Monday 25 May 2009

Purple Swamphen

This Purple Swamphen seemed to be out of his element, in a tree rather than on the ground.
(Click on photos to enlarge)

Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio)

My feet don't seem right for walking in tree tops.

Oh No! What now? Where to go?

There is nothing left but to jump!

Tuesday 19 May 2009

Rain & The River Is Rising.

Once again the Mary River is on the way up.

Mary River at Widgee Crossing

At this spot in the river 4WDs can normally cross but not on this day.
The Mary River has many times in the past flooded the main street of Gympie.

After having a look at the river we went back through Fisherman's Pocket.
The view from here is quite spectacular.

Fisherman's Pocket

In the afternoon we went out to Cedar Pocket to check how full the dam was.
100% full and overflowing. Good for this time of the year going into Winter.
Commenced in 1982, it was completed in 1984. Only a small dam, (730ml), it is mainly used for irrigation of fodder crops on dairy farms, improved pastures on grazing properties, and tree crops such as Macadamia Nuts and Citrus.

Cedar Pocket Dam.


Monday 18 May 2009

Striated Pardalote & Double-barred Finch.

After hearing Pardalotes calling for the past week I thought as it was a Show Holiday here last Friday, I would take time to track them down so I could try out my new camera. After a lot of patience and with being frustrated by their going back and forth in our next door neighbour's front yard, I eventually realised four had landed on power lines above my head! Luckily this individual bird was good enough to pose for me in a tree next to my neighbour's house.

Striated Pardalote (Pardalotus striatus)




These Double-barred Finches were a lot easier to photograph as they come to our yard every day all year round. I am hoping that the Chestnut-breasted Mannikins come again in the Spring. When they do, I will be waiting!

Double-barred Finch (Taeniopygia bichenovii)



Saturday 16 May 2009

Mixed Bag

Something a little bit different this time. Click on photos to enlarge
Just some of the many and varied fauna we encounter while
Out and About in Cooloola.

Common Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)
(Visiting our Mango tree.)

Little Pied Cormorant (Phalacrocorax melanoleucos)
(At a local lagoon.)

Krefft's RiverTurtle (Emydura krefftii)
(At our local duck ponds.) (Lake Alford)

Common Albatross (Female) (Appias paulina ega)
(In our garden.)

The following were all taken at our local Bat Colony during our last count.

Grey-headed Flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus)

Grey-headed Flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus)

Black Flying-fox (Pteropus alecto)

Sunday 10 May 2009

Black Swans

Happy Mother's Day to all Mums

Swans at Sunset.

Providing an evening meal.

A Mother's work is never done.

Have a great Day, you deserve it.

Tuesday 5 May 2009

Low Tide at Tin Can Bay

Had to make a quick trip down to Tin Can the other day with just enough time to have a short walk around the mangroves and foreshore, then back home again. We would have liked more time to enjoy the day. Click on photos to enlarge.

Looking back towards the shelter shed at Norman Point.

Mangroves and oyster bed at Norman Point.

Looking towards the mangroves and oyster bed in the 2nd photo

Looking back towards the road.
When the tide goes out it goes a long, long way out.

The next set of photos are of Mangrove Snails (Sorry, we have not identified these as yet)