Crows & Scarecrows

Every year in the Mary Valley they hold a Scarecrow Festival.

The Scarecrows must work, as we did not see any crows during our travels through the Mary Valley on that day. Had to take photos of the crows in our back yard; maybe I should get a Scarecrow. 

Torresian Crow (Juvenile)(Corvus orru)

Adult and Juvenile

 

For more Birds visit Wild Bird Wednesday.

Butterflies Everywhere

Butterflies everywhere you look! The Caper Whites are on the move in their thousands! It would be very interesting to see just how far they go. We live in South East Queensland, and we heard a report they could go down as far as Victoria. Not sure how far North they travel. People may not be aware with the shear numbers of Caper White Butterflies that there are other Butterfly species also migrating with them, like the Meadow Argus and Australian Painted Lady.

Caper White (Belenois java)(Female)

Caper White (Female)

Caper White (Female)

Caper White (Male)

Caper White (Male)

Caper White (Male)

Meadow Argus (Junonia villida calybe)

Meadow Argus

Australian Painted Lady (Vanessa kershawi)

 

This Kookaburra was sitting in one of the trees in our back yard, and was being harassed by all the other birds. It had enough, and flew straight for me; then landed on the railing right beside me.

Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae)

 

For more birds visit Wild Bird Wednesday

Townsville

Went from one end of the country; Melbourne Victoria, (last post), to Townsville in far north Queensland.

As we had not been that far north before, most of the birds were new to us, and the Butterfly was an added bonus.

All the photos except for the Raven were taken at our relatives' house yard where we were staying.

Australian Raven (Corvus coronoides)

Great Bowerbird (Ptilonorhynchus nuchalis)

Cairns Birdwing (Ornithoptera euphorion)(Male)

Australia's largest butterfly 125mm - 150mm

Escapee Lutino Indian Ringneck

Helmeted Friarbird (Philemon buceroides)

Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata)

 Also called Nutmeg Mannikin or Spice Finch. (Introduced, used to see these in our yard a long time ago.)

White-gaped Honeyeater

 (Lichenostomus unicolor)

 

For more birds visit Wild Bird Wednesday.

Snow Trip

It has taken us a long time to be able to go and see snow for the very first time, and it was worth the wait. We went with our son and daughter in-law to the Victorian high country. There was not as much snow as last year they said, as some of the places we went had no snow at all.The photo of the table and chairs was taken on the Saturday, and when we went back on the Sunday, all the snow had melted overnight.

When I told everyone we were going to the snow, they said what are you going to do there, and I said I was going to sit in it.

Yes, we do get snow in Australia! Nothing like other countries though, and yes, it was good to be able to see it for the first time.
For more scenery from around the world visit Our World Tuesday.

Mixed Bag

Just had to take a photo of these cute little swans at the local park. The Fairy Gerygone was taken at Lower Wonga and the Rose Robin was taken at Cooloola Cove. The  Mallard is a hybrid with the Pacific Black Duck.

Black Swan (Cygnus atratus)

 

Fairy Gerygone (Gerygone palpebrosa)

Mallard (Hybrid Female)(Anas platyrhynchos)

Rose Robin (Female)(Petroica rosea)

The Rose Robin migrates in Winter from down South. Not sure if we are having a Winter this year, as it was 28 degrees on the Friday and 30 degrees on Saturday.

For more birds visit Wild Bird Wednesday.