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| Laughing Kookaburra Japanese Gardens, USQ, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia January 1, 2017 |
My mum passed away early on January 1st. It was strange new beginning for us.
In a dream, later that day the we went walking around the Japanese gardens and the above Kookaburra snapped up the lizard in front of our shins.
Early the following day, Don, Heath and Rod picked me up and we headed west through a shower of rain. There, we were thrilled to see a Painted Honeyeater, and a couple of rare butterflies. A step farther and we found a number of dragonflies by a creek in which a Red-bellied Black Snake was taking a swim, as well as a variety of other birds. We finished the morning nearer to Toowoomba with a Black Falcon and a lost kitten.
A few days later, I caught up with Mick and we went for a stroll around Prince Henry Drive. The highlights were; Regent Bowerbirds, mostly female, with a single young male in their company and the always delightful Variegated Fairy-wrens…of which I again just photographed the females. (I always just seem to photograph females). Mick and I finished our walk with a pair of Brown Goshawks playing over the escarpment.
The next big thing was an evening gathering at Michael Hare’s place where we heard the distant calls of Sooty Owls. Michael, Mick, Rod, Judy, Brendon and I all enjoyed pizza and drinks on a barmy Queensland evening in the bush. It was a steamy evening with flashes of lightening. We also heard a Boobook and I photographed a Tawny Frogmouth and a nice big Brushtail Possum. We also enjoyed a giant centipede, the eyes of Wolf Spiders shining back at us, several snakes and frogs.
My last outing in Australia was to Gracie and Peter’s place to view Superb Fairy-wrens with tea and home-made cake.
Although times have been sad I have been surrounded by wonderful and enthusiastic people and we shared the joys of life all around us.
After getting used to the Australian summer I arrived back in Niigata and have been skating around in ice and snow. I called Mr Honma and he told me he got his best ever flight shot of a Steller’s Sea-eagle just last week. We will go out looking for eagles soon.
If I surround myself with all these people wherever I go, there is no reason that every year isn’t a big year.
Please excuse my poor efforts to label my pictures. I’m hoping Rod will set me straight with the dragonflies and butterflies as he has done with the snakes. Please know that many of the insects, reptiles and amphibians (maybe birds and just about about everything else) on this site have kindly been identified by Rod Hobson.
Michael Atzeni caught up with me and put me straight about the flycatcher and male bowerbird. Thanks Mick. I need you guys.
Michael Atzeni caught up with me and put me straight about the flycatcher and male bowerbird. Thanks Mick. I need you guys.
Everybody I ever mention on this blog a also contributors.
I guess I should change the name of this blog to everybodymentionedinthisblogstoopfiles.
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| Striped Honeyeater West of Toowoomba January 2, 2017 |
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Hairstreak Butterfly
- Jalmenus sp. (ictinus/daemeli?)
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| Superb Fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus) Male |
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| Painted Honeyeater (Grantiella picta) |
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| Little Corella |
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| Plumed Whistling Duck |
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Australian Painted Lady
Vanessa kershawi
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Satin Azure
Ogyris amaryllis meridionalis
(male) |
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Golden Orb-weaver
Nephila edulis
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| Red-bellied Black Snake (Pseudechis porphyriacus) |
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| Australian Tiger
Ictinogomphus australis
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| Leaden Flycatcher female |
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Gold-fronted Riverdamsel
Pseudoagrion aureofrons
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Wandering Percher
Diplacodes punctata
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| Mosquito Fish |
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| Blue Skimmer Orthetrum caledonicum, |
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| White-winged Triller |
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Orange Threadtail
Nososticta solida
(female)
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| Black Kite |
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| Black Falcon |
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Wandering Ringtail
Austrolestes leda
(female)
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Wandering Ringtail
Austrolestes leda
(male)
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| View from Prince Henry Drive, Toowoomba |
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| White-headed Pigeon |
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| Variegated Fairy-wrens (Malurus lamberti) Female |
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| Brown Thornbill |
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| Regent Bowerbird immature male |
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| Regent Bowerbird Female |
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| Restless Flycatcher |
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| Brown Goshawks (Accipiter fasciatus) |
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| Tawny Frogmouth Michael Hare's Place and below |
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| Above and below: Giant Centipede (Ethmostigmus rubripes) |
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| Mountain Brushtail Possum or Southern Bobuck (Trichosurus cunninghami) |
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Stony Creek Frog
Litoria wilcoxii
(female)
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Great Barred Frog
Mixophyes fasciolatus
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| Carpet Python (Morelia spilota) |
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| Black Flying Fox |
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Garden Orb-weaver
Eriophora transmarina
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Stony Creek Frog
Litoria wilcoxii
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Woodland Blind Snake
Anilios proximus
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Stony Creek Frog
Litoria wilcoxii
(male)
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Stony Creek Frog
Litoria wilcoxii
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Stony Creek Frog
Litoria wilcoxii (female)
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| Spotted Dove Gracie and Peter's place |
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Yellow Admiral
Vanessa itea
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| Superb Fairy-wren Male |
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| Superb Fairy-wren Female |
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