Ducks Magpies Frog

There were at least a dozen ducks on the wetland early this morning.


Then one of our local magpies turned up with a new fledgling. This was a relief because they lost one of their chicks to a Goanna ten days ago. This one should be safe now.


While I was up at the dam processing some bore water I found this frog in the backwash drum and put it in the dam. It obviously didn't want to swim because it came ashore.

Deadly Kookaburra

We went walking down next to the road this afternoon hoping to hear the Lyrebird. Instead we heard what we think were Bell Miners squawking as they were attacking a Kookaburra. The Kookaburra had a baby bird in its mouth and choked it down whole. The Bellbirds continued attacking it. The Kookaburra seemed very calm about it all and was rhythmically moving its tail up and down and the Bellbirds were attacking this leaving its head alone.


This shot was taken just after the bird was swallowed while the Bellbirds were still attacking.

Bearded Dragon

We see this dragon near the house a lot. It and the Magpies both think this is their territory and eye each other off at times.

Channel-billed Cuckoos

We stopped halfway up to the top of the mountain to check out some orchids and a couple of huge Channel-billed Cuckoos flew in to the tree above us squawking like crazy. We couldn't figure out what they were up to until a Currawong started attacking them. Cynthia realised that being cuckoos they lay eggs in other birds nests. With these huge Cuckoos, Currawongs are one of the few birds big enough to act as hosts. Although we couldn't see a nest, the Currawong must have been protecting one.


This shot shows one of the Cuckoos at the right, obviously startled after the Currawong just clipped it as it shot past. The Currawong can be seen at the top left.

After seeing a Goanna take a large Magpie chick just five days ago, we realised what a challenge it must be raising chicks.

Tongue Orchid

This Tongue Orchid (Dendrobium linguiforme but now known as Dockrilla linguiformis) is growing not far from our house. We only discovered it a few months ago and have been watching it to see when it flowered.

More Greenhood Orchids

I think this is a Hooked Rustyhood Orchid (Pterostylis hamata) but I'm not sure about that. These are growing not far from our house.

Another Donkey Orchid

I found another donkey orchid up the top of the mountain. This one looks like a different species from the last one.


I also found a few irises. They never seem to last very long but we see them at several places on the property at various times.

Goanna

We were sitting around outside this morning when the magpies that live near the house started attacking something at their nest which is way up in a tree below the house. We then saw a large goanna climbing down the tree with the magpies chasing it. We both had our cameras with us so we took off down the drive to try to intercept them.

When we got down there we saw that the goanna had a baby magpie in its mouth. The parents were squawking and flying at the goanna trying to get it to release the baby. They sounded so distressed repeatedly squawking even when they weren't attacking the goanna.

The goanna took the bird under a rock and stuffed it in a crevice.

We both felt really sorry for the magpie parents because they also lost their baby last year. This one looked almost fully grown and couldn't have been long off fledging.