UPDATE: Superb Fairy Wren Nestlings

Great news: The wren babies have fledged. Sadly we missed the event, but it's wonderful to see them bopping around with their tiny stumps of tails. Some of these photos aren't the clearest, but with them growing so quickly, there were no second chances.

DAY 8

DAY 9 Dad feeding the kids

DAY 10 Hungry mouths

 DAY 11 Leaving home day

Superb Fairy Wren Nestlings

We have a Superb Fairy Wren nesting in a tub of rolled up gutter guard atop the workbench in our carport. Before the wren laid her eggs, Alan constructed a wire net over the lot that allows the fairy wren easy access and egress, but will keep – fingers crossed – the big birds at bay. The fairy wren is now the proud mother to triplets!

The triplets are now a week old

Day 4

Day 3

Day 1

Nest

Location of nest

You’ll notice she incorporated a corner of a plastic bag in her nest. We’re too scared to move anything in case we disturb the nest.

Wallaby with Brown-headed Honeyeater, Mt Samaria State Park VIC

Brown-headed honeyeater plucking wallaby's fur for nest

The Brown-headed Honeyeater is quite common around these parts. It collects fur from animals to line its nest and one can be seen on the flank of this old swamp wallaby. She did not seem to mind the bird plucking fur from her.

Eastern Yellow Robin, Mt Samaria State Park VIC

Eastern Yellow Robin, Mt Samaria State Park VIC

The Grampians and Wimmera, Victoria (June 2014)

Last year, we spent a week in The Grampians and loved it so much, we decided to book it for a month in winter. Unfortunately, we couldn't have foreseen the January bushfires that burnt out 52,000 hectares.

Where we were staying bordered the Grampians National Park. Thanks to the owners’ fire-fighting efforts, the all timber cottage (photo below) was saved. However, the surrounding area wasn't so fortunate. Much of it was charred and it still had that burnt smell (not a nice wood fire smell either). The blackened skeletons of trees provided little cover or feed for wildlife and most of what had survived had gone. We saw a few emus (photo below), Wedge-tailed Eagles and the odd magpie, but that’s all. But the Australian bush is nothing if not resilient and there were signs of regeneration everywhere.

Unable to explore the Grampians National Park as we’d planned gave us the opportunity to explore areas further afield that we wouldn't have otherwise seen. We even caught a glimpse of the rare Mallee Fowl (sorry, no pic).

Where we stayed

Taken from the back deck of the cottage

Not exactly our usual type of lunch spot, but we didn't have much choice that day deep in the park.

Epicormic growth

The grass tree is one plant that does love fire (so long as it's not too hot)

Zumsteins

Red Rock - Grampians NP 

Mountain Dam - Rocklands State Forest

Mount Arapiles - Natimuk 

Water skiing at Lake Albacutya - not the best photo, but the signs says: Speed Limit 5 Knots

Part of a mural - Albacutya

Kangaroo and joey - mum cleaning while bubs naps

Swamp Wallaby with Joey, Toolangi State Forest

We’re yet to finish sorting out our Grampians photos, but in the meantime, here’s one we took today on our picnic. Yes, eating outdoors when it’s a blustery 12°C/53°F with a wind chill factor many degrees lower is undoubtedly crazy. But then we would have missed this swamp wallaby and her joey.

WIN Fatal Liaison AUDIOBOOK (Value $19.95)

Great news... Crossroad Press is giving away 2 copies of
 Fatal Liaison the AUDIOBOOK from Audible.com

Running time: 8 hours and 22 minutes | Unabridged

Produced by Crossroad Press

Listen to sample

The lives of two strangers, Greg Jenkins and Megan Brighton, become inextricably entangled when they each sign up for a dinner dating agency. Greg's reason for joining has nothing to do with looking for love. His recently divorced sister, Sam, has disappeared and Greg is convinced that Dinner for Twelve, or at least one of its clients, may be responsible.

Neither is Megan looking for love. Although single, she only joined at her best friend Brenda De Luca's insistence. When a client of the dating agency is murdered, suspicion falls on several of the members. Then Megan's friend Brenda disappears without trace, and Megan and Greg join forces. Will they find Sam and Brenda? Or are they about to step into the same inescapable snare?

Enter below for your chance to win. Simply sign in with either your Facebook account or email address and follow the instructions. Once you've completed a task that's listed on the widget, you'll receive entries into the promotion. The more tasks you complete, the more chances you have. Winners will be drawn by Rafflecopter and results published here. Good luck!

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We interrupt this schedule...

...to announce the release of Fatal Liaison the AUDIOBOOK, narrated by the very talented Larissa Gallagher. 

Running time: 8 hours and 22 minutes
Unabridged

Produced by Crossroad Press

Listen to sample

AVAILABLE FROM AUDIBLE.COM

The lives of two strangers, Greg Jenkins and Megan Brighton, become inextricably entangled when they each sign up for a dinner dating agency. Greg's reason for joining has nothing to do with looking for love. His recently divorced sister, Sam, has disappeared and Greg is convinced that Dinner for Twelve, or at least one of its clients, may be responsible.

Neither is Megan looking for love. Although single, she only joined at her best friend Brenda De Luca's insistence. When a client of the dating agency is murdered, suspicion falls on several of the members. Then Megan's friend Brenda disappears without trace, and Megan and Greg join forces. Will they find Sam and Brenda? Or are they about to step into the same inescapable snare?

Blood Moon and Sunset

Victoria was lucky enough to be able to experience the full eclipse of the moon, and as the timing was right, it was a Blood Moon.

Looking east...

Looking west...

Wirrawilla Rainforest Walk

Wirrawilla Rainforest Walk, Toolangi, Victoria

Polly McQuinn Weir, Strathbogie VIC

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