Bushwalk Australia

'No, I am NOT your mummy. Now go away.'

And now for something different:

A Cormorant, drying its feathers.
The bubbles behind it in the water are where several tortoises jumped off the log when it arrived!

Cheers
Roger

Readers of this thread may remember that about this time last year I posted some photos of a frogmouth couple and their two little offspring by their nest: little fluffy balls they were. They had nested near our back door on our farm.

Well, you don't throw away a good nest, so they nested again this year in the same spot. And again, two little fluff balls.


We do get goannas hunting for nests, but this tree has a chicken wire barrier around the trunk. It seems to work. The goannas will have to hunt elsewhere.

Cheers
Roger

They grow bigger.


Cheers
Roger

A Goanna swimming across the river to get to the other side.
(I was canoeing and it was probably a Lace Monitor)

Continuing the saga of the Frogmouth family.

The kids (naturally) tried to fly a bit too early, and ended up on the ground, near the deck. Mummy (or Daddy) sat in a branch just above them for the day. We went the long way around. Very strange noises like a strangled chook from the babies.

Come evening, they all got a bit more mobile, and hopped up on our deck - which we thought was a safer place for them. Parent joined them briefly, and told one of them off, or so it seemed from the juvenile reaction. Photos taken at dusk: ASA 1600, exposure something like 1/4 second, from inside a room with the lights off.


Parents off hunting by now, I would imagine. Possibly both of them, since nesting is no longer needed.

Cheers
Roger

Dingo pups take to the river...

Left the nest, but can't get back up yet!


Cheers
Roger
(Now spending half my day stopping other birds from eating them.)

No photos, because it was an evening ramble before the rain set in: nesting duck, being stalked by feral cat ... (wait for it, this is not going to end the way you think) ... with a devil close behind.
Outcome: duck was physically fine although probably now with a hefty dose of PTSD. The devil, however, definitely got his/her/its due, not that I want to think what raw cat tastes like. Probably the perfect result from an environmental aspect.

north-north-west wrote:The devil, however, definitely got his/her/its due, not that I want to think what raw cat tastes like.

Chicken.

Saw numerous kangaroos and this guy in Ferntree Gully NP yesterday.

The days roll by, and the wings get stronger.

Tree just outside my wife's office window. They mostly ignore us now when we walk past.
On the left we have Big Pappa.
On the right we have Mummy.
In between we have Big Brother (left, I think) and Fluff Ball (right).

Mummy joined them this morning when the three young magpies got too close and a bit noisy. Normally, only one parent is with the babies at any time.
Oh - and the babies make a noise which is a cross between a strangled chook and a gravel roll. I think (?) it means either 'feed me' or 'where are you'.

Cheers
Roger

Seen on Helicopter Spur

Alpine copperhead? (It had a copper colour head)


Bluetongue

Forgive me: I am become old and blind. I can't SEE the snake head. Where?

Cheers

Baeng72 wrote:Seen on Helicopter Spur
Alpine copperhead?

Nah, its a piece of bark

Apologies for the poor picture.
It's from a video, where you can clearly see the bark impersonating a snake.
I didn't dare get up close and personal, one must respect personal space and all that.
You'll have to trust me that the head was a darkish copper colour.

I wish people would stop when they hit wildlife in their car and check. Or even better just slow down! Poor mum had been taken out on Boboyan Rd but the Joey was unhurt upon inspection and then escaped my grasp and took off. It was a mature joey, so should hopefully survive and be reunited with the mob.

Hi Baeng72

Got it. Remarkably good camo.

Cheers
Roger

Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoo (or some form of Black Cockatoo with some yellow markings on tail and head), Wilson's Prom.

Emus, Wilson's Prom, 5 mile road.

Helping a local to cross the road, between Meeniyan & Leongatha.

Baeng72 wrote:Helping a local to cross the road, between Meeniyan & Leongatha.

IMG_41770669.png

Good work Baeng!

GregG wrote:

Baeng72 wrote:Helping a local to cross the road, between Meeniyan & Leongatha.

IMG_41770669.png

Good work Baeng!

That's not me, just in case.
I was just providing moral support and capturing the moment my better half jumped into action, stopped traffic and convinced an uncooperative Koala that stopping on a busy road might not be a good idea.

Brave better half. I've been in that situation twice, at night, and generally they're about as co-operative as an avalanche.

A hundred plus of these crawling around the leaf litter.

I think a white-faced heron, at night, with dinner.
He lives here. We call him 'snakey' because of his neck.

Cheers
Roger

Eastern Tiger apparently. Only saw it when I put my foot down beside it. Did a quick Michael Flatley and high stepped away

kymboy wrote:Eastern Tiger apparently. Only saw it when I put my foot down beside it. Did a quick Michael Flatley and high stepped away

Yes I know the feeling . But he's a beauty! What locality? (so I know where to watch my step)

Thompsons Creek Dam. That'll teach me to keep my eyes on the ground not the water. A red belly and another tiger the next day at Oberon. Beautiful animals. Great to see them but not so great to see them too close

rcaffin wrote:I think a straw-necked heron, at night, with dinner.
He lives here. We call him 'snakey' because of his neck.

Cheers
Roger

I'm 99% sure your friend is a white-faced heron Roger.
I've had many encounters with them in the bush over the years, very graceful bird.
There is a straw-necked ibis, which has a similar profile to the much maligned white/sacred ibis (aka "bin chicken").

kymboy wrote:Thompsons Creek Dam. That'll teach me to keep my eyes on the ground not the water. A red belly and another tiger the next day at Oberon. Great to see them but not so great to see them real close

Thanks! I'm safe for now, haven't been out that way since we did a trip to Abercrombie River and beyond many years ago.
Good heads up that it's summer and snakes are about in most places .

Hi johnw
You are of course right. I was rushed, and mixed the two.
Cheers
Roger

One of the local male koalas. He is a big boy. This guy is called Ross by the locals and this is one of his favourite trees to visit.

Seen on Howitt Spur, Alpine National Park