Author: glenys mahler

I live in Patho, Australia.

Eye spy

November 14, 2020

Eye spy with my little eye, something hiding in a burrow.

No, don’t notice me. Maybe if I stay here really still I’ll be safe.

Or maybe not!

Aquilegia

November 13, 2020

I usually have trouble growing these, but this year I have this one plant with this beautiful flower.

Two Little Birds

November 12, 2020

I heard them before I saw them, two little birds safely high up in a gum tree. No wonder they’re called Noisy Miners.

What a cute little pair.

I wonder what they were saying to each other.

Yes they are really good friends

Bee-eaters in the air

November 11, 2020

I finally managed to capture a bee-eater in flight. These two got my attention. One would fly off, presumably to catch a bug, and then return to the other. Maybe it was feeding it because they seemed to share the food. After a while I realised that if I just waited and held my breath, with my finger on the button, eventually I might be able to catch one in flight.

Needless to say, I have many pics of a single bird, having been too slow or simply missing my chance. But I’m so pleased to have these.

Ibis Rookery

November 10, 2020

At Box Bridge, near Kow Swamp

I’ve finally taken the time to look more carefully at what is all around me. I have learnt that there are three types of Ibis in Australia and two appear to be in the picture above. The white ones are just that, White ibis, once known as Sacred ibis and now affectionately known as “bin-chickens”. The darker birds are straw-necked ibis. They have straw like feathers on the front of their necks. The third type, The Glossy Ibis I have yet to see.

Gathering along every edge of the water
A single image doesn’t do the numbers justice

They were everywhere. For some reason unknown to me they have congregated at this particular spot this year. Other years have seen them gathering in different locations in the area. There are huge numbers of them.