Autumnal Garden Wildlife
Over the last month or so I've been to hell and back (well, perhaps not all the way there - but I was definitely in the departure lounge). Still, as Churchill once said "If you find yourself going through hell - keep going" ... so I'm keeping on going.
And aside from my trifling miseries, it's actually been a bit of a month. We had a politician make a pipe bomb and take it to work (just to prove that he could). It was fake of course, I imagine he daren't have brought along a real one as the temptation to use it would have been irresistible. The upshot being that people are now aware that it's possible to blow up parliament ... edge of ya seat stuff eh?.
On a much sadder note, comedian Rik Mayall died. I never met the man, so my sadness is purely selfish - but for me the world suddenly became just a little more beige.
While all of this was going on, the seasons have been changing. Cooler temperatures in the south of the continent means that we get the normal influx of migratory Australians from Melbourne/Sydney etc. Possibly TNQ's most dangerous animals. I don't know what it is, but the only things they don't bring with them are manners or the ability to bloody drive without a phone mashed to their ear.
Still, at least they're easy to spot. They have to yell in order to be heard over their clothing and have this remarkable pink sheen to them. Together they trample about the place taking pics of everything while managing to see nothing - loudly complaining that their triple non-fat, yak semen mocha latte isn't frothy enough ...
Thankfully, for the most part I manage to hide from such people and, as always, get some pics ...
Remember when I said we had some Sunbirds building a nest, but it got destroyed when cyclone Ita slipped past us a while back? Well, some good news ...
Of course, it's impossible to know if these are the same pair - but I suspect not. They appear to be smaller and have chosen to build under one of Jo's hanging pot plants right next to the door. A touch nerve wracking for all concerned, but as it's impractical to no longer use the door - she'll just have to get used to us.
The frogs continue to be a huge source of entertainment. The one below is the same as in the phone pic from the previous post (different angle/light and taken with a camera).
The interesting bit is that I didn't notice the paper wasp nest ... Not to worry though, as they quickly introduced themselves in their usual bold and forthright manner ... ouch lol.
With all the frogs knocking about no self-respecting serpent is going to pass up the opportunity for an easy meal and the water python made another appearance. Again, I can't really be sure if it's the same snake from a while ago - it was marginally larger and quite heavily scarred in places ... it doesn't matter I guess, I'm just always glad to spot them.
This one was cruising right next to the water feature where our jolly green giant and co have taken up residence. Actually, the sunbird nest is directly above this as well ... a veritable smorgasbord for a hungry snake. Again, I couldn't help myself and had to have a cuddle.
A good friend of ours told us how, when he was a lad growing up in rural QLD, coming across bracket fungi meant there could be a snake in the area. They called the fungi 'snake-bread' and the myth was that snakes dined on it ... neat eh?
All the usual suspects are still around despite things being unseasonably damp ... and here's a quick pictorial review of some of them:
And aside from my trifling miseries, it's actually been a bit of a month. We had a politician make a pipe bomb and take it to work (just to prove that he could). It was fake of course, I imagine he daren't have brought along a real one as the temptation to use it would have been irresistible. The upshot being that people are now aware that it's possible to blow up parliament ... edge of ya seat stuff eh?.
On a much sadder note, comedian Rik Mayall died. I never met the man, so my sadness is purely selfish - but for me the world suddenly became just a little more beige.
While all of this was going on, the seasons have been changing. Cooler temperatures in the south of the continent means that we get the normal influx of migratory Australians from Melbourne/Sydney etc. Possibly TNQ's most dangerous animals. I don't know what it is, but the only things they don't bring with them are manners or the ability to bloody drive without a phone mashed to their ear.
Still, at least they're easy to spot. They have to yell in order to be heard over their clothing and have this remarkable pink sheen to them. Together they trample about the place taking pics of everything while managing to see nothing - loudly complaining that their triple non-fat, yak semen mocha latte isn't frothy enough ...
Thankfully, for the most part I manage to hide from such people and, as always, get some pics ...
Remember when I said we had some Sunbirds building a nest, but it got destroyed when cyclone Ita slipped past us a while back? Well, some good news ...
 |
Cinnyris jugularis |
 |
Fastidious to a fault |
Of course, it's impossible to know if these are the same pair - but I suspect not. They appear to be smaller and have chosen to build under one of Jo's hanging pot plants right next to the door. A touch nerve wracking for all concerned, but as it's impractical to no longer use the door - she'll just have to get used to us.
The frogs continue to be a huge source of entertainment. The one below is the same as in the phone pic from the previous post (different angle/light and taken with a camera).
 |
Litoria gracilenta |
The interesting bit is that I didn't notice the paper wasp nest ... Not to worry though, as they quickly introduced themselves in their usual bold and forthright manner ... ouch lol.
 |
Note the translucent egg she is guarding |
With all the frogs knocking about no self-respecting serpent is going to pass up the opportunity for an easy meal and the water python made another appearance. Again, I can't really be sure if it's the same snake from a while ago - it was marginally larger and quite heavily scarred in places ... it doesn't matter I guess, I'm just always glad to spot them.
This one was cruising right next to the water feature where our jolly green giant and co have taken up residence. Actually, the sunbird nest is directly above this as well ... a veritable smorgasbord for a hungry snake. Again, I couldn't help myself and had to have a cuddle.
 |
(Liasis fuscus) |
 |
(Boiga irregularis) |
 |
Our Jolly green giant |
A good friend of ours told us how, when he was a lad growing up in rural QLD, coming across bracket fungi meant there could be a snake in the area. They called the fungi 'snake-bread' and the myth was that snakes dined on it ... neat eh?
 |
A Carlia with some "snake-bread" |
All the usual suspects are still around despite things being unseasonably damp ... and here's a quick pictorial review of some of them:
 |
Blue Moon |
 |
Meadow Argus |
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Grasshopper (giant) |
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Golden Orb |
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Hairy Wasp |
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Lynx Spider |
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Bee mimic, hover-fly |
The Aboriginal people of northern Australia tell how the Great Rainbow Snake Julunggul shaped the world. When human blood dropped into a waterhole, Julunggul grew angry. He sent a wave of water washing across the earth, and he swallowed people, plants, and animals.
Julunggul reared up toward heaven, but an ant spirit bit him and made him vomit up what he had swallowed. This happened again and again until Julunggul departed from the earth, leaving people, plants and animals in all parts of it ...
The water python Liasis fuscus pictured in this post, is thought to be the species identified as the "Rainbow Serpent" of oral tradition.
Take Care - Paul
Julunggul reared up toward heaven, but an ant spirit bit him and made him vomit up what he had swallowed. This happened again and again until Julunggul departed from the earth, leaving people, plants and animals in all parts of it ...
The water python Liasis fuscus pictured in this post, is thought to be the species identified as the "Rainbow Serpent" of oral tradition.
Take Care - Paul
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