ARCHIVAL

Dipping into the archives and reconstructing the current season.

This post is part of the Mosaic Monday meme, 
and also part of the Seasons meme.

HAPPY ORTHODOX EASTER

Happy Easter to all Orthodox Christians who celebrate this great Feast Day today, Sunday 5th of May.

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme

LITTLE WATTLEBIRD

The little wattlebird (Anthochaera chrysoptera), also known as the brush wattlebird, is a passerine bird in the honeyeater family Meliphagidae. It is found in coastal and sub-coastal south-eastern Australia, typically in in banksia/eucalypt woodlands, heathlands, tea-tree scrub, sandplain-heaths, lantana thickets, wild tobacco, parks and gardens.

The little wattlebird is a medium to large honeyeater, but the smallest wattlebird. The appearance is similar to the yellow wattlebird and the red wattlebird. The little wattlebird lacks the wattles, which characterise other members of the genus. Juveniles are duller with less streaking and have a browner eye. Calls include a strident cookay-cok, a raucous fetch-the-gun, a mellow guttural yekkop, yekkop and many squeaky, musical lilting notes. The alarm call is a kwock or shnairt!

Little wattlebirds feed on nectar obtained with a long, brush-tipped tongue, adapted for probing deep into flowers. They also feed on insects, berries, and some seeds. Most feeding is done perched, but some insects are caught in mid-air. Birds may feed alone or in groups.

Breeding takes place from June to December. The female wattlebird generally constructs the nest, which is a loose, untidy cup of twigs, lined with shredded bark, and placed from 1 to 10 m high in the fork of a banksia, tea-tree or eucalypt sapling. 1-2 eggs are laid and may be spotted red-brown, purplish-red or salmon-pink in colour. The female incubates the eggs alone but both parents care for the young chicks.

This post is part of the Saturday Critters meme

SOLEMN SUNSET

It is Orthodox Good Friday today, with Easter this Sunday. For all who celebrate, compliments of these festive days.

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme.

CHRYSANTHEMUM SEASON

Autumn is Chrysanthemum season, just in time for Mother's day on Sunday May 12th. Our garden is beginning to put on quite a chryssie show now that the roses have almost finished.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme

FALLING

Gently, deeper into Autumn. At the Darebin Parklands where the cloudy, showery weather and drop in temperature kept most people away.

This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Nature Notes meme.

AT THE STATION

My local railway station, the start and end of many-a-commute to the City! Lovely that we have the restored original buildings, making it look quite nostalgic.

This post is part of the Travel Tuesday meme

IN SEASON

This post is part of the Mosaic Monday meme,
and also part of the Seasons meme

AUTUMNAL

Grey mood at the Darebin Parklands.

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme
and also part of Roentare's Water Thursday

BULL ANT

Bull ants (Myrmecia spp) are large, alert ants that can grow up to 40 mm They have characteristic large eyes and long, slender mandibles and a potent venom-loaded sting. They have superior vision, able to track and even follow intruders from a distance of 1 metre. Many species of bull ants have bright red or orange colours on the head or abdomen.

There are about 90 species of bull ants in Australia with diverse behaviours and life cycles. Nine bull ant species have been recorded in Sydney, but there may be more as yet undiscovered. Some of the smaller species are known as jumper ants after their habit of aggressively jumping toward intruders.

These ants can deliver painful stings and are aggressive. An ice pack or commercially available spray may be used to relieve the pain of the sting. If there is evidence of an allergic reaction, medical attention should be sought.

This fellow came into the house and decided to have a drink from my watercolour water rinsing jug. He was promptly taken outside with no dramas.

This post is part of the Saturday Critters meme