A WATTLEBIRD AND THE BIG WET

We don't often get these birds around here, they tend to be more common down along the coast,

so it was a good opportunity to take a snap when this one came to the birdbath, 

while being eyed off by a Willy Wagtail.

Little Wattlebird & Willy Wagtail

This particular bird is a difficult one to photograph. A common enough species around here but very wary and flighty.When I first took an interest in birds as a 12 year old in suburban Doveton in Victoria, it was the first "exotic" bird I identified when going for Sunday drives with my parents in the country. It is still one of my favourites with its soft grey plumage, distinctive flight pattern and soft rolling call.

Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike

The cocos palm is flowering prolifically after the record rainfalls and getting lots of visits by various birds including these Scalies and Rainbows.

Scaly-breasted Lorikeets

Rainbow Lorikeets in the cloud.

This is a view from our back verandah of the Bli-Bli valley after the recent deluge.

The Sunshine Coast was spared the worst of the flooding and the depredations of Cyclone Yasi.

Our hearts go out to those who have been affected by these catastrophes and we, along with millions of others have been contributing to the Premiers Relief fund. 

Bli-Bli Valley

When the rain event earlier this month was at its peak there were a lot of landslips on the range including this one on the main road up and just around the corner from us.

According to some local long-range weather forecasters our area may experience a cyclone in the next month. Let's hope their prognosis is way off the mark!

Nambour-Mapleton Road

Another one of our local residents, the Grey Huntsman, tend to find their way in to the house quite often and I am constantly being asked to re-locate them by the rest of my arachnophobic family!

 Grey Huntsman spider.