Purple Swamphen

The Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) is an aquatic bird about 41 to 44 centimetres in size. It has a bill and frontal shield brick-red in colour and red eyes. The head and upper-parts are black, while the under-parts and wings are deep blue to purple-black. The under tail coverts are white.

Purple Swamphen – (Porphyrio porphyrio) in Barongarook Creek, near Lake Colac in Victoria, Australia

Nestling birds are black and their bill is a greyish-white and a black tip. Their legs will be grey and turning red with age.

A juvenile bird will be a browner colour.

Purple Swamphen – on the banks of Barongarook Creek.

The habitat of the Purple Swamphen consists of swamps, marshy paddocks, and just about any water way.

This Purple Swamphen is standing on a rock just beneath the water.

In this last photo you can see the elongated toes of this waterbird, enabling it to walk on any lily pads that may be on the water.

For reference I consult the Simpson & Day Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. I have the fifth edition, however I believe there is now a sixth edition.

Please Note: All images appearing on my blog were taken by me. They are copyrighted and all rights are reserved. If you would like to purchase a print please contact me by leaving a comment below with your order and contact details. I will then get back to you.

Bath Time

Barongarook Creek feeds into Lake Colac in Victoria, Australia. Just before it enters the creek, there is a deep shaded pool that is home to several species of ducks, particularly Pacific Black Ducks (Anas superciliosa).

The pool in Barongarook Creek that is home to many ducks.

A couple of days ago, I arrived at this spot just in time to capture some shots of this particular duck having a bath. There was plenty of water splashing!

Splash time!

Then there was a lot of flapping wings to dry off!

Standing up right and flapping of wings to dry off!

Then there was some more splashing! And some diving under the water!

More splashing!

Then finally, more flapping of the wings to dry off!

A final drying off with plenty of wing flapping!

For reference I consult the Simpson & Day Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. I have the fifth edition, however I believe there is now a sixth edition.

Please Note: All images appearing on my blog were taken by me. They are copyrighted and all rights are reserved. If you would like to purchase a print please contact me by leaving a comment below with your order and contact details. I will then get back to you.

Orchid

Commonly called an Orchid, the Orchidaceae is a beautiful flowering plant of which there is between 22,000 and 26,000 accepted species. With the Asteraceae, Orchids are one of the largest families of flowering plants.

Orchid – With its vivid colours

The Rosella and the Gumnut

The following images were taken by me a few days ago as I sat on my verandah observing the parrots which were feeding on the seed I had put out.

This is an Immature Juvenile Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans) a very common bird in my part of Australia. It is 35 centimetres in size and usually found in moist forests, farmlands and parks.

The first image shows the bird has landed in the tree and spots the gumnuts on the other branch. It then steps out to get them

Juvenile Crimson Rosella

The second image shows it getting closer – it makes you wonder how such a thin branch can hold its weight!

Juvenile Crimson Rosella – Getting closer!!

Then, it takes the gumnut and gives it the eye!

Giving the gum nut the eye!!

Then a little taste!

Having a taste!

For reference I consult the Simpson & Day Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. I have the fifth edition, however I believe there is now a sixth edition.

Please Note: All images appearing on my blog were taken by me. They are copyrighted and all rights are reserved. If you would like to purchase a print please contact me by leaving a comment below with your order and contact details. I will then get back to you.

Pied Currawong

The Pied Currawong (Strepera graculina) is sized about 41 – 51 centimetres with a black coloured body. It has large white crescent-shaped patches on its wings and its under-tail coverts with the base and tip of the tail being white.

It has a robust bill with a well-defined hook.

The Pied Currawong’s voice is a noisy very distinctive ring double call “curra-wong”.

Pied Currawong

The habitat of the Pied Currawong consists of open and low open forest, woodlands, agricultural and urban lands.

For reference I consult the Simpson & Day Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. I have the fifth edition, however I believe there is now a sixth edition.

Please Note: All images appearing on my blog were taken by me. They are copyrighted and all rights are reserved. If you would like to purchase a print please contact me by leaving a comment below with your order and contact details. I will then get back to you.

Then the sun came out…

Yesterday I awoke to very heavy overcast weather conditions. Much needed rain was pouring down onto the roof. My photographic experience has taught me that overcast conditions are excellent for flower photography, and, knowing I would be near the Botanical Gardens during the day ensured I packed my camera gear.

The first three images were taken in overcast conditions.

Lantana – At the Colac Botanic Gardens

An Unidentified Purple Flower – Also taken at the Botanical Gardens

Unidentified Purple Flower #2

On arriving home and uploading the images to my computer, I was a little disappointed with some of the results. I returned to the gardens later in the afternoon to take some more shots.

Just as I was about to click the shutter the sun came out.

Unidentified Purple Flower – When the sun came out.

Lantana – In the sun

Australian King Parrot

The Australian King Parrot (Alisterus scapularis) is an occasional visitor to my garden. It is a long-tailed parrot and is a very distinctive bird of about 42 centimetres in size.

The male’s head and underparts are a brilliant scarlet while the back is green. The rump is blue and the tail a black-blue. There are green crescents on the abdomen and under tail coverts. The inner wing has light has light green coverts.

Male Australian King Parrot

Male Australian King Parrot #2

Male Australian King Parrot at feeder

The female and immature juvenile birds are very similar to the male except the head and neck are light green; there is usually no light shoulder stripe.

Female Australian King Parrot – Immature juvenile will look similar

These birds habit moist tall forests and the adjoining farmland. They will visit orchards, (they are known for raiding fruit trees) gardens and parks during winter and autumn.

For reference I consult the Simpson & Day Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. I have the fifth edition, however I believe there is now a sixth edition.

Please Note: All images appearing on my blog were taken by me. They are copyrighted and all rights are reserved. If you would like to purchase a print please contact me by leaving a comment below with your order and contact details. I will then get back to you.

Chrysanthemums

I have heard it said that Chrysanthemums are one of the world’s most favourite cut flowers. They are also the symbol of Mother’s Day; so what better flower could I post today.

Yellow Chrysanthemum

Pink Chrysanthemum

Pink Chrysanthemum #2

Chrysanthemum

Yellow Chrysanthemum

Nature Show #2

This morning Mother Nature was, once again, displaying her best.

Morning – Mother nature at her glorious best.

Nature Show

Last night Mother Nature put on her best.

Sunset – Mother Nature at her best