Wednesday, 17 October 2012

Phillip Island Cont.

As we wandered along one of the boardwalks of Phillip Island, we saw this Kelp Gull in the distance. 
This post is for Wild Bird Wednesday

  Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus)

Pacific Gull (Larus pacificus)
When we reached one of the lookouts we saw this pair of Pacific Gulls on a rocky outcrop.

 Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor)
This Little Penguin was taken on the mainland at St Kilda.

On Phillip Island we were lucky enough to see one in its burrow, they have a Penguin Parade at sunset. Go to the link below to read more about the penguins, and the relocation of people and their homes from the penguin breeding grounds, these being given back to the penguins. This was made as a TV series.
 http://www.360degreefilms.com.au/assets/files/penguin-island-presskit.pdf

The water looked clear, cold, and rough.
Phillip Island coastline
Seal Rocks

Mangrove Walk Rhyll Inlet
Some of the vegetation beside the boardwalk.

The end of the boardwalk were the water channels through the mangroves

Wednesday, 10 October 2012

Phillip Island Victoria

This post is for Wild Bird Wednesday
As we were driving around Phillip Island we came across these Cape Barren Geese at one of the roundabouts.
Click on photos to enlarge.
Cape Barren Goose (Cereopsis novaehollandiae)

These Cape Barren Geese were at the Phillip Island Nature Park. 

After we left here we went to Rhyll Inlet and the Mangrove Walk where in the early 1980's there was a captive breeding programme for Cape Barren Geese and Magpie Geese to build up numbers after a decline. The remains of the enclosure are still there.

As the above photo shows, the programme has been successful as this one had 5 chicks in the wild.

Click on the link and scroll down to the Autumn Seasonal Walk article for more information on this area. 
  

Part of the coast line of Phillip Island
The Nobbies with a sea fog 
The Nobbies after the fog lifted
More of the coast line

Tuesday, 25 September 2012

Shepparton Victoria.

This post is for Wild Bird Wednesday
Shepparton is a long way from home for us. We had a Wedding to go to, so we took the opportunity to stay a few days before and after the Wedding with our son and his partner in Melbourne.
After being in shorts and shirts in Queensland, it was back to jeans and jumpers in Victoria. Most days were overcast and cold, but we did manage to have a good look around without being rained on.
Click on photos to enlarge

 Australian Reed-Warbler (Acrocephalus australis)
We found this Reed-Warbler beside the lakes in Shepparton. 

 Eastern Rosella (Platycercus eximius)

 Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata)

 Red-rumped Parrot (Psephotus haematonotus)
The morning after the Wedding as we were leaving Shepparton, we stopped at a side road near where we were staying to see what birds were around, and was surprised to see this pair of Red-rumped Parrot feeding on the ground right in front of us. After walking down the road a little way we saw at least half a dozen Eastern Rosella feeding beside the road, and quite a few Red Wattlebird. We were actually looking  for the White-plumed Honeyeater we saw the day before.

White-plumed Honeyeater (Lichenostomus penicillatus

Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis)
This pair of Silvereye were in the grounds of the Inn we were staying at, as well as Tree Sparrows and Superb Fairy-wren which I was not lucky enough to get photos of.

Superb Fairy-wren (Amblyornis newtonianus)
We did find a Superb Fairy-wren in a little park near the river, though it would not come any closer for a good photo.

I am inclined to call this plant a weed as it was everywhere, we think it is a type of Gazania, a garden plant.

Some of the beautiful trees around Shepparton.