rainbow lorikeet – bushboys world

This is April 2019

Published on May 2, 2019May 1, 2019 by bushboy15 Comments

Well hello and welcome to my world in April. What started out as an uninspired photography month suddenly came alive at the end. I was thinking that I would have to tell you that a quick flick and scroll was all that was needed earlier in April. I have included a number of photos of the same subject as I couldn’t pick the one that satisfied my desire to give you something that was a wow or hmmmm that’s interesting.

A lack of rain at the beginning of the month probably assisted my malaise and desire to get out and about. With a lack of rain also brings about a lack of insects, birds and the garden suffered. I did a bit of travelling around so there is some things I found from other parts of New South Wales.

I have put some of the April finds in other blogs. Some are repeated here but I have excluded others to make your checking out a bit less time consuming. So I do recommend a good cuppa or drink of choice as a lot of you are either sitting up late or just having breakfast. This is what makes blogging so good that you may be in any part of this world and I can show you a bit of mine. Enough blah blah blah, let’s get going if you are ready.

May as well start at sunrise

One foggy morning while at a friends place in Springwood, the sounds of a helicopter broke the morning silence.
We are going to stay in Springwood for a while. We went to the Norman Lindsay Gallery and studio. The grounds were full of sculptures including these ones. Norman Lindsay wrote a book called the Magic Pudding in 1918 The story is about a pudding no matter how often it is eaten, always reforms in order to be eaten again. This is Albert, the Magic Pudding.

Bunyip Bluegum, the Koala, and Benjamin Brandysnap plus Sam Sawnoff and other animals and people who own the pudding have to defend the pudding from being stolen by Pudding Thieves who want it for them selves

Part of one of the sculpture/fountains

My friends garden is quite spectacular. There were some butterflies like the Blue Triangle Butterfly who is a bit ragged resting on a Zinnia.
It did rain a bit while we were there putting water droplets on the Pelargonium
An Eastern Spinebill enjoyed the Grevilleas

So did the New Holland Honeyeater. A very striking bird.
Had to include a side view
I really like this capture so in it came.

The cooler weather of the mountains hadn’t quite began so the fungi were still about

I like Hydrangeas. This was a small flower head but has delicate colours.

Now for a bit of the flowers at my place as the sporadic rain over the past couple weeks bought out some Autumn flowers, like this Camellia

This red Hibiscus is from a cutting of my childhood home, one of my Mothers favourites.
All around the garden Impatiens self seed and they pop up in many places
Over at my besties place the Zinnias are a riot of colour
The Echinacea had it’s petals eaten by a grasshopper probably but the centre caught my eye.
A post with flowers would be the same without Pentas flowers and a Blue-banded Bee
Bees aren’t the only pollinator. A beautiful iridescent fly helps a Zinnia along
At The Channon Markets (a Which Way a while ago) a stall had Pitcher plants

in all manner of colour and shape

While on the way home from the markets, we stopped off at Rocky Creek Dam (a Silent Sunday post and the Featured Image taken with my phone) where the water lillies looked fabulous

I loved their reflections

While we are around the water, A Broad-palmed Rocket Frog likes to hang around the pot plants on my front verandah

I am not sure what this small flower is. It was growing on the small dune at the beach.
My besties Red Eucalypt is starting to flower possibly a Corymbia ficifolia.
While at the beach last weekend, yes a almost Summers day in Autumn around 28C, I came across some Small Grass Yellow Butterflies

While we are at the beach, here are some views. We climbed among the dunes to get to Broadwater Beach. In the distance, looking south, is Chinamans Beach where we often go.

The north view. The disappointing thing is the wheel tracks made by (*insert appropriate word) people who drive their stupid four wheel drive oversized pieces of junk along this beach. As you enter the walking track, there is a sign that tells you that there are protected birds who nest on the sand plus the other creatures who live in the sand, crabs plus other microscopic beings and that us walkers don’t disturb the ecology but these dickheads barge their way along the sand. Look how deep those wheel tracks are!!! Sorry please enjoy the view.
The seas were quite big. This rocky part of the headland at Boulder Beach is about 4-5 meters high.
Can you see it now!!!
One of my favourite photos is Pelicans on the light poles. The bridge has four sets of lights and every one has Pelicans. The best spot is on the light itself where a boss male sits. Further towards the bendy end is a juvenile Pelican.

Upstream of the bridge, a couple of Pied Oystercatchers sat on the sand bar.

A Silver Gull was keeping an eye on the picnickers in the park in case a chip dropped onto the ground
A White-faced Heron came to Chinamans Beach looking for a seafood dinner

I loved finding the Sooty Oystercatchers at the beach. A post with more photos of Sooty Oystercatchers here in case you missed it.

I am not sure if it was the same White-faced Heron at Boulder Beach too.

The White-faced Heron and Sooty Oystercatcher didn’t get along and avoided each other.

The cliff face at Boulder Beach has what could be Ironstone in it. It certainly looked rusty

Now for a bit of reflection. Still with me?

Speaking of rust, one of my favourite things to photograph. This old door had some wonderful rusty bits
Isn’t the sliding lock marvellous?

While at the Farmers Market, I wondered why there seemed to be more cars than usual. There was the Annual Lismore Poultry Show on. Of course because I love chooks I had to go and have a walk around. Here are some of the chooks I found, some of the more unusual ones to say the least. I don’t know all of the breeds as some I have never seen before like this one who looks like it just got out of bed.

A fabulous hat
Lace Wyandottes are one of my favourite chooks, ever so pretty.
I don’t think I have ever seen such a fat chook and purple to boot!!!
Some feathers seem to have a life of their own

So alien

A rooster who kept an eye on what was going on
Speaking a Roosters. Prehistoric is the only word that comes to mind. I couldn’t get the whole chook in the photo

Ducks always make me smile

One morning at my besties there was a cacophony of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos. The flock was around twenty who all were squawking as they flew about.

They all stopped in a tree on the hill a bit of a way away. The quality of the photos isn’t that good as it was early morning and the photos are hand held but I had to capture their antics in the trees.

I thought this one was going to do forward rolls.

OK it’s almost night time, our Moon is on the rise among the clouds
The Night Spider has spun it’s web near the light to catch an insects who come to the light.

The centre of the web is a bit ratty

Our Moon is looking lovely and shining a bright light so you can see your way home

I gotta go…..see you later I hope

Bright colours

Published on February 24, 2019 by bushboy13 Comments

The Weekly Photo Challenge prompt from Jenn: Bright Colours

This is December 2018

Published on January 2, 2019January 16, 2019 by bushboy41 Comments

First of all, thanks to everyone who has been part of my life this year. I have enjoyed sharing my part of this world with you. Your comments and feedback has been quite overwhelming at times. I take photos because I enjoy the results I achieve. I have a basic Canon PowerShot SX60HS which takes great macros, amazing telephotos and does everything I could ask, except focus where I want sometimes. Even then the capture can be a photo that goes into my Arty Ones folder. Some of those are posted in a recent photo challenge – Abstract.

On to December. This month was taken up in part with Becky’s great square format photo challenge #timesquare The featured image is one of the photos from Beckys challenge. Sometime last year I made a suggestion for the challenge which I cannot remember.

I have tried to cut down the number of photos but again it may be a bit of long read, so a drink, perhaps a snack may be in order. All settled back and ready. Join me in looking at This is December 2018
Sunrise is always a good place to start

The wind blew the grass seed heads

One morning, the tiny Line-blue Butterflies were all over the grass area while we were having breakfast. They loved the clover flowers.

A Blue-banded Bee made a morning ritual of visiting the Chinese Lantern flowers. I never was ready to get that photo.

A delicate flowering plant we were told was called Herb Robert. A lovely flower and bud.

A Mistletoe Bird was a visitor for a few days

After the demise of the terracotta bird bath, a tempory replacement was found. A Rainbow Lorikeet looks unsure.

Since the hatching of the Brown Honeyeaters, they have stayed around the garden. This is one of their favourite sitting places in the morning.

Luckily one of the Grevilleas is flowering for them.

I love it when you can see our Moon during the day.

Many people call Dandelions weeds. The flowers add a great splash of colour in the garden.

The Bees love the flowers too. Look at how much pollen has been gathered into the bees pollen sacs.

I think it is wonderful.

A Pumpkin display at the markets. So many varieties to choose from.

This van belongs to one of the market stall holders at The Channon markets. I would love this van.

Now Summer is here and it is hot and dry, the birds have to share the bird bath.

Coming in for a landing

“I made it safely….so what are you looking at?”

The Brown Honeyeaters. An adult and one of the young ones. Always look up to your elders.

This is my bird bath the Magpie Lark (or better known as Pee Wee) is telling everyone.

A spot of grub hunting has paid off.

The Cape Chestnut Tree at The Channon Market was in full bloom.

Now for a couple of native flowers I found at my daughters place. I looked in my books to try and identify so I could tell you their names, but wasn’t successful. I will have to ask an ecologist who said I could send him photos and he would try to tell me their names. Isn’t this one pretty?

Like the above flower, most native flowers are quite small. The one above was about 10 to 15mm from petal tip to petal tip. This little flower is about 5mms

Another tiny flower with an amazing structure

Such a delicate ball of even smaller flowers. Each ball is around 10-15mm in diameter.

The Stingless Native Bees just love the native flowers. The flower seems huge compared to the bee
The start of Summer. The Frangipanni flowers around the garden are stating to emerge.

I love the soft pink and yellow of this Frangipanni flower which has a heavenly fragrance.

The pinks and yellows of this one are much more stronger.

The Pink Frangipanni is stunning.

This Poinciana tree I see on the way home was the best I have seen.

The tiny flowers of one of the Tea Trees I have in my garden is waiting for the bees.
This year, my Agapanthus flowers were the best flowering ever. All through the garden was spots of white and blue
One of the blues.

The tree Begonia decided to have another flowering this December.

I have a number of Datura Erecta plants around the garden. The berries looked lovely one morning. I think they may be poisonous as nothing seem to eat them.

If anyone would, it would be a Fig Bird, seen here keeping an eye on me as I walked about.

The King Parrots are starting to want some food as a couple of people who fed them in the street have since moved on. I give them a small amount of wild bird mix occasionally. Actually I hadn’t been home for a couple of days and this bloke came to the verandah and whistled to get my attention

A migratory visitor to my place are Leaden Flycatchers, This female was scouting the verandah for a snack. Yes a photo taken while I was inside at my desk.

One afternoon as I drove through the front gates, a Forest Kingfisher swooped in front of me and sat in the tree, almost like a welcome home.
The Australian Air force is saying goodbye to the fleet of Orions. One of the planes is going to an Air Museum at Evans Head. It flew into Lismore. This was taken from my besties backyard.

The old swimming pool, which is now a frog pond of sorts, is host to so many water insects and frogs. One of the frog species in the pool is the Perons Tree Frog. I think this may be one just emerging from tadpole to frog.

I am unsure who these beastly looking gang are. Hopefully are dragonflies.

Christmas is always a wonderful time in December. I wasn’t in a Christmas mood this year. My bestie had some decorations at her place. An op-shop angel and some lights looked great.

An Australian Lilli Pilli tree in the corner with some little lights mad the room look bright.

The Full Moon, just before Christmas Day was big and bright.

One of the photo challenges was Abstract – see the opening words – I didn’t include this Moon photo as I thought it was rather special and needed to be in my monthly wrap-up post.

I didn’t have my tripod so just had to have a go hand held. At least one turned out OK lol

Summer arrives and the plants start to thrive so along come the Grasshoppers to have a snack. This one likes Basil….or used to.

Another little Grasshopper from my daughters place. Her garden hasn’t been attacked yet.

The Ponytail Palm has so many flowers, the bees don’t know where to begin. I walked outside and the buzzing was quite loud I looked up and the flower spikes were full of bees.

The Blue-banded bee I couldn’t get in the Chinese Lantern Flower didn’t escape my attention as it buzzed about the Basil flowers.

The Hover Fly loved the garden too

The Palm Trees, the water and the ripples

Late afternoon looking from my besties verandah across the paddocks

The December sun is almost set.

Goodbye December and 2018.

Thanks for being a part of my world. I hope to see you again in 2019.

Orange

Published on September 13, 2018 by bushboy12 Comments

It may seem I have an obsession with colours over the past month. The Tuesday word prompt from Ragtag Daily Prompt: Orange

There are many an orange fungi

I love the burst of colour when the Orange Hippeastrums appear in my garden.

The Orange Trumpet flower looks lovely as it is draped over the old shed.

The favourite Grevillea, Honey Gem, of the birds, insects and me.

Another star of the garden

The Leopard Lily adds a splash of colour to my garden.

I can’t remember where I found this or what the name of flower is, just a great bit of orange.

I said there was more orange fungi. These tiny ones pop up through the grass around the garden after some good rain.

The Dragonfly has a hint of orange

Just had to include a bird. The Rainbow Lorikeet has such a vivid orange chest.

A small Orange Palm Dart Butterfly

This is June 2018

Published on July 5, 2018July 26, 2018 by bushboy13 Comments

Welcome to my world in June. Not an abundance of photos this time but I do recommend getting comfortable. June was the month where my bestie sold her 103 year old farmhouse in a Rain-forest, where a lot of bird bath and bird photos came from, and moved into her new place which is similar to my climate. It is a newish house but has a bird bath and a great bird attracting garden. So far we have identified 38 birds, some are in this post. As you can see I have been a bit busy helping move house.

The house is still in a rural setting.
cow_clothes line_named_caniaba_june 2018

This is my first attempt at photographing Dandelion seed heads.
dandelion seed head_named_caniaba_june 2018

One afternoon the sky became fierce looking. Quite an angry face looking out isn’t it?
cloud_named_caniaba_june 2018

The early morning at my place walking through the Blady Grass. It was very dry in the previous months. Green shoots struggled to grow among the dry brown grass.
blady grass_named_home_june 2018

This native plant is growing in the middle of a paddock. The Autumn saw the stalk covered in white flowers. I hope the seeds have spread and not harvested by ants.
seed pods_plant_named_home_june 2018
June is the month for the Lismore, a town nearby, Lantern Parade. I didn’t get many good parade photos. There were a number of Orchid lanterns hanging in the trees in the park where the show and fireworks took place. lantern_named_lismore_june 2018
The fireworks were quite spectacular. fireworks_named_lismore_june 2018

While my bestie was moving house, I was given some, OK a lot, of plants to look after. The Kalenchoe loved being in my sun room and has put on a wonderful display of flowers.
kalenchoe flower_named_home_hune 2018
Winter has also brought some other visitors into the house. I usually have native rodents come into the warmth. I have a trap to catch them and then they get taken back into the bush. This time I have had a House Mouse or two in the pantry. This little fat one, I suspect to be a pregnant female, was relocated up the road. mouse_named_home_june 2018
This is the big section of birds for the month of June

The little Silvereyes have really taken to the hanging pot bird bath and drinking place.
silvereyes_hanging pot_named_home_june 2018

The other bigger birds prefer to use this bird bath. A female or juvenile Satin Bowerbird was chatting to someone nearby.
satin bowerbird_female_bird bath_named_home_june 2018

A Yellow-faced Honeyeater takes a drink.
yellow faced honeyater_named_home_june 2018

A Yellow-faced Honeyeater at my besties has claimed this branch of a tree.
yellow faced honeyeater_named_caniaba_june 2018

There has been quite a number of Yellow-rumped Thornbills around my garden
yellow rumped thornbill_named_home_june 2018

A very cute looking Jackie Winter enjoyed the morning sun on the fence.
jackie winter_named_home_june 2018
While we were walking along a road, we came across a small flock of Variegated Fairy Wrens darting in the grass beside the road. A young one made an appearance on a nearby tree. vareigated fairy wren_young_named_caniaba_june 2018

Of course I couldn’t let a post go past without my favourite, an Eastern Yellow Robin. Sadly we had to leave Bobbin behind so maybe this one at my place will be the the new substitute. I haven’t found the right name yet. Any suggestions?
northern yellow robin_named_home_june 2018

One afternoon a small flock of Red-browed Firetails came looking for grass seeds in the front garden.
red browed finches_named_home_june 2018

A young Lewins Honeyeater found a great lookout atop a red flowering Eucalypt.
lewins honeyeater_red gum flowers_named_caniaba_june 2018

The Rainbow Lorikeets came for the Eucalypt flowers too.
rainbow lorikeet_named_caniaba_june 2018

A Rufous Whistler singing an early morning song
rufous whistler_named_caniaba_june 2018

It was lovely to have a welcome to the new place with a number of Welcome Swallows who zoom around the verandahs and sit on the fence to do their laundry.
welcome swallow_named_caniaba_june 2018

Another bloke who likes to sit on the fence to survey the lawn for insects is the Restless Flycatcher. They make the most amazing sound. I tried to make a video but it wasn’t the best sound quality.
restless flycatcher_named_caniaba_june 2018

An Eastern Rosella wanted to see what we were doing in the new garden.
eastern rosella_named_caniaba_june 2018

At my place, a number of Noisy Miners were carrying on. They didn’t like the Kookaburra being too close to their nests.
kookaburra_noisey minors_named_home_june 2018

I thought it was going to be a cold night after finding a Kookaburra family cosying up for the night in the late evening.
kookaburras_named_lilydale_june 2018

A Pacific Black Duck showing a flash of turquoise as it paddled on the creek.
pacific black duck_named_caniaba_june 2018

A young Straw-necked Ibis didn’t want me to take its photo as it strolled in a nearby paddock.
Ibis_named_caniaba_june 2018

This bloke didn’t seem to mind though.
straw necked ibis_named_lismore_june 2018

The Sacred Ibis look wonderful as they wheel about in the sky
ibis_flying_named_lismore_june 2018

A Common Tern was fishing down by the estuary. Gliding along and then suddemly plumetting into the water. I didn’t see it catch a fish though.
common tern_flying_named_ballina_june 2018

The Moon and a plane.
plane_moon_day_named_caniaba_june 2018

Well the sun is almost setting. Thanks for joining me in This is June
sunset_named_caniaba_june 2018

Hope to see you next month

One day in the Pink Euodia

Published on August 22, 2017 by bushboy19 Comments

I just had to do another blog for Franks Tuesday Photo Challenge: Pink

The Pink Euodia, an Australian native tree in my garden, attracts birds when the beautiful flowers are blooming.

Here is a Rainbow Lorikeet enjoying the flowers
170822_blog challenge_pink_pink euodia_rainbow lorikeet

The delightful Scarlet Honeyeater loves the pink blossoms
170822_blog challenge_pink_pink euodia_scarlet honeyeater

The birds of June

Published on June 30, 2017August 17, 2017 by bushboy21 Comments

It may be Winter, but here, it is the time when birds drop in on their way north to build their strength for the next part of their journey, or stay for the winter in the warm days on the North Coast. The nights can get cold but the days are usually in the low 20’s C with the warmth of sunshine and the number of plants that flower in late Autumn and Winter makes it a good place to stop off. This is not a complete record of birds as there have been birds who I haven’t managed to get in my lens plus there has been some who have just been to fast for me to photograph. Yes I have quite a number of photos of empty branches!!!

This first gallery of photos are the birds from my place.

The White-throated Honeyeaters arrive in the morning and in the afternoon with their chirp chirp chirp as they set about diving into the birdbath or pool to have their bath.

The Yellow-faced Honeyeaters arrive from down south, some stay while others in the flock fly further north.

The Blue-faced Honeyeaters come and go all year depending on what food is available. The Honey Gem Grevillea has finally started to flower after a long dry hot Summer. Look at the pollen dust on his head.

The little Eastern Spinebills are here with the distinctive clicking of their wings as they zip around the garden and their calls echoing in the gullies.

You can judge their size by comparing with the Blue-faced Honeyeater and Grevillea flower above. They really stretch to reach the blossoms at times.

Their plumage is quite pretty don’t you think?

I don’t include many photos of the female Golden Whistler but this one is so cute. They are around the place all year round with their repetitive call which can sound like a squeaky wheel, at times up to twenty single notes.

They also like to land on the side of trees and have a look around.

As do the White-throated Treecreepers who just hop up and down the trees looking for insects under the bark. They have a similar call to the Yellow Robins but not as persistent.

They also like to defy gravity as the give the trees a very thorough checking over.

The tiny Red-backed Fairy Wrens like to explore the lower parts of the forest eating grass seeds and insects foraging among the grass stalks. The Jenny Wren has good camouflage.

The Silvereyes are migrants who stop for a few weeks to gather their strength for their next leg of their journey north.

They are another of the tiny birds around here.

The Red-browed Firetails are another constant visitor to the bush as they move about in small flocks looking for grass seeds. This is a young one as the red brow isn’t as prominent as the adults.

The tiny Striated Thornbills are always around the garden and in the gullies around the house.

They love the birdbath.

Someone who I haven’t seen for quite a while has turned up this month and has been around the garden early in the morning and in the gullies during the day. The Spotted Pardalote digs a tunnel in the side of the gully to make it’s nest. They are so pretty aren’t they?

I think this one saw me as I snuck along the verandah for a better photo.

They can be quite vocal too.

The sounds of Kookaburras signal the start and end of every day. There are about three families that live in the bush around the house and sometimes the cacophony of up to five or six Kookaburras can be quite deafening.

After I took this photo I noticed that there was another two sitting nearby in separate trees. All of a sudden they all flew off into the forest disappearing among the trees.

This next gallery are from my besties place.

The Lewins Honeyeater is the boss of my besties garden. They swoop on most other birds that dares to come into the garden. The Lewins at my place aren’t as bossy.

Can you spot the Varied Triller?

The Grey Fantails are always doing their acrobatic flying around the place catching insects on the wing. A very serious looking bird.

The Golden Whistler is always around the garden and nearby rainforest singing its lovely song.

My besties place is surrounded by rainforest so she has more doves and pigeons than I do at my place. The White-headed Pigeon has a deep sounding whoomp whoomp call. They also fly about in large flocks.

The Brown Pigeon didn’t want its photo taken.

There is always up to ten bar-shouldered Doves foraging on the ground in the garden looking for pecans that have fallen from the tree.

The Whipbirds also enjoy foraging among the leaves for pecans.

While high in the trees the Figbirds look for seeds as well as pecans. This female Figbird found the seeds of an Umbrella Tree.

The male Figbird was more interested in pecans.

The Green Catbird is also interested in pecans. Not long after this photo was taken, so was the pecan.

Another recipient of the fallen pecans is the large Brush Turkey. His strong beak breaks open the pecans and often leaves small pieces behind for the other birds to eat. This one we call Brendan who has taken over the garden and has a mound nest almost one meter tall in the front garden. One day I’ll try to get a photo of Brendan and his mound.

The most exciting discovery was finding a Regent Bowerbird just on the edge of the garden late one afternoon. I only managed to get a couple of bad photos but had to share in my excitement.

We went to Byron Bay one day to shop as we haven’t been for ages and Winter is a good time as the number of tourists is halved at least. The Golden Pendas are in flower and the Rainbow Lorikeets were having a great time screeching at each other.

And of course there are always chooks foraging around both our gardens.

That is a snapshot of some of the birds around here in June. My June photo round-up probably won’t have any birds this year. Hopefully I’ll get to that by next week.

Thursdays Special: Vernal

Published on May 11, 2017June 7, 2017 by bushboy19 Comments

What a great photo challenge from Lost in Translation. Vernal is an inspirational adjective bringing thoughts of Spring – it’s colours and promise of life. It is the middle of Autumn here in Australia, so my selection of photos are from last years spring. Hoping it brings joy to you and your Spring.

The blossoms of the nectarine tree in the early morning

nectarine tree_named_home_july 2016

Of course what would blossoms be without bees

bee_nectarine blossoms_named_home_july 2016

The little native Blue-banded Bee loves to scrunch to get the nectare

blue-banded-bee_blue-ginger_named_home_dec-2016

and of course there are butterflies everywhere in my garden

caper-white-butterfly05_named_home_oct-2016

butterfly01_pentas_named_binna burra_march 2016

butterfly_named_lismore_dec 2015

The birds come for the flowers too

Yellow-tufted Honeyeater

yellow-tufted honeyeater_named_home_may 2015

Eastern Spinebill

eastern spinebill_named_home_may 2015

Scaly-breasted Lorikeet

scaly-breasted lorikeet_named_home_feb 2015

Musk Lorikeet

musk lorikeet02_named_home_feb 2015

Rainbow Lorikeet

rainbow lorikeet01_named_home_feb 2015

Scarlet Honeyeater

scarlett honeyeater01_named_home_feb 2015

jupiter najnajnoviji

Tuesdays Photo Challenge: RBG

Published on April 26, 2017June 7, 2017 by bushboy20 Comments

What a photo challenge!!!! How many photos have Red, Green and Blue colours? I am sure I can find some as I enjoy taking photos of birds and many Australian birds are quite colourful.

But first the jumping castle at the markets certainly has the colours.

bangalow-market_named_bangalow_jan-2017

The Chinese Lantern flower with a background of leaves and sky.

chinese-lantern_named_home_sept-2016

A Blue-faced Honeyeater and the Bottlebrush flower

blue faced honeyeater_named_home_aug 2016

A Rainbow Lorikeet among the Bottlebrush blossoms

rainbow lorikeet01_named_home_aug 2016

The Orchard Butterfly enjoys my garden.

orchard butterfly01_home_named_march 2016

The Musk Lorikeet about to take off.

musk lorikeet02_named_home_feb 2015

The lovely Eastern Rosella striking a pose.

eastern rosella02_binna burra_named_feb 2014

The feathers of a rooster who used to strut about my place. (More about the rooster here)

Look here to see other photos in the Tuesday Photo Challenge RGB https://dutchgoesthephoto.net/2017/04/25/tuesday-photo-challenge-rgb/

This is my August

Published on August 31, 2016 by bushboy5 Comments

August. The final days of winter and the early spring flowers begin to emerge. The weather has been so nice, typical north coast days of mid twenties with cool nights. The nights are cool at my place especially as the cold breezes blow down the Gibraltar Ranges bringing quite chilly evenings and mornings. Didn’t get below zero degrees at the house this winter but there were frosts in the lower part of my property.

As usual, we have been driving around just checking out our world, discovering new things and rediscovering stuff. On one such drive-about, we came across some little Brown Quails warming in the afternoon sun by the side of a back road near Billen Cliffs

Quail are such funny looking birds but have a certain amount of cuteness that makes you smile when you find them bustling about.

The sun was almost set when a cacophony started heading toward us as we stopped at my besties house. The Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos had come from the pine forest and up to the gums around the house to roost for the night. There were around twenty to thirty birds squawking in the trees. It was getting dark and I was surprised that I managed to get a photo.

At my place, there has been activity among the trees as some of the eucalypts, Tallowwoods and Bloodwoods, are flowering. Most of the birds are here nearly all year round. The Yellow-faced Honeyeaters can be heard chip chip chipping away during the day.

It seems like I have a photo of an Eastern Yellow Robin in most of my blogs but they are such a lovely little bird. This time here is a rear view for a change.

The Grey Fantails are so busy swooping around the garden.

I was sitting in the study when a bird flew up and down the verandah. It didn’t sit still for very long (I have another entrant in “this is where the bird was a second ago” photos). The Spotted Pardalote sat still long enough for a photo through the glass door.

The King Parrots always drop by and have a look through the door to see what I am doing!!!

My besties bird bath has been the source of so many bird photos. The little Striated Thornbill looks like it saw me as it landed on the bird bath.

One drive took us to Ballina where a late lunch of fish and chips by the estuary near where we have a swim in summer. The tide was out and there were a number of waders way out sifting the sand for their lunch. This Masked Lapwing patrolled the area of sand in front of us, wandering up and down. It was funny to see it on the sand and not walking around the grass in the park.

The White-faced Heron was always finding something to eat as it wandered with purpose on the sands.

In a nearby tree, a Little Cormorant gave me a suspicious look, but still sat looking over the estuary.

The butterflies are just starting to be a regular sight in the garden. Don’t you think that the Orange Streaked Ringlet looks rather angry? I liked the colours as it sat on one of the garden ornaments.

One morning the sun filtered through the trees and highlighted some spider webs in the garden. I just had to stop washing up and grab my camera.

I don’t normally have such luck with spider web photos but these two really made my day.

One afternoon driving home along the Gwydir Highway, I spotted something out of the corner of my eye as I went over the Tindal Bridge. I was sure it was Wedged-tailed Eagles but they were sitting on the ground not far from the edge of the road. See my last blog on the Wedged-tailed Eagles if you haven’t already seen it. When they took to the sky it was a magnificent sight.

At my place, the Red-necked Wallabies are always hanging around. This morning, the young Joey was being brave, until they sensed I was watching from the kitchen window. Some days they Joeys have a great time hopping about. A while ago this Joey was having a great time.

“Is he still there Mum?”

“Oh dear. I better hide so he won’t see me!”

The Joey finally decided to sit in the warming morning sun to contemplate the day ahead.

The Bottlebrush had so many flowers this year, it was a magnet for the birds. The Friarbirds had taken over the garden and spent a lot of time chasing the other birds from the Grevilleas and this Bottlebrush. The bees in the Bottlebrush made the garden buzz

Guess who came in for a snack?

The Rainbow Lorikeets certainly add a splash of colour to the garden.

The Friarbirds look so prehistoric don’t they?

The little Yellow-faced Honeyeaters were also chased about by the Friarbirds.

The Blue-faced Honeyeaters didn’t care either way when the Friarbirds carried on. At the Honey Gem Grevillea, their don’t care attitude was evident in The Battle for the Grevillea

Well the sun is going down……….

…….and the Moon is on the rise. Thanks for reading

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