Category: nature

January. It’s been a month since the fire devastated my property. I don’t have any pictures or burnt and blacked trees. I think I have shown enough of those. A lot of my photos I have posted especially as this month was Becky’s Square Photo Challenge (here’s a peek at some of the wonderful contributions to ____light) There has been a bit here and there but let’s get onto what I have found in January 2020. This isn’t one of those go on forever posts so maybe settle back and scroll on……

It did rain early in the month which was a blessing for the recovery of my place. This is a post on a bit of new growth and life returning.

The rain produced a bit of wonder. The Spotted Gum Trees just became a canvas of colour

Lichens started to sprout
and these are the first flowers I saw, tough little native flowers

In the garden Summer flowers appeared in my drought ravaged garden. A Wax Begonias delicate flowers with a bonus ant

The Pentas has a some flowers
The miniature Gardenia was covered in flowers for over a week. The white flowers are the new ones and they turn yellow as they age. Their scent wafting into the house on a hot night was delightful.
I didn’t think my Cassia was going to flower as the others I saw around the towns flowered in early January, like mine should have. Then toward the end of the month the tree was full of blooms and bees
The Dietis sent out a few flowers
This Bromiliad has the most amazing flower
On my walkabout looking to see what I need to do and see the hope of regrowth and discover if some of my favourite spots were OK. While I was walking a family of  White-winged Choughs came walking along looking for insects under the leaves, logs and rocks. Choughs are forest floor dwellers.  I was pleased to see this large family as I hope they survived. There was about eight birds.
Across the road, the Square-tailed Kites are sitting on the nest again.
A very rare sighting of a Koel. This is a male. Last month I saw a female, the first time I have even seen Koels. Quite secretive birds
The Olive-backed Oriels were still around the garden at the start of the month
It was lovely to hear the Rufous Whistler in the garden in the mornings
The Sacred Kingfisher found a place in the sun to dry off after a bath.
On my way to my besties, sometimes I stop at a man made wetland near a sewerage treatment works to see if there is any birds about. I startled a Golden-headed Cisticola in the long grass on the side of the road.
The Hardhead Duck was relaxing on the water
Back at home, a Grey Fantail has taken over the garden
Another occasional visitor to my place, a Spectacled Monarch, dropped in for a couple of days.

I heard the buzzing of Bees in the Cassia and also came across a Bee Fly

The Hornets have been buzzing around the garden. They are big but quite respectful of space. If I tell them to get out of the house, often they will just fly out the way they came in.

I was looking in the Bush Lemon Tree and came a cross a Shield Bug

I love the Teddy Bear Bees as they buzz around the garden
The Teddy Bear Bee flew up to this Night Spider, gave it a nudge a couple of times then flew off. I was going to pull down the web so that bees didn’t become entangled when I spied the spider was still eating breakfast
Also among the Bush Lemon Tree was a Orchard Butterfly
I had some help finishing a wall on my shed. Here is the wall being modified for the doorway.
When I was putting mulch on the garden after the rain, I pulled out a bale of mulch and disturbed a White-crowned Snake. They are a small harmless snake about 30cm long and thin

The Red-necked Wallabies are still eating my Grevilleas even though I am putting out food for them. I do like the way they use their front legs to pull the branches down to get at the leaves.
Sometimes a bit of a brawl takes place but only for a few seconds and then it’s back to normal.
You don’t want to get too close or involved with Red-necked Wallabies. They may look cute but look at their claws on their legs. The ones on their toes are quite big. When fighting, they balance on their tail and kick with their legs. Those toes can open you up like a watermelon
Well the sun is setting. So it’s almost time to say goodnight.
I do love it when our Moon is out during the day.
I almost forgot, the other night, the Moon Flower bloomed and I was lucky enough to be there when it did. My bestie is good at holding the torch

Well there goes January. I hope you enjoyed a look back at My January 2020

Also for Su’s Changing Seasons