Tag: orchard swallowtail butterfly

I really enjoy sitting down and writing. Something I haven’t done a lot of lately so this little bit of writing includes a lot of photos. I was intending to do a series of birdbath photos. Instead here is a selection of the two birdbaths, my besties birdbath and the small hanging pot that I found some of the birds at my place love to visit.

First off is the birdbath that has been a regular feature in a lot of my blogs. I still remember the first time I saw a Noisy Friarbird. They are so prehistoric looking. I tell visitors that they are Australia’s only vulture. Naughty aren’t I? Their songs are one of the most distinctive as they call in the bush. I love seeing them when two Noisy Friarbirds sing in unison, both doing the same movements as well.

The little Eastern Yellow Robin must have had a hot tail as he sat with his tail in the water for quite some time.

The White-browed Scrubwren was far more interested in what the other scrubwrens were doing underneath the birdbath.

“Oh for goodness sake, tidy yourself up!” The Spangled Drongos having a lovely time at the birdbath.

I wonder what the Little Wattlebird was giving the Drongo the stink eye about?

Here is the little hanging pot. One day the hole in the bottom was blocked with some leaves and dirt. It filled with water after the rain and I heard some birds having a good time, drinking and having a splash about. I sealed the bottom and now keep it filled with water. The small birds, especially the honeyeaters, are the ones who use it the most.

The White-throated Honeyeaters are regular users. They are here every afternoon to have a drink or a bit of a splash in the water.

One has a bath while the others keep a look out.

The Brown Honeyeater caught with his tongue out after taking a drink.

The Lewins Honeyeaters are in the garden most of the day. This one came for a drink in the middle of a rather warm March day.

Another tongue out shot. This time of a White-throated Honeyeater.

You can see why I need to keep the water up to the birdbath. The Lewins certainly enjoy a good splash.

The White-throated Honeyeaters are a bit more refined in their bathing habits.

I love seeing the little Thornbills in the garden. They always seem to have something to investigate.

The Whipbirds are always hiding behind something or rustling about in the garden under the bushes.

Enough of the birds. I also love Dragonflies. We were doing some bush regen down at the spring, when this Dragonfly took an interest in what we were doing. Yes, that is one of the lantana bushes he is sitting on that got pulled out.

After a bit more zooming around, I realised that he was doing something other than watching what we were doing. At least it reminded us to have a break and a snack.

Speaking of snacks. There was a loud buzzing and upon investigating, there was the fly caught in the web and a Daddy Long Legs getting ready to wrap the fly up for his dinner. Fly wrap anybody?

I don’t think it is fair to be called common but the butterfly world has many “common” butterflies. This Common Crow was very obliging to have its photo taken.

The Pentas are a great flowering shrub for butterflies.

Butterflies are so delicate as they stand on flowers to gather nectar.

Getting your proboscis right in there seems to be the way to go.

The Orchard Butterflies were in the garden a lot in march. These two were having a good time fluttering around the garden.

Quite often their dance became quite close and eventually there was a lot of blurred photos as they mated. As this isn’t one of “those” blogs I haven’t included the very blurry photos, mainly as they were very blurry

Aren’t they beautiful big butterflies?

Oh. That’s right. I did mention a snail didn’t I. One evening I went into the bathroom and saw something high up on the wall. The soft-shelled native snail was very shy and seemed to sense when I was close trying to get a photo and went into it’s shell. At least I know what was making holes in the leaves of the plant in the bathroom.

I am glad you have gotten to the end of one of the longest blogs I have done. Did you enjoy the journey? What was your favourite photo?