SPRING into September (2019)

 Spring here started with a profusion of wattles - although they had been out for most of August too.

Wattles in full bloom

On 3rd September, the male Tawny Frogmouth commenced his sitting duties.  We are now watching the nest to see the results.

A pair of Eastern Rosellas visited regularly early in the month, but have now departed, looking for a suitable hollow.

Sulphur-crested cockatoos have been around in great numbers, grubbing for the Onion weed tuber - hence the dirty face.

We flew to Cairns for a week to spend time with family.  Had a wonderful time and sorry we had to leave.

Rainforest at Lake Placid 

 A morning's trip and walk at. the Crystal Cascades had a wealth of small falls and cascades and popular swimming holes.

Crystal Cascades

Trickle flowing down a cliff at the Crystal Cascades

Crystal Cascades

The Cattana Wetlands were only a 10 minute drive away from our accommodation and was a great spot for my early morning walks

Paperbarks in early morning light - Jabiru Pond - Cattana Wetlands

Spotlight on a willow - Kingfisher Pool - Cattana Wetlands

Standout rainforest trees

Magpie Geese - Cattana Wetlands

Sunlight on Paperbark trees- Cattana Wetlands

Waterfall in t he Barron Gorge

That tree stands out

Sunset - Cattana Wetlands

We went on a full day trip to Kuranda - travelled up by train with carriages that reminded me of my school days when I travelled by train to boarding school.

Kuranda train pulling into the station - start of journey

A large bend allowed the capture of the front of the train.

A trestle bridge allowed another shot of the train

Followed by a rapid switch of sides to get this waterfall

View towards the coast on the way up the hill

Rainforest, steep slopes and waterfall

Orange Lacewing in the Butterfly Sanctuary

Red Lacewing in the Butterfly Sanctuary

Blue-banded Egg Fly in the Butterly Sanctuary

Cairns Birdwing in the Butterfly Sanctuary

We returned to Cairns on the Skyrail...

Kuranda Terminus

Skyrail gondolas

Travelled over the rainforest

Curlew Sandpiper along the Cairns waterfront

Brush Turkey visiting

Blue hour

Torresian Imperial Pigeon

Torresian Imperial Pigeon

Green Tree Ants' Nest

Figbird

Rainforest meets the Coral Sea north of Cairns

Egret - Cattana Wetlands

Forest Kingfisher pair - Cattana Wetlands

A day trip up onto the Atherton Tablelands to see the large fig trees and waterfalls

Cathedral Fig

Curtain Fig (the boardwalk is at least 3 metres above the ground level)

Brolga

And Brolgas

Malanda waterfall and swimming hole

Lake Eacham

Dogs were pleased to see us

Back home and into regular daily walks - the spring bird numbers are up

Red-browed Finch

Grey Butcherbird

Milky Way core

Milky Way over a BBQ spot

Kookaburras looking for a nesting hollow

August 2019

A busy month, photographing U12 AFL, trips to Sunshine Coast, Snow Day and appointments.

AFL - 'Up there Cazaly - err Alex'

 A week on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland.

Abandoned cottage - Sunshine Coast

Strawberries for Sale - Eumundi Markets Qld

Rainforest around Mapleton Falls

Maroochydore

 At Woden checking out apartments.

Murals at Woden

Murals at Woden

 Daily dog walks - Esme is always keen to have the ball.

Esme and her ball

One morning I looked out the window at this sunrise.  Dashed out with camera and it was gone very shortly after I captured this shot.

Sunrise at #33

 We did a drive around the Riverina to photograph the painted water towers and silos.

Wagga Wagga Water Tower

Roadside water tank near Collingullie

BIG kangaroo and emu near Lockhart

 Also at Lockhart is the Pastoral Shadows of Brookong.  Sculptures depicting days gone by.

Farm Wagon - Esme is not sure about it.

A drover's wagon

Ploughing - Pepper is checking to see if a pat is available.

Swaggie

Drovers

and their flock

Swaggie and his dog

Cockatoo sculpture

Horse

Lockhart Water Tower

Lockhart Water Tower

Emus and chicks sculpture

Narrandera Water Tower - late afternoon

Narrandera Water Tower

Narrandera Silos - need painting

Milky Way

Milky Way

Narrandera Water Tower in the morning light

Crop and pasture - drought is on the land

Weethalle Silo

Grenfell Silo

 A day trip to Kiandra area.

A very old Snow Gum

The Survivor

Snow Gum squeezed among the rocks

At 3 Mile Dam

Scarlet Robin in the snow

Wattle is blooming - Spring is around the corner

Frogmouth pair

Grey Butcherbird that has taken up residence

Juvenile Straw-necked Ibis. A few have been around for most of the month.