March 6, 2020 – bushboys world

February, a month of rain thankfully. The bush is coming back to life, the grass is growing and my garden is almost back. I will have to do a lot of pruning of the bushes and small trees where some limbs haven’t recovered from the drought.

A few minor muscle strains and sprains prevented my for doing as much as I wanted to do. This resulted in wandering around the garden chasing butterflies, walking around the place not going too far into the bush taking photos. Oh yes I did do a hard cull but still I have managed to have lots and lots of photos for February.

So settle back with you appropriate drink for your time of viewing, perhaps a snack or two is advisable and let’s get going to explore bushboys world.

As there has been moisture many mornings have had a fog or light mist. The Grass Trees on the distant hill, flower spikes at the ready in the foreground, emerging from the mist.

A tree on the hill is usually the first to be seen.
The wet weather did induce a bit of cabin fever so we had to get out every now and then exploring the region. I love this old farm house. Though I should get a photo before it falls down or is demolished.
Meanwhile on the farm next door to my besties, the big white bull showing a bit of affection to one of the cows. He spent a bit of time licking her head and neck.
On the wall a tiny young skink patrolled in case something was available to snack on.
Undeterred, these two ants fought on
One morning I was in the kitchen when I noticed a tiny insect walking about with the most enormous wings for an insect of this size.
Satin Bowerbirds like blue things to decorate their bower where they dance in the hope of attracting a female bowerbird. I hope he isn’t trying to steal my bucket.
While I was walking around, a female Satin Flycatcher kept and eye on me
Superb Fairy Wrens are stunning little birds
and Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos are stunning big birds
We went to Lismore Lake to see if many birds were around. The Swifts were in huge numbers swooping about and getting ready to roost in a tree. I have never seen so many Swifts.
A Black Kite was patrolling the skies
Meanwhile a bit of an excursion to the beach wasn’t the most welcoming by a Silver Gull
A Masked Lapwing Plover had a bit of a stretch on the tidal flats.
I love Sand Crabs and the artistry. I think this looks like a stingray.
The combination of wet and warm weather has bought out a variety of fungi. Tiny brown fungi with frilly caps
White fungi with frilly caps
Yellow fungi with frilly caps
The hint of a lot of water going to be about is when the ants build up the entrance to the nest

“Hello…….is anyone home”

The Ponytail Palm flowers have the bees all a buzz and little beetles also like to get among the flowers
The Cassia flowers attracted all sorts of bees
In the dying moments of floral decay the Carpenter Bees still came looking for the last drops of nectar and pollen
The little Stngless native Bees found the Crepe Myrtle flowers irresistible
The bush had many buds ready to burst forth.
The ants also visited the floral display
Water drops and roses. I did resist posting lots more

The Pennisetum Purple Fountain Grass flowered adding colour to the garden.

The Hibiscus flowering in February was magnificent. Not seen here for quite a few years.
The miniature red Hibiscus looked wonderful adding bright spots of red in the garden.
This Hibiscus has never looked so good. The colours are amazing.

A wax leaf Begonia flowered all the time

The Cats Whiskers in my garden came back to life. I thought they had died during the drought as I didn’t have enough water for all of the garden. The few waterings did keep them going though.
The Cats Whiskers at my besties are much better.
A red Eucalypt with the flowers and buds
The Bauhinia with a lots of flowers is a treat to look upon from the sunroom.
So many tiny native flowers have emerged. This little Blue Trumpet appeared from the ashes
The native Dianellas flowers are a splash of purple and yellow in the garden. Also known as a Flax-lily

Another native flower I haven’t seen before also came out of the ashes.

The Pandorea vine struggled to flower after the drought.
Ever so small and delicate about 10mm across this native flower seemed to be everywhere in February.
The was a butterfly explosion everywhere once the rain came. All around the garden in February (and is still happening) hosts of yellow butterflies have been around the garden. They are all around the Cassia bush. One day I counted around fifty butterflies and that was just in the front garden. I think they are Lemon Migrants. This is definitely a Yellow Migrant of the Pentas flower.
The butterflies love the Pentas flowers. Orchard Swallowtails drop in every now and then.
Another little native flower that has appeared in the garden. I didn’t notice the Crab Spider until I was getting the photos ready for this post. The flower is about 15 to 20mm so how tiny is the spider!
A Water Strider making his way across the dam.
While the Dragnflies hovered about, some resting on branches on the edge of the dam
or finding small twigs to rest
I don’t know who or what was in the dam. I just saw the ripples and bubbles. It could have been a Long-necked Tortoise.
On the house dam, a float holds the foot valve for the pump out of the muddy bottom of the dam
More reflections. This time the boats in the marina at Evans Head
Water drops on the leaf. One of my favourite subjects to capture.
It’s getting late. The afternoon clouds are building so a storm looked in the offing
The moon made a dramatic entrance when full one evening