Category: where I live

Colorful garden visitor

October 31, 2020

For Bernhard’s Colorful Challenge BUNT

I like to take pictures of birds. I put a bird feeder in my front yard. It’s below left. Look what it attracted. This bird is a special visitor. I made it from fabric. Here it is looking at my roses.

Below is a more detailed look at the bird. The roses are real. The bird is literally, stuffed and colorfully painted.

To see more of my creations click here.

All alone in a field

October 30, 2020

Our neighbour stopped the rather large tractor to call my attention to a single poppy standing tall in the field of oats he was mowing. It was a threatening afternoon, the clouds heavy, rain was forecast and the wind was making it almost impossible to take a photo. The poppy was throwing itself in every direction as the wind caught it.

It must have been self sown. Occasionally they pop up in that area of the farm. The flower was delicate and beautiful.

Up close it was a work of art.

The promise of more next year.

For Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge (FOTD)

It’s a Darter.

October 28, 2020

Some call it a snake bird. It’s more accurately called an Australasian Darter.

I love its beak. It’s like a spear and I wouldn’t like to be a fish in its path.

It looked impressive when it spread its wings and took to flight.

Here’s one a little further along the creek. It was eating in a quiet little spot. They spear their fish and eat underwater. This one stayed under the water for a long time. You can see with their long necks that stick out of the water, why they are referred to as snake birds.

Day out for the camera

October 27, 2020

It was a wild and windy day. Things looked a little odd.

Met this guy along the way, said hi and kept on.

Looked down to see a square flower

Kow Swamp looked univiting.

Found all these poor pelicans sheltering from the wind in Kow Swamp. They didn’t seem to have any heads!

Look closely,

Time to fly out of here.

Think I might just hop on out. If I can…..

Bee-Eater

October 26, 2020

This tiny little bird is absolutely beautifully colored. It is called a Rainbow Bee-eater. The colors are intense, especially when it flies. I’m sill to take a picture of it in flight. It moves really quickly.

Red Rumped Parrot

October 24, 2020

Taking photographs of birds is not easy! I had a lovely day today, trying to photograph birds. I learnt a lot and learnt that I have lots more to learn…

Here are some photos of this Red Rumped Parrot. I find it difficult to find the birds in the lens, let alone focus the shot. But at least I can recognise this bird now. He’s got a red patch on his rump.

Red Browed Finch

October 22, 2020

I watched this little finch and its mate hopping around outside my window. They seemed to be making a nest in amongst the wisteria. I took some photos through the closed window, hence the foggy appearance and lack of clarity in the photos. I really need to wash the windows! Then I tried to sneak up on them outside but they seemed very aware of my presence and wouldn’t come back into view. Hopefully, I will find time to sit and wait for a better shot.

Australian Admiral Butterfly

October 20, 2020

This is a Yellow Admiral Butterfly (Vanessa itea). Also known as Australian Admiral Butterfly. South Eastern Australia. Apparently it really like stinging nettles and I have plenty of them, popping up in my garden and growing profusely between the paddocks of lucerne. It is not an uncommon butterfly.

Knowing nothing about butterflies, I was a little perplexed because I couldn’t see how this could be a ‘yellow’ admiral butterfly. I couldn’t see any yellow at all. They mystery was solved by a visit to the ‘net. What you see here is the underside of the wing. The butterfly looks totally different when its wings are down. Click here to see.

Isn’t nature wonderful?