One morning, while sitting at my desk, a Yellow-faced Honeyeater flew along the verandah and onto a Blue Ginger flower stalk.
This is what happened
Look at the lovely shiny berry on this plant
Doesn’t it look lovely. Perhaps a nice snack.
Hang on. Where did it go?
Ohh look. It’s down there.
Here we are at what I saw in March. There has been a couple of photo challenges I have done in March so some of those photos aren’t in this lot. It is another big photo post. There are a few photos of snakes, spiders and other insects but try to have a peek through your fingers when they come along. Nature is full of wondrous colours and shapes.
Of course there are flowers and birds plus my March obsession of spiders webs. So I do recommend getting your favourite drink and perhaps a snack as you settle in and have a look at my month of March.
OK, I’ll get the insects out of the way first for all those who have told me of their dislike of bugs. You will be rewarded with seeing some lovely little creatures from my world.
I’ll ease you into the insect section with a lovely Wanderer Butterfly
Remember My Quest to photograph a Blue Triangle Butterfly. Well now it seems they are waiting for me. This Blue Triangle was on the road when we went for a walk.
There were a lot of Easten Common Brown Butterflies around this year.
A long range photo of a lovely bug with orange feelers. Some close ups are coming next.
When you are a small insect you really have to hang on if there is a breeze about.
I look fearsome but I’m not.
A small Fly with red eyes came to sit with us while we had a drink on the deck. Spiders next
Remember the spiders web from my March Squares. Lots of people were glad the spider wasn’t in the web. Well here he is, all 5 or 6mm of him. Better watch out if you are a mossie.
Some spiders hang up side down on their web.
First prize in the messiest web. I love the droplets on the web from the morning mist.
As part of my obsession, I have been playing with my photo editor. Do you like this one?
A bit of respite now. A Lemon Migrant Butterfly on Lantana
While on a day trip, we stopped at an art gallery which wasn’t all that great. Outside life was far more interesting. I found a Praying Mantis eating a Bee in the flower bed.
This poor little bloke couldn’t get his wings folded
Photographing some grass seeds I was photo-bombed by a Dragonfly
I don’t think it was this lovely red Dragonfly. I love the shadow
My favourite Australian Native Bees are the Blue-banded Bees which are in other posts this month. This Australian Native Bee has the best named of all. Let me introduce you to the Teddy Bear Bee. Do you know of a cuter bee name?
When we look out of the kitchen window at my besties place, neatly framed in the arch, waiting for his breakfast too is PJ the horse. He knows where to stand to get attention doesn’t he?
The grass seed photo I talked about earlier.
An Australian Native flower that grows at my place. This one was on the side of the road.
My besties Roses are lovely this year. The camera couldn’t capture the wonderful red colour though
A great year for Bromiliad flowering too.
This plant is called Ink Weed. Apparently you can make ink from the plant. Not sure which part but they did in the early days of the colony.
I have often shown the Blue Ginger flowers up close, sometimes with a Blue-banded Bee in them. This is one patch of them in my besties garden.
I love Cats Whiskers flowers. They are just opening in March.
Aren’t the colours of the garden striking?
Remember the many posts about the Dancing Lady Hibiscus. Here is a shot of the many flowers that came out this year taken from the verandah where we sometimes have breakfast, the most flowers we have ever seen. The Hibiscus bush trails up the Poinciana tree trunks. How many Dancing Ladies can you count?
A tiny Eco-system in a tree trunk on the side of the road.
The fence post was covered on one side with these fungi.
A lone fungus on the side of the hill.
I love this shot from under the Poinciana tree at the small fungi high up.
The Common Garden Skink, I call a Copper Headed Skink, doing its best not to look at the camera before it scurried away.
Apart from flowers, fungi, birds, the Poinciana also has a non-venomous Green Tree Snake who lives in the hollows. These Pythons are harmless
Beautiful little snake. Aren’t the colours and markings lovely?
I wondered why the chook was hesitant about coming out of her yard. When she did she would run across the yard to a sheltered spot. She never came into the front garden. Then I spied why. The Square-tailed Kites have built a nest in a eucalypt in the front yard
The Black Kites are everywhere near the Lismore Waste Center
On a drive to Caniaba, while waiting for some dairy cows to cross the road, I saw two Wedged-tailed Eagles wheeling about high in the sky.
The Little Wattlebird enjoyed singing and searching for food in the Poinciana tree
He saw me with my camera while up side down looking for grubs.
The tiny Buff-rumped Thornbill defied gravity looking for a snack in the Poinciana tree too
A Golden Whistler was in fine voice in the Poinciana tree.
Another singer in the garden is the Varied Triller
A flock of Silvereyes called in to have a feed
A Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike strained to see if it was food or just the wind blowing leaves about
On a recent walk, I spied a young Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike harassing its parent for food
“Where is everyone?” the Pied Cormorant seemed to say as it looked around before diving for fish once more in the Brunswick River.
Meanwhile on the beach at Brunswick Heads, a Welcome Swallow found a convenient stick to perch
Remember the Bromiliad Flower? The Lewins Honeyeater has been sticking his head into the flower to get a snack. The flower also rewarded him but giving him a pollen crown.
I love Wonga Pigeons. This pair were sitting in the garden preening and looking about.
The Grey Fantail looked like he was walking on stilts.
A great moment in March was seeing the Green Catbird feeding her young. Seconds later another young one came along which disturbed the scene and soon all three had flown off.
I can’t do a post with birds and not included Bobbin, the cute resident Northern Yellow Robin. I recently discovered that I have been calling the Yellow Robins around here and at my besties, Eastern Yellow Robins. There are two distinct races of Yellow Robins. So from now on Bobbin and his friends are Northern Yellow Robins.
Thanks for getting this far. I even made a second coffee to keep me going to the end.
The afternoon colour and trees looked so lovely
The Full Moon earlier in March looked great with the clouds drifting by.
I like to put the captions before the photo. What do you do? Do you prefer the captions before or after a photo? Let me know what you think?
Did you have a favourite photo from March?
I can’t remember the last after and before photo challenge I participated in. I enjoy converting photos and when a Blue-banded Bee is looking for nectar I have to wander around the garden chasing bees
The Blue-banded Bee and the Blue Ginger.
I wondered what the photo would look like with a bit of selective colour
Pop into Lost in Translation: After and Before to see more great photos.
January has been a month of hot weather a bit of rain but most of all the butterflies are around. The hot days have made the birds a bit scarce. Now the Summer flowers are out they’ll return. The rain over the past 5 days has seen a lot more smaller birds in the garden.
Ok lets get going. Another huge lot of photos so maybe your favourite drink you enjoy while looking at blogs may be in order again.
Perhaps some flowers and plants to get going. Isn’t the bark on this Australian Native Fig Tree wonderful
The Red Tower Ginger flowers are looking after the garden
More red flowers are emerging
The Blue Ginger buds are ready to burst
I did find a bit of wood fungi in the forest
I have never seem Macaranga flowers before. I am still not sure if they are flowers or buds
The flower buds are high in the canopy. When they open they are tubular white flowers which drop to the garden floor.
A mixture of weeds. A Camphor Laurel leaf on a Cobblers Peg plant
The Cunji are growing so well on the banks of the spring
The spring is a lovely place to be on a hot day.
I discovered this Australian Native plant when I was mowing the front of my place. It is almost two meters tall, covered in white flowers which ants love.
Some bits and pieces
Holding the cattle yards together
The trawler setting off in the afternoon to fish through the night
The rusty seat on the old tractor
Reptiles I have found
The Geckos live in my house. This is the Gecko who lives in the hallway.
You never know who is sleeping on the verandah rafters.
Such pretty markings
Time for some birds
I didn’t know this bird as it flew about me. I have taken photos of Jacky Winter birds before. This is a young bird
The Lewins Honeyeaters are always on the look out for the grubs in the Poinciana tree
Late afternoon and the Pelicans are ready to sleep
The Gulls are ready to annoy them.
The lovely Eastern Yellow Robin happy to be in the garden.
Found these native snails in the garden having a snooze.
The Cricket was happy to be taken outside
What would Summer be like without Dragonflies
I love their wing patterns
A grub in the Paperbark tree making track and holes all over the tree
There was a migration of moths. We called this one a Fox Moth
The outside wings of the Meadow Argus are quite muted
Inside is a different story
The Wanderers are slowly coming back
Common Crows are everywhere at the moment
A Common Ringlet about to take off
There are so many butterflies with the word Common in front of their name. The Common Eggfly is a name that doesn’t do this butterfly justice.
Remember The Quest to photograph a Blue Triangle Butterfly. Well now I have two Blue Triangles. Aren’t their faces great
The Moon is up and about in the clouds
The Sun is almost setting
So it is time for me to finish off. Hope you have enjoyed my January.
Again Paula has supplied five great words to find a photo match in this my favourite photo challenge Pick a Word
Innate
Protuberant
Rectangular
Interspersed
Fluorescent
Part Three is some of the flowers in my world in October
I thought I would segue with some Native Stingless Bees who absolutely love Hippeastrums. This season was fabulous for Hippeastrums.
This is a Hippeastrum my neighbour Geoff gave me. Have a look at my blog Geoffs Garden
He also gave me there brilliant orange Hippeastrums.
The Nasturtiums enjoyed a bit of rain.
Some of the red flowers were hard to get the colour right. Their mauve insides looked lovely
The Azaleas flowered well this year too.
The Gerbera flowered well too
I am sure this flower was looking back at me.
A new Bromiliad flowered showing its pink and blues.
The Blue Ginger was waiting to burst forth.
Celosia flowers are hard to photograph to show their brilliance
Same with red Celosia
Love the veins and purple flower
The White Hydrangea with its blue “buttons”
Grafton, the city near my place is the Jacaranda City. This is the road to my place.
The many little flowers of the Lomandra
When a Lolly Bush is in flower you follow the scent of lollies to find the flowers.
The Brilliant yellow of a water plant in my dam
Now for some native flowers that are around my place. Most of these flowers are smaller than your little finger nail
The Silky Oak flowers in the morning sun.
Native Frangipanni flowers in a pot near my front door. In the evening the scent of the flowers is heavenly.
Back to the tiny Native Flowers.
I love these tiny purple/blue star shaped flowers.
Some of the flowers are a bit hairy.
This native flower is so tiny.
Another star shaped purple flower
A Mistletoe in the afternoon sun.
Only Part Four to go….ready?
Inspired by last weeks Mundane Monday Challenge I took this photo yesterday for this weeks Mundane Monday Challenge #133
The Blue Ginger has always held a fascination whether it id a bee or spider on the flower or just the majesty of the tall brilliant blue flower scattered throughout the garden. This is a different view of a Blue Ginger flower, before the many small flowers open.
FEBRUARY has been quite busy. A new thing for me this month has been submitting some photos in photo challenges, which I have found to be quite interesting. The photo challenges make me think about my photography and that my photos elicit comments from other bloggers and in turn, I comment on their photos or the words used to enhance the photos in their blogs. So if you would like to see what I have submitted, have a look at my last few blogs in February. Maybe you would like to comment too.
In this blog I would like to take you on an adventure with me.
Lets set off, do you have a cuppa or something to sustain you while we explore my world?
I like to find something unusual to capture. The frangipannis shadow on the fence post caught my besties eye so this photo is inspired by her. I also took the photo in black and white but it didn’t have the same effect as a splash of colour in the background.
We like to get away in February for a couple of days (we call our mini-holiday) to Ballina Beach Resort. Among the gardens there is always a Water Dragon or two sunning themselves. Looking down from the balcony you get a different perspective of the Water Dragon.
But he is always watchful and spied me looking over the edge.
Back at my besties famous bird bath, where many a bird photo has been taken, the Striated Thornbill liked to show off his little reddish leg, almost taking a bow.
Now we are going for a bit of a walk around my place. For once I just took my camera to get some of the stuff around here. Most walks get disturbed by the habit of pulling out weeds as I walk around. This time I concentrated on getting some of the life around here. OK, I may have pulled a few weeds here and there!
One of the weird and wonderful are the air ferns. They look rather alien at times don’t you think? This one is growing on a fence post.
As I walked around, every now and then, I smelt the heady scent of honeycomb. The Bloodwoods are in flower. I love the creamy colour of the flowers and green of the leaves against the blue sky.
OK back to ground level. The native flowers that abound the bush come in a number of colours, blues, purples, yellows and occasionally red. Most of the flowers are quite small, ranging from about 5mm to 15mm. I have to find something to take with me to show the size of the flowers. I also need an identification guide to let you know what the flowers are so if anyone knows a good publication on native flowers of north-east NSW please let me know
This blue flower is one of the bigger ones.
It was hard to capture the lovely mauve of this little pea like flower. The flower is around 5mm.
The star shape is common. Previous blogs have had the yellow and blue star shaped flower. This walk I found a pale purple star shaped flower. This flower is about 10mm in size.
More purple flowers. A bit bigger in size and a bit hairier. Grows closer to the ground than the other flower which are on stalks.
A small yellow pea type of flower similar to the mauve flower a few flowers back, a about the same size. I love the red stripes. This one comes with a bonus water droplet.
More yellow flowers. A lovely bunch of tiny yellow puff balls. The whole bunch would be no more than 12mms.
A bit of rain saw the mosses come back to life after seemingly disappearing during the dry spell. The smaller star moss and the feathery moss that cascades over the log.
A wonderful discovery was the Hyacinth Orchid just standing tall in the bush. No leaves or anything else, just a lovely flower spike about 20cms tall. It was the only one in the surrounding area. I haven’t been back for a week or so, so I wonder if it is still there?
Rain has put a bit of water into the dam, freshening up the water and the water plants are flowering. The Water Snowflake’s flower is a lovely flower. A wonderful fringe form and so white against the dark green leaves and water.
The Cape Waterlily is also flowering and the reeds are starting to set seed. Among the reeds is a number of frogs whose song at night is quite loud. Also flitting about the dam are a variety of Dragonflies.
The little iridescent blue dragonfly doesn’t sit still as long as the larger dragonflies. They are different to the other Dragonflies as they have their wings folded along their body.
The many blue dragonflies fly off, swoop and then land to catch their breath on any small piece of reed they can find.
There is as many red dragonflies as blues. They seem to land on the dead reeds on the ground although some never seem to land. The red and blues also fly around the house almost like a patrol flying back and forth along the front verandah, occasionally flying under the verandah roof.
Now this little bloke is so different from the others, not only in colour and patterns, but seems to prefer to land on the end of seed heads of the water plants and then stick it’s rear end up in the air. It doesn’t seem to mind how it has it’s wings either.
I found this orange dragonfly at my besties but they are also at my place but not as common as the others.
The Blue Gingers have the most delightful flowers. The flower spikes have so many tiny flowers and buds that there is always a number of flowers open so the bees have a chance to get inside. As I have said before, the bees have to scrunch to get at the pollen of the Blue Ginger flowers.
The native Blue-banded Bees certainly love the Blue Ginger flowers and have a good scrunching technique as well.
This Summer, my verandahs have been taken over by night spiders. Unfortunately they have become very lazy and leave their webs up during the day. Luckily they have been catching lots of insects so the web is easy to see but there may have been a time or two where I have walked into a web.
There are quite a number of Bull Ant nests in the bush. When I try to get a photo, I make sure I look all around to see if there are any outside the nest on patrol or bring back food to the nest. When they bite you know you have been bitten!
I was surprised to find the Satin Bower Birds bower was still in operation and chock-a-block with a variety of blue bits and pieces in the collection. The only things that come from my place are the blue pegs. I know when a Bower Bird has come calling when I find the peg basket up ended. The Satin Bower Birds have made my place home. Years ago they only came here when it was too cold in the Gibraltar Ranges and leaving when it got too hot here.
On our mini-holiday, we managed to get to the beach at sunrise one morning. The sunrise over the sea is fantastic.
The Seagull was patient and seemed to like getting its picture taken early in the morning.
There was a line-up of Seagulls checking out the surf.
One of my favourite photos of February. Just a branch on the beach. I was tempted to put the photo in the blog upside down.
Well it’s getting dark so I must head off to bed. I hope you have enjoyed this little bit of my world in February.
I leave you with the Paperbark tree and the street light.
December has been quite warm to hot and I wish it would rain. The birds are coming into the garden for the watering places I have set out for them. The garden is getting drier but most of the plants are hanging on.
The Red-necked Wallabies are hanging around the house. Some have taken to the cool under the house or in the shade offered by the house and sheds.This bloke just hopped into the garden and lay down for a rest.
The Pink Lilli Pilli had a fantastic flowering this year, and the insects and birds made the most of what was on offer. The bees were buzzing around and sampling the Lilli Pillis wares.
I never get tired of watching Blue-banded Bees scrunch into the Blue Ginger flowers so their blue bums are on show.
When the Crocus flower, the Stingless Native Bees come flying in the early morning when the flowers first open for the day. How much more pollen can a bee fit into its pollen sac?
First off, I must apologise for the poor photo of this Planthopper. It was in the kitchen late one night and I have never seen one at my place before. It wouldn’t sit still enough to get a good photo. The black with stunning orange spots and those eyes!!!!
On a hot day the Australian Painted Lady came onto the verandah. The colours are far more prominent than the other Australian Painted Lady butterflies I have found.
The hanging pot bird bath, the subject of so many bird photos, also hosts insects as well as birds looking for a drink.
Yes it is hot. The little White-throated Honeyeater does look he needs a drink doesn’t he?
“Well George, do you come here often?”
On a hot day, everyone has to share. The Scarlet Honeyeater and White-throated Honeyeater both enjoyed a drink.
The female Scarlet Honeyeater thought it was a good time for a bath. A quick dunk in and out.
Meanwhile at the other bird bath, the King Parrot enjoyed the bird bath to himself.
At my besties bird bath, the birds who arrive in the afternoon for a quick bath and drink are different to the ones at my place, although the Eastern Yellow Robins are at my place too.
A very fluffy Eastern Yellow Robin after a number of dives into the water.
A view from the back shows the yellow feathers aren’t just on the chest of the Eastern Yellow Robin.
The Eastern Whipbirds always look at their legs and feet when they get out of the water!!! Remember this blog
The Red-browed Finches come to the bird bath in a large flock. Some have better eyebrows than others lol
The Superb Fairy Wrens arrive at the same time as the Finches. They are such delightful birds.
The males are so different to the females. I like the Jenny’s eye make-up.
It’s the same with the Scarlet Honeyeaters. The females are so different.
I think this one may be a juvenile male just starting to get his scarlet colours.
Soon he will be as striking as this Scarlet Honeyeater male.
Meanwhile, from high atop the gum tree, a Peaceful Dove watched what was going on in and around the chook yard.
My poor Flame Tree gave it its best shot this year. The dry resulted in sparse flowers but the Little Friarbird still enjoyed what was on offer.
The Satin Flycatcher likes to visit as you saw in my last blog. Here is his lady who was peeping out from the bushes.
For the first time a gang of Grey-crowned Babblers came into the garden and had a quick snack in the fig tree. They are normally in the forest away from the house and in the semi-open country under the power lines. It was lovely to see them forage around the garden with their constant chatter..
The last full moon, my bestie and I were lucky to be home to see the Moon Flower bloom. In the afternoon she said that the bud looked like it was ready to open so late that night we went into the garden to see this amazing flower.
We used torch light to get the photos.
The Moon Flower is so alien looking when you look deep inside the bloom.
Thanks for stopping by and looking at what I have found this December. I love taking photos and sharing.
See you next year
Brian x
So far this year I have found some allusive birds, some bees doing what bees do, lovely flowers, insects, a new bird that was very accommodating to be photographed and a photo or two that viewer discretion is advised.
Yes, this blog does contain images of sexual behaviour. Consenting sex I may add. The sexual activity did occur over quite a while although use of the word activity may be a stretch of the imagination. Most of the time both partners didn’t engage in much activity at all!!!
So it may be best if I start with “those” images. That way your titillation can be catered for straight away and you wont be scrolling through and perhaps missing other images that can perhaps be stimulating. The moths decided that near the back door, on the verandah was a good place to procreate.
How did I know that there was something mothy happening. Perhaps the next image is more explanatory.
They were indeed attached, chosing a cactus to add that extra bit of spice to the act perhaps.
I had a hard time trying to get a good photo of this insect. It was on a mission and kept marching along the leaf, which thankfully was a large leaf.
The bes were having a real buzzy time around the garden. There were plenty of flowers to choose.
The Blue-banded Bees love the Blue Ginger flowers even if you have to really scrunch up to get at the flowers goodness.
The Camelias were quite striking this year. As an added bonus, can you count the little Stingless Bees on the flower? One little bloke has even got a water drop drink!!!
I love this cacti flower. It is just a balloon like structure and when it opens there is nothing inside. The colour is lovely don’t you think?
The Blue Ginger flower. Now you can see why the bees love visiting.
The little Violet flowers love the cool and the shade. Plenty of water sees the plant send up lots of flower shoots to add small splashes of colour around the garden.
High up in the Bangalow Palm, the Lewins Honeyeater contemplated his vast bounty of seeds.
While the White-headed Pigeon observed hoping for some lunch after a quick dip and drink at the birdbath.
The Bar-shouldered Dove walked around looking for a tasty morsel amongst the leaf litter. He looks spectacular with those red legs.
The allusive Green Catbird. They can be heard throughout the forest in the mornings and late afternoons but here, they are quite shy and hop along the branches, never sitting still for long.
A drink and a bath at the little hanging birdbath is a family affair for the White-throated Honeyeaters
I love this photo. The antique wrought iron garden chair is a lovely resting place for the Eastern Yellow Robin, a constant visitor to the garden.
Now for something new. We went to Macleay Island in Moreton Bay. The island is home to lots of Beach Stone Curlews. These pair were having a sleep at the back of the house, opening an eye to see what I was doing. This is the first time I have seen Beach Stone Curlews so it was rather exciting.
After a while one decided to get up and walk a little way into the bush.
I don’t think that he was impressed at being woken. During the night, they were calling with their mournful call. Actually it seemed like all night they were calling. No wonder they didn’t like being disturbed.
Well, that’s what I have found, refound and photographed so far this year. I was excited photographing the Curlews and the Green Catbird. I hope you have enjoyed my images.
Fine Art Photographer ~ Daring to be Different
Images by Bren and Ashley Ryan
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