The Photo a Week Challenge: Open
Lesser Wanderer Butterfly
Frangipanni in my garden
Beautiful Blue Triangle Butterfly
Square-tailed Kite soaring over my place
Where is my dinner!!!!
You make me laugh
It’s open
Tag: Australian animals
Come to Durranbah for a minute or two
Lens-Artist Challenge #135: Glimpse Into Your World
This will be a few images of my world, not much to say. I guess I should thank everyone for pushing me to do a post. The choices of photos is too large to contemplate so how about I just do a small selection of photos from around my place.
It is a beautiful world
The sealed section for those who dislike the “scary” nature I have here is following
Look away now
Yes you….do it or don’t tell me I didn’t warn you but you really can look at spiders and snakes and ants. I promise they won’t leap from the screen. Anyway they are in small size to make your viewing more comfortable.
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This is December 2020
Another month of not much but doing a fair bit. Lots of flowers at the moment. I am still debating whether to split some off and into a separate post.. Oh well I make up my mind as I go on. My six months of not driving is up on the 4th January but have to wait until I see the neurologist in early February. I might pester my GP.
I do recommend getting a snack and perhaps a drink, I have one while I am writing . At the moment a wonderful long black espresso and a lovely chocolate my daughter gave me for Christmas.
It has been raining in December, only three days it didn’t rain!!! Over 390mls for the month. Dams, tanks are full, gullies rushing and the sounds of frogs at night is so wonderful. Much better than the sounds of the Cicadas during the day. Some days I have to come inside as they are so loud.
Early morning – barbed wire and a spiders web
I thought I would kick with things off with being surprised. A Goanna was walking through my garden, with a small Cicada snack, took off when he saw me walking towards him. Didn’t drop his lunch.
I was walking about the place when suddenly this fellow popped up from his nest in the grass. I thought he would stay there but hopped off.
The most surprising was seeing a Fox appear on the mulch pile at my besties late one afternoon. He didn’t stay for long
I was surprised to find the commencement of a Jumping Ants nest in front of my potting shed. In case you ever wondered about Durranbah, a word I use a bit as it is the name of my property, these are Durranbah, aboriginal for small jumping ant. They bite and you know you have been bitten I can tell you. When I first moved here, there were quite a number of nests of durranbah. I discourage the nest by just pushing soil in and pushing down on the entrance hole. After around a week they had moved on.
While walking in the bush, this insect was affronted that I would walk so close to his tree and take photos of bark. The tree is a Red Ironbark tree. The bark is very rough. The black is from the fire but the bark is black as well. You can see the new bark pushing out. The new bark will be reddish and darken with age.
There are so many dragonflies. This one followed me over the paddock. They love sitting on grass stalks.
One of the noise makers heading up the tree after busting out of it’s shell
Sometimes trees just stand out from the crowd. I have never seen a Spotted Gum look that colour of green.
Other trees resort to a distinctive orange under the bark layer. I think it is a box tree judging by the strips of bark that is left hanging.
I posted a tangle of Flame Tree flower buds and stalks on last Wordless Wednesday. This is a Flame Tree that is just getting all the flowers.
The Frangipanni are loving the rain and hot waether
Strawberries are growing quite well in my besties wheelbarrow garden. Lovely tiny flowers.
There were a few pink flowers as well.
With the rain the Crocus made their appearance around the garden. I spent time taking photos of their location as I could never remember where they are. Looks like I have been photobombed by a Stingless Native Bee
I was thinking of putting the Hibiscus flowers in another post but here are some anyway. I don’t know their names sorry. Pink Frilly sounds good
This is a miniature Red Hibiscus. Yes I took it at this angle for the “face”
I love the colours of this Day Lily. Another plant from the bloke who used to live down the road.
A Bauhinia flower up close with rain drops. You may wonder that I didn’t go crazy with water drop photos with all the rain I have had.
I love this sad looking Hippeastrum seed head and decaying flowers (especially for Sue)
More Frangipanni and rain drops
My Jacarandas flowered well after all the others in town. I like the purple flowers against a grey sky
or do you like a blue sky?
One of the best things that happened in December was finding a Purple Fringe Lily on my place. I have only ever seen them on the coast in and around sand dunes. Other “firsts” at my place in December have been Whipbirds – I have an audio but no photos of this secretive bird. A Dainty Swallowtail Butterfly flitted around the garden for a few days. No good clear photos as it never settled. A Neon Cuckoo Bee flew around me for a short while. I didn’t have my camera.
I love seeing a pop of colour among the Dianella leaves of the tiny berries
The Tuckaroo trees have so much fruit this year. I have never seen so much fruit on the trees. They are quite small but must be tasty as lots of birds like them
A young male Figbird picking just the right fruit
Peaceful Doves have made the garden their home
The Wonga Pigeon has come back for a short while. Being a bit skittish, he takes off before I see him usually. I’ll have to look carefully tomorrow. I love having a Wonga around.
Even hops up into the verandah just in case there may be a snack up here.
The first sighting of a Dollar Bird at my besties for the season.
The Sacred Kingfishers have a nest near the dam. I love seeing the flashes of blue as they zoom through the garden or dip into the dam’s water
The Square-tailed Kites returned to their nest in the tree across the road.
Lots of water for the year ahead
It’s wonderful to see the dam over flow.
At the bottom dam that is a failure, but gives me a road to the rest of my property, looks like a monster lurks within
Sunset from my house. It is so rare I get to see sunsets in the sky above. Mostly the sunset is through the trees.
and then it changed to this!!!
OK, Sun’s down and Moon is up. One night there was a rainbow around Our Moon
When the Moon is like this, it is getting ready to spill. The Full Moon was a few nights ago, so now it will be emptying. Predictions of rain by scientists too
Also for Su’s The Changing Seasons
and Cee’s FOTD
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This is April 2020
I guess you have been wondering where April went. So did I. I have been sorting and culling but still you will be quite weary by the time you get to the end. I suggest stretching, having a walk around, grabbing a drink and a snack and settle in for a long post.
I guess now everyone is awake, I should start with a sunrise at my besties
Most mornings, the Straw-necked Ibis leave their roost and head off to their feeding ground
Some Ibis like to investigate the paddocks on the farm next door
Every morning after a bit of rain the day before or overnight I always check the rain gauge. At my besties place I usually have to work out how many frogs it rained overnight
Her place has at the moment had a fantastic hatching of Green Tree Frogs. They are everywhere so we have to check before we move, pick up or do anything in the garden or on the verandahs. Even sitting down to have a cuppa you have to check the cushions lest you sit on a frog or two.
A Blue-faced Honeyeater was investigating the trees for insects.
On a walk, a Golden-headed Cisticola was singing it’s little heart out.
Back at my place, the Golden Whistlers calls were echoing in the bush. This female was quite attentive while hunting in the garden.
More signs of life returning to the burnt bush. There are reddish dots throughout the bush of new growth of some plants.
A new flower has emerged. I still haven’t identified the species as yet. The flower is about 10mm in size.
Another new unidentified flower. Again quite small. 
The Snake Beans at my besties have been quite prolific in April. The flower is quite lovely as well.
One of the Grevillea flowers at my place. 
This is a Leafy Purple Flag Wild Iris flower These can be between 25 and 50mm. The Hover Flies found the flowers about the same time I did.
A Teddy Bear Bee had scrunched into the Blue Ginger flower while a Stingless Native Bee waited its turn.
Here is a Teddy Bear Bee getting a bit of nectar from a Pentas flower.
The Blue-banded Bees love the blue Salvia flowers
OK I’m done as the Teddy Bear Bee flies off.
There has been quite a lot of Yellow Meadow Butterflies who seemed to take up the proliferation from the Lemon Migrants who were the copious butterfly of March.
I think this is a Leafwing Butterfly
The Line-blue Butterflies were quite occupied in early April
It’s always lovely to find a Blue Tiger Butterfly when out walking.
I was surprised to find a Blue Triangle Butterfly in my besties Zinnia patch
A Common Crow also found the Zinnias. The Feature Photo is the pupa of a Common Crow Butterfly
As did a Scarlet Jezebel
A Painted Lady Butterfly enjoyed a stop off at my Pentas flowers 
Of course the bees found the Zinnia flowers too
“Last time I let you read the Karma Sutra!”
Dragonflies were buzzing around the dams looking for that special someone
I seemed to have quite a number of Lady Beetles around the place in April.
Walking through the bush suddenly a flurry of white dots took off from the grass. These tiny moths were quite unusual.
Other Dragonflies enjoyed the sun.
OK it’s Spider time. These are small and quite harmless
Here is the Jewel Spiders again. I think this was a Monday Macro
On the dam there was an explosion of Water Beetles. Hundreds were in a large group.
I am sure the Black-necked Stork would have scooped up lots in one gulp. This one was on a wetland close to town. There were quite a number of birds but the water was a bit away from the road so getting photos was difficult.
A White-faced Heron was also stalking the shallows.
Up the road from my place, some White-bellied Sea Eagles have set up a nest and have hatched one Eaglet.
It must be starting to get cold in the mountains as a couple of Pied Currawongs have arrived at my place. The Currawongs come down from the mountains every Winter.
A Splendid Fairy Wren was chatting away in the bushes when we were out walking.
A Lewins Honeyeater was deciding whether to jump in the bird bath or just look pretty among the flowers.
Tiny the King Parrot came to the door wanting to know if today was the day I would pop a bit of seed out for him and his partner
The Joey was getting an idea of having breakfast with his Mum
He is getting bigger and zooms around the garden
In the afternoon the sun makes a fern in a hanging pot plant quite luminous. I had to get in among the leaves.
Well it’s time for the Straw-necked Ibis to head back to the roost as the sun sets
Our Moon looked a treat in April don’t you think?
Thanks for stopping by and enduring another marathon post. I hope you enjoyed exploring bushboys world. Let me know if you had a favourite photo.
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Silent Sunday 17 November
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Security
This is January 2019
January. A month of hardly any rain, only 6mm over 2 days at my place, whereas the average is around 120mm and it rains most days. It was also freakingly hot. Days in succession of over 38C to a top of 42C here. There were some magic moments, a bit of travelling and the return of the butterflies. I spent a lot of my time watering my garden and plants in shade house. The dam became low so I was thinking of water rations to the plants. I became the bad parent having to decide which plants would get water and those who I hoped would survive.
Among all of this I did manage to get out and about and take quite a number of photos. Looking through the folders, I decided that I would have to do special posts that encompassed some of my days out and about, as I have a lot of things I want to show you this month. It has taken me a long time to decide on what I want to put into this post.
Yep……it’s another huge lot of photos. So once again, get a cup of tea or coffee (I have a coffee while writing this) perhaps a snack (I have already eaten my biscuits). For those reading in the evening, a glass of wine will help sustain while scrolling through this mammoth month. I shall try to keep the captions short.
Ready. All sitting comfy. Lets go
I best start off with a bit of morning and sunrise through the trees. I don’t get to see the full splendor of sunrise living in the bush or in a forest for those non-Australians
I liked this morning photo as it has a sliver of our Moon. Can you see it?
This is what our Moon looked like up close
Seeing a full moon in the morning was fabulous. A great start to the day.
While visiting my daughter in Toowoomba, we spent time walking about the streets looking at street art (a post of those wonderful art works to come) and strolling though the many gardens and parks.
I was glad to see that Yarn Bombing was still happening and Council was leaving them in place.
I just had to get a photo of this carrot that was on top of the vege display at the local Farmers Market
The distant hills have sentinel like Grass Trees over looking the valley. Grass Trees grow at around 25mm (1 inch) a year. Some of these are probably 2+ meters tall so ancient wonders on the other side of the valley from my besties place.
Now for the flowers.
The many colours and shapes of (I think) a Gazania
Despite the heat, a red Frangipanni buds and flowers appeared.
The photo doesn’t capture the wonderful red colour.
The flower of a Eucalypt, not sure which one, with a bee. There was lots of bees around in January too.
Just a wonderful flower.
Bougainvilleas flowered well in the heat and dry.
I have many photos of Native Frangipannis but have never seen a seed pod before
The Dahlias in my daughters garden
I saw a flower and while I was looking, some kids came along and said “Look brain flowers”. Yep Brain Flowers or Cockscomb or a Celosia flower.
Also came in red.
More bees and flowers
This one was getting stuck into the pollen at my besties
A Wattle Line-blue Butterfly enjoying a Brain flower. Did you spot the butterfly earlier?
An Orange Ochre stopped to enjoy the afternoon sun
A Cabbage White Butterfly flitted about the garden
and stopped to have a snack
The Dragonflies are all flying around the garden and over the dam. These two stopped for some “relaxation” on a branch on the ground.
Should I have told my visitors that Dragonflies are having sex on their car aerial?
A golden moment with a smiling Dragonfly
The Lesser Wanderers came to feed on the flowers that popped up in the grass.
Wings open to get a bit of sun before take-off.
The Meadow Argus Butterfly seemed to stop anywhere. You can see how dry it has been. The grasses are dead.
With wings open it helps to know what butterfly I have photographed
On the flowers, the Meadow Argus looks lovely.
Another photo of the flowers and butterfly
A Native Australian Bee, a Carpenter Bee flying among the Ponytail Palm flowers with some beetles and ants. Carpenter Bees quite often make their nest in Grass Trees.
Among the dried grasses, the Dandelions still had time to flower (see This is December 2018) and set seed
The branches of a Bunya Pine – Art Direction, my daughter, Photo, me
High in the trees at my besties, late one afternoon, a flock of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos came to roost for the night. Not the best photo as the light was failing and the birds kept moving.
The raucous sounds of the Sulpher-crested Cockatoos sounded all over the park as we strolled about. 
As the weather was hot and dry, the bird bath had to be topped up regularly. The Lewins Honeyeater made enough noise to let us know that there wasn’t much water in the bird bath.
Once the bird bath was filled, the Noisy Miners queued up to get a drink and a bath.
The Silvereyes stopped by to get into the water while a Striated Thornbill waited his turn.
I was spied by an Eastern Rosella who dropped by for a drink
Getting a drink helped show the lovely back feathers pattern.
The Superb Fairy Wrens make a lovely couple.
“Hey babe, check this fancy bit of flying”
“Get out of the way, you’re in my shot”
Do you mind, I’m trying to take a bath here
The King Parrot having a look at what I am doing in my office
Just strolling through the park. Move along, there’s nothing to see here!
The Tortoises sunning on a rock while another is swimming over.
What a face
It has been so hot that I have left nearly all of the windows and doors open. That seemed to be an invitation for a Lesser Long-eared Micro-bat to take up residence in my pantry.
This is one of the reasons I keep some doors closed at night. Brush-tailed Possums like to range about the garden at night. Given half a chance they will wander inside creating chaos.
The Koalas have been active as it’s mating season. I have heard their loud calls at my place. At my besties place we can see this male who has taken up residence occasionally in the trees. Usually asleep, around 18 hours a day, the big feller was not very happy at me walking around taking photos even if he was about 10 meters above me.
Well it’s almost time to say goodbye. A wave from one of the many Geckos who live behind the pictures on the walls.
The sun is setting. Aren’t the colours just wonderful?
The oranges made for a spectacular sunset
I was quite pleased to get a photo of our Moon with the coloured rings. It is a hand held photo. Most time I would use a tripod but didn’t have one handy.
Well it looks like it is getting late so goodnight.
Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have enjoyed a scroll through bushboys world for January 2019. Did you have a favourite photo?
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In the Gum Tree
The photo challenge from Maria at CitySonnet for January’s colours and letters: Starts with the letter K
High up in
the Gum Tree
I saw
a hand
gripping tight
then a bit more
as he
shuffled about
in the fork
of the Gum Tree.
Koala was awake
in the Gum Tree
Looking around
watching
wondering
what had woken
him from his
sleep.
Oh dear
he thought.
It’s just that bloke
the one with
a camera
Nothing to be
alarmed about.
Now bugger off
I need my sleep
These photos were taken in my besties front yard bush garden. The previous owner planted some trees that Koalas can feed and sleep in. Koalas sleep a lot of the time and are nocturnal generally. When he is in the trees, he can be heard calling, a sound you can never forget.
Here is sound a cute Koala makes
https://wildambience.com/wildlife-sounds/koala/
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Animals in Nature
The weekly word prompt: Animals in Nature
I thought I would show a bit about the Animals in Nature that are around my place. I have snakes that I occasionally see. Most are quick to disappear as I come along.
The Green Tree Snake is a small harmless snake with beautiful colours.
I caught this Carpet Snake or Python in my chook house and had to take him for a walk up the road. Another harmless snake who will give you a good squeeze though.
A Long-necked Tortoise sunning on a rock that looks like a tortoise.
Goannas are quick to run up the nearest thing they find so never pretend to be a tree. Another animal that likes to eat my chooks eggs. When I can I catch them and take them for a drive as once they know where easy eating is, they will keep coming back.
Perhaps I should finish on a bit of warm and cuddly. Rarely are Koalas on my place or actually more the fact that I don’t see them. My place is on the travelling corridor they use to move about so they pass through.
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Serene
The Daily Post word prompt: Serene
From the back verandah, gazing across the garden……..serene
bushboys world 