Ist day of Spring - Wattle Day

The first day of spring is just around the corner.  In Australia it is celebrated with Wattle Day on September 1st.  Wattle is a generic name for a number of Acacia species with small spherical yellow flowers.

Since we've had Kobe, we've been out more, but out with the camera less. Recently on a walk at Belair National Park, there was a lot of Wattle around, with both Golden Wattle and Round-leaved Wattle in full bloom.

As always, there were a few Koalas around as well.

I also went to a spot where there are a few native orchids, where there were lots of Sundews, and a few early Dwarf Green-hood Orchids.

The other morning, I remembered to put my "point and shoot" in my pocket while walking Kobe around Kaurna Wetlands Park.    At the moment the water is as high as I've ever seen it.

The Lavender Grevillea's are in full flower. Usually pink, there are also a few yellow forms around the park.   The pale yellow flowered gum trees are just coming into full bloom, whilst the pink flowered gum trees are just about over.

Kobe loves his walks around the wetlands, and waits quietly while I take my photos.

Skywatch Friday

The winter moon slowly sinking behind the gum trees at

Kaurna Watlands Park, Burton, South australia 

Birding North of Adelaide

Who would have thought that having a new dog would take up so much time.  I have been out everyday with him, but not with my camera!!

I did manage to get out twice in the last week, and got some photos to show for it.   An early morning winter walk around the wetlands, with no wind and a beautiful sunrise is a real joy.

Common birds were out an about, with New Holland Honeyeater, Red Wattlebird and Grey Shrike-thrush all singing.

Surprisingly, the local ants are all busy, and there are lots of new ant mounds on the ground.

The RAAF were also taking advantage of the calm weather with one of their Orions doing circuits at nearby Edinburgh Airbase.

Sunday morning was cloudy with showers, but I decided to dodge the rain and headed through the agricultural land between home and the coast.  Starting at St. Kilda, this female White-winged Fairy-wren hopped up for a portrait shot.  There was also a group of about twenty or so Black-tailed Native-hens on the foreshore, and a similar number of Australian Ibis in the yellow Soursobs behind the beach.

St Kilda is home to the Tramway Museum, and one of their trams was en-route from the village back to the museum.

Heading north, I passed a paddock full of inquisitive Alpacas.

There were birds all along the road.  A pair of Black-fronted Dotterels looked like they might be breeding.  Galahs were prospecting  nestholes, and there seemed to be Adelaide Rosellas at every farm.   Last birds seen were a couple of Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes. 

There were plenty of raptors around.  Australian Black-shouldered Kites, Australian Kestrels and Brown Falcon all seen well. 

Welcome Kobe

This handsome chap is Kobe.  He joined the Crittenden family today from the Animal Welfare League pound in Adelaide.    He is a boxer cross, and is about 18 months old.

He loves playing "fetch", and tosses the ball back to you to throw it again, and again, and again..........

Until he's ready for a rest.

Skywatch Friday

Gum trees over Brookfield Conservation Park

Post no. 250.

Thanks to everyone, both regular visitors and new friends.

Brookfield Conservation Park

This weekend I took a trip to Brookfield Conservation Park in the Murray Mallee with Chris Steeles

At our first stop we saw a female Mistletoebird, and then heard the soft call of Southern Scrub-robin. It didn't take long to track it down. As we got back to the car a large herd of feral goats crossed in front of us.

Next stop was the Bluebush Trail, where some Ground Cuckoo-shrikes had been seen the previous week,  Unknown to me, my camera had been knocked onto the manual setting, so the next lot of photos were all horribly overexposed.  I have managed to resurrect some using Photoshop, but most are beyond hope.  We did not find the Cuckoo-shrikes, but did see some lovely birds like Redthroat and Mulga Parrot,  There were plenty of Kangaroos there as well.

Luckily I spotted the problem with my camera, and carried on shooting this stunning Red-capped Robin .

On the Mallee Trail it was very quiet, but I managed a few shots of this flighty Yellow-plumed
Honeyeater,  Much more co-operative was this large Orb Spider.

Lastly, after dropping Chris at home, I waited to see his local pair of Australian Hobbies.

I was disappointed at losing so many photos, so went back the next day to try again.  On the way into the park I had a close encounter with Crested Bellbird, and then with this Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat, normally a nocturnal animal.

Back on the Bluebush Trail, more Red-capped Robins, including the less colourful female, and on the way out an obliging pair of Hooded Robins.