Not the Attack of the Killer Bees

A swarm of bees were heard before they were seen over our neighbours tree....pretty loud for such small beasties...

Goodbye Chickadees

I missed seeing the first chick leave the nest and fledge although I can hear it begging for food from the parents in our backyard. There's been a kookaburra hanging around so at first I thought one of the chicks had been eaten.

The smaller of the two is taking it's time to get flying under it's belt. They grow up so quickly!

The Chickens are Getting Bigger

The Little Wattlebirds are feathering up nicely - soon it will be time to leave the nest. It happens quickly!

One parent sat stoicly on the nest in the rain the other day, beak raised with the water running down it's back, the babies well protected. Feathers are amazing!

Our Family's Newest Angel

I've been away up the coast... my sister had a baby last Thursday! Talk about the model pregnancy - she positively glowed, no sickness, very fit and healthy...
and then the model birth - a 5 hour labour! No drugs! The baby is just gorgeous!
REUBEN Alan - His Dad is very keen on getting the spelling right!

My Mum and I were meant to have been an integral part of the birthing team, but due to the short labour and the distances involved for us to travel neither of us made it in time. Luckily my sister's best friend was staying and gave them both the extra help they needed. Thanks Rachel!
Isn't he beautiful????

Lucky Lizard

This Eastern Water Dragon got chased up the road by our neighbour's dog Rose. She is a lovely dog and I'm sure she would have got a shock if she caught the poor bugger but I had to intervene and catch her.

I've never seen a Water Dragon move so fast on dry land - they're pretty quick in the water. It stood up on it's hind legs and ran full pelt with the dog running at full tilt after it. The lizard was actually faster. Amazing. Anyway here the lucky lizard is after the race resting in our driveway!

We often see Water Dragons at the creek right down the back of our block - it's the first one I've seen out the front on the road though.

Baby Little Wattlebirds

Check out these little babies - Little Wattlebirds (aka Brush Wattlebirds).
Mum & Dad have nested in a hybiscus right where I can check them out from a corner of our verandah.

The parents have a loud call that some people find annoying especially early in the morning.

The Nature of Sentient Beings

Koala boy is still out the back in the tree, still advertising himself as an eligible male in the broad daylight (we usually hear him at night). Things must be getting desperate. I guess it's hard for any sentient being to deny their nature.

Oh yes... apologies for the mess I've made of this page. (That's what happens when you tinker with things you just don't understand - maybe it's my nature) I'm hoping someone will help me return it to some semblence of order soon...I certainly can't do it myself.

Stop Press - I just fixed it myself - YAY!

Koala Poo on the Driveway

Last night we could hear a male koala calling out, (really grunting) to find a mate. It's a scary noise if you haven't heard it before, kinda like a cross between a pig and motorbike! He kept going for hours. What stamina!
We've got an amazing Spotted Gum in our backyard - it's about 40 metres high and he was sitting up there announcing his presence to the world.
Anyway when we went to go to work we found his poo all over the driveway - so I took a photo.

A Golden Flash

I just saw a male Regent Bowerbird in the bird bath. The glossy black and gawdy gold plumage, topped off with a little red flash just above the bill is a sight that never fails to take my breath away.

The female is not quite as striking, although she has a black skull cap that makes her instantly recognisable.
Usually she visits the birdbath with her friends, the female satin bowerbirds that are much larger and splash double the amount of water out of the birdbath than any other bird.