little clicking crow

Desmodium Varians

2011-12-08T08:46:00.001+11:00

Introducing Desmodium varians...but is it? This is the question being asked by botanists and conservationists who think it may be a new variation on the 'varians'. I's growing down the bottom end of our property at Pontville, I was asked to keep and eye on it and hopefully get some photo's of the flowers and seed pod. The flower is a pale to dark pink and only 2mm if that! The leaf on this varians is quite different to what I've seen here, the seed pod too only appears to have two at the most seeds. I'm sending the photo's off to be identified and will let you know the results.

wild and native, update

2011-10-29T11:55:00.001+11:00

Bulbine Glauca. LILIACEA. Golden Bulbine-lily

ORCHIDACEA. Diuris sulphurea. tiger Orchid

Convolvulus erubescens.or blushing bindweed

Arthropdium.minus. Small vanilla lily

A wild and windy evening.

Still getting to know my new environment. At first glance it looks so dry and inhospitable to any life...but look closer and you will find an oasis of life, colour and fertility.

The land next to ours has a covenant and is visited on a regular basis by a conservation team..my partner and I hope to join them in a few weeks...learning about caring for the land, basically weed control and noting where the rare and endangered lichen and wild flowers grow.

Due to the lack of trees here it's hard to take photo's of birds..but I've spotted many types, Golden Finch, Dusky Swallow, Wrens and Brown Falcons.

There is also evidence of bandicoots, quolls.

paper daisy

2011-10-15T19:31:00.001+11:00

Helichrysum scorpiodes

good bye city life...we've moved to the mid-lands

2011-10-14T10:19:00.001+11:00

apple blossom buds

Echidna

Bee in a blossom

Native rice flower

Hibbertia procumbens, Spreading guineaflower

A sign of Autumn and cooler weather on the way, Crypsiphona ocultaria

2011-03-12T14:34:00.003+11:00

Crypsiphona ocultaria

Up in the backyard again! I was shooing off the cabbage moths from the brassica's when one of these moths flew right up to me and then down onto an old tree stump. On closer inspection I realized that he was not one of these pesky white moths but something else very beautiful! Off to get the camera...fortunately he was still there waiting for me to get some photo's.

Dandelions, they can be beautiful too!

2011-03-12T14:23:00.000+11:00

A couple of photo's of dandelions in my backyard. They maybe a weed but I still find them beautiful.

Backyard toadstools and a little Alice magic!

2011-01-18T15:56:00.000+11:00

Mr Bennett

2010-12-17T10:08:00.001+11:00

Mr Bennett is becoming a regular early morning visitor to our front yard. I worry for him though as he makes his way back into the bush, he has to hop his way up the road and there have been a lot of wallabies killed recently. You would think people would realize that living near the bush there just maybe wildlife out and about at night and early mornings...why can't they drive slower...our road is a dead end, do they really need to drive so fast to get home! The council has put up a tiny sign a few meters down the road, nobody can see it and to the morons on the road they probably see it as an invitation to run over the wildlife!

Be very careful Mr Bennett!

My Gaudy Backyard

2010-12-15T11:54:00.000+11:00

Not so subtle flowers in my garden this month but it must have appealed to one visitor who was equally brightly coloured and wanted to show off!

yellow spider on crimson dianthus


crimson and white dianthus


Hover fly caught in the act of not hovering

This morning's walk...

2010-12-15T11:41:00.001+11:00

I know I've been neglecting this blog of mine...but I have been busy with my art stuff, too long indoors today my body told me you need to get out of the house...so I did...well after feeding the cat! I made my way down to my usual walking track. It had rained quite a lot these past few months and everything looked and smelled beautiful...one of those overcast warm humid mornings that bring out the scents from the native plants. It was a bit windy but I managed to capture a few shots of some of the flowering plants and a intruding bumble bee with the most amazing coloured pollen sacks!

Orchid

shhhh it's a Noisy Miner

2010-08-02T13:47:00.000+10:00

Noisy Miner, Botanical Gardens, Sydney

After taken so many photo's on this day most of which where half ok, due to the birds being just that bit to far for my camera to take without being grainy..this little chap flew to a branch that was right in front om me. He had now worries about me standing close to him and allowed me to take several shots of him before he went on his way.

Something about the most common everyday birds will forever fascinate me. Seeing them close up through the camera lens is always a surprise.

Caramel

2010-07-28T17:02:00.000+10:00

Caramel ducks, Hawksberry River, NSW

Caramel Pigeon, Hyde Park, Sydney, NSW

White-winged Choughs

2010-07-28T12:31:00.001+10:00

White-winged Chough (Corcorax melanorhamphos)

No longer in Dunmoochin Cottlesbridge, Victoria, I'm now back home in sunny Tasmania but my memories of Dunmoochin are still filling me with such inspiration for my paintings and one bird in particular are the choughs. Almost as big as a currawong these birds move about in groups of 10. I spotted two groups around Dunmoochin. One group would swoop down on the other and startle them into the trees. Hard to photograph as they moved quickly and would fly off at any noise but towards the end on my stay one group was getting used to my presence but do you think I could take one good photo of them when they where in large numbers on the ground digging for food?? It was such an impressive sight and I kept all my blurred photo's for reference for paintings.

Spotted Pardalote's

2010-06-20T09:49:00.001+10:00

Spotted Pardalote, female

Spotted Pardalote, male

Kookaburra's visit for tea!

2010-06-20T09:45:00.002+10:00

Five Kookaburra's came for a visit the other sfternoon...I think they heard about the blueberry muffins I made in the morning!

Dunmoochin in the morning

2010-06-07T08:53:00.001+10:00

cheeky young magpie

2010-06-06T14:24:00.002+10:00

Juvenile Hite backedMagpie, Victoria, Hurstbridge

More birds identified at Dunmoochin

2010-06-06T14:11:00.007+10:00

Gray Shrike Thrush, Victoria, Dunmoochin

White Eared Honey Eater, Victoria, Dunmoochin

Gray Currawong, Victoria, Dunmoochin

Thank you once again to my Private Eye for identifying these birds!

Spotted Pardalote

2010-06-01T17:52:00.005+10:00

What a special little bird are the spotted pardalote's! This little girl let me get so close to photograph her before she flew off. I found a little area just near my place today that surprised me. It was so busy with bird life, feeding and playing alas all I could do was watch....my camera was recharging! But I'll be back in the morning to see it I can snap a few shots of these birds. My poor camera is being pushed to it's limits these days. It's great for macro shots but pretty poor for anything past a couple of meters to zoom in on....I dream of a telephoto lens!

Dunmoochin ringtail possums

2010-05-31T19:13:00.005+10:00

fresh off the camera!! These little beasties are two of about 6 little possums that party every night outside my cabin. Like clock work...around 6.30 I hear thump, thump....then the pattering of tiny feet on the tin roof....then I wait for it and I hear them leap onto the trees...I love it! They are like little friends...this is the first time I've taken photo's of them...not the best I know I was holding a torch at the same time..my flash doesn't work! Just about dawn I can see them from my bedroom window silhouetted on the trees scurrying back to their homes.

widows weave

2010-05-27T10:40:00.005+10:00

puff balls and toadstools

2010-05-24T08:48:00.005+10:00

Omphalina chromacea Yellow Navel, Cottlesbridge, Victoria

All photo's taken around the Dunmoochin area, Cottles Bridge, Victoria

little black crow in wonderland

2010-05-23T00:18:00.005+10:00

Amanita muscaria, Fly agaric mushrooms

Pardalotes

2010-05-19T11:58:00.003+10:00

Is this a Spotted Pardalote?

Striated Pardalote

Kangaroo's

2010-05-19T11:54:00.003+10:00

Beautiful walks down the road that open up to a lovely valley can sometimes lead to all sorts of surprises. Last week the valley played host to a mob of kangaroo's!!!

a new environment means new birds

2010-05-13T09:14:00.002+10:00

White Throated Tree Crawler

Striated Pardalote

A Victorian Kookaburra

All photo's taken just outside my front door! I have to give credit to my bird detective, Nickolay from Portraits of Australian Animals, without whom I wouldn't have been able to name them. Thank you to Denis Wilson, from The Nature of Robertson for naming my Fuscous Honeyeater, I will have to check to see if they are found in Tasmania.

Look a Kookaburra

2010-02-05T17:08:00.003+11:00

Taken on a very cold morning. This little chap stayed for the longest time thawing himself out. He rotated himself several times on this branch in the sun. I photographed him through the window of the lounge room, as it is higher up. I did go outside to see if I could get some closer shots. Well I could but mostly of his bottom!

Fuscous Honeyeater in Tasmania?

2009-12-14T08:07:00.004+11:00

Heron fishing

2009-09-22T12:55:00.003+10:00

White faced Heron, ardea novaechollandiae Sydney, Warnervale

It was very interesting watching this bird as I was wondering at first what he was up to.

He went to the side of the canal where it was all weedy and swished one of his legs around. He then darted towards the middle and watched and waited till the little fish that had been hiding in the weeds swam out. The Heron then stabed his beak into the water and caught himself a little snack.

Very clever indeed!

Yummy fruit bats

2009-09-21T10:28:00.001+10:00

Oh I've missed seeing these beautiful creatures! Again these photo's were taken at Sydney's botanical garden. Don't you just love the way they hug themselves with their bat wings to sleep!

neighbourhood watch

2009-09-19T16:37:00.003+10:00

Willy Wagtail having words with a Magpie

Just one of those chance moments of being in the right place at the right time and camera and I where ready!

Sydney siders

2009-09-19T16:25:00.005+10:00

sulfur crested cockatoos, Sydney, botanical garden

2 weeks in Sydney ,warm weather, and very obliging birds. My dear friend and colleague, Nickolay and I met for a day at the botanical gardens. While catching up with what each other has been doing I could'nt help noticing just how close the birds would allow you to walk up to them....must be years of trust built up between humans and birds in this very beautiful park. Encouraged by my friend to get closer and closer and closer to the birds to take their photo's this was my happy result. The day was very overcast and as Nickolay mentioned it was perfect for taking photo's of white birds! I can't remember the last time I visited the Botanical gardens I used to visit here a lot when I lived here and would come to the gardens and sketch but this recent experience has certainly made me look forward to my next time in Sydney!

indoor "wild" life

2009-08-23T17:58:00.002+10:00

Anybody want him, will post to anywhere in the world?

Naughty, Naughty NED!!

I thought at least this one box would be "wild" life free! Underneath him are a whole lot of fabric pieces with pins in them....I guess no brain no pain!!!

down and personal with Big Bunny

2009-08-19T18:51:00.004+10:00

Getting down to Big Bunny's level!

Bee's and the promise of fine weather

2009-08-15T18:45:00.006+10:00

For months now the weather has been just appalling, wet, gray, windy and cold not very enticing for either animal or man. But good for getting work done indoors and my art work is coming along nicely. The only birds I spotted enjoying themselves in this weather were the currawongs. The last two days however have been unbelievable if only every day could be like it was today...I even wore a t-shirt for the first time in months! Blue sky, gentle breeze, little fluffy clouds just magic! Still not too many birds around but the bees are coming back and I found a busy pair of bee's buzzing around my lavender bush! I haven't spotted any bumble bees yet I wonder how soon they will start to arrive? Do you think that winter bees are a brighter colour than summer bees....just a theory but click on 'bees' in my labels and see what you think?

fungi in the autumn morning

2009-05-22T13:14:00.003+10:00

could be Gymnopilus pampeanus. found growing at the bottom of an eucalypt stump.

different fungi and toadstool species found in the Taranna scrub.

Cape Barron Geese

2009-05-22T09:12:00.003+10:00

Just arrived back home from a two day stay at Tarunna, near Port Arthur.

After a hearty breakfast I went for a walk along the Arthur's Highway. at 9.00 in the morning the traffic was pretty quiet and I was not in much danger of becoming roadkill like a lot of poor animals on the sides had become from the night before.

I took many shots of little birds and rosellas, I'll post these later, along with more toadstool photo's. But seeing these geese are what most surprised and excited me the most! They are really big birds and beautiful. I was amazed at the colour and shape of their beaks...a very yellow lime green colour. I wished I had someone there to enjoy this with me but as is often the case bird photography can be a lonely occupation.

wren between thorns

2009-05-05T13:37:00.002+10:00

Couldn't believe my luck when I was walking home from the post office, 2 little wrens were playing in the blackberry bushes so close to me AND I had my camera ready! They are so cool thes little guys. I've seen them around a lot here all year but this was the first time they didn't seem to mind my pressence and I was able to get a few good shot of them.

To One In Paradise

2009-05-03T20:16:00.002+10:00

To One In Paradise Thou wast that all to me, love, For which my soul did pine - A green Isle in the sea, love a fountain and a shrine, All wreathed with fairy fruits and flowers, And all the flowers were mine. Ah, dream to bright to last! Ah, Starry Hope! that didst arise But to be overcast! A voice from out the Future cries, 'On! on!' - but o'er the Past (Dim gulf!) my spirit hovering lies Mute, motionless, aghast! For, alas! alas! with me The light of life is o'er! 'No more - no more- no more- (such language holds the solemn sea To the sands upon the shore) Shall bloom the thunder - blasted tree, Or the stricken eagle soar! And all my days are trances, And all my nightly dreams Are where thy dark eye glances, And where thy footstep gleams - In what ethereal dances, By what eternal streams.

by Edgar Alan Poe

fungus, Tasmania

2009-05-03T19:51:00.002+10:00

forest fungi, Eagle Hawk Neck, early April

mushrooms, Lena Valley, early May

chickens

2009-05-03T15:00:00.001+10:00

SEAL!!!

2009-04-28T08:14:00.002+10:00

A totally unexpected encounter with a seal at the EagleHawk Neck jetty. Loved to have been able to stay longer and been able to get more photo's but time was against us:( The seal was playing with a huge fish head he found at the bottom of the jetty and was throwing it up in the air and thrashing it around. Pretty exciting.

Happy Bunny Easter

2009-04-12T11:46:00.001+10:00

Big Bunny wants to say Happy Easter and thank you to those that drop by and leave encouraging comments...thank you! What an Easter treat all these lovely flowers to eat!

there be a dragon?

2009-04-11T21:51:00.002+10:00

A visit from a Blue tongue lizard is always exciting! I followed him around the fence boundary until he disappeared into the compost heap. His scales are remarkable and the way he moved in the garden with his legs tucked into his sides was very snake like. He is really beautiful. I took so many photo's of him just to catch his blue tongue.

a garden of fun

2009-04-11T21:12:00.003+10:00

These photo's of fungi, where taken today at about 3 in the afternoon in my garden. I've never seen so many different varieties in my garden before. I think that it may be due to the heavy mulching of rye grass and the weather temperature. They were mostly found growing in the darker parts of the garden under the large rhubarb and artichoke leaves.

Arty little bug

2009-03-19T19:51:00.001+11:00

Typical of artists they are always trying to make a statement. He certainly wouldn't have been out of place in a Jackson Pollack exhibition!

Alas his name alludes me!

Australian Admiral Butterfly

2009-03-19T19:44:00.001+11:00

Just when I was thought that the only butterfly visitors to my garden were the meadow Argus along comes this fellow! And an Admiral no less! After doing a bit of research I found that I had seen this fellow once before in his infancy. I helped him back onto a leaf he had fallen off when he was just a larva! Unfortunately I didn't bother to get the camera then as I thought I had plenty of time but he was gone within a few hours. He was very beautiful.

insects

2009-02-23T19:54:00.003+11:00

unknown moth

juvenile blow fly

unknown moth..but I like to call her Lady Death Watch, a goth moth.

adult locust, the garden is full of these this year.

I've already looked at most places on the i8nternet to identify these unknown moths but no luck.

House sparrow

2009-02-22T20:10:00.001+11:00

Adult House Sparrow, perched on the gunnel's of a dinghy.

sparrows

2009-02-22T20:03:00.001+11:00

There was something so special seeing these two little mates watching the goings on down at the wharf. They seemed to be in no hurry to leave. Unfortunately I was.

Looking out for junior!

2009-02-22T19:17:00.001+11:00

The parent cormorant waited and watched the waters left and right until he/she spotted their offspring.

It was fantastic watching him come in. I spotted him way off in the distance, he bobbed up looking directly at his parent waiting on the rock and then dove down. I waited for him expecting he would make a direct bee line for us but after a while I noticed him to my right about 2o meters away. Silly me, the current and wind was pretty strong so the only way he could come in was along this course. Like a little sailing boat he made his way up onto the rock and immediately set about to drying his wings.

March in Febuary

2009-02-01T17:20:00.002+11:00

March Fly

Beautiful to look up close at but not so nice when he bites! March flies are terribly annoying and aggressive. Obviously it was a little too early for this.

Finally!!

2009-02-01T17:15:00.001+11:00

Meadow Argus

For weeks now I've been trying to get a good photo of the butterflies that visit my garden, they are far more flighty than birds and seem to have eye in the backs of their heads as they can see you sneak up on them. And today just as I was going to give up this little fella obliged me for a few seconds to take some nice clear snaps of his wings in beautiful display.

Miss Fairy Wren

2009-02-01T17:03:00.001+11:00

Supurb Fairy Wren, female, Malurus cyaneus

Scarlet Robin, female

2009-02-01T16:57:00.002+11:00

Scarlet Robin, Petroica boodang, female, Tasmania

Click on the photo to have a closer look. I'm pretty sure that's what she is and not a silver eye.

pacific black and mallard young

2009-01-26T17:52:00.005+11:00

more ducks

2009-01-26T16:14:00.002+11:00

Female Malard, anas pltyrhynchos

Mallard, anas pltyrhynchos

A male Mallard, you can clearly see the distinguishing little curled tail feather. he does look like a cross between a Pacific Black and a Mallard.

ducklings

2009-01-26T15:53:00.001+11:00

Mallard mum with her very cute brood. I'm certainly curiouse to the social life of these ducks.

I don't understand the colour varients in the chicks.

Eurasian Coot

2009-01-26T13:42:00.002+11:00

Eurasian Coot, fulicata

My first Coot, spotted in amongst all the ducks in the river at New Norfolk. He swam so sweetly by my I almost missed seeing him. I wished I could have stayed longer to take more photo's of him and to hear his call, apparently they make a loud hoarse whinnying screech!!

Muscovy Duck

2009-01-26T13:33:00.002+11:00

Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata, New Norfolk, Tasmania

spiders are a girls best friend

2009-01-25T07:44:00.003+11:00

Dome Web Spider, Cyrtophora moluccensis

I'm no different to any other girl I know, I love spiders! I wish I knew what these little beauties are. They are so lovely like jewels you could imagine wearing them as a brooch. All photo's taken in my backyard garden.

Too windy

2009-01-24T09:38:00.002+11:00

Silver gulls, Constitution dock, Hobart, Tasmania

It had been such a windy few hours just before lunch break, most of the seagulls were huddled together in groups waiting for the weather to settle.

red- eyed thornbill

2009-01-24T09:22:00.002+11:00

Tasmanian Red-Eyed Thornbill, Acanthiza ewingii

Just by sheer chance I was able to catch this little guy in my garden this morning. I like this photo as even though it's supposed to be summer this has a feeling of autumn about it. There were quite a lot of them about feeding on large worms chattering away. They are so fast and tiny only 10cm, very hard to get a good photo of.

Green Rosella

2009-01-05T11:50:00.001+11:00

Two Green Rosella's flew into my backyard yesterday. they sat in the wattle tree and had a feast of seeds. Now I'm getting frustrated with my camera, because of not being able to get good photo's with depth of field from a distance. I never knew that our garden received so many varieties of birds. It really is exciting. My partner said he may even build a bird box or two!!

Red- Eyed Thornbill

2009-01-05T11:42:00.003+11:00

Couldn't get a good look at this bird as he was very frisky, feeding on the little insects in our neighbours tree. I did think at first they were silvereyes but later thought they may be sparrows. On closer inspection I'm not sure I know what they are. Looking through The Slater's book I found a few that resembled this bird, a Yellow Spotted Pardalotes, a White Fronted Juvenile Chat, or a Tasmanian Thornbill which is the most likely.

He is a Tasmanian Red-eyed Thornbil!!

beetles

2009-01-05T11:17:00.001+11:00

These little orange beetles seem to be everywhere at the moment. They especially enjoy the nectar from the white native shrub in our backyard. The birds seem to like these beetles too.

suprises and disapointments

2009-01-02T07:14:00.008+11:00

See all the bee photos I took on the last day of 2008? That same day I had three wonderful sunrises! For the last week or so I've noticed a little bird flying low catching flies through my veggie garden. I couldn't quite make out what he was. Looking through The Slater Field Guide to Australian Birds, a wonderful book given to me by my fellow co-worker and nature photographer, the closest that resembled this bird was a 'Fly Catcher'. That was pretty cool I thought but I'd love to get a closer look at him one day if he returns.

To my surprise he did. I was up in a part of the garden that I don't often go as it looks a little snaky, but there is a large native shrub growing there and its in full flower. There where a lot of little brown beetles on the bush and as I was investigating a bird flew right next to me and busied himself having a good feed of beetles he was there for about 2 minutes with me just looking on. I didn't have the camera so I made some mental notes about his markings. After he left i ran inside to look through my book and found that he was indeed a member of the Fly Catcher genus but he was a Mountain Fantail! The book described him perfectly. he used his fan tail to flush out the little bugs and then gobbled them up.

Knowing he's an occasional visitor I'll be stalking that shrub until I can get a photo of him!

My story doesn't end here. later on in the day when taking the bee photo's below, deep in concentration I could hear something fluttering just behind me. as I finished taking some bee photo's and the camera was rendering ....which does take a while I turned around to see another beautiful bird that i had not seen in my garden before he flew in front of me and landed on a post jut a meter away

Do you think I had time to get a photo of him???no such luck as the camera still had not stopped rendering my last shots and by the time it had the bird had flown. But I did get a good look at him and again ran to my book for reference. This bird was I'm sure an Eastern Spine bill!!! His colours and unmistakable long beak plus his fluttering of wings as he flew are just as described in the book!!

But wait there's more. I resumed taking photo's of bee's for most of the afternoon. When I felt I had enough photo's to work on I looked up and was stunned at seeing a young Kookaburra just a few feet away from me. how long had this quiet visitor been sitting there for?

Unfortunately where he was sitting was in amongst some branches but did manage a few shots before he flew off. If I see him again I may try feeding him a lizard or a worm or two!

Skink

tasmanian native bee's

2009-01-02T06:45:00.010+11:00

Taken in my garden on the last day of 2008. I still haven't been able to find online the Latin name for these bee's. I should join the local library....ahh there's a good New Year's resolution.

are you walking to me?

2009-01-02T06:13:00.001+11:00

Photo's where taken at Rosny oval near the Tafe. These magpies are obviously used to being around humans as they walked right up to me to get their photo's taken.

noisy miner

2008-12-27T18:04:00.002+11:00

A very quiet noisy miner, Manorina melanocephala. Photo was taken near Rosny Tafe. I love how there eye markings make their eyes look bigger than what they really are.

"B" is for BUMBLE BEE "R" is for RED

2008-12-26T19:06:00.002+11:00

More beautiful bees in my garden!! As you can see in the close up shots of the inside of the Flanders Poppy stamens the pollen is powdery green. This accounts for the bee's green pollen sacks on their legs.

"B" is for Brown tree frog

2008-12-26T18:49:00.003+11:00

Clinging to a passion fruit stem this little 'Tasmanian brown tree frog' . It's always nice to see these frogs as they are a good indication as to how well your garden is going. We don't use any pesticides or chemicals in our garden. Our veggies and flower beds are happy and organic, full of lovely insects, frogs, lizards and birds.

"B" is for bunny

2008-12-24T15:40:00.001+11:00

We've been "minding", on and off this little bunny for a few days now. He is so cute!! Apart from when I was a kid visiting the baby animals at the zoo I've never been this close to a bunny. they are so soft and this guy seems to have such a peaceful nature. He loves grazing in amongst the clover and seaside daisy's. Our two cats are unaware of the little visitor as they are usually fast asleep around the time bunny comes to visit. However they are pretty sure that something unusual has been in the backyard as they start to sniff bits of evidence that bunny has left behind. I'm sure that I will be investigating the bunny with more pic's in the near future.

bathing beauty

2008-12-11T07:14:00.001+11:00

sparrow

2008-12-10T20:53:00.001+11:00

Not the best background for this little sparrow portrait, but it's one of the better photo's that I've been able to take so far during my lunch time down at constitution dock. Even though these little guys are so common they are one of my favourites. If I had a better lens and camera I would have loved to take some photo's of a house near my bus stop. At the very corner of the gutter sparrows have made a nest and there has been a lot of little ones flying around. I love watching how close they are with one another feeding and playing, never straying too far from their nest.

those beedy eyes

2008-12-07T19:09:00.001+11:00

Lovely poultry, photo's where taken a few months back at a poultry show. Such a wonderful variety of breeds, each with their own individual personality.

nice weather for ducks

2008-11-30T20:17:00.002+11:00

Waddling through constitution dock last Wednesday morning, a lovely mallard couple. It was wet and miserable but this pair looked like they where site seeing.

Black duck

Tasmanian brown tree frog

2008-11-19T21:23:00.001+11:00

It's a good feeling when you see these little guys in your garden. They are little barometers as they always start to croak before it starts to rain. It's funny to hear them as one will start shyly , then another two start and after a short break a whole choir starts croaking.

When I first found these frogs seem to survive in varied places around my garden. I've found them in the really dry areas under rocks, in damp and rotten vegetation and in pots.

Pacific gull

2008-11-18T07:05:00.001+11:00

Mum and junior at Blackman's Bay, Tasmania.

It's funny how the young ones look bigger in size compared to their parents.

The regal Kelp Gull

2008-11-16T09:34:00.004+11:00

These photo's were taken at Constitution Dock, Hobart.

I was able to walk quite close up to him. He allowed me to take several shots before he bowed his head and flew off.

Looking at these photo's closely back home on the computer I was so amazed at this birds powerful beak. It was all scratched and chipped, I kept thinking about the amazing life this bird must have on the open sea, what stories he must have!

I wonder how you can tell the age of these birds and their sex?

black backed magpie, Sydney

2008-11-12T21:06:00.003+11:00

Photo's where taken just outside of my mums house in two of the little council planted street trees. It was near dusk and still very warm out. I was a little nervous taking these pics as they are big birds. I wish I had know my camera better at this time as so many photo's ended up being too dark. But who knows these birds being territorial may be back at their old haunts next year when I visit.

little visitors

2008-11-11T20:54:00.003+11:00

This morning my backyard was a lively flurry of little wings and busy chirping. Silvereye's had flown in to do a little pest control throughout my veggie garden! Somehow I was able to quietly walk through to the back fence and take a few close up shots before a warning call was sounded and the little troops re-treated into the forest. This is the closest I've ever been to one and it was such a lovely sight to watch the Silvereye's enjoy themselves feeding and playing through the garden.

bees and green pollen

2008-11-09T09:35:00.001+11:00

cute bumble bee butt shot!

It's a little wattle bird!!

2008-11-08T08:34:00.002+11:00

Little Wattlebird

Scientific name: Anthochaera chrysoptera

Family: Meliphagidae

Order: Passeriformes

From all the photo's I took yesterday this one came out the best. I had so many good opportunities chasing this little starling chick while he/she was feeding on the ground but not one good photo worth posting:) However I did have a nice time in the park.

insects and death

2008-11-05T18:50:00.002+11:00

Lovely ephemeral death of a moth

The cause of fear and death

tragic bumble bee death

Little Pied Cormorant, Phalacrocorax melanoleucos

2008-11-02T19:56:00.005+11:00

Not the best quality photo's, it was pretty early in the morning and over cast.

I had taken these photo's a while ago near Bellerive. As I'm going through my gazillion photo files trying to clean them up and save to disk I'll be posting some old shot's here for a bit.

At the moment I'm tossing up whether or not to buy a second hand digital SLR camera with a new telephoto lens or go to the dentist.....such a dilemma...my teeth don't hurt but they need work....Maybe I'll toss a coin

bumble bee, native bee

2008-11-02T09:12:00.002+11:00

These bee shots were taken yesterday morning. I have a little row of Flanders poppies growing under my bedroom window. I noticed that the pollen on the stamens were a very dull green colour. This made me wonder if the bees that collected the nectar from these flowers would have green pollen sacks on their legs...And sure enough they did!! Bee's with khaki pollen pants!!

spring bees on thyme

2008-11-02T08:59:00.001+11:00

These photo's were taken in my garden yesterday afternoon. the bees are collecting pollen and nectar from my little thyme plant. I had to get down pretty low to take these photo's. I'm sure the neighbours must think I'm pretty strange by now, head down bum up, taking photo's of god knows what!!

I really like the feeling of the top two, as it looks like the bee's are heading home.

Oh and these bees had white pollen sacks on their legs!

bees

2008-10-26T12:51:00.002+11:00

Bees pollinating in my garden. I found it very curious that some of the bees had pink pollen sacks and others had yellow. The ones with pink pollen were on the coriander plants.

cute but!!!

2008-10-25T15:27:00.003+11:00

Supurb Fairy-Wren, Malurus cyaneus

Oh very funny Mr "Superb" Fairy Wren! What are you trying to tell me?? This little guy and his female companion have been visiting my backyard regularly. I've noticed them early in the morning for a short visit and then again in the early evening for a little frolic.

Pink flower day!

2008-10-19T18:52:00.004+11:00

Perhaps a native indigo?

EPACRIS IMPRESSA Common Heath (Epacridaceae)

???

Well so far the book I purchased yesterday has been no help at all!

New Holland Honey Eater

2008-10-19T11:38:00.003+11:00

Today's trip to Knocklofty Reserve in West Hobart proved to be rather fruitful! Even though I'm disappointed with the outcome but at least now I have a record of the variety of birds that visit there. Top right is a golden finch. Not sure what the two on the left are. But on the bottom row is a Scarlet Robin, Petroica multicolorboodang, to the right maybe a Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike.

Three photo's of the New Holland Honey Eater!

There where many other birds there but it's frustrating knowing your cameras limitations.

I'm thinking that because I'm enjoying this hobby so much that in the very near future I may upgrade the camera to a digital SLR and have two lenses, one macro because I love the small minuet world and a telephoto lens for the fleeting moments of birds!

welcome swallow

2008-10-18T16:32:00.003+11:00

A little welcome swallow welcomed me yesterday morning at Hobart's Constitution Dock. I've actually spotted him and a friend a few times and they seem definitely to a routine. But this was the second time he stopped in front of me at the same place although the last time was during my lunch break. I wonder if he remembered me? They certainly are fun to watch when feeding.

the loudest bird in the bush

2008-10-18T16:23:00.001+11:00

Who is this little fella. he was so loud that it was easy to track him down. he had a number of different whistles but the loudest one was almost like a whip bird. Any guesses?

yellow natives

2008-10-18T15:35:00.005+11:00

This morning was day 2 of the Native flower exhibition at Hobart's Town Hall. Very much inspired by the beautiful display of Australian Natives and the purchase of 'Flowers and Plants of Tasmania by the Launceston Field Naturalists Club book, I started to wonder about what is growing in my own backyard! I live very close to bushland, a very dry sclerophyll forest. I've jogged down the dirt track many times and have noticed a few flowering plants over the seasons but not many. So on a beautiful day like today armed with camera I took to the track just to see how many flowers I can find and try to identify them with my new book! I'm going to start with the yellow one first.

yellow flowering plant

clover, but I'm not sure if it's a native or not

Prickly Moses , ACACIA VERTICILLATA, Mimosaceae

Yellow Dogwood, POMADERRIS ELLIPTICA , Rhamnaceae

Flowereing September through to November. Maybe propergated from cuttings or seed. Can you guess that something isn't right??............I haven't ben able to find many of the plants in my new book!!!!!!!!!!Apart from unable to identify these I'm still rather happy to see so much diversity.

Tomorrow is pink flower day!

shore leave

2008-10-15T21:26:00.001+11:00

Seagull takes a break

2008-10-10T19:49:00.003+11:00

If I only ever was able to take seagulls at lunch time I wouldn't mind at all.

I'm so much happier at work these days knowing that I can venture out at lunch, camera at hand and take photo's of birds or other images that interest me.

I thought I would feel self conscious but I get so absorbed trying to get a good shot that I forget what else is going on around me.

Cormorant update. I left early from home and made my way to Constitution dock to see if our little guy was to be seen. I looked all around his usual haunts but didn't find him.

I did contact Parks and Wildlife, and after some time I was able to leave a message. I was pleasantly surprised (the cynic that I am) when they rang back. Unfortunately Monday was the earliest that they would be able to search for the cormorant due to the docks being busy on the weekends.

I will be very interested if anyone actually shows up on Monday to search for the bird. Till then I may visit the docks myself and see if he turns up.

Not a good day

2008-10-09T21:20:00.003+11:00

Very sad news. while photographing the seagulls down at Constitution dock I looked over towards the Mawson sculptures hoping to see our regular cormorants and sure enough there was one there. I'm not sure if he is our young Cormorant but as I photographed him I became aware that his leg was entangled with fishing net.

I watched him for a while and he looked very worn out as he sat most of the time.

I don't know what to do, who do you contact about these animals that are in need of help?

I'll spend sometime tonight to find out online if there are any native animal rescuers in the Hobart region.

Found one, thanks to Oz Animal's blog I found a list of Wildlife animal rescuers in Tasmania.

here is the Hobart one

Hobart (Head Office) 134 Macquarie StreetGPO Box 1751Hobart TAS 7001 Phone: 1300 135 513

far away eyes

2008-10-08T18:42:00.002+11:00

Of the gazillion seagulls in the world I wonder how many are tagged? I wonder too what stories are to be told about this little chap.

Photo's taken at lunch time around Hobarts docklands.

On watch. 'All clear to port, Captain'!

a superb fairy wren

2008-10-07T07:35:00.003+11:00

Photo's where taken last sunday at the Peter Murrell reserve near Kingston.