Sunday 22 July 2012

A bevy with two tails one head

Lately we have seen a bevy of Brown Quails Synoicus australis around the grassy areas near the house, but they are quite wary and I haven't been able to get near enough to get a photo. Today I saw the birds emerge from under the garden shrubs and start across the grass, stopping to feed on seeds as they went. Fortunately I was in a position to get close enough to get a quick shot before they moved off.
There were eight in bevy or covey, which ever you prefer for a group of Quails and as they were moving around in the undergrowth they were whistling twittering to keep in touch.
When I have come across them in long grass they usually give me a start, as they suddenly explode out of the grass when you are almost on top of them.

Wednesday 18 July 2012

Orchids three

Today I was fortunate to find three of the orchids on the property out in flower and looking at last year's photos I found that I had these same three spread from May through to August. However this year the orchids do not seem to be as prolific as last year.
The Blunt Greenhood Orchid Pterostylis curta has a number of patches with the flowers just starting to develop and this flower was the only one in the patch that was in full flower.

Only one sole plant of White Fingers Caladenia catenata to be found in flower but as last year's examples were in August I hope we will have more to come.

The third orchid; Pixie Caps Acianthus fornicatus was one of two plants that were in flower, with many of the others in the patch either finished flowering or just developing flower stems.
Last year I photographed them in May but misidentified them as Tiny Mosquito Orchids Acianthus exiguus.


Wednesday 11 July 2012

Reflected white-browed

I have been trying for some time to get a photo of birds that we see frequently, but as they are shy and constantly on the move the photo has been missed. Today I had a break as a pair of White-browed Scrub Wrens Sericornis frontalis frontalis were in the garden outside the office and stayed around, as their reflection on a shiny black pot had them trying to chase off the intruder.
When they were not at the reflection, they spent some time hopping around the garden and I managed to get a photo of one on our wollemi pine, which is in a pot just outside the window.
White-browed Scrub wrens range is in south-eastern Australia from northern NSW through to Adelaide in SA.

Friday 6 July 2012

Ahh! being preened

Checking the garden and came across a family of Varigated Wrens Malurus lambertii  perched on a low branch, out of the wind and catching the morning sun. Getting preened was the main activity and as usual it was the males being pampered.
Coloured male gets the attention


uncoloured male gets a turn