Same Branch, Different Baby

Spring is a wondrous season, a time of birth and renewal. This branch – stripped bare thanks to the Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos – outside the kitchen window makes the ideal resting spot for a fledgling White-plumed Honeyeater.

All Babies Need Their Sleep

And this fledgling Crimson Rosella is no exception. Learning to fly is such hard work.

Golden Wattle: Australia’s Floral Emblem

Black Saturday: 7½ Months On

A thousand words…

KINGLAKE NATIONAL PARK

JOYCE’S CHAIR: ALL THAT IS LEFT OF THE GLENBURN HOTEL

Crimson Rosella

This parrot’s stunning plumage reminds me of rich velvet. My camera skills don’t do it justice.

Honeybee

Grevillea Flower (Macro)

Honeyeaters love this nectar-rich Australian native.

‘Little One’ – Juvenile Australian Magpie

Little One is one of last year’s young. Her mother abandoned her when she was a fledging, probably because she’s not quite right in the head. When she’s with the rest of his family, she’s extremely submissive, sitting with her belly on the ground and squawking. If she gets within striking distance of the matriarch – normally a gentle, placid bird – she attacks her. She never learns.

Every morning she knocks on the window with her beak, then stands back waiting for her daily treat. The whole time she’s eating, she’s chattering. Magpies don’t usually talk while they’re eating.

Nature: The Ultimate Designer

The lines, the hues, the pattern and textures of this weathered tree stump say it all.

Spring Gardening

The worst of the frosts are over (we hope) and the gardener of the house is hard at work planting vegetables galore.

Almost as much effort goes into protecting the plants from the local wildlife: wombats, rabbits, ravens (partial to figs) and the cockatoos.

Wet Sugar Glider with Young

With thanks to Andrea Hylands.

If you look carefully, you'll see the tails the of the Sugar Glider's two babies in her pouch.

New Holland Honeyeater

Farm Dam, Yea, Victoria

Grey Teal Ducks

Banksia

Australian Raven

Hereford Heifer

Red-spotted Jezebel or Wood White Butterfly (Delias aganippe)

Spring's first butterfly. A huge thank you to Lyn Harwood for identifying this for me.

White-plumed Honeyeater

A Magpie Carrying Worms Back to Her Young

Southern Right Whale, Warrnambool, Victoria