satin bowerbird – bushboys world

This is October 2018

Published on November 7, 2018November 7, 2018 by bushboy17 Comments

OK folks strap yourself in for this ride. You will need stamina, food, drinks and a possible toilet break as I have been unrelenting in snapping away with all manner of things. I was going to break the photos down into subject groups in separate posts, but I thought “What the heck, you can scroll through at your own pace.”

What better way to start the day (or post) than with a sunrise from my besties new place

Let’s start with things. I don’t know what to call this bunch of photos as they are different. Enough talk. Off we go!

I found these gelatinous blobs on the beach, hundreds of them. Perhaps baby jelly fish?

When you see a land form that resembles something else

The planes have been showing themselves a bit in October.

Just love these rock cliff, the colours and again, can you see a face?

The moss gave the tree a bit of a dress with a vine for dramatic effect.

More moss. This time at the waters edge at the beach

The rock pool took on an ethereal mood

Just the shelf at my besties place

When I put on this lamp, I just had to take the photo. Another shelf at my besties

October saw the rain come. This dam, I use the water around the house and garden, was about one-eighth full. Seeing the water flow into the dam cured my blues.

The waterhole on my place never is dry but came very close this year. Seeing it full again made me happy. I think the birds and animals are pleased as well

Waterfalls make such a soothing sound don’t you think? Even little waterfalls that help fill the waterhole.

Of course a bit of rain and sunshine brings out the fungi

Fungi of all shapes and colours. Some big….

…some small

and some are edible

I love Grass Trees. These are at a place called Naughtons Gap. They are bigger than some of the Grass Trees on my place.

A wonderful discovery was a whole street in Grafton lined with Bottle Trees. This will be investigated as to why and how and perhaps a bushboy post about the history of the Bottle Trees in Grafton may evolve.

The early morning dew and spiders webs. I can’t resist

Sitting having a cup of tea with my bestie when a large Skink wandered about the garden. Wonderful markings aren’t they?

Would you believe that this tree is called a Cheese Tree?

Just an ant having a swim. He did get out eventually.

The flower and a bee. The flower is on what is called a broad leaf weed which is supposed to be undesirable in a lawn. Look at the bees pollen sacks. I don’t think the bee would be as happy if the “weed” wasn’t there. Think before you mow please.

Just a feather

and another

The Forest Kingfishers have arrived. The male looked about for anything that moved in the grass or the garden.

The colours on his back are lovely.

This photo shows a bit more of the iridescence

Galahs are funny birds. This bloke is sitting on the stock trough on next doors place at my besties

It’s a bit of a way down to get a drink.

Another arrival in Spring are the Grey Shrike Thrush. They are in the trees around the garden and sing in the morning and in the afternoons. What a delight to have in my garden.

The Pied Currawong didn’t mind a bit of rain.

Doesn’t he look great. The black with the red of the Flame Tree

The Fig Bird was spotted eating Mulberries

So was his mate

A Coucal Pheasant came for a visit and sat high in the Gum Tree.

Later on, I think he was checking me out through the undergrowth.

Another October visitor, a Brown Honeyeater

He soon found the bird bath

The Blue-faced Honeyeaters have arrived in numbers to feast on the Honey Gem Grevillea

The female Blue-faced Honeyeaters also drop in for a snack

Remember the post about the Post where the Noisy Friar Bird was chased away by the Spangled Drongo. Here Rainbow Lorikeets get a serve from the Friar Bird. A bit of a peck to the head.

The Rainbow Lorikeets were a bit bemused by all the carry on.

A female Satin Bowerbird enjoyed the nectar in the Yamba Sunshine Grevillea.

But like everyone else, the Honey Gem Grevillea is the best place to get a meal.

Yellow-faced Honeyeaters seem to have a constant scowl on their faces.

I think this Yellow-faced Honeyeater spotted me and my camera
The gravity defying White-throated Treecreeper taken from the comfort of the chair in my office

They are lovely as they hop up and down the trees looking for something to eat.

Another photo from my office chair. I call this one, “I can see what you are doing” is what the King Parrot is saying.

A young King Parrot morphing into a male

Getting a good Eastern Rosella photo quest continues

Out for a drive, we spotted a smallish bird run across the road and into a paddock. A new bird has been seen, an Australasian Pipit.

On another adventure drive, we spotted flashes of green zooming across the road. A flock of Rainbow Bee Eaters were hanging about. This is a breeding pair

Aren’t the males colours amazing?

You may wonder why we are back at a couple of young King Parrots. I thought it was lovely to have them sitting on a hanging pot under the verandah, until I spotted what they were doing

Yes, these “lovely” young birds had eaten half of the succulents in the pot. All around the pot, the succulent trailed over the edge. Can you see the bit trailing over the edge now. This hanging pot is no longer hanging where pesky King Parrots can get at it.

Water drops and new growth

I love the colour of this Succulent. Was tempted to pinch a leaf or two

I love the colours in this photo of a Hanging Violet with red in the background

A lovely Native Geranium growing in the “lawn” Another reason not to mow

Pansies, pansies, pansies
and more Pansies
This year the Silky Oaks flowering was spectacular

A flower of a Succulent

The Budlea flower spike wonderful and smells delightful

Some of the Roses looked a treat this year

A pink Bottlebrush flower

The native water lillies on my dam. Water Snowflake

The rain knocked a lot of the flowers off the Flame Tree. The little cups filled with water

Some native flowers that grow on my place. This yellow beauty is Dogwood

I think this native flower is a Hairy Guinea Flower

I have been encouraging a lot of Egg and Bacon plant to grow on one part of my property. It’s spikey habit is good for protecting small birds when it is in a fairly dense thicket

Plus the flowers are lovely. You can see the sharp points in the leaves

A small pink Grevillea.

My besties flower beds are looking great

and yet more flowers
This flower has caused great excitement for me. This is the first time I have seen a Hakea Florulenta on my property.

Aren’t the tiny flowers delightful?

The early morning fog gives a sense of wonder to start the day

Of course when it rains, you also find rainbows. This one had a faint double above.

Well, the sun is setting and you have reached the end. Well done for sticking around to get to the end and thanks for having a look at my October 2018

Did you have a favourite photo?

Wordless Wednesday

Published on November 1, 2018November 8, 2018 by bushboy6 Comments

181031_wordless_wednesday_satin bower bird_honeygem

Comeback

Published on October 5, 2018 by bushboy3 Comments

The Ragtag Daily Prompt: Comeback
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181005_blog challenge_comback_satin bowerbird_bench_gone

This is September 2018

Published on October 4, 2018October 3, 2018 by bushboy7 Comments

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.

Vibrant Colours

Published on September 19, 2018October 6, 2018 by bushboy7 Comments

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Vibrant Colours

Some Australian birds definitely have vibrant colours. Which bird do you think has the vibrancy over the others?

A Rainbow Lorikeet having a snack on a Golden Penda

A King Parrot

A Golden Whistler

A Scarlet Honeyeater and a red Bottlebrush flower

A Forest Kingfisher

The Satin Bowerbird

Published on September 6, 2018September 20, 2018 by bushboy15 Comments

As I mentioned in last months This is August, I lamented the fact that the photo of the male Satin Bowerbird didn’t really do it justice. Luckily he came back when the sun was out and he shone in all his glory. Enjoy.

The purple eye is also a treat.

What once was a blue colour turns black at times

This is why he is called a Satin Bowerbird

The blue cascades down his back

The female has her own special look

The green may not shimmer in the light but the markings are lovely

Here is one of the bowers on my place. This is where some fancy dancing takes place with so many bits of blue scattered about for decoration.

My video in the garden of a young Bowerbird decorating a practice bower with a lot of song and dance

August at the Bird Bath

Published on September 1, 2018September 4, 2018 by bushboy15 Comments

There has been lots of activity at the bird bath. August was very dry so the water in the bird baths at home had to be replenished often. I have three bird baths around my house. This is what has been happening at just one.

This is the view I have of the bird bath from my verandah so it makes it easier to get a few photos. The birds still notice me and often fly off.

The King Parrots are easy to spot when they visit the bird bath.

When competing families arrive at the same time, a bit of arguing takes place.

Notice the look on the Yellow-faced Honeyeater on the left. They are the guardians of the bird bath and swoop in to scare other birds away. The Lewins Honeyeater was rather nonplussed at the Yellow-faced Honeyeaters presence.

The Silvereyes quite often arrive on mass

Looks like the White-throated Honeyeater is surrounded. One Yellow-faced Honeyeater has been in for a bath, no longer looking sleek.

I only just caught a Buff-rumped Thornbill who flew off before I could get set for another photo.

The Eastern Yellow Robin didn’t look pleased to have a post bath photo taken.

A typical stance of a Yellow-faced Honeyeater. The Eastern Yellow Robin didn’t care much while a White-throated Treecreeper waits his turn.

A Grey Fantail gets ready to get into the bird bath.

As usual, a White-throated Honeyeater waits out of sight when a gang of Yellow-faced Honeyeaters arrive at the bird bath.

I love the way the Treecreepers sit on the edge of the bird bath. He seems taken a back at the Yellow-faced Honeyeaters attitude.

Peace at last and time for a bath. Look at those feet, made for scaling vertical surfaces.

The White-throated Honeyeaters often arrive in numbers too.

How embarrassing seeing me like this the Eastern Yellow Robins seems to say as a flock of Silvereyes arrive.

A Scarlet Honeyeater watches on as the Silvereyes take a drink

The Red-browed Firetail Finch and Silvereye discuss their day while hanging around the bird bath.

The Eastern Spinebill was not sure about having a Yellow-faced Honeyeater at the bird bath.

The Noisy Friarbird isn’t the most handsome visitor to the bird bath

Pied Currawongs drop in from time to time. They have a disgusting habit of vomiting food pellets into the water before drinking necessitating in water changes.

The Female or Juvenile Satin Bowerbird love the bird bath.

They make a huge splash when the plop into the water.

The Male Satin Bowerbird is wonderful. The camera doesn’t quite catch the sheen and colour shifts from black to blue

The Rainbow Lorikeets are the most colourful visitors to the bird bath.

I hoped you enjoyed your visit to the bird bath. Did you have a favourite bird at the bird bath?

This is July 2018

Published on August 3, 2018August 30, 2018 by bushboy32 Comments

What a month July has been. I haven’t been inspired to take photos. I have had a general malaise that has not been inspiring to take many photo and some I have taken are not worth the effort to place in my blog. Sorry everyone. This is my mediocre blog for the year. I have had some special moments. My best mate and his partner came for a almost a week, my bestie arrived a few days later and my “twin” and I had a great birthday together. (look back into my blog to realise why or there is a recent blog on Meet the Bloggers blog if you want to read)

Enough of being maudlin Let’s get going for some of my world in July

I have found grass seeds are quite striking. Perhaps they need a blog of their own? This seed head is a variety called Summer Grass or perhaps a Couch. So many choices I give up

Same with this one. I liked trying to get a good photo of grass seed heads, perhaps I should have tried hared.

The low chill stone fruits are flowering. The Peach has a lovely amount of bees. Maybe more bees next time.

The spider webs have been looking nice in the mornings. Here is a love heart for you.

One of the rusty rooves that didn’t make it into Becky #RoofSquares photo challenges

At the Lismore Air Show, some Black Kites decided to join in the fun. A Kite with a Pit Special acrobatic aeroplane. I may do another blog on the Air Show.

I like this photo even though it’s not the best. It’s a bird, it’s a plane. Yes it certainly is.

This is what a Black Kite looks like

Some Sacred Ibis did a formation fly over too.

A usual winter visitor is the Satin Bowerbirds. When it gets cold in the mountains, they come to winter at my place. This male enjoyed an afternoon drink.

The females and juveniles have similar plumage. I think this is a female Satin Bowerbird.

Enjoying a bath.

Looks like a grumpy Pied Currawong didn’t want me around.

Eastern Spinebills are lovely to have around the garden. Their distinctive wing clicking lets me know when they are around.

The Eastern Spinebill has found a potted Grevillea and has made the Grevillea its own feeding place.

It looks like there is no communication when the bird bath has to be shared. A White-throated Honeyeater and a White-throated Treecreeper aren’t talking this afternoon.

A Spotted Pardalote enjoyed a moment to itself.

A new visitor to my garden is a Striated Pardalote. Here looking at me as I was at my desk taking photos through the glass door.

I had four Pied Butcher Birds having a look for insect when I was cutting firewood. The sound of the chainsaw brought them to examine what I was doing.

A female Golden Whistler loved being in the garden. Often seen swooping through the sprinklers when I was watering the garden.

I often neglect some birds as I see them all the time. The little White-throated Honeyeaters love my garden.

My mission for August will be to get some good photos of Eastern Rosellas.

The wonderful Winter visitor to my garden is the Rose Robin. Such a lovely sight as he flits through the garden.

The photo I used in an earlier blog. Just had to include this again. What a lovely bird to have in my life.

The sun is setting so almost time to say goodnight or good morning, depends on where you are in this world.

This time of year, it is time to harvest sugar cane. Some cane farmers still burn the cane prior to harvest. This is the view of the cane fires from my besties garden.

The last light is almost upon us so I guess I’ll see you later.

See you later. Say G’day. I would love to hear from you.

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

This is October: Part Four

Published on November 9, 2017November 9, 2017 by bushboy4 Comments

Of course Part Four would have to be the birds of October.

On the Queensland expedition we came across a huge flock of Cormorants and Pelicans on the edge of Somerset Dam.

On a bit of a chilly day the Cormorants were a bit sleepy in Ballina.

So were the Pelicans

The Satin Bowerbird has been busy collecting his blue bits and pieces to decorate his Bower. This is the fifth year this Bower has been used in the bush at my place.

Of course who could forget Brendan the Bush Turkey. Here he is on his mound he has built for the females to lay their eggs in. The mound is about 2 meters tall. Brendan does a great job of raking the leaves.