Oh my aren’t I tardy with the October wrap up? Lots of things have been happening – see some of the posts over the past week. I shan’t dwell on the most horrible situation I find myself in right now. I guess you have seen all about the fires in Australia, The north coast of NSW is where I live and the fires have been burning since early October.
I can’t really think straight as I haven’t slept well for a while now. Luckily and the end of October to early November my bestie and I had a brief holiday in Tasmania. I hadn’t been before so it was all new. Breathing air that wasn’t smoke laden was a blessing as was cool temperatures and even a bit of rain. That will be a post of its own later when I get around to it.
OK there isn’t all that many photos compared to previous “This is” posts but still grab a snack and a drink of your choice so you can stroll through my world in October.
I haven’t posted many photos of the Red-necked Wallabies that hang around my garden for a while. This little Joey has fun speeding around.
His Mum was keeping watch. Check out those lovely lashes.
I was out on a walk with my bestie and a friend when we came across some Eastern Grey Kangaroos resting in the shade. There was a female, a Joey and a male. When the male stood up we stopped and waited to see what they would do. Thankfully they group hopped over the fence in one bound and into the next paddock. When he stood up to his full height, he was about 2 meters tall. Look at those chest and arm muscles!!
I may be in drought but every evening the frogs start up, not as many as usual. I love these tiny Eastern Dwarf Tree Frogs. Here he is again in a previous post that has the call as well.
Meet Bob, one of the funniest fish I have ever seen. He would swim away and then appear from the side of the tank, look at you and swim away. The Seahorse World where he lives is at Beauty Point in Tasmania.
A regular sight around the north coast are Black-shouldered Kites hovering over a field waiting for snack to make a move then drop like a stone.
Here is one some of the European readers will know. The European Goldfinch was introduced into SE Australia and Tasmania in the 1850’s.
A Forest Kingfisher waits patiently on the power lines in the late afternoon for his meal to move in the paddock below.
The little hanging pot bird bath is too small for the King Parrot but its good for drinking. The Hippeastrums will come later.
One very unseasonably hot day, the temperature reached 38C IN SPRING!!! Here is a young King Parrot and a Spangled Drongo discussing the day, “hot enough for ya”
Down at the waterhole on 3rd after a good fall of rain. Lovely to see a bit of water. The last rain since.
Going up into the mountains for a bit of a walk and see new places. The players of the mountains from my favourite spot, the Raspberry Lookout.
Another place near Washpool, (which is now on fire) The smoke is from the fires to the north in early October.
I love finding a leaf that has been skeletised (OK I made up that word according to spellcheck)
The new Spring flush of leaves on a Eucalypt.
The Casuarina and the blue of the distant hills. My bestie reckons it is like a Japanese print.
One of the new crops on the north coast is dryland rice.
Back at the waterhole on my place. The ferns in shelter spots are growing well. This is called a Five Fingered Jack or a Rough Maidenhair Fern.
While in the Gibraltar Ranges in Spring I was hoping to find some native flowers. Here is a Blue Dampiera.
Tiny False Lilac flowers
A Hairy Bush Pea with a Native Stingless Bee
Don’t the little Small Leaved Boronia look ever so sweet.
There were lots of White Paper Daisies along the road sides.
The flowers of a Flapjack Succulent
The first time this plant from my old mate Geoffs place has flowered and I can’t remember what it is
My besties Foxgloves flowered well this year
The start of my Hippeastrums
More have started to bud up
Once the flowers arrive, so do the Native Stingless Bees
Look at the amount of pollen in the flowers. The Native Stingless Bees get coated in pollen
An olden Hibiscus at my besties attracts a bee or is it a wasp?
Casting a fine web, this spider waits underneath for lunch to drop in.
OK all is done. I had to include a photo of our Sun late in the afternoon on a fire day. A mixture of clouds and smoke.
I hope you enjoyed a stroll through my October. Did you have a favourite photo? I love to hear what you think so please drop me a line. I guess I need conversation
also for Su’s Changing Seasons
Awesome post 👏👏👏, Brian 😁 Big fan of Bob!
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Thank you Jez 🙂 I’ll add you to Bob’s fan club 😀 😀
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So many lovely pics but I especially love the “skeletised” leaf (and word too!).
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Thank you Dawn 🙂 A good find wasn’t it
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Yes, good find! I love how photography makes one more aware of one’s surroundings.
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That roo is a big bugger. I can’t pick a favourite photo. Love them all, but the rice photo is very arty.
Stay safe tomorrow.
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Thanks Tracy 🙂 I thought the same when I looked at the result of the rice photo. Yes when he stood up and was bigger than me I was almost frozen. My place is in the predicted map but I hope it doesn’t come this far. I am ready to go if I havce to.
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I’m so sorry. That is awful.
Embers can start new fire fronts and in those conditions ignite very quickly. But you already know that. If Sydney goes, they will probably pull fire-bombing resources to those more densely populated areas. But that’s just my opinion.
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Oh yes, I am on my own for sure. I shall start on ember watch and go if the fire come near
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Bob caught my eye as well. Both of them, actually. Stay safe.
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It is good to see another Bob fan Chris 🙂 I shall be OK thanks
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Some lovely photos here Brian, my favourite is the last one despite the reason for it. Make sure you get out of there PDQ if you have to!!
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Thank you Jude 🙂 I will make sure I have my running pants on 😀 😀
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I can’t choose a favourite Brian; these are all lovely photos. It’s so nice to see new growth, but scary to know how close the fires are.
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Thank you Su 🙂 Despite the drought and very dry conditions, it is amazing what still wants to grow
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A wonderful and diverse collection, Brian. The bushfires and drought are so disheartening, but it’s uplifting to see the things that are still hanging in there. I’m plodding away on a summary post about my garden and its inhabitants and you’ve encouraged me with your post to finish it as something positive during these trying times, so thank you. I do hope you and your property remain safe and your lungs are coping! x
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Thank you Jane 🙂 I am doing OK
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Lots of aww’s here and beauty that follows.
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Thank you Susan 🙂
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