Our Christmas Tree

Wishing all our friends, wherever you may be in the world, all the best for the festive season and beyond.

Tree crafted by Alan (using fallen eucalypt branches) and decorated by Vicki. We like to be a bit different.

Alan and Vicki xx

Toadstool, Grampians National Park VIC

Toadstool, Grampians National Park VIC

Wallaby, Grampians National Park VIC

Male Wallaby, Grampians National Park VIC

Wildflowers of the Grampians

The park contains over 900 indigenous plant species. Twenty of these, including the Grampians Gum and Grampians Parrot-pea, are found nowhere else in the world. We were there at the right time as flowering was in full swing. I spent several hours wandering around in the bush to get these shots mostly on Asses Ears Road. Many of these flowers are on plants that are close to the ground and many of them have prickly leaves so I had to get down on the ground without crushing any orchids or other beauties to get these shots.

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Burrong Falls, Grampians National Park VIC

Burrong Falls are accessed along a gravel road deep in the middle of the Grampian Ranges. We were the only visitors, so this was a very peaceful spot to sit and take in the beauty of the place. There were many wildflowers out as well to further excite our senses. Post on the wildflowers to follow.

Paddy's Castle, Grampians VIC

Paddy’s Castle is a rock outcrop deep in the Grampians National Park.

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Red Deer, Grampians VIC

These red deer are a feral animal in Australia and a big nuisance. They cause a lot of damage to the native flora and bush floor. Still could not help ourselves and stopped to take these pics. They must be either farm-raised escapees or are used to seeing people. They just looked at us and remained there for quite some time allowing us an opportunity to get these shots.

Orchids, Grampian National Park VIC

Wallaby and Joey, Grampians VIC

We saw this cute wallaby and her joey at a Grampians National Park campground we stopped at for lunch. The joey is very young as he is still hairless. Normally wallabies are quite timid, but obviously at this campground they are used to visitors.

Echidna comes home

Echidnas are solitary creatures with a large home range (up to 100 hectares).

We haven’t seen this one for quite some time. He’s grown a lot since he was a little bundle of spines suckling his mum:  Australia Day Special: Echidna Suckling Her Puggle

Winter bush picnic

Ahhhh! Once more into the bush for a relaxing picnic. Winter is a great time to have a picnic as nobody else is silly enough, so we have the place to ourselves - and the wildlife.  A warming tomato soup, olive and sun-dried tomato muffins and an indulgent apple, pear and kiwifruit pie was on the menu today. Tea from the Eco Billy (See Tea for Two http://eucalypthabitat.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/tea-for-two.html) - nice and smoky flavoured - finished off a pleasant nosh.

Eastern Yellow Robin (Eopsaltria australis)

Another week, another outing to the Toolangi State Forest. Not as much bird life around as usual, but this pretty little White-throated Gerygone Eastern Yellow Robin* joined us on our winter picnic.

Eastern Yellow Robin call

*Thanks to Tim Bawden for correctly identifying the bird for us.

Laughing Kookaburra, Toolangi State Forest VIC

This week's outing was down the road to the Toolangi State Forest. Because we're not like most people and picnic all year round (even in winter), we didn't encounter another person the whole day. However, this Kookaburra (captured by Alan) decided to check us out and stayed awhile. Check out his tiny feet.

Kookaburra call

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Tea for Two

Boiling water for tea in Tallarook State Forest on one of our weekly picnics in the bush.

The water boiling unit is an Eco Billy. When I was young in New Zealand, almost every home had one. Outdoor workers boiled their water in much larger units. What’s great about them is only small twigs, grass and leaves are all that are needed. The water in our .70 litre unit boils in less than 5 minutes and the fire is “safe.”

Falls Creek Reservoir, Tallarook State Forest VIC

In the 1890s, two weirs were constructed on Falls Creek, high above the Trawool Valley, to supply water to Seymour. The wall of the top storage (known as Falls Creek Reservoir) is built of locally quarried granite, which blends in particularly well with its surroundings. Granite was quarried in the Falls Creek valley in the 1890s and of interest are the large granite blocks that may be seen amongst the trees and ferns.

Tawny Frogmouth

Our buzz for the weekend was to spot this Tawny Frogmouth pretending to be part of the tree. Tawny Frogmouths are nocturnal. During the day, they perch on tree branches, often low down, camouflaged as part of the tree.