Saturday, July 10, 2010

104.) Return of the Tweed

Full moon rising over the Coral Sea


Dirk went birding on his own, since Nancy was attending a climate change conference in Brisbane, and found a prize Scarlet Honeyeater!

Here I wish I had bigger glass - all the old bird pros say you can get great photos with a 300 mm - you just have to sneak up on them. But these guys stay WAY up in the canopy. There is no way to get closer - you also don't get many chances - this is the first we have ever seen even though they are not particularly unusual.







There's always something wild and wonderful blooming at any given time of the year, here! Here's a Brown-headed Honeyeater caught between nectar snacks.












We're lucky to have Ospreys here, too! This one has successfully nested here for the last 6 years and it ready to fledge the chick (who would occasionally pop its head up).













With chicks in the nest! (at least I think that is the chick!)













A Sacred Kingfisher looking for second breakfast





















A pied cormorant keeping his eye on us















Suburban birding is entertaining as you also see bits of yard folk art--a weathervane on a house overlooking the broadwater
















Willy Wagtails seem to be habitat generalists--they live everywhere except the wettest forests. They're not very shy, and are always a fun bird to see.












The week's vegetable supply from a morning visit to the glorious farmer's market! Remember that we just passed the Winter Solstice? There are some benefits from living in a subtropical locale! It's difficult not to "impulse" buy veggies when they're this beautiful!







Where is that Molly cat?!

You can't see me if I can't see you, right?!






















So many birds to see - can't wait till spring when things get a bit more active. Though one of the locals told us she had ID'ed 72 species that morning (we only had 34). I can only get photos of 20% or so ---