eared Honeyeater Hunting

Some days, I’m fortunate to come across an unfazed honeyeater just going about its business of collecting food, like this White-Eared Honeyeater.  I stood and watched for several minutes before I took photographs.  These birds seem very shy, and I was certain if I moved, it would fly off.  Obviously searching for insects and other tasty … Continue reading White-Eared Honeyeater Hunting

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

Eastern Rosella: A closer look

At the unfinished end of the Honeyeater Garden, an Eremophila Maculata plant is about to burst into flower and this Eastern Rosella was very interested in the bush.   One of three Eastern’s, presumably a family group, the bird in my photographs happened to be right outside the window, giving me a chance to get … Continue reading Eastern Rosella: A closer look

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

Abantiades hyalinatus

This blog began with the question “What is it?” and I still find myself asking this question most days.   The other night we came back from a meeting, and found this beautiful moth fluttering around on the path. It seemed to be in the act of dying, as it couldn’t get off the ground … Continue reading Abantiades hyalinatus

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

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

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?