The Daily Word prompt :Acquiesce
The look that would make you want to acquiesce
Tag: dog
This is September 2018
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.
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Many Types of Dog
The Ragtag Daily prompt of the day: Dog
There are many different types of what could be called Dog.
There are the doggies in the window
There are tired dogs
There are dogs that hang around
There are dogs that artists make when they are outdoors and inspiration strikes
There are solid rock dogs
There are soft floaty cloud dogs
There are playful dogs
There are dogs who have looks
There are dogs who like to rough and tumble
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Forlorn
Fifi’s Choice
I Wish……
…….someone would play with me
The one word prompt from Debbie at Travel with Intent is Wish Join in I am sure others would love to see your wish too
PS Not my dog but a dog that is a local shop who loves to play with the customers
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Art at the Beach
Many days have been spent at the wonderful beaches on the North Coast of New South Wales. There have been photos of sea birds, the coast line, waves, rock formations or the fabulous sunrises that we get when the sun rises from the sea. I am sure you have seen lots of this type of photo in many of my previous blogs or other peoples publications.
I am hoping that what I have seen is something that you may have not seen before with photos of the beach or seaside. I often just see something that catches my eye that I find is quite wondrous or perhaps has shape, form or texture that I find interesting.
Want to come to the seaside with me? You won’t need sunscreen, a hat or other sun protective wear but maybe get a cool drink, settle back and let’s go….
Perhaps I should start with the obvious which you probably seen in many photos. Many of Australias beaches the sand is the shoreline but occasionally the beach is rocks. To me the endless rocks are fascinating and to see the colours, forms and textures is unusual. So let’s begin with the rocks, some rough but mostly worn smooth by the sand and water.
The Sand Crabs like to create their own art with shapes, textures and placement of the small balls of sand they excavate from their sandy holes where they wait for a snack to stroll past.
The water has it’s own way of creating art with the way the water flows back to the ocean leaving patterns on the sand. Can you see a fish or maybe a bird in the patterns? What do you see that perhaps I don’t?
Sometimes these patterns include shells to create parallel lines as they look as if they are zooming across the sand.
Shell are another source of wonder at the beach. How many shells have you picked up just to look at their colours and feel their textures?
Even a broken shell can seemingly form its own mini sand dune.
Part of beach life are the things that get washed onto the beach. Sometimes these can be the result of a storm where seaweed has been torn from its anchorage ending up on the beach with its branches resisting the sands intrusion.
Bits and pieces on the sand.that show the life that is on the beach. From the terrestrial to the marine. The leaf from a mangrove, an excavation spread from a hole in the sand and other bits and pieces of marine vegetation. Each has it’s own place on the beach decorating the sand with artistic expression until the incoming tide changes the art installation.
The orange leaf contrasts with the sand and other items that are washed in by the incoming waves.
I love the way the colour of the sea-grass falls away leading to the blackness of the rock.
The interaction of colours and textures between the sea-grass and jellyfish with some bubbles added for more interest.
The entanglement of grasses and other bits of seaweed almost look like a bit of calligraphy. The imprint of some toes add a human element into the abstract art that nature has constructed.
Sometimes the art that can be of natural construct includes the intrusion of humans or in this case, a child whose toy jet ski washed upon the sand. The impact of human detritus cannot be understated on marine life.
Sometimes a simple stick can seem like a stick. Look at the textures and the added colour of the coastal plants makes the stick more than a stick.
Speaking of making a stick more than a stick, it’s time we moved onto the imagination of two people who see possibilities of making life at the beach different. The things we do we leave behind and perhaps someone may smile as they come across the ideas that we enjoy to make together. When we find something on the coast as we walk about the beaches, dunes or the littoral rainforests and vegetated parts of the the hind dunes. The following is the combined effort of the imagination of two people who can see the ridiculous in nature that just needs a bit of enhancement to make the natural world a bit of fun.
We found some driftwood on the sand. The artist said “Look at the little man I found” and placed the stick on the sand. The photographer took a couple of photos and thought there needs to be more. Then the “footprints” were added.
When you walk along the sand and find some pumice that you would like to take home to use, well don’t you make a small basket to carry it in?
We both saw the vegetation beside the track and saw a shape. Add a few other things that were found nearby and a bit of modification, a bit of art was made. Do you see what the artist and the photographer saw?
A grass tree that had died provided a lot of amusement. I hope someone walking the track in the hind dunes had a laugh as much as we did making our hairy friend.
A Pandanus seed, a bit of red seaweed and gales of mirth led to this little bloke being placed in a paperbark tree beside the track.
Did you enjoy having a stroll along the Australian coastline with me?
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Black and White Sunday – Traces of the Past
Traces of the past made me delve into the past finding some photos of stuff I have found lately that have come from the past.
One visit to Sydney I came across an old letter box or post box. I love the ornate top and the cast iron construction. They used to be everywhere in Sydney. I wonder if this is the last one that is still in use?
I love this old farm house from the early part of last century.
“I just can’t drive any further.”
bushboy photos for Black & White Sunday – Traces of the Past
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More wandering on the weekend
The weekend always brings new discoveries, sights and other things that have been seen before but still can evoke a bit of wonder. There are always birds, insects and animals that I happen upon and yes, as someone asked recently, I do often chase bugs and butterflies to get a photo. This weekend was no exception but I am lucky with the birds as they come to me. Well not to me actually but my besties most wonderful bird bath. We were chatting in the morning with a cuppa where we worked out what birds that drop in have been seen in the bird bath and which ones haven’t had their photo taken. The main ones were, not surprisingly, the raptors – Wedgetailed Eagles, Pacific Baza and the other kites and falcons that whizz through too quickly to identify.
So onto the things that managed to wander into my gaze and camera lens. The start was on Friday evening with a wonderful sunset that was filled with different colours.
I first saw a small piece of red that was one of the reddest reds I have seen.
The yellows were quite lovely too.
Saturday morning was filled with many butterflies flitting around the garden. Orchard Butterflies and Azures (possibly) were too fast as were some Awls and Skippers but the Lemon Migrant, I think, stopped for a bit of nectar.
I didn’t manage to get the wings down to identify properly so a guess at Lemon Migrant will have to do, until someone lets me know what species of butterfly it is.
As well as butterflies there was a wasp buzzing about so a quick photo was in order, then run ha ha ha
Of course the dragonfly was just waiting to get its photo taken.
With all this going on, a couple of folk were dropping into the bird bath.
I can’t help but post a couple of more Eastern Yellow Robins as they are so cute and very bright as they chitter chatter around the garden.
This one is “You keep a look out….I’m going in!”
Even when a bit damp, the Eastern Yellow Robin manages to look resplendent.
This is the first time that the Noisy Friarbird has dropped in for a quick dip.
What do you look like when you shake the water from your head?
The Eastern Rosella was waiting in the trees nearby.
But finally had its turn which didn’t last long as a Noisy Minor decided that it was his bath time.
On the way to give PJ his breakfast, a Grey Fantail was doing some post hopping, a quick dart into the air to catch a flying insect or two and back down.
This time without that serious looking face
And one more because it is such a happy little bird that always brings a smile at its acrobatics. Ready for take off…
In another part of the garden, a Green Tree Snake was checking out the garden mulch for any tiny bug that happened upon its path.
They certainly have big eyes.
OH, thats right I mentioned PJ didn’t I. PJ is a horse and we finally found out why Mini was putting on weight. At feed time, Mini trots down after everyone is gone to see if there are any gumnuts that PJ has dropped and not yet found. Say hi to Mini and PJ.
Well that’s about all I discovered last weekend although I am keeping a few photos of the Eastern Whipbird for later. Here’s another look at that fabulous sunset.
brian
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Flowers Birds Bugs and Snakes
This month has been quite a month of contrasts. I have been sitting here wondering where my rain has gone when all around rain has fallen. I am away and have rain and a diversity of stuff, whereas at home, the dryness has seen quite a few birds desert the property for better pickings. But still there are the ones who stick around for most of the year with an occasional drop in by a stranger.
This is a look back at the month and some of the discoveries that I have made as I wander about. Hope you enjoy this adventure walk around with me.
I have been peeking into flowers again. I love hippeastrums colours
A vine that trails over a fence has flowered this year the first time for quite a while. I don’t know what it is but it has an interesting shape inside.
The Crocus flowers have attracted the attention of the native bees who arrive in numbers. I like the one at the top of the photo, throwing a shadow on the petal, who is buzzing in at speed as though it was a bit late.
As it seems we have moved onto the bees and bugs, we better continue. The Blue Banded Bees have been quite busy at my place and my besties. This bloke was very intent on the flowers.
The Cassia flowers have been quite spectacular this year with the pendants of yellow dripping from the tree. The big bee who dropped in to do a bit of gathering would have been surprised with the thank you pat on the back from the flower.
No matter the weather, there is always dragonfly flitting about or stopping to eye-ball what ever I am doing.
One night, there was a constant high-pitched chirping from a cicada inside. After a bit of searching I found it hiding behind the curtain.
While outside, a caterpillar was changing location to set up a better snoozing spot in its cocoon.
This moth is always watching or so it hopes in order that’s what predators will think so it won’t end up as dinner.
There has been some birds around. The Peaceful Doves are always around as they know in the afternoons I give the chooks some grains.
The new comer to my garden was a Bar Shouldered Dove who was cooing from the bush for a few days before I saw him.
It has been quite hot and the Spangled Drongo just sat in the shade of the tree hoping to catch a breeze.
But in my besties garden, the Red Browed Finches has a great place to meet have a chat, a bath and a drink.
The Cormorant found a good perch above the dam to keep an eye out for fish and to dry off in the sun.
At night the Flying Foxes came for the flowers of the Pink Bloodwood. Can you count the eyes peering out from the dark as they hang from the palm tree?
It has been a year for snakes big and small. At my besties I saw a carpet snake high up in the mango tree. A knot of snake on a small branch.
Whereas at my place late one night I had to rescue a chook from the deadly coils. A bit of a drive up the road in the morning to a safe place, I let it out of the bag. It looked bigger in the night.
But it gave a cheeky grin and slithered off.
The little Green Tree Snake was quite happy to scurry away at speed.
We all enjoy a walk along the beach. Even an Osprey has to do it every now and then.
Well like the tired old dog in Murwillumbah, it’s time to start the truck and head on home.
Did you like a walk through my January?
brian
