Getting the nature blues

Cee’s Mid-week Madness Challenge: November Colour Blue

This is the song that came into my head when composing this post. It is a golden oldie from the 50’s

Last of the blues

Life in Colour July: Blue

End of the month so better get something in as I have been a bit slack with this photo challenge, sorry Jude.

Maybe I will end with a bit of blue in nature

It’s in the eyes

Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge – June alphabet letter I anywhere in the words or Eyes

Here is a selection of eyes to enjoy and a song to scroll to. All the names are in the tags if you are interested.

F’en birds

The Bird Weekly Photo Challenge – Birds that begin with an “F”

I think I might find a few birds with an “F” start

Grey Fantail
Grey Fantail with lunch
Rufous Fantail
Figbird male
Figbird female
Double-barred Finch
Red-browed Firetail Finch
Noisy Friarbird at lunch
Little Friarbird enjoying lunch too
Leaden Flycatcher male
Leaden Flycatcher female
Restless Flycatcher
Satin Flycatcher
Tawny Frogmouth

I spy a blue faced bird

Debbie Six Word Saturday

I was sitting in my office after a very hot day – 35C – working with my daughters partner on the back stairs that needed replacing when I heard this bird carrying on, a constant calling just outside. Looking up from the computer I saw a Little Friarbird, perhaps a young one, just calling non-stop for ages. Even getting up and close to the window didn’t deter this constant calling.

Debbie spied a little blue bird, mine was tapping on the window and calling spying on me.

This is August 2019

I am not really in the mood to write. The dry continued for all of August so my mood wasn’t all that enthusiastic to gather images around my place. I posted quite a number of images from here and for the photo challenges over the month and I haven’t, as usual, added them to this months wrap.

I am heartened by the caring responses from my “blog family” to my posts. Thank you for being there.

August was  my first month of being the Thursday Ragtag prompter sharing with Tracy. I was surprised at the number of people who responded with some great photos, writing and poetry.

OK lets go. I think you may need to go to the dunny and come back with a cup of tea/coffee or drink of choice, perhaps a snack or two depending on the time of day you are here.

I might start with some of the things I found at an auction which I didn’t know was happening. I was going to the farmers market for breakfast and a bit of food shopping.
One of the things I like to find and collect are boxes. Pity these were already sold or if they weren’t the auctioneer was a long way from this lot
box_american_oil_auction_named_lismore_august 2019

 

box_shell_shellite_kerosine_named_lismore_august 2019

 

A rather random group of itemslamp_red_road_auction_named_lismore_august 2019
Anyone have one of these at home?corn_husker_auction_named_lismore_august 2019
Up the road a ways is the town of Kyogle. We go there at least once a year in case something may be happening. On this day it was just us and the tumble weeds lol There is some nice gates though.gate_named_kyogle_august 2019
I was surprised by the number and variety of flowers in peoples garden as we walked about the back streetsflowers_garden_named_kyogle_august 2019

 

The bees were about tooflowers_garden_bee_native_named_kyogle_august 2019

I think this Salvia is called Hot Lips
flower_salvia_hotlips_named_kyogle_august 2019
I love this salviaflower_salvia_blue_named_kyogle_august 2019

More flowers for you to enjoy
flower_purple_named_kyogle_august 2019
flower_poppy_pink_named_kyogle_august 2019
flower_poppy_orange_named_kyogle_august 2019
flower_magnolia_named_kyogle_august 2019
The grevilleas are quite outstanding this year, except at my placeflower_grevillea2_named_kyogle_august 2019
flower_grevillea1_named_kyogle_august 2019
flower_gerbera_yellow_named_kyogle_august 2019
flower_gerbera_pink_named_kyogle_august 2019
flower_gerbera_orange_named_kyogle_august 2019
A lovely window box of daisiesflowers_window_box_named_kyogle_august 2019
These flowers were further north near a town called Murwillumbah where we went following the Mud Trail which was along the North Cost highlighting the pottery skills of the potters around here.flowers_named_murwillumbah_august 2019
My begonias are flowering but not as profusely as in previous yearsflower_begonia_named_home_jackadgery_august 2019
I was down at the waterhole digging out the silt to make the waterhole back to what it was years ago. While I was there I walked about and found this native plant about to flower despite the lack of rain and soil moistureflower_bud_native_named_home_jackadgery_august 2019
A black and white view of Kyogle from the Art Gallery kyogle_blackandwhite_named_august 2019

The lovely layers of blue you get from the vapours of Eucalypt trees
mountains_blue_layers_named_murwillumbah_august 2019
The bees are out collecting pollen and nectar from the flowersbee_grevillia_named_caniaba_august 2019
Look how full the pollen sacks are on the tiny Native Stingless Beestingless_native_bee_flying_rocket_flowers_named_caniaba_august 2019
While we were away for a few days we came across the flower gardens that had just been watered in Nelson Bayflower_water_drops_named_nelson bay_august 2019

I love finding cats in windows. This one was just moving on just as I saw it.
cat_window_named_kyogle_august 2019
Oh well a cats tail is still OKcat_tail_named_kyogle_august 2019
I just love this cows hair cutcow_gore_rd_named_springrove_august 2019
Down at the waterhole, the place where there has always been water on my place. This year it was the lowest I have ever seen it but the birds know where it is and flock there to get a drink or a bath. Time to get in……….fuscous_honeyeaters_bath1_waterhole_named_home_jackadgery_august 2019
…..and out againfuscous_honeyeaters_bath2_waterhole_named_home_jackadgery_august 2019
The Fuscous Honeyeaters seem to stay down this part of my place and don’t venture up near the house.fuscous_honeyeaters_wet_waterhole_named_home_jackadgery_august 2019
A Red-browed Firetail gets a drinkred_browed_firetail_finch_drinking_waterhole_named_home_jackadgery_august 2019

 

The whole flock of Fuscous Honeyeaters suddenly turned up much to the astonishment of a White-throated Honeyeaterbirds_waterhole_fucous_white-throated_honeyeaters_august 2019
Remember last month I told the story of the Willie Wagtails nest that was destroyed by something. Well they found a spot on the car port to rebuild their nestwillie-wagtail_nest_carport_named_caniaba_august 2019
The Willie Wagtails really can’t stand the Magpie getting close to their nest. Incoming!!!magpie_willie_wagtail_attack1_named_caniaba_august 2019

 

They really give the Magpie a hard time until it goes awaymagpie_willie_wagtail_attack2_named_caniaba_august 2019
The Welcome Swallows are also nesting at my bestieswelcome_swallow_nest_verandah_named_caniaba_august 2019
Here is three of the four chicks in the nest. Aren’t their fluffy heads adorable?welcome_swallow_nest_chicks_named_caniaba_august 2019
The Little Friarbirds have found the grevilleaslittle-friarbird_honey_gem_grevillea_named_caniaba_august 2019
An Olive-backed Oriel dropped into the birdbath for a whileolive_backed_oriel_birdbath_named_caniaba_august 2019
I found these Pelicans at the Lismore Waste Facility –  a fancy name for the rubbish dump pelicans_tip_named_lismore_august 2019
I felt for the birds and have put up a feeder which I put seed in every now and then. The King Parrots drop in for a snack when there is seed in there.king_parrot_juvenile_feeder_named_home_jackadgery_august 2019
The Brown Honeyeater has to stretch a bitbrown_honeyeater_honey_gem_grevillia_named_caniaba_august 2019
The Double-barred Finches are enjoying the grass seeddouble-barred_finch_grass_named_caniaba_august 2019
While we were travelling around we dropped into a small wetland that is surrounded by farm land. I was surprised to see a Black Swan paddling about.swan_black_wetland_named_casino_august 2019
At the wast facility the Black Kites are always wheeling about.black_kite_flying4_tip_named_lismore_august 2019
black_kite_flying3_tip_named_lismore_august 2019
black_kite_flying2_tip_named_lismore_august 2019
black_kite_flying1_tip_named_lismore_august 2019
I love seeing the flocks of Ibis as they fly over my besties place every afternoon on their way to their roost.ibis_flying_blue_sky_named_caniaba_august 2019
These Corellas loved it up a bit in Nelson Baycorellas_fig_tree_named_nelson_bay_august 2019
Is there anything a happy as an Australian Raven skipping down the hillraven_australian_jump_named_caniaba_august 2019
Our Moon and the cloudsmoon_half_clouds_named_caniaba_august 2019
Almost time for sunsetsunset_named_caniaba_august 2019
At this time of year the sun sets just on the hillsunset_orange_named_caniaba_august 2019
OK then, thanks for visiting and I hope you enjoyed your look at my This is August 2019grass_seeds_sunset_orange_named_caniaba_august 2019

 

Also for Su’s Changing Seasons

 

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.
clouds_named_home_sept 2018

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.
hibiscus_mangrove_named_brunswick heads_sept 2018

My besties Gymea Lily has flowered. This flower is about two meters plus in the air.
gymea_lily_flower_named_caniaba_sept 2018

Here is the whole photo. The plant is the strappy leaved one.
gymea_lily_flower spike_named_caniaba_sept 2018
This year has been a fabulous year for Grevilleas. The first flowering of this Grevillea in my garden.grevillea_flower_named_home_sept 2018

So many succulents are flowering too. This succulent is in a hanging pot on my verandah.
succulent_flower_named_home_sept 2018

I have these flowers in my garden but not in mass like a garden in Grafton.
flowers_named_grafton_sept 2018

My Begonias are flowering well this year too.
blog challenge_pink square_begonia_flower1

The Iris that is a reminder of my mate who passed on last September. This was one of his plants.
iris_purple_geoffs_named_home_sept 2018

The hanging Pelagoniums are a constant flower on my verandah.
180928_blog challenge_pink square_geranium_flower

I love this flower display on a stall at the Farmers Market in Lismore.
flowers_lismore_market_named_sept 2018

Flame Trees are spectacular when they flower. My poor struggling tree has started to flower even though it hasn’t had enough water.
flame tree_flowers_named_home_sept 2018

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.
dietes_flower_named_home_sept 2018

Bromiliads are flowering too. Some flowers are so wonderful aren’t they?
bromiliad_flower_named_home_sept 2018

Banksias are a sight when they flower
banksia_flower_named_brunswick heads_sept 2018

Back to the Farmers Market. I spotted this bloke carrying a large dog. I have no idea why as the dog has a lead.
man_dog_carry_named_lismore market_sept 2018

The Beetroot looked lovely
beetroot_lismore_market_named_sept 2018

The old truck of the vegetable farmer is a great vantage point to see when people drop food.
magpie_truck_lismore_market_named_sept 2018

Ah…look, an unattended fishers bucket.
gull_fishers_bucket_named_brunswick heads_sept 2018

Damn……I was spotted
gull_flying_fishers_bucket_named_brunswick heads_sept 2018

I love Gulls as they fly along the shore
gulls_flying_named_brunswick heads_sept 2018

The wooden walk bridge over the estuary so you can walk to the beach.
walk_bridge_named_brunswick heads_sept 2018

The White-faced Heron stalking crabs in the Mangroves
white faced heron2_crab_brunswick river_brunswick heads_sept 2018

Out to sea I spotted something breaking the water. I was hoping for a Whale and got a Dolphin.
dolphin_fin_named_brunswick heads_sept 2018

In the mist a ghost ship appeared
ship_ghost_named_brunswick heads_sept 2018

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.
helicopter_named_home_sept 2018

I guess the party is over. Found this on the track to the beach.,
party_abandoned_named_brunswick heads_sept 2018

The butterflies are starting to appear as well. The Line-blue Butterfly was rather shy.
line blue butterfly_named_home_sept 2018

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.
dragonflies_blue_tadpole_bleating tree frog_named_home_sept 2018

There is quite a number of tadpoles who like to snack on the algae.
tadpoles_bleating tree frog_named_home_sept 2018

Thee are calves in a lot of the paddocks. Who could resist a little white calf?
calf_white_named_caniaba_sept 2018
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.goats_kids_named_scribbly gum goat farm_jackadgery_sept 2018
Another young animal. This foal was camera shy but I managed to get one photo.foal_named_lismore_sept 2018
Why fly when you can get a lift.cattle egret_horse_named_lismore_sept 2018
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.yellow faced honeyeater_nest_material_named_home_sept 2018

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.
yellow faced honeyeater_named_home_sept 2018
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.welcome swallow_young_three_nest_named_caniaba_sept 2018
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.wedged tailed eagle_magpie_named_lismore_sept 2018

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.
sulpher created cockatoo_named_caniaba_sept 2018
Little Friarbirds are timid but enjoy the nectar of the Honey Gem Grevillea in my garden.little friarbird_honey gem_named_home_sept 2018

 

King Parrots  have set up their breeding pairs. This couple have taken up residence in the garden.king parrots_named_home_sept 2018

I had to include the Satin Bowerbird. Such a spectacular bird to have in the garden.
satin bowerbird1_named_home_sept 2018
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.great cormorant07_fish_clarence river_named_grafton_sept 2018
The Intermediate Egret has to have the longest neck I have ever seen.intermediate egret_named_caniaba_sept 2018
I think the horse may be in for a surprise!ibis_horse_named_lismore_sept 2018

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.
galahs_named_caniaba_sept 2018
The Figbird didn’t know I was under the tree.figbird_named_brunswick heads_sept 2018
Spring brings the Blue-faced Honeyeaters back to my place.blue faced honeyeater_named_home_sept 2018
My arty Pelican photopelican_reflection_named_brunswick heads_sept 2018
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.grey shrike thrush_named_home_sept 2018

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.

This is November: The birds

November saw a number of birds who came within my camera view. Many are regular visitors.

One “visitor” is my chook. This photo is through the door from my office. She likes to come looking for me and knocks on the door if I don’t pay her any attention.
chook_named_home_nov 2017

Another visitor is a King Parrot. When I am outside, he comes and sits nearby whistling to get my attention and to see if I may have some spare seeds.
king parrot01_named_home_nov 2017

I did a blog about Kurrie the Pied Currawong earlier in November. Here he is with his fluffy feathers
pied currawong chick01_named_binna burra_nov 2017

And calling to the parent for some food
pied currawong chick02_named_binna burra_nov 2017

Lewins Honeyeaters are the boss of my besties garden. They love the Blue Salvia flowers
lewins honeyeater_named_binna burra_nov 2017

When I was walking around Grafton, I spied a Forest Kingfisher. Soon his mate joined him. It’s amazing the variety birds that are in town.
forest kingfisher_named_grafton_nov 2017

We wondered why the birds are skittish in my besties garden every now and then. I spied a Black-shouldered Kite on the other side of the valley.
black shouldered kite_named_binna burra_nov 2017

With an abundance of Paperbark flowers, the Little Friarbird has a great selection to chose from.
little friarbird_paperbark flowers_named_home_nov 2017

A Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike was looking for a snack I think.
black faced cuckoo shrike_named_modanville_nov 2017

A Tawny Frogmouth was resting from its nocturnal hunting.
tawny frogmouth01_named_binna burra_nov 2017

The Red-browed Firetail was wondering
1. If the water was too deep
2. If the water was too cold
3. If there were too many leaves in the bird bath
red browed firetail_bird bath_named_binna burra_nov 2017

The Figbird kept a wary eye on my stalking through the garden.
figbird_named_home_nov 2017

The Eastern Yellow Robin after his bath. Bird baths are a great source for bird photos.
eastern yellow robin_birdbath_named_home_nov 2017

A seasonal visitor is the Leaden Flycatcher. The little bird hangs about for a week or so, chirping away and enjoying the garden
leaden flycatcher_named_home-nov 2017