2019 October's Opportunities

October is done and dusted - with a full range of Spring weather - from 'just a frost' to 30 degrees C.  With the dry conditions in western NSW, we are also experiencing a few very dusty days, and the pollen and dust count in the air is very high.

The Kangaroo that Esme didn't chase - she had her ball instead.

Kookaburra working on a nest hollow

Sleeping Dogs

With school holidays, we were dog sitters for a while.  The black & white staffy cross is Hudson - Connor & Jamie's dog.  The black hairy one below is Mackie - Andrew's Labradoodle.

Mackie

Kookaburra looking for food

The Tawny Frogmouth was still on the nest at the beginning of the month, but around the end of the first week he was shifting around, protecting young nestlings.

Still waiting

Magpie season - this one took a dislike to the dogs

Dampiera diversifolia Blue Haze in full flower at #33

Nesting time for a Red-Brown Finch

Olive-backed Oriole

First view of the nestlings

Brown Goshawk or Collard Sparrowhawk?

A pair of birds has started nesting along my walk, but what are they?  The Collard Sparrowhawk and the Brown Goshawk are very similar.  The local birdwatchers seem to be divided, and I cannot make up my mind either.

Lavender in the garden

Move over Dad - the nestlings are growing

Cunningham's Skink playing peek-a-boo

Sparrowhawk or Goshawk

Takeoff

Airborne

The Drone looking down over a pine forest

Milky Way over a BBQ spot - West Belconnen Pond

Bathing - Crimson Rosella

Cycads on Clyde Mountain

Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike

Living dangerously - perched over the raptor's nest

Dust in the air

Cunningham's Skink

Eastern Water Dragon

Growing up - and curious

Mailbox

Taemus Bridge over the Murrumbidgee River

Looking down the middle of the Taemus Bridge

Taemus bridge from the drone

Dozing in the sun

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