Miscellaneous Ramblings

I have been feeling somewhat second-hand for the week as a result of a chest and sinus infection.  It has been interfering with my hearing (which is not good at any time).

Anyway, I spend an hour at Black Mountain Peninsula while my partner was at an appointment - Found a lot of interest, from rowers training to insects in flowering grasses

Rowers on Lake Burley Griffin

Blackberry flowers and butterfly

Damselfly on grass seedhead

Late one evening we went up the Telstra Tower on Black mountain, but the wind was too strong to go on the upper level, so I had to contend with photographing through steel bars.

Canberra from Telstra Tower

We finished the evening with sunset behind the National Museum of Australia.

Evening Sail

In my local walking patch, Crimson Rosellas are working on seed heads and the Tawny Frogmouth family are in different roost trees each day.

Crimson Rosella with seed head

Frogmouth Family

Frogmouth Family 2015

The Tawny Frogmouths I have been watching this year have fledged.

There were originally three young, but one was found under the nest with a wound on its head/neck probably from a currawong.

They will remain in the area for another 10 days or so, learning to fly and hunt.  Anyway - here is a pictorial record of this year.

Nest building

Dad - testing it for size

Mum

Setting - 28 -32 days

First look at junior

More than one!!!

Three!!!

Three waiting to be fed

Back to two - Growing up

Starting to get flight feathers

Is that food coming?

All back at the nest after the eldest one fledged.

Youngest - thinking about flying

Eldest fledgling imitating a dead branch

Dad and youngest

Frogmouth Family

Ginninderra Creek

A little bit more about me.  I was born in South Australia in 1942, so that makes me 70+ years.

I served in the Royal Australian Navy for 20 years (1961-1981) and a further 15 years in the Defence Department.

I enjoy photography (especially wildlife and landscapes) and going fishing when I can.

My regular walking track is along both sides of Ginninderra Creek in Latham ACT.  It is about 2 Km long following the footpath/bicycle patch, crossing the footbridge and returning along the opposite side of the creek to cross at a set of stepping stones.   If the creek is flooded, it is a walk up and back on the same side.

Footbridge over Ginninderra Creek

Stepping stones (flooded) that are also enjoyed by grandson and dog.

Reedbeds

Ginninderra Creek

Ginninderra Creek

First Tawny Frogmouth Fledged

Today was going to be a blog layday.

 The morning walk was a quick check on the Tawny Frogmouths then a check on the Willie Wagtails. We also saw the Sacred Kingfishers as well as the usual suspects.

We needed bread and milk, so off the the shops, a stop at The Big Green Shed (Bunnings Hardware) and then home.  the rest of the day involved a nap, putting up shelves and some photoshop practise.

We went down to see the Frogmouths at dusk to get some feeding shots and the eldest chick FLEW.  He flew well and with confidence.

Sacred Kingfisher

Willie Wagtail and Junior

One of the Christmas Cacti in flower

Hey - is that Mum with food?

Dad's also gone hunting.

Hey Bro - where did you go?

I flew!   Dad's here.

Daily Walk - Ginninderra Creek

With a forecast high of 32C, we left for our morning walk (stroll) an hour earlier.  Frogmouth chicks are growing and will probably fledge within a week.

Tawny Frogmouth and young.

Further on, the Willie Wagtails were feeding young and the Noisy Friarbird had settled in for incubation duties.  In the same limited area, Magpie-larks, Black-faced Cuckoo Shrikes, Sacred Kingfishers and Grey Fantails were nesting.

Noisy Friarbird on nest.

Returning along the other side of the creek, a briar rose was flowering.  All up - an interesting morning.

Briar Rose

Much Later.......

Bird bath fun.