On the Beach

Freycinet in Tasmania has to be one of my most favourite places.  The combination of Pink Granite rock, blue skies and sea and the orange lichen that grows on the rocks make it really rather colourful. When I went down on to the beach all of these colours were being bathed in late afternoon light.  

Wonderful.

More pictures from around the world at Our World Tuesday.  SM

Wild Bird Wednesday 288 - Tasmanian Native-hen

There are 12 endemic species found in (and only in) Tasmania.  One of these is the Tasmanian Native-hen (Tribonyx mortierii).  This bird is a large, flightless rail, and it used to be classified into the genus Gallinula, along with birds such as the Moorhen.  However, the tides of taxonomy have moved into a much smaller genus - which contains only one other living species.

It tells you a good deal about these birds that one of their common names is the "Turbo-Chook".  They are fast moving, noisy and often seem to be of ill temper with member of their own species, and the world in general.

I actually found them hard to photograph, and saw daily saw them on verges by the side of the road as I was going past, heading somewhere else.  On our last day in Tasmania I found some in that same habitat, and having a bit of time to waste while I waited for the ferry home I photographed them.

I rather like the urban background to these images.

As ever, to join in with WBW just click on the blue button below the thumbnails - feel free to share a link to this page on the many and varied forms of social media that we now use every day!

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Still Distracted

I arrived home from Tasmania today and went (more or less) straight to work!  I suspect that you will not be surprised that I found being in Tasmania better than being at my desk!

These are a few pictures taken from where we stayed in the second half of out trip - the house is near a settlement called Moina, which is not very far from Cradle Mountain National Park.  It was a wonderful, peaceful location with no connection to the outside world except for electricity.

I have sorted out these pictures, and will be back in full swing very soon!

The house is a little more modern than it looks, because it has been built largely with recycled materials that were present on the site.    It was a fabulous place!

More pictures from around the world at Our World Tuesday.  SM

Wild Bird Wednesday 287 - Welcome Swallows

When I was in New Zealand last year I came upon these fledged Welcome Swallows (Hirundo neoxena) being fed by their parents.  I seemed not to be able to get decent images of the birds being fed, but I did get these more stationary images.

I cant help but notice that the young birds seem rather content to just wait to be fed.  This may be familiar to all parents!

As ever, to join in with WBW just click on the blue button below the thumbnails - feel free to share a link to this page on the many and varied forms of social media that we now use every day!  

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Distracted

The pictures below are the view from my temporary new front door - you may understand why I have been distracted from blogging!  And I suspect I will be no move active over the next few days either!

So, please take this as both an explanation and an apology for not visiting many (well, any!) blogs over the last week!

So of you may recognise this location - I am at Freycinet National Park in Tasmania - one of the best places I have ever been!

More pictures from around the world at Our World Tuesday.  SM

Wild Bird Wednesday 286 - Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo

More from the parrot family this week.  This is a Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita) investigating a hole in a tree just around the corner from last week's flock of Eastern Rosellas.

Like most parrots, these birds are really rather smart.  They are also noisy, destructive and fun to watch.  I assume that I consider them 'fun to watch' because they are not destroying the wires and gutters of my house!

These birds are about 50cm long and can be found all over the eastern and northern parts of Australia.  Their voices can not really be described as melodic, but their raucous calls are a really iconic part of the bush soundscape in this part of the world.

As ever, to join in with WBW just click on the blue button below the thumbnails - feel free to share a link to this page on the many and varied forms of social media that we now use every day!  

cheers - SM

An InLinkz Link-up