Category: Creatures

Morialta

Every time I want to start a post with words “This weekend we…” Boring.

In summer there were no butterflies. As soon as it got cooler we got plenty of them. Especially now.

So, last weekend we went to Morialta park. Actually, trails begin almost in the city. It’s so near, but it doesn’t mean that’s bad. Maybe because it was overcast, there was not crowded. There are so many parks and trails around Adelaide to choose. Some of the people probably go to less steep places (the surface is pretty rocky, not suitable for small children), the ones who want to exercise a little choose, for example, Mount Lofty trail, so it was calm here.

LEGO bricks.

We visited that “balcony”.

And walked that track.

City view and the sea. Everything looked dark purple.

Where the rock was soft enough, now it is gorge. And water falls from harder rock down.

Landscape is still changing, but very slow.

Those flowers you could smell from few metres. And where it was more than one – it smelled so strong!  A giant ant is trying to bite my finger.

Rock/wall climbing.

A waterfall.

I wonder how it will look in summer when it is so dry.

New Holland Honeyeater.

Everything got green around the river.

Grey fantail. It was a fantastic echo here, so the songs of birds sounded even better.

Yellow.

Left from the bridge.

And right.

 

Somehow

There is a nice old house in the neighbourhood. It had a cozy balcony with old bird cages. I wanted to take a picture of it, but never thought that they’ll be gone so soon.  Now the building is under reconstruction.

I got a box of my postcards, the free ones. It would be great to take a picture of them in official stands in public places.

As soon as I got to city with camera, the cards were gone, I found them in only one place.

So instead of them I took a picture of this window decoration.

Onkaparinga river

One more weekend, one more Nature walk. We have a little book of 40 greatest SA short walking trails. (Because long ones are very very long). This time we went to Onkaparinga River. A pleasant place to walk – quiet, calm, nobody scares any animals.

Nor little birds.

Nor big red kangaroos on the other side of the valley.

What a lovely kangaroo! Our first wild kangaroo and so near!

With a full pouch!

She looked at us, didn’t seem scared, until Laurius stepped on some branch.

Laurius is growing.

The same plant.

Sitting on the edge.

Onkaparinga!

Black Faced Cuckoo Shrike.

After a nice walk we drove towards sea. Through vineyards where the Australian Kestrel lives.

Happy full bird after dinner.

Where Onkaparinga meets the Ocean.

River banks.

And birds everywhere.

Australian colours – red rocks, blue sky.

Those little guys were hanging out with some gulls.

Red-Capped Plover is looking for some sushi.

Hyperactive birds, again.

Hooded Plover just hated photo camera and ran away. I’m getting used to that.

Laurius is showing the typical move of that bird.

Instead of art

One weekend there was an art festival in Adelaide, so Luka went to see some exhibitions. But Laurius, as always, grabbed the camera went out to the parks 🙂

Maned Duck is doing something.

Male duck – big and pretty.

Another duck. Couldn’t identify it so far. It was hanging out with Pacific Black Duck, but none of the sources say that these ducks can be black. So either it’s a juvenile, or another race. Can be anything 🙂

And here’s a Pacific Black Duck.

A little bit of showing off.

Once again, fishing in Australia. While fishermen are waiting, the pelican is also waiting.

But as soon as the fish is on the hook – be the first or you are the looser.

What? I’m fishing.

Love of the crested pigeons.

And again…

One day we went to the Markets for food, but accidentally stopped by the old book stall, and bought a field guide to Australian birds. Sort of Bird Bible from the 80’s. We ran out of cash for food that day 🙂

After running through the book Luka saw one bird (104, upper right corner) and said: “I want to see it”. Later she repeated that few times. Well, she really wanted to see it. And then a call from Laurius: “I found it! I found it! I found the unhappy bird!”

Bird with a long nice white feather on his head – Rufous Night Heron.

Few hours later the bird was still there – was probably taking a nap. No wonder – it’s a night heron.

Nigth hunt

We live very near the big park. One of it’s corner looks a bit abandoned by people, so, we call it the park of birds.
Finally, we got a flashlight and went here at night. Perfect place!

It’s dark here, but trees are without leaves. Then you can see shadows of… possums.

This is a female one, with a little baby in her pouch – only tail is seen. She didn’t care about us. While other possums were jumping from the tree with a noise and running away.