Wildlife Wednesday

Well folks since it is Wildlife Wednesday i thought what better than some cute little guys that i fell in love with when in the US..

I know most of my followers being American will probably be very blase about these but i was so excited to spot Squirrels..and they proved quite a challenge to capture with my camera.

Fast like birds and erratic..like all wildlife if you watch long enough you can often predict their movements..let’s just say i had some cooperative critters and some ..well they just saw me coming and laughed as they took off i am sure..

You would have laughed at the sight of a middle aged woman..creeping along..camera in hand and tip toeing around bushes and trees..

The things i do 🙂

Have a super Squirrrely day folks !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wallaby Wednesday

Yep..it’s me…again..one day i will get my act together with posting..seems i am distracted..can you blame me 🙂

I introduced you to Wally last time i was here..well i am so delighted to report he has a significant other!

Please meet Wanda..

I had grabbed my bits and pieces and headed to the dam this morning..even at a good 12 feet down on water it is still the go to place for all species.

If ever you want to find any kind of wildlife watering holes are always a great place to start..we all need it and as it  is scarce it is pretty popular when found!

I had only been sitting for not even 10 minutes when up the embankment to my right i spotted the Wallaby..when i looked and saw an obvious pouch i was beside myself.

The shots i took are not fantastic..i had hidden amongst wattles and so i had branches and grasses in my way..but  i was not budging..no matter if my chair broke (it did) or i got bitten by ants (i did) or attacked by mozzies (i did) i was staying quiet to enjoy what was a magical moment..

And my friend  Easy has already claimed rights to be Godfather to the little tyke..(whom i will give a unisex name as i have no clue what sex this little ‘pinkie’ is yet)

So say hello to Wanda and ‘Buttons’

Wanda pops in for a drink..notice she is not as muscular as Wally

Wanda has a heavy load in that pouch!

Thirsty work being a Mum

And there is Buttons..just as cute as a button don’t you agree ?

A different view

Hi guys..well the internet war continues..the landlines are back on..one phone though is dead..so needs replacing..hubby talked to the telco’s and they tried to explain the in’s and out’s of what is going on..i am still no clearer..so as i have been going bats over this..it struck me..bats!

Well grey-headed flying foxes to be exact.

These sweet and much maligned creatures live in a colony in Bendigo’s Centennial Park.

Before hubby and i headed to dinner in town for his birthday we went for a stroll  through here..we caught them as they were just starting to stir from their sleep.

I have been meaning to get pictures of them since we moved here so long over due.

The grey -headed flying fox is listed as Vulnerable on our species list.The adults have wingspans up to one metre or 3 feet and weigh in at a kilo or 2.2lb.

Please enjoy going ‘batty’ with me ..

 

Just hanging out in the park..like most kids

The little wings are really hands and protect from the drizzle we had

I see a fuzzy little head

Some still asleep..too early to party

Staring to stir an evening of fruit eating awaits

Snug and safe

Like decorations on a tree they are

Centennial parks gardens near the conservatory

Wild on Wednesday

Hi guys…well looks like i am back with the Wild folk again..a return of the roos has meant i am spoiled for photo ops..

They are healthy happy and flourishing..many joeys in pouches and many young males who seem to outnumber the girls…this should make for some very interesting times ahead!

I have spotted some real whopper boys too..three so far..and even from a distance i can see they are BIG!.. they seem to be staying mainly in our back paddock..interesting when i go for a walk..need to be a bit careful i think ..

I have shown a brief video this week and have an extended one which i will try and get up next week.

With the roos we are always cautious on our street..but even more so as a few are really random in their jumping..and i have tried to capture a picture to show how close they get to the road and you cannot see them until the last moment.

They are super camo and often ‘camp’ as they call it by the verges and when a head pops up it scares the beejeebers out of you..i would never forgive myself if i hit one..we have a young healthy Male who seems happy to camp at the back of our property and by himself..he may be branching out and looking to start his own mob..he is not injured ( i always try and check) and is eating and happy….so maybe this is his time to be the man of his own family!

I spot him when i get home from the shops..i get out of my car walk over near the barn and through the scrub and gumtrees i can see him resting…we play this game when i leave and when i come home..he seems quite bored with me 🙂

 

I took some pics of him for you all and also have included some of the roo that was by the road on our street..it is a deadend street and we are the last house so he is safe..we all take extra care on our street..we are quite proud of our roos 🙂 he also show how well camoflagued he is..certainly born to live and survive in our bush environment..he watched me ..and in two hops was across the road and giving me the ‘look’…later next week i will post the pics of the funny little roo that was already on the other side…he played peek a boo with me..it is not easy to take a quick pic with my camera on my lap in the car..with a dirty windscreen..so forgive the roadside pics 🙂

Have a great day i am off to bed to catch some zzzzz’s

 

Lone Male camping

 

Hears me

 

Decides to look around

 

Checking the direction of the noise (me)

 

Oh it’s her again!

 

See this great camo!

 

Over the other side in a second

Wild on Wednesday brought forward to Monday..

Hi guys..i was unable to do a Wild on Wednesday last week..so busy getting things done outside..this week with some ups and downs with Pickles I am doing an early Wild feature…I think we have had so many sad animal stories the last week or so that an early smile and maybe even a squee is called for…
Now I am thrilled with these pictures..they were hard to get..but I was honoured that Mum felt safe enough around me to allow her little babe out of the pouch..this small group has been very close to the house and the day I took them I was actually taking bird pics..when I turned to follow a bird’s flight path I saw below the embankment this family..

Mum was having a snooze…

Mum was fast asleep

Until she spotted me..

A sweet spot to rest up with the family

Of course you may all remember Nicky the little joey I introduced you to before..

Nicky ..she may be used to seeing me..growing like a weed..

Dad went about his grazing..a bit more wary of me than mum and Nicky …

Dad multi tasking..eating and keeping an eye on me ..

Now mum must have been already holding a new joey in her pouch when I first showed Nicky to you all…

Yep..mum has a very full pouch..again!! and see that little head trying to eat the grass

I was beside myself with joy when all of a sudden that pouch started rolling around like a wrestling match was taking place..

Don’t make me come in there!!

I will set the day for you..it was beautifully warm with a gentle breeze..the smell of Eucalypts only faint..birds chirping and flying around..i wonder if the breeze was annoying mum as she seemed to have an itchy ear..

Boy this ear is itchy!

So I settled on the ground..mum still not really concerned…and I sat amongst the dandelions..bees everywhere and allergic as I am we have an agreement..they don’t sting me and I won’t bother them…I waited..covered in grass stains from trying to position myself without worrying the family..and then I was given the greatest present ever…now they are not perfect because i had grasses and trees in my way..and to move around anymore I would have ruined a perfect moment…but if you look closely…

Look at that sweet little creature !

I introduce to you Tippy..new sister or brother to Nicky..this baby fell out of the pouch and stumbled and seemed to have no clue what those giant feet were for..the joey kept falling over and mum kept nudging and grooming him/her..it was one of the most magical times I have had..she felt safe enough to allow this while I was there…amazing…so due to the stumbling and falling I called this little one Tippy…

Boy these big feet are really hard to drive mum!

See the joey ..standing close to mum and looking all around at the big world…it was a perfect spot for a nursery for the big footed babes 🙂
Typical baby ..wanted back in again pretty quick…

Mum let me in!!

And then out again…..

Nup ..still can’t drive these feet mum…

And so that was it..back in…safely in mum’s pouch where you do not need to use the feet ..

Hey this is pretty good..

And then my battery started to die in the camera…I knew it..so I bid farewell to the family that made my day so special and made me feel like I was privileged to be a part of Tippy’s big day out…and mum even waved goodbye to me too 😉

Bye bye strange lady..and thankyou for respecting my space…

Have a wonderful week..i hope you all get to feel a part of something magical this week..something that makes you see the beauty close to you…

Wild on Wednesdays

The roos have been very busy around here of late…maybe they know the grasses will be scarce soon when the Summer dries the ground again..so nearly every morning and afternoon this lovely family pays a visit..they start out the front and work their way down the front and then across the property..we did notice a couple of boys on the opposite side of the front drive..i am wondering ,as the big boy with the young girls and joey’s were on the other side if these boys are getting to an age where they need their own mob..they were a good size and looked quite strong and healthy…I also noticed ne had a sizeable scar on his leg..maybe the result of some boxing…and when these boys took off they displayed some really long powerful legs..they also stood and watched me quite boldly..i was on the front verandah and these young guys were only about 12 metres away (35 feet) eventually they got bored with me and turned tail and hopped off…

The big boy with the girls and joeys in his grazing area

Seems he has a little fan club of joey’s..or he is a babysitter

This young joey feels quite safe with his mob

One of the young big males on the opposite side of the driveway

One of the young guys standing watching me

The young big boy looks beautiful against the Kangaroo thorn wattle

A great close up of the young big boy with the other big boys behind him

Clearly this big boy has no worries about acting as a sentry..notice the scar on his left leg

When they go….they go….strength power agility and speed…

And of course there is nothing like ending with a picture of mum and her bubba

From a great height

Ok my head has been sore since last Saturday..i had a mini meltdown…Pickles had an operation and there is work to be done outside..i have caught up on some blogs but not all and I do apologise..you know the best cure has been getting out in nature..headache or not I feel better..today was no exception..

As I lay on the ground in the back paddock..camera in hand sun in my dried out eyeballs I looked to the heavens…..

You know that saying that you feel you have been ‘sh*t on from a great height’

Well when it’s an eagle it looks like a litre of white paint headin your way..
Summed up my week perfectly..and made me laugh my head off…

Excuse the quality of the picture..even Brutus cannot outsmart the blue sky great heights and sun glare..

Wild on Wednesdays

I have decided to make my Wednesdays wild…every Wednesday I will post the wildlife I am so very privileged to live with here at home…or in my travels..

The main aim of this blog was to showcase the wildlife and sometimes I get sidetracked…it’s what I love…its what I get my greatest joy from and it is a window into the world from a regular everyday perspective..

Of course the kitties and pups and sheep still have their bloggie..and that’s where the crazy will be 🙂

So as I post these pictures I am happy to try and answer any questions in regards to the animals as best I can…and if I don’t know then I will find out.

Please enjoy todays pictures.. a young mum and her male joey I have been watching recently…and with some patience I was eventually rewarded with what I had been waiting for.. a little on board joey ..mum and the older joey moved towards me…I stayed in the same spot only moving to adjust my seat as it was a bit damp and on stones and grass…she felt clearly comfortable in moving around and was at no time stressed.. she would graze and every now and then check my position…she is but a baby herself and only small.

It is important to understand they are timid creatures and I will always respect their need to feel safe…besides their behaviours are more natural if I allow them to dictate the terms of the encounter.

I had such a lovely time.. the sun was warming my face and the rays were brilliant in how they shone on the roos.. you could not set a shoot up better if you tried lighting wise.. the pups were in the new fenced off backyard and though they barked a bit every now and then.. the Mum was not concerned…she had no reason to be.. we have never allowed the dogs to roam and chase roos…

After over an hour I finished up as needs must.. and things needed doing..i left them to continue their little feast in peace.. another day in my very blessed world.

 

Monday Morning Visitors..

So busy and trying to catch up..so a quick series of cute shots from this morning…first day of Spring…and this mum and her young male joey were enjoying some grasses in the rain…she.. as you can see.. has another wee joey in her pouch…which remained out of sight…

 

The GFC ( Great Fence Construction ) is over

On the 26 th of this month we had been here in our new home for 3 years..boy the work we have done…a ten year old house with fencing along the boundaries and that was about it..so a lot of fencing and paddocks needed to be sorted.

The biggest challenge has been the realisation that the wildlife is closer than we anticipated..so keeping the wild/domestic harmony became very important..Forrest being bitten by an Eastern Brown Snake     http://www.avru.org/general/general_eastbrown.html sealed the deal…this was top priority.

Now we decided to totally enclose the back of the house yard..the fencing was not enough to stop Forrest if he wanted to leap over after a roo and the snakeproofing proved inadequate. Considering it nearly did Phil in doing the original house yard fence we were well aware of the work involved

We have 11 acres but we still wanted to have an area that we could enjoy with the pups and without losing the sunsets..we came up with the idea of ‘windows’ in the fence..we thought of stained glass but the trees everywhere proved to be problematic..so we decided on Perspex..

Of course all good ideas involve hard work and loads of cash…so it has taken a long time to get to this point…it has required ridiculous man hours (hubbies) relying on good weather and many post holes in basically concrete ground..which along the back needed a man with a rig that had a huge posthole attachment..which still lifted off the ground..

Every fence  paling (and all the gates which are fence paling also for a seamless look)..have been screwed on by hubby…what a guy…this has nearly killed him…talk about hard work..the yard is still a dump zone as we have to now start the clean up…but the yard is done..some snakewire on the outside…and all over….we are then moving on to making the catio out the back..this will be a lot easier..less pain I am sure..we will have a doggy door soon to put in the laundry door and the pups can then be outside when we go out and can go in to their beds inside in the laundry if they want..

Outside they have a large covered verandah and their outside beds…water etc..3 years we have not been able to leave the house for more than a few hours as we have had them inside for their safety…so it will be lovely to go out and have a life…without worrying that they are locked in the house.It’s different with the girls they can wander the house inside for hours…but not the boys..i am pretty sure my couch would be eaten!

The catio will have access from the main bathroom to the outside..this means the girls can come and go day and night..in summer a real bonus…we plan on hanging an old wooden ladder from the rafters of the verandah with chains..and I will make hammocks on the rungs..so the girls will love this I am sure….there is a lot of work in keeping the pets and wildlife safe..and we are just glad we have finished before Summer..

So then then the gardens will be fixed up.. with an enclosed area in the corner for my veggie garden..which i have sadly missed..but landscaping is kind of the last thing after practicality..

So after who knows how many hours and about 4 thousand dollars later ( and that was after i spotted a whole load of really cheap palings ..made a big difference believe it or not) ta da…the safe pet backyard…still messy but hey that will be easy to fix 🙂

I may be absent a bit soon as the yard needs a lot of work..the scrub needs burning off before Summer and my poor garden out front is trashed from frost..i will try and pop in as I can…I will never catch up I am sure but needs must and this lovely property is a lot of work this time of year..