Now with Instagram!

So I'm a bit slow but I have enjoyed joining the millions who fiddle with their photos and share using Instagram. Here's a sample and there will be a smaller badge continuing the feed in the side tool bar. Expect birds and more!

Bald Hills, 1 year ago

I am finding precious few moments for birding at present but a year ago today Tom and I visited a peculiar bit of South Gippsland bush called Bald Hills Wetland Reserve.

It was an overcast and squally day which added to the lonely and slightly spooky feel to the bush. A short walk from the car park brings one to a small lake with a bird hide. Part of the walk is along a slightly elevated boardwalk through bushy swamp. The Parks Victoria parknotes leaflet proclaims

The Bald Hills Wetland Reserve is a special place, alive with an array of birds and other wildlife. A meandering walking track leads you through a series of sand ridges and thickets of Paperbark, that flood during wet periods, to the sheltered bird hide where you can sit quietly and observe birds feeding within the wetland.

Australasian darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae)

Mirkwood or The Old Forest from Tolkien's Middle-earth?

The elevated boardwalk could have been a bit more elevated in places!

White-eared and Yellow-faced honeyeaters were readily spotted.

Grey shrike-thrush (Colluricincla harmonica)

 Grey fantail nest (I think) and an uncooperative and poorly lit Eastern yellow robin.

Cattle egrets (Ardea ibis)

Brown falcon by Tom (from moving car!) at .... well, Tarwin Lower!

I also fondly remember a Bald Hills moment when I checked my mobile phone to see if my beloved Aussie rules team Essendon (the Bombers) had started their scheduled match. I was momentarily befuddled by a set of numbers I couldn't comprehend as a 1st quarter scoreline of 94 to 1 point was displayed:

Is that its tongue? (Part II)

Finally I can post some pictures taken in our backyard!

When we bought the place in 1993 we had to ask about this tree. It flowers best in our autumn and is known as a Queensland Firewheel Tree (Stenocarpus sinuatus). It is not native to the area and is more at home further north. I am pleased to say that it has (so far) survived our custodianship. At this time of year there is a battle between honeyeaters and lorikeets for feeding rights.

Rainbow lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus)

Look closely! I think that the long grey appendage is the famed lorikeet's tongue . I think these particular flowers give it a workout!

Firewheel tree (Stenocarpus sinuatus)