SNAKES ALIVE

These friendly neighbourhood reptiles have been very active over the last month, with this tree snake showing its aggressive streak when being photographed (through a glass door!) on the back verandah.

Brown Tree Snake

A pair of Common Tree Snakes have taken up residence in the shed, but they are quite shy and will disappear behind the peg board when approached too closely.  

Common Tree Snake

This whip snake was basking on the front porch and quickly moved on after posing for a couple of shots.

Yellow-faced Whip Snake

Besides the plethora of scaly visitors some over-wintering birds have been visiting the garden including Grey (pictured) and Rufous Fantails and Striated Pardalotes.

Grey Fantail

I went for a walk with my daughter and her fiance a couple of weeks ago to our local waterfall. The birds were scarce but it was a gorgeous day and the falls were flowing well after the recent rain.

Kureelpa Falls

Johnny (walker) on the rocks. 

We also had the chance to do a walk again through Petrie Park in Nambour, where the Water Dragons were relaxing and fungi were growing well in the moist conditions left over from our wet autumn.

  

Eastern Water Dragon

I also got some great views of the Barred Cuckoo-Shrikes that were active in the fruiting figs that flourish in the park, and a not so great photo of an individual high up. 

Barred Cuckoo-Shrike

NEW CAMERA FOR THE BIRTHDAY BOY

I finally bit the bullet and purchased a new camera, after 6 months of using my mate's old Panasonic FZ20. I had a good excuse: my birthday! I decided to go with what I knew and bought an updated version of the borrowed one, an FZ100. I took it out last Sunday morning on the off chance of shooting a Black Bittern. My friend Vince and I were tipped off about a recent sighting in a local creek at Kiamba and as we pulled up at the site the said bird took off from the bank and headed upstream.

Creek at Kiamba

We waited around for a while hoping it may return, but no luck. There were some Azure and Forest  Kingfishers hunting along the creek and the best I could do was this distant shot.

Forest Kingfisher.

I was able to get a tad closer to this cisticola that was responding to my pishing after I heard it calling in the paddock across the road from my place. I'm assuming this was probably a non-breeding male. 

Golden-headed Cisticola. 

Even with all the rain of late the birds still flock to the bath for their daily splash and on this rare occasion I got seven honeyeaters to sit still long enough for a half decent photo!

Brown Honeyeaters

 And this one  quietly contemplating it's reflection!

This lone silvereye dropped in for a sip.They seem to have moved on from the area lately, probably heading further north.

Silvereye.

Another couple of locals were active recently. This young whip snake was trying to catch some rays when it got disturbed and moved off in a flash.

Yellow-faced Whip Snake

 And this little critter had the audacity to chew on our dogs discarded bone while he snoozed on his couch only a metre away.

House Mouse

Our "watch"dog - Coco