blue faced honeyeater – bushboys world

Birds Around My Neighbourhood

Published on March 10, 2019 by bushboy29 Comments

Two photo challenges caught my eye today.

Come for a quick walk around my neighbourhood. There is my dead end gravel road which is about three kilometers long which has an intersection with another gravel road which is paved about sixteen kilometers from my place. It goes from the highway to a long way away, perhaps fifty kilometers.

Lets get going.

The Noisy Friarbird will often let others know we are about

Listen for a chip chip and look at the tree trunks to see a White-throated Treecreeper scouring the bark for an insect or two

The lovely face of a Blue-faced Honeyeater

You might hear the wings of the Eastern Spinebill before you see one zoom past

The Pied Butcherbirds song will fill the forest as we walk along

We may see a Jackie Winter sitting on a fence

Lovely little Eastern Yellow Robins will be chip chip chipping seemingly endlessly

Of course the familiar sounds of Kookaburras will resound around the bush

Small Brown Honeyeaters will be silently having a snack on a Bottlebrush

A flash of colour and a Spotted Pardelote will fly by

A Forest Kingfisher, a sudden flash like a blue jewel, as he flies through the bush

The unmistakable squawking of Rainbow Lorikeets as they argue about whose branch it is will get your attention

The beautiful song of a Rufous Whistler will kep you spell bound for ages

A whistle, a flash of red, the smallest honeyeater is unmistakable in the bush

High in the tree, the resident Square-tailed Kite will keep an eye on you

While overhead it’s mate will soar
Up the road a bit, some Crimson Rosellas have a snack on the horses feed

What’s that chatter chatter chatter? I hear you say. The Grey-crowned Babblers walk about the forest floor snacking on unsuspecting insects talking about their day

More jewels in the sky as the Rainbow Bee-eaters gather

Another remarkable song and bright yellow of the Golden Whistler will make you stop and listen

Musk Lorikeets can be seen as they feast on the nectar of Pink Euodias

The largest bird of prey, a Wedged-tailed Eagle on the lookout for an unsuspecting wallaby or animal, will sit silent until we get to close

A bit more whistling heralds that we are near some King Parrots

A strange metallic sound draws our attention to the iridescent and distinctive tail shape of the wonderfully named Spangled Drongo

A Satin Bowerbird who is similarly coloured to a Drongo will be in the bush sometimes finding food

or finding sticks or blue stuff to decorate and construct his Bower

Thanks for dropping by and having a bit of a walk around my neighbourhood. I hope you had a good time.

Nature

Published on February 17, 2019February 21, 2019 by bushboy34 Comments

The Lens-artists word prompt: Nature

A bit of nature at my place.

Upside down

Published on January 29, 2019February 20, 2019 by bushboy22 Comments

V.J’s Weekly Challenge: Upside down

Sometimes the world looks better upside down
little wattlebird_looking_named_binna burra_march 2018

or the flower goes upside down when you sit on the branch
blue faced honeyeater_home_crop_sept 2013

or when your lunch is easier to eat that way
170823_blog challenge_small subjects_scarlet honeyeater 10

A bit of blue

Published on January 21, 2019February 21, 2019 by bushboy11 Comments

The word prompt from Debbie at Travel with Intent: Blue

Here is a bit of Blue from my world

Tiny Native Flowers

Blue Triangle Butterfly

More butterflies. This time a Butterfly Bush flower

A double blue, a Blue Ginger with a Blue-banded Bee

Blue Figs, the fruit from a Quandong Tree (Elaeocarpus angustifolius for those playing along at home)

The lovely Blue-faced Honeyeater

A delightful Superb Fairy Wren

And the blue of blue………..

The featured image – a Blue Tiger Butterfly

This is October 2018

Published on November 7, 2018November 19, 2018 by bushboy19 Comments

OK folks strap yourself in for this ride. You will need stamina, food, drinks and a possible toilet break as I have been unrelenting in snapping away with all manner of things. I was going to break the photos down into subject groups in separate posts, but I thought “What the heck, you can scroll through at your own pace.”

What better way to start the day (or post) than with a sunrise from my besties new place

Let’s start with things. I don’t know what to call this bunch of photos as they are different. Enough talk. Off we go!

I found these gelatinous blobs on the beach, hundreds of them. Perhaps baby jelly fish?

When you see a land form that resembles something else

The planes have been showing themselves a bit in October.

Just love these rock cliff, the colours and again, can you see a face?

The moss gave the tree a bit of a dress with a vine for dramatic effect.

More moss. This time at the waters edge at the beach

The rock pool took on an ethereal mood

Just the shelf at my besties place

When I put on this lamp, I just had to take the photo. Another shelf at my besties

October saw the rain come. This dam, I use the water around the house and garden, was about one-eighth full. Seeing the water flow into the dam cured my blues.

The waterhole on my place never is dry but came very close this year. Seeing it full again made me happy. I think the birds and animals are pleased as well

Waterfalls make such a soothing sound don’t you think? Even little waterfalls that help fill the waterhole.

Of course a bit of rain and sunshine brings out the fungi

Fungi of all shapes and colours. Some big….

…some small

and some are edible

I love Grass Trees. These are at a place called Naughtons Gap. They are bigger than some of the Grass Trees on my place.

A wonderful discovery was a whole street in Grafton lined with Bottle Trees. This will be investigated as to why and how and perhaps a bushboy post about the history of the Bottle Trees in Grafton may evolve.

The early morning dew and spiders webs. I can’t resist

Sitting having a cup of tea with my bestie when a large Skink wandered about the garden. Wonderful markings aren’t they?

Would you believe that this tree is called a Cheese Tree?

Just an ant having a swim. He did get out eventually.

The flower and a bee. The flower is on what is called a broad leaf weed which is supposed to be undesirable in a lawn. Look at the bees pollen sacks. I don’t think the bee would be as happy if the “weed” wasn’t there. Think before you mow please.

Just a feather

and another

The Forest Kingfishers have arrived. The male looked about for anything that moved in the grass or the garden.

The colours on his back are lovely.

This photo shows a bit more of the iridescence

Galahs are funny birds. This bloke is sitting on the stock trough on next doors place at my besties

It’s a bit of a way down to get a drink.

Another arrival in Spring are the Grey Shrike Thrush. They are in the trees around the garden and sing in the morning and in the afternoons. What a delight to have in my garden.

The Pied Currawong didn’t mind a bit of rain.

Doesn’t he look great. The black with the red of the Flame Tree

The Fig Bird was spotted eating Mulberries

So was his mate

A Coucal Pheasant came for a visit and sat high in the Gum Tree.

Later on, I think he was checking me out through the undergrowth.

Another October visitor, a Brown Honeyeater

He soon found the bird bath

The Blue-faced Honeyeaters have arrived in numbers to feast on the Honey Gem Grevillea

The female Blue-faced Honeyeaters also drop in for a snack

Remember the post about the Post where the Noisy Friar Bird was chased away by the Spangled Drongo. Here Rainbow Lorikeets get a serve from the Friar Bird. A bit of a peck to the head.

The Rainbow Lorikeets were a bit bemused by all the carry on.

A female Satin Bowerbird enjoyed the nectar in the Yamba Sunshine Grevillea.

But like everyone else, the Honey Gem Grevillea is the best place to get a meal.

Yellow-faced Honeyeaters seem to have a constant scowl on their faces.

I think this Yellow-faced Honeyeater spotted me and my camera
The gravity defying White-throated Treecreeper taken from the comfort of the chair in my office

They are lovely as they hop up and down the trees looking for something to eat.

Another photo from my office chair. I call this one, “I can see what you are doing” is what the King Parrot is saying.

A young King Parrot morphing into a male

Getting a good Eastern Rosella photo quest continues

Out for a drive, we spotted a smallish bird run across the road and into a paddock. A new bird has been seen, an Australasian Pipit.

On another adventure drive, we spotted flashes of green zooming across the road. A flock of Rainbow Bee Eaters were hanging about. This is a breeding pair

Aren’t the males colours amazing?

You may wonder why we are back at a couple of young King Parrots. I thought it was lovely to have them sitting on a hanging pot under the verandah, until I spotted what they were doing

Yes, these “lovely” young birds had eaten half of the succulents in the pot. All around the pot, the succulent trailed over the edge. Can you see the bit trailing over the edge now. This hanging pot is no longer hanging where pesky King Parrots can get at it.

Water drops and new growth

I love the colour of this Succulent. Was tempted to pinch a leaf or two

I love the colours in this photo of a Hanging Violet with red in the background

A lovely Native Geranium growing in the “lawn” Another reason not to mow

Pansies, pansies, pansies
and more Pansies
This year the Silky Oaks flowering was spectacular

A flower of a Succulent

The Budlea flower spike wonderful and smells delightful

Some of the Roses looked a treat this year

A pink Bottlebrush flower

The native water lillies on my dam. Water Snowflake

The rain knocked a lot of the flowers off the Flame Tree. The little cups filled with water

Some native flowers that grow on my place. This yellow beauty is Dogwood

I think this native flower is a Hairy Guinea Flower

I have been encouraging a lot of Egg and Bacon plant to grow on one part of my property. It’s spikey habit is good for protecting small birds when it is in a fairly dense thicket

Plus the flowers are lovely. You can see the sharp points in the leaves

A small pink Grevillea.

My besties flower beds are looking great

and yet more flowers
This flower has caused great excitement for me. This is the first time I have seen a Hakea Florulenta on my property.

Aren’t the tiny flowers delightful?

The early morning fog gives a sense of wonder to start the day

Of course when it rains, you also find rainbows. This one had a faint double above.

Well, the sun is setting and you have reached the end. Well done for sticking around to get to the end and thanks for having a look at my October 2018

Did you have a favourite photo?

Blue

Published on October 16, 2018November 1, 2018 by bushboy10 Comments

The word prompt from Debbie at Travel with Intent: Blue

A pile of Blue Figs from a Quandong Tree
blue figs_named_oct 2013

A Superb Fairy Wren looking down
blue wren_grafton_changed_named_jan 2014

The Blue-faced Honeyeater and a Bottlebrush
blue faced honeyeater_named_home_aug 2016

The wonderful Blue Triangle Butterfly
blue triangle butterfly_wings open_named_binna burra_jan 2018

A Blue-banded Bee buzzes past
blue bum bee_binna burra_crop_feb 2012

The clouds are dark and stormy
171218_sunset_experimental_blue

The blue hour
tree_sunset_named_caniaba_july 2018

This is September 2018

Published on October 4, 2018October 3, 2018 by bushboy9 Comments

Well I have had a big September. So much is happening probably because it is Spring, although the temperatures haven’t changed much as Winter was warm. There are the birds that come here, flowers are blooming and the tadpoles are hatching. I have written some posts this month and have included some of those photos but not all as this is a large post.

Yes, get a cuppa, wine, beer and some snacks and off we go

There has been a bit of teasing by the clouds. Promising rain but either not delivering or just a few drops. I have had some good falls but no run-off to put water into the dams. The water tanks are full which is good. 59mls has kept the garden happy as well as supplementary watering from the dwindling dam.

I have put the flowers in early this post. Walking among the Mangroves stalking a White-faced Heron, I came across some Hibiscus flowers. There wasn’t a Hibiscus bush nearby so maybe had left a trail to find their way out.

My besties Gymea Lily has flowered. This flower is about two meters plus in the air.

Here is the whole photo. The plant is the strappy leaved one.

This year has been a fabulous year for Grevilleas. The first flowering of this Grevillea in my garden.

So many succulents are flowering too. This succulent is in a hanging pot on my verandah.

I have these flowers in my garden but not in mass like a garden in Grafton.

My Begonias are flowering well this year too.

The Iris that is a reminder of my mate who passed on last September. This was one of his plants.

The hanging Pelagoniums are a constant flower on my verandah.

I love this flower display on a stall at the Farmers Market in Lismore.

Flame Trees are spectacular when they flower. My poor struggling tree has started to flower even though it hasn’t had enough water.

I have garden borders of Dietes. They look great when they are in flower but they are spreading to places I don’t want them to go. Pity the Wallabies don’t eat them.

Bromiliads are flowering too. Some flowers are so wonderful aren’t they?

Banksias are a sight when they flower

Back to the Farmers Market. I spotted this bloke carrying a large dog. I have no idea why as the dog has a lead.

The Beetroot looked lovely

The old truck of the vegetable farmer is a great vantage point to see when people drop food.

Ah…look, an unattended fishers bucket.

Damn……I was spotted

I love Gulls as they fly along the shore

The wooden walk bridge over the estuary so you can walk to the beach.

The White-faced Heron stalking crabs in the Mangroves

Out to sea I spotted something breaking the water. I was hoping for a Whale and got a Dolphin.

In the mist a ghost ship appeared

The power company has been inspecting the power poles by helicopter. I think the pole at the front of my place will get replaced as they circled around for a while looking at the pole.

I guess the party is over. Found this on the track to the beach.,

The butterflies are starting to appear as well. The Line-blue Butterfly was rather shy.

The old swimming pool is a great place for the dragonflies. A bit of action is going on watched by a Bleating Tree Frog Tadpole.

There is quite a number of tadpoles who like to snack on the algae.

Thee are calves in a lot of the paddocks. Who could resist a little white calf?

The property next door is a miniature goat farm. On a walk a while ago I saw they had some little kids so next walk I took my camera. When I was at the fence I couldn’t see all of the little goats. And then I saw these two.
Another young animal. This foal was camera shy but I managed to get one photo.
Why fly when you can get a lift.
The Yellow-faced Honeyeaters have found an easy way of getting nesting material. When I have been walking on my place, I often come across nests that have fallen from the trees. Not only has the Yellow-faced Honeyeater been gathering material but the White-throated Treecreeper from last months post is also getting in on the act.

They were quite quick to get some nesting material and get back again. I found this lovely little nest in a Paperbark just outside of the sun room. They used some air fern to help bind the nest.

Remember the post about the Welcome Swallows. Well the babies are starting to learn to fly but still like to get back in the nest for a feeding.
Spring also heralds Magpie swooping season. Not many people don’t get a swoop or two. Even a Wedge-tailed Eagle was getting the Magpie treatment.

A farm near my besties has Sulpher-crested Cockatoos. I hope they don’t come to her place. They are quite destructive and squawk quite loudly when they get into a bunch.

Little Friarbirds are timid but enjoy the nectar of the Honey Gem Grevillea in my garden.

King Parrots have set up their breeding pairs. This couple have taken up residence in the garden.

I had to include the Satin Bowerbird. Such a spectacular bird to have in the garden.

Here is the Great Cormorant who caught a fish from the Clarence River in Grafton. Scroll back a few posts and see the story if you like.
The Intermediate Egret has to have the longest neck I have ever seen.
I think the horse may be in for a surprise!

A small flock of Galahs are hanging around the farms near my besties. They sometimes come to her place to get a drink of water.

The Figbird didn’t know I was under the tree.
Spring brings the Blue-faced Honeyeaters back to my place.
My arty Pelican photo
The best arrival has been the Grey Shrike Thrush. Their lovely song fills the garden in the morning and afternoon. They too are nesting. I have them “knocking” on the windows in search for spiders webs and any insect who happens to be around the windows. It’s a constant tap tap tap most of the day.

Thanks for taking the time to wade through my rather large This is September post. If you would like to know more or have a comment, please leave me a note in the comments.

Black and White Birds

Published on March 23, 2018April 14, 2018 by bushboy21 Comments

Cee’s Black and White Photo Challenge: Heads or Facial Features

A Blue-faced Honeyeater enjoying some lunch
180323_faces_blackandwhite_blue faced honeyeater

A Bush Stone Curlew was not impressed with me waking it up
180323_faces_blackandwhite_curlew

Getting up close and personal with a Kookaburra
180323_faces_blackandwhite_kookaburra

This is October: Part Four

Published on November 9, 2017November 9, 2017 by bushboy4 Comments

Of course Part Four would have to be the birds of October.

On the Queensland expedition we came across a huge flock of Cormorants and Pelicans on the edge of Somerset Dam.

On a bit of a chilly day the Cormorants were a bit sleepy in Ballina.

So were the Pelicans

The Satin Bowerbird has been busy collecting his blue bits and pieces to decorate his Bower. This is the fifth year this Bower has been used in the bush at my place.

Of course who could forget Brendan the Bush Turkey. Here he is on his mound he has built for the females to lay their eggs in. The mound is about 2 meters tall. Brendan does a great job of raking the leaves.

A Figbird sits high on a branch keeping an eye on the goings on in the garden.

The Laughing Kookaburra was on the other side of the garden.

This bloke is more of a smiling Kookaburra don’t you think? He likes the sitting branch which is the most popular in the garden.

The Eastern Whipbird sends his call down the gully This is what a whip bird sounds like here

The Pied Currawong was always around the garden.

This branch is a favourite sitting spot in the garden.

The Pied Currawong is sitting on the eggs in the nest at my besties place.

The Noisy Friarbird on the famous sitting branch

Another stand off in the Honey Gem Grevillea between the Blue-faced Honeyeaters and the Noisy Friarbird. Check out the fight here from last year

The Yellow-faced Honeyeater was wondering what the fuss was all about.

Check out my pink feet said the White Headed Pigeon.

The King Parrot having a snack of wattle seeds.

The Eastern Rosella high in the old Fig Tree wondering what I am doing.

The Olive-backed Oriel took his turn in the bird bath.

There was a Rainbow Lorikeet queue at the bird bath.

“Hey Stan……are you in there?”

“What do you want?”

Well that’s the end of This is October. I hope you got through the Four Parts.

This is September: The birds

Published on October 6, 2017 by bushboy17 Comments

G’day,
September, the first month of Spring but still no rain. The last drop of rain I have had was 6mls on the 6th July. Good news is there was 21mls over the last weekend. The dry Winter and September didn’t stop the Grevillieas from flowering. I didn’t include many Grevilleas in this or the next blog. You can see them here from a previous blog. But I digress. This part of This is September is just the birds. The next blog is everything else as I looked at the number of photos and there are too many for one blog. I didn’t want your cuppa to get cold scrolling through or fall asleep before the end.

Ready……..lets get going.

The first lot are birds who are not very good at hiding, although some were just sheltering from the heat of the day probably.

The Australian Raven gave the game away by incessantly calling.

The Noisy Friarbird was in the Sweet Pittosporum

The Little Friarbird was hiding behind the Mago

The Striated Thornbill was hiding in the Hibiscus

Can you spot the White-throated Treecreeper?

The Figbird was trying to be inconspicuous

Little Friarbirds don’t hide very well do they?

I love seeing the Variegated Fairy Wrens hopping through the garden. They usually come in small flocks looking among the bushes and flowers for insects or heading to the birdbath.
The females are hard to see aren’t they?

Whereas the males really stand out

They are so cute when they sit together

As the weather has been very warm, almost Summer temperatures, the bird bath was the place to be. The Little Friarbird came for a drink.

Bottoms up

Looking about before having another drink

A Spangled Drongo seemed to have a gargle

While a White-throated Treecreeper jumped in and splashed about

Sometimes you can emerge from the birdbath looking a bit bedraggled like this White-throated Honeyeater

Eastern Whipbirds love the birdbath

Almost ready for another dip

Lewins Honeyeaters like the mosaics of this birdbath

Of course there are birds who live in the water. Darters enjoy a swim

While other birds prefer to be in the trees. Blue-faced Honeyeaters enjoy lunch