This is July

At last I am able to sit down and write this blog. I have a chest infection which made my concentration levels drop and a lack of interest in doing anything. Looking at the screen made my eyes sore as well. July was interesting as the days became more like Summer than Winter. There hasn’t been much rain so the garden is suffering. Most of the flowers are from elsewhere, some of the birds are from around here and there is a bit of what is that photo. There is a bit of excitement but that will come later. There are quite a number of photos so perhaps a cup of tea or coffee or whatever you drink while sitting have a look at my July.

This is the view from Raspberry Lookout in the Gibraltar Ranges, about 70kms from my place, which is somewhere to the left of the photo a few gullies over.
raspberry lookout_named_gibralter ranges_july 2017
I thought I’d start with the bugs I found. A moth isn’t really a bug but an insect but this beauty had to go in somewhere.moth_named_binna burra_july 2017

We found a caterpillar munching a plant. Look at how much it has eaten for such a small sized caterpillar.
caterpillar_named_binna burra_july 2017

The winter flowering stone fruits are alive with bees.
bee_peach blossom_named_binna burra_july 2017

I was enjoying a cuppa on the verandah when this bloke came buzzing around. I like the confusion of fly and shadow.
fly_named_home_july 2017

At the Raspberry Lookout I found a log. Not just an ordinary log but one that had a lichen that made it look so green.
green log_named_raspberry lookout_july 2017

Can you see the face on this old tree stump. The big cut mark on the left is where the timber cutters used to put a board to stand on to cut the tree down with an axe. The “graffiti” isn’t all that old though.
tree face_named_raspberry lookout_july 2017

My  bestie found this fantastic leaf.
coloured leaf_named_binna burra_july 2017

One day the clouds just decided to look rather special. Something to do with a hot day, cold upper air or whatever.
170712_blog challenge_clouds_feather

“What are you looking at?”
cow_looking_named_ulmarra_july 2017

I call this photo “The Electric Fish”. I would love to tell you how I took the photo but have no idea. The leaves and flowers were in the bottom of the bowl and the spots on the surface are fish food.
170711_electric fish

Late one evening when going for a walk, I saw the red and green leaves glowing in the afternoon sun.
vine_named_binna burra_july 2017

A neighbours place glowed in that afternoon sun. This plant is called Firesticks.
firesticks_named_binna burra_july 2017

I have never looked at a Dandelion flower. Isn’t it beautiful.
dandelion flower_named_binna burra_july 2017

In a garden in Grafton the rest of the garden was bare and a few of the flowers were doing their last gasp but this Gazania stood out among the rest.
gazinia_named_grafton_july 2017

A fragrant Rose. I love Roses.
pink rose_named_binna burra_july 2017

The Grevillea flower shone in the early morning sun.
grevillea flower_named_home_july 2017

Some birds come back every year to spend Winter here or perhaps just drop in for a snack and rest on their migratory route to further warming climes. The Blue-faced Honeyeaters stay around and nest. The mornings and evenings are filled with their calls.
blue faced honmeyeater_honey gem_named_home_july 2017

The Silvereyes flock through, some keep going but some hang around for a while eating and building their strength for the next part of their journey.
silvereye_honey gem_named_home_july 2017
The Figbirds are after the fruiting trees in the rainforest gullies. This Figbird seemed to have an interest in a Eucalypt nut.
figbird_snack_named_binna burra_july 2017

The Lewins Honeyeater found a tasty morsel in the bark of the tree.
lewins honeyeater_snack_named_binna burra_july 2017

It doesn’t look like it was that appealing does it?
lewins honeyeater_tongue_named_binna burra_july 2017

A White-throated Honeyeater, a bowl and a garden bench. There are a number of places where birds can get a drink in my garden.
white throated honeyeater_seat_named_home_july 2017

Going to my besties one day, I came across a flock of Brolgas in a farmers field beside the highway. This is only the second time I have seen Brolgas and to see around twenty was wonderful.
brolgas_named_ulmarra_july 2017

Some birds will do anything not to have their photo taken. The Eurasian Coot did a great dive.
eurasian coot_named_grafton_july 2017

Have you ever been so angry that you just had to shout at a tree?
yellow faced honeyeater_palm_named_home_july 2017

I hadn’t noticed the rich orange around the eye of a White-throated Tree Creeper before. Since the blog was published, Carol Probets who often lets me know what’s what informed me that this is a Red-browed Tree Creeper. See Carols blog at Lyreades
white throated tree creeper_named_raspberry lookout_july 2017

The Welcome Swallow was ignoring me as he sat on the old bridge watching the workings building the new one.
welcome swallow_named_grafton_july 2017

The Spotted Pardalote had a ritual of checking out the verandah every morning for snacks.
spotted paradalote_verandah_named_home_july 2017

The Grey Shrike-Thrush have set up home at my besties.
grey shrike thrush_named_binna burra july 2017

Adorable looking birds aren’t they?
grey shrike thrush_close_named_binna burra july 2017

The Grey Fantail was a bit puffed up in the cool afternoon breeze.
grey fantail_named_binna burra_july 2017

Another regular Winter visitor to my place are the Noisy Friarbirds. Their calls resound through the forest all day long. These two were having an in depth conversation.
friarbirds_named_home_july 2017

Every now and then a large flock of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos descend on the pine trees to feed and then take off to find a place to roost.
yellow tailed black cockatoo_named_binna burra_july 2017

The lovely little Rose Robins are occasional visitors. So cute as the bounce in the garden looking for snacks.
rose robin_named_home_july 2017

This is excitement number one. First time I have seen a Grey Goshawk. It was high in the trees at my besties place.
grey goshawk_named_binna burra_july 2017

Excitement number two. The first time I have seen a Fan-tailed Cuckoo. It was so happy to sit on a post and pose for a minute or two at my besties place.
fan tailed cuckoo_named_binna burra_july 2017

This was the sunset in some of the photos mentioned before. So it must be time to go.
sunset rip_named_binaa burra_july 2017

Thank you for stopping by. Drop me a note if you found something that interested you.

24 thoughts on “This is July

  1. Hi B.,
    I’m not sitting down with a tea or a coffee, actually I’m on a train taking a ride to Australia…….er……wait……home.
    I love this view. It’s always a special feeling to be on top of something….a tower or a mountain.
    I like this moth. It has just 2 colours on its wings, yet is so attractive. (Btw, I don’t see a reason why it shouldn’t be an insect?).
    What a beautiful flower a Gazania is! Are there variants in other colours, too?
    Aw, it must be wonderful to have so many birds around.
    Oh, I’m about to arrive…..this was a short ride thanks to an interesting blog! 😀
    Thank you! E.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. You’re welcome Evita. Yes it is lovely what just 2 colours can do. I think Gazanias have more colours but not a huge variety. Thank you for stopping by.

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      1. Thank you, B.!
        I think I have to goggle Gazanias to see whether they could grow at my place.
        There are so many other fascinating photos from July. For example that combination of green and red leaves.

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Since it is Summer here, I am drinking iced tea while enjoying your photos. I especially like the colorful leaf and electric fish. I hope you are feeling well very soon.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Lovely post, proving once again what a great eye you have for interesting details and the beauty in everyday things. By the way, moths are definitely insects! Oh, and the treecreeper with the orange around its eye is a Red-browed Treecreeper, which might explain why you’ve never seen that feature on a White-throated! Note also the bolder breast markings. Such cool birds.

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    1. Thank you Carol. So I had another bit of excitement that I didn’t know about. I love Treecreepers too. I have a White-throated that has taken to cruise around the verandah & trees near the house. Your input into my bird photos is very much appreciated 😀

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  4. HI BB
    excitement number one (Grey Goshawk) is my fav here – whew that is a fantastic photo – the foliage and vibe – contrasts of action and quiet
    and great post (and um… I am a little late – ha)

    Liked by 1 person

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