Hoist the colours!

Have you ever noticed about Poppys, how the developing buds hang downward? Then, the day before its due to bloom, the plant hoists the bud up skyward, then deploys it lovely coloured silk sails...

Elvis Pigeon

New Quarry?

I am frequently teased by Australian Butterflys. They flit through the gardens so quickly that I usually miss them. Ive decided they are next on my 'must photo' list.

I dont even know the names of the Aussie butterflys, so there is much to learn. My local library has a few volumes on them, but they are all in the reference section, so I have to find a day to sit at the library and study this new quarry.

This little one was sheltering on the Salvia Farinacea during a stormy day. Its quite tiny, Id estimate it to only be about 15mm (1/2 inch) from wing tip to wing tip. On a sunny day they appear to be quite blue, while on this grey day, the colours are much more earthy. At this time of year they are abundant in the garden, flying low over the lawn, often in pairs.

I look forward to learning its name, and if possible, what its caterpillar looks like, and making the garden even more attractive to all the butterflys. Then perhaps they will stay a little longer, and let me get thier photo.

Two Turtle Doves

Two Spotted Turtle Doves, so engrossed in thier conversation, that I couldnt get a shot of thier faces...oh well, the Jacaranda blossoms look great against the blue sky.

If youd like to see more Spotted Turtle Doves, check them out at Bird Anonymous's blog or at the birdsinbackyards.net site.

Wonder where I could find a partridge in a pear tree.....

Fly By Posting

"Im Late! Im Late!
For a very important Date!
No time to say Hello! Goodbye!
Im Late! Im Late! Im Late! "

- The White Rabbit

Budgie Sunday - Moult nearly over

Heres the back of Baiter's head. See those 'pins'? They are the shafts of his new head feathers. The shaft is made of a material similar to our fingernails. Once the shaft has fully emerged, the soft part of the feather will unfurl from inside the shaft. Baiter is nearly done with his spring moult.

Please vote in the poll - see the upper right hand corner of your screen - and Have a great Sunday!

Musk Lorikeet

Another first time sighting late yesterday - a Musk Lorikeet! Again it was hearing an unfamiliar call that caused me to grab the camera and go on the prowl. It pays to keep your ears open, at least whenever the evil neighbor isnt playing his Ghetto Throb "music".

More info on the Musk Lorikeet at birdsinbackyards.net

Doryanthes excelsa (Gymea or Spear Lily) 1

Shot from above. Can hardly wait till it blooms. You can bet I will have the camera ready for it. Amazing plant!

Doryanthes excelsa, Gymea or Spear Lily info on Wikipedia

Whiskers inside orchid

Its a re-packaged re-run today, Im sorry to say. But a closer view inside the orchid from earlier this week...love those whiskers of colour inside!

Surrogate Sun

Heres a sunny zinnia to brighten the grey day we are having today.
Have a good one, and dont catch my cold while youre here!

Sneezin, Wheezin, Coughin & Bleckky

Summer colds are the worst, why is that? And why do I have a summer cold, when it isnt officially summmer yet? Well enough of that, I must 'soldier on' today regardless! But Im making no promises as to whether or not I will be coherent.

Another orchid with an unreadable tag, I thought I could get a better shot on a sunnier day, but a little orange and black beetle ate holes all thru the flower. Blighter. Wonder if he brought me this cold as well?

Aerial Survey

Three pair of Red Rumped Parrot made a brief survey of my patch this week. They didnt stay to sample the lawn though. Bummer! In this pic we have two males and one female. Usually they are seen in lawns or in grassy roadside verges, where they can be practically invisible. We get a much better view of thier lovely colours here.

Budgie Sunday - Odd shot

Everybudgie is still at some point in the moult, so Ive pulled out a pic from October to share today. I like the way Uno is sitting so perfectly upright, while her mate Goliath appears to be missing his head.

This shot was taken just moments before the one I used in Budgie Sunday - Sharing, and also gives us a good look at the feather patterns on thier backs.

Purple Wattles & Pirates

By now you know my camera (a Kodak DX6490) is hopeless in less than full sun (at noon, on the equator). Last week during our rainy days I spied both our Little Wattle Bird chick friends, and the pics I got were terrible. So I had a little fun with this one.

Busily taking nectar from the Jacaranda, our two chicks look very nearly full grown. They are doing great on thier own, but whenever they see thier parents they still beg to be fed. I guess kids are always kids, eh?

I just wanted to share with everyone that they have both made it. Hooray!

And on a completely unrelated topic:

POTC3! Pirates of the Caribean - At Worlds End hits video rental stores NEXT WEDNESDAY, November 21st. Arrrr, finally!

Absolutely Fabulous!

Pawhealer of A Spiritual Dog Blog has awarded my Little Wattle Bird Series the I'm Fabulous Award! How Totally Fabulous is that!

Thank you very much Pawhealer!

Jacaranda Mimosifolia

Jacaranda Mimosifolia is a fast growing deciduous tree that I absolutely fell in love with the first time I saw one in flower. The leaves are ferny, giving a gorgeous dense but dappled shade. In my garden "Jackie" sheds her leaves in early spring, and are shortly followed by masses of these spectacular tubular lilac flowers. Birds and Bees alike adore them.

Our Jackie was just 2 feet tall when we planted her in 2000, and today she is very nearly as tall as a street light. At maturity Jacarandas are about 33 feet (10 metres) tall, and the canopy just as wide. I paid just $13 AUD for this tree, and it seems I got an excellent return on my investment.

Cornflower - bachelor button

Back to some garden colour for us today. Must post and run, got to get back to chasing my tail. Hope you have a great day!

Retiring from the Lampwork Bench

Yesterdays mystery bird turns out to be a female Satin Bowerbird. Once I figured that out, I had to just sit back and enjoy the irony.

You may know that I make lampwork glass beads, under the business name Bower Bird Beads. (No prizes for guessing why I named a business after a bird, especially this one.) You might also know that Ive been having trouble with my hands due to an old injury. Long story short, the hands are getting worse, and I am not able to continue my work with glass. Not for a lack of trying though.

During the days I began to come to terms with this unexpected and undesireable turn of events, a Bowerbird shows up. Of course, I didnt know it was a Bowerbird till yesterday - but still - a Bowerbird! And she stays just long enough for me to get two pictures, and is gone. Ive never seen one here before. Talk about getting a 'sign'. Somehow, now that Ive got the message, I feel more at peace with it now.

So what will I do with myself? Oh, I will mess about with a few ideas...see what these hands are still capable of. Ive always said that I am a 'complusive creator'. I get very depressed if I do not have a creative outlet. So I choose to believe that there is a medium out there somewhere just waiting for me to get ahold it, and see what comes.

By the way, Im taking you all with me on this new adventure.

Who? What? When?

One of the rainy days we had last week, I heard an unfamiliar bird calling from the front garden. So I snagged my camera and went out to see who it was. Quite high up the gum tree was this bird - "Who are you?"

I got these two blurry shots before this bird took off. Then I noticed something odd hanging in the tree - "What is that?".

Its a birds toy! "When did that arrive?" Later in the day The Most DH said he had seen one of our new neighbors up in the tree a few days back.

Which gave me a nice feeling, because, they cant possibly see it from thier side of the tree. Have they placed it there for me?

But back to the original question...Who is this bird?

3pm - Its a FEMALE SATIN BOWERBIRD!!!

Baby Superb Fairy Wren

This little one hadnt been out of the nest long when its parents brought it to my garden to begin its hunting lessons. Its siblings were quick learners, but this little chick was not impressed with being turned out of the warm nest.

It spent most of an hour sitting in this spot, calling for its parents to come back from the hunt to feed it. It wasnt untill I was close enough to get this shot that the parents decided they'd given the chick enough 'tough love' for one day.

Momma swooped down to the chicks side with a worm in her beak, while Daddy called urgently from nearby cover. When Momma took off again, still in possession of the worm, the chick was quick to follow.

Budgie Sunday - Erm, sorta

Yes, I know. I know that isnt a budgie. Thats my man-cat Priapus, and you've yet to be introduced to him properly. Yes, yes, Im a bad mommy-blogger now.

I repeat, I know thats not a picture of a budgie. And for the record, the subject of said picture does not contain a budgie. Just so thats clear.

Heres the deal: the budgies are having That Time, The Big M, The Bird Curse, Having a visit from Aunty Plume, The Dastardly Depilation...in other words, the moult.

They look terrible. They feel terrible. And they are really, really cranky. So we will just enjoy the handsome kitty this week, okay?

Mrs Superb Fairy Wren

Sweet fluffy mommy bird having a break from showing her chick how to hunt in my Orange Trumpet Vine for insects.

Ive got a few things going on behind the scenes of the blog. As a result, Im still behind with visiting everyone. I should be around tonight - if I survive! LOL Will fill you all in soon, Have a great weekend!

Mr Superb Fairy Wren

This pic doesnt do him justice at all, but getting any pic of these is pretty tough. Keeping in mind the old adage "A bird in the hand, beats two in the bush" , here 'tis.

Find the Fairy (Wren)

Click the pic for a better view,
this ones easy - cause its Daddy and he's blue!

There, a poem too!

Volunteer Poppy

I didnt plant this, I think my bird friends did. Check out that vivid blue pollen! I will save the seeds from this and plant them next spring. When I went down to the weed patch to look for a treat for my budgies, I wasnt expecting to find a treat for myself as well. Some of lifes little surprises are quite pleasant, Cheers!

I hate advertising

I hate advertising, I think its evil. When I was in Perth a couple years ago I saw this large sign for a pizza joint. Even I had to admitt it was funny, although Im not sure if its funny ha-ha or funny strange. Anyhow, found this pic while culling shots Ive taken over the past few years and thought Id let you decide.

Bearded Iris + Sunshine = Glorious Colour

Lovely tall Lavender-Blue bearded iris, glowing against a background of orange California Poppies. Shot while the sun was out yesterday, today its cold and blowy like winter again - Brrr!

Budgie Sunday - Portrait of Primo

Primo imagining himself a wild budgie,
foraging in swaying grass heads.
Have a happy day Everybudgie!

Ces says Little Wattle Birds Outstanding

The ever thoughtful Ces of Ces And Her Dishes Part II has done me the honour of selecting my Little Wattle Bird chicks 2007 series for her Outstanding Blog Posts Series Award.

Thank you very, very much Ces. I appreciate it! Id also like to Thank Mr & Mrs Little Wattle birds for making it possible. Heres hoping we get to see thier two young in the garden again soon.

Silvereye

We are having a glorious rain this morning, complete with long rolling thunder. I went out the the garden anyway, its so nice to have a decent downfall. While I was out I spied this Silvereye patrolling the rosebushes. They come in occasionally to check for aphids. I dont think the Little Wattle Birds have left a single aphid for them, Sorry Silvereye!

See more Silvereye pics at Bird Anonymous
or Birds in Backyards.

Poppy Power

I never get tired of Poppies, this one comes from a mix of "Shirley Poppies".