Category: wildlife

Goanna

February 27, 2021

Met this chap on the road as I was driving home from the bus stop with my grandson, aged 10. I was teaching him how to use the camera with the BIG lens. He was in the front seat had it balanced on the window ledge. He was enjoying taking pictures of the ducks on the lagoon and really enjoying taking pics of the neighbour’s chickens as we went by. I told him to keep a lookout for interesting shots and I couldn’t believe my eyes when we came across this goanna. By the time I slowed and stopped the car the goanna was taking off back into the bushes. I managed to grab the camera and take a shot through the windscreen, but he was too quick and it was a very awkward angle. To tell the truth, I was hesitant to get out of the car in case this rather large creature came towards me rather than moving off! The other pics were too blurry. Now I know where he is, I’ll keep looking hoping to get some more shots.

Hydromys Chrysogasta

January 28, 2021

Isn’t it always the way. “Will I lug my heavy camera on my evening walk? No I’ll just take the Iphone. MISTAKE… I came across a pair of amazing creatures, hydromys chrysogasta (native water rats). One got out of the water and ran across the track but I was too slow to get a photo. So I got photos but all you can see are the cute little ears. I might try to stalk them tomorrow… with the big lens.

Life in Colour – Brown

January 18, 2021

For Heyjude’s Travel Words Challenge

Nature camouflages many animals using lots of shades of brown. Here’s a selection.

When you look. many animals blend in with the bark of trees.

Look closely

This bird was really hard to spot.

A very shy little bird

It took me a while to spot this nest perched up in another tree.

This rabbit was hiding in the shadows.

These brown ducks were happily in full view.

It’s a Platypus … in the wild

December 10, 2020

A series of shots of an Australian Platypus.

These animals are extremely shy. I couldn’t believe my luck when this one just appeared. I knew it existed but I’d never seen it so close before. It lives in the lagoon, literally just over the track from my front door. I’d had a large glass of wine and gone outside with my camera to enjoy the evening.

It all happened so quickly….. and then he just disappeared under the water.

Turtle

December 7, 2020

I was focused on a bird, when I noticed what I thought was a stick move in the water. He looked at me and I quickly swung the camera around and ‘klicked’ just before he disappeared again.

This might be a friend of his. It was about a month ago. It was just starting to rain a little when my husband spotted him by the edge of the water.

I didn’t have my ‘big’ lens but managed to get quite close to him before he shrank back into his shell.

At least he stayed dry inside his shell.

Taken today

November 24, 2020

Today was hot and humid. Most of the wildlife was quietly at rest, finding places to cool off. The pelican seemed happy just to cool off in the shallows.

It took me a while to realise this cockatoo was sitting above in the leaves just keeping an eye on me.

The duck also happy to sit around in the lagoon.

The turtle was just surfing, waiting for a wave that wouldn’t eventuate.

The hawk was just not bothered and keeping a wary eye out.

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…..

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?