bushboy

March seemed to whizz by but not before dumping a lot of rain on the East Coast of Australia. I have well over 300mls at my place, the gullies were rushing, the water tanks and dams filled to overflowing. Probably the best part of March I was given the all clear to drive again. What a difference that has made to my life. Independence to get about and even do simple things like shopping.

With all the rain and occasional sunshine the grass and vegetation in the bush has grown. The grass is so thick it is almost waist high and impenetrable. I have been waiting for things to dry out a bit so I can use my new lawnmower and other tools. Yes I did have to buy a new mower as the old one died and a second hand replacement was not very good. The new lawnmower, and I use the term lawn loosely, had one session around the house but in a week it’s hard to see where I mowed.

Enough of this lets get going. Another rather large post with lots of photos. I haven’t included more as there has been some used in my addiction – photo challenges. So get a cup or glass of your favourite drink, perhaps a snack and I hope you can spend a bit of time having a look at my March.

Your March song to scroll to while picking a favourite.

I am starting at the beach. During a Regional Landcare Gathering we went to Arrawarra Beach where one of the First Nation Elders showed the fish traps which have been there for thousands of years and modified over time to take advantage of changing tides. I found a few things including this wonderfully coloured rock. We’ll come back to the beach a bit later.

When nature reclaims. A building in Grafton, my nearest town has this tree and along the facade ferns are growing as well.

The flowers have almost finished leaving the nuts behind ready to drop seeds on this Eucalypt tree at my besties.

The flowers were quite stunning all over the tree at my besties place for the birds and insects to feast upon. Now the seed eaters will have a go at the nuts.

A delicate pea type flower of the Lance-leaved Rattlepod. Can you spot the tiny native bee?

My besties garden is fabulous. I love this Hibiscus.

Not to be out done, the Golden Lycras in my garden were a treat this year.

OK, now back to the beach for a look at the stunning red fern like seaweed which could be an algae.

The water patterns and sand caught my eye.

While heading over the rocks with a group of people, we startled a flock of Ruddy Turnstones who flew off in a second and I only had one chance for a quick photo.

Somehow I don’t think the Pied Cormorant and Sooty Oystercatcher are talking.

The White-faced Heron ignored them both and was intent on hunting among the rocks.

Back at the bird bath a Grey Fantail showed why he is called a fantail

The little Striated Thornbills really enjoyed their bath

Two female Superb Fairy Wrens waited their turn for the bird bath in the morning sun.

A female Rufous Whistler spent some time in my garden looking for insects.

A new bird in my garden!! A Fantailed Cuckoo stopped in for a visit.

An Eastern Rosella enjoys the morning sun.

I wondered why a dead tree was loosing the branches. Then I found out. An Australian Raven was building a nest. It’s hard to see the branch in its beak. The flying off photo was just a glimpse of tail unfortunately.

High above, most days, Wedged-tailed Eagles patrol the skies.

Can you count the Straw-necked Ibis in the tree?

It was a wet day and Tiny, the King Parrot, came to see if I had any seeds for him.

Water drops on the Elephant Ears leaf.

More water drops. This time on a spiders web that really looked like diamonds sparkling in the grass.

One day I’ll work out how to capture the beating wings of a Blue-banded Bee as he seeks nectar among the Salvia flowers. I think this Salvia is called Summer Jewel. It flowers non stop from Spring to Autumn and spreads into empty spaces easily. The bees love it.

An unfortunately named Dingy Ring Butterfly among the grass seeds.

A small Line Blue Butterfly and a Stingless Native Bee competing for a snack on the Leopard Lily flower. The Leopard Lily flowers were spectacular this year.

A Meadow Argus Butterfly found the Zinnias in my besties garden.

The number and variety of butterflies in my garden was amazing in March. The Black Jezebels are so beautiful. The inside of their wings is white so when they fly it is like a strobe in order to fool any predators. I love their furry yellow bodies.

Another Jezebel butterfly, this one, a Scarlet Jezebel loved the Bottlebrush flowers.

The Yellow-tufted Honeyeaters also loved the Bottlebrush flowers.

The Honey Gem Grevillea didn’t escape their attention either.

I had to show the whole bird as they are quite stunning.

A Yellow-faced Honeyeater paused from consuming nectar to contemplate whether to chase a Small Green-banded Blue Butterfly for dessert……

….instead had some nourishment from a Yellow Daisy

This Autumn saw a mouse plague in Australia. The grain growing areas had literally thousands of mice everywhere. I didn’t have many but caught a couple nearly every night for a few weeks. One morning I went into the bathroom and here was this little fellow in the bath. Judging by the mess he made, he’d been there since the evening before. I had to take a photo to make sure I identified him correctly. I have Native Mice here so didn’t want to “dispose of” an endangered native mouse called Antechinus.

One day coming home from my besties place I saw the tallest mushroom ever. It stood almost 30cm tall and was a resplendent white.

Meanwhile in other parts of the garden among the mulch pile a brown fungi proliferated. This was one of many groups of fungi on the various piles.

I just had to have a sneak peek under the cap to see the frills.

Well that’s almost all for March. One evening the sunset was such colours I hadn’t seen before. As I don’t actually see Sunrise or Sunsets from my place, this photo is looking towards the South-West of the painted clouds.

One afternoon the sun was looking quite promising. At my besties place there is a spot we call Sunset Hill, a great place to see the sunsets. I went out and took a few photos. One ended up in Becky’s Bright Squares

A while later I was inside when I was called to see the sunset. I thought I had seen it over with but no, it had turned into this sunset. Isn’t that amazing?