THE AMAZING NESTING TREES OVER THE CREEK @ THE PONDOMINIUM...

I was platypus hunting near the Maleny Showgrounds when I first realised these big quandong trees are home to at least five different nesting birds (I always thought it was one tree until I took this photo for the post). I'd never realised that such different birds could co-exist in a nesting situation.

 To be honest, I was so intent on searching for a platypus, I didn't notice the bird's nest right in front of me until Mr or Mrs Restless Flycatcher swooped in with some nibbles for the fledglings.

And what a beautifully constructed nest it is, even down to the aesthetically pleasing and artfully placed moss.

After feeding its brood, she/he settled herself down on top of the chicks and gave me the stink eye. My cue to rack off... until next time.

...but then I caught sight of a spangled drongo watching me from another (rather ramshackle) nest in the same tree so I moved a little closer... and so began my interest in the huge quandong nesting tree that hangs over the Obi Obi creek near the showgrounds.

I've been back every now and then to get photos of the various chicks' progress. Here the drongo mum/dad (only ever saw one bird with the chicks or on the nest) had just fed the chick (there were two) and then flew off to watch me from a nearby branch and didn't return. Right, I got the hint and left, not wanting to be the cause of starving chicks.

Here they are a day away from actually leaving the nest. I didn't see them fly away but they were seen the day after this photo was taken on other branches in the tree by a fellow bird photographer.

I counted nine nests in the tree at one stage and there are probably more that my untrained eye can't see. I didn't see any action in this much larger nest that's high up in a nearby tree. Some are vacant at the moment and I don't know if they get reused although the moss on the flycatcher nest makes me think it may have grown there over time. Maybe I'll find out next year.

 Here we see the male and female fig birds sharing feeding duty. 

Again, their nest is not as beautifully constructed as the flycatcher's although In this second nest, looks stronger. This female was very wary probably because her nest is much closer to the bridge. I can see vine tendrils in there and it looks stronger. There was a male in there the last time I went back.

Here, the male peewee (or magpie-lark) is taking a break from duty while the female settles in. 

This is a vacant nest above theirs which is similarly very well constructed from mud and lined with grass so no chance of eggs or chicks falling through to the creek below which, I was told by a regular passer-by, is what has happened to some drongo nests over the past couple of years after storms. Natural selection I guess but still sad.

Finally, the willy wagtail abode...  Here one parent is feeding the chicks; no idea if male or female as they are very similar in appearance.

Their nest is another work of art. They cover outside the nest in spider web, tres shabby chic!

Not sure which parent this is but every time I go to the bridge, he/she flies onto the railing. Here it's looking very ruffled, perhaps just had a swim.

Here is where some of the currently occupied nests are located. One good storm or wind and some of them could be in the drink. Two figbird nests are occupied at the moment.

I do love the leaves of these trees when they turn a magnificent red too.

A BIT OF PINK EYE?

 Just recently, it seems like the flowers catching my eye the most are variations of pink. So I thought I'd share a few with you...

This camelia is from a large tree down the road. When they drop, the grass is a pink carpet.

 Perhaps not quite 'pink' compared to the others in this collection but at the time I took the shot I thought it was pink.  

 It is called 'Lavender Star' grewia occidentalis. A very sweet little flower.

 Love the colour of this tiny, climbing rose on a neighbour's fernhouse.  No idea of its name.

This pretty succulent was growing along the Maroochy River and along the foreshore at Clontarf

 And lastly, the hot pink of this ground cover is quite stunning isn't it?  All in all, I think a bit of 'pink eye' is not a bad thing...

SURPRISES UNDER A RED UMBRELLA....

I have long been fascinated by the lovely red flowers of the umbrella tree (which I have since discovered is considered to be a pest in some areas, but without it I wonder how all our birds would get on). There are some trees in flower not far from me which are growing down a bit of a slope and consequently a little more accessible than most, so I stopped to take a few close ups of the flowers.  I got more than I bargained for though; a very sore neck from constantly looking up and some new friends, feathered and human.  Above is a cheeky silver eye  (thanks Pam) which I had never seen before but was cavorting around the flowers, along with a few other tiny little birds.  The flowers are covered in little droplets of nectar which has attracted these birds as well as the ubiquitous rainbow lorikeet which, understandably, they were very wary of.

 Unfortunately these are the best photos of the silver eye that I could get as they are remarkably fast and I am remarkably slow.  Not a good combination.  This photo shows some open flowers too.

I can name this chap as a dusky honeyeater, thanks to a new contact, Graeme, who is also a wildlife photographer in his spare time.  You can see his talents here.  He saw me taking these photos one day and wondered what I was up to.

I'm familiar with these brown honey eaters as there are lots around my area and I documented the journey of a nesting pair back in 2012 here. 

 This one is also new to me (to be honest, there's not much that isn't new to me) but I believe it's a white throated honey eater.

 Big, bad rainbow lorikeet, scaring off the tiny birds.  

 Another closeup of the flower dripping with nectar.

 I love the leaves as well although they make it difficult to photograph little birds (lots of shots with no heads) but they make nice patterns against the sky. 

2013 CALENDAR

As promised, here are the selected photos for my 2013 calendar. A couple doubled up in a calendar for work using critters seen regularly there either, in the creek or on the railings.

Bet my lucky recipients can't wait! 

LETTING IN THE LIGHT...

 More fungi, enjoying a bit of morning sun. No sign of the fairies though...

All these photos were taken at the Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk park.

 Insect damage looks a little different with a bit of light shone on the subject doesn't it.  Mother Nature's lace... 

New foliage spotted in the undergrowth; a beautiful shade of pink thanks to the sunlight.

This new leaf got chomped by something so I thought photographing it from above might give a better perspective.

WINTER IS SNAPPING AT OUR HEELS

These beautiful autumnal colours belong to a local persimmon tree I encounter on my travels.  I hadn't realised until this year what a lovely show they put on. 

Here is the fruit by the way; this is the old fashioned variety that must be eaten when soft and squishy and tastes quite astringent if eaten too early. I always loathed them as a child but I absolutely love the new varieties (Fuji fruit) which are eaten when firm and crunchy. Delicious.

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I can tell by the cold wind whistling up the leg of my trackpants when I go for a walk that winter is upon us, in fact, by the end of the weeeeek! To wear a jacket or not is my morning dilemma. I end up wearing the jacket and halfway through, when I've worked up a sweat, tying it to my waist by the sleeves.  Undoubtedly, not good for the sleeves but, hey, I've got long arms.  

FUNKY FOLIAGE

As beautiful as flowers are, sometimes foliage can be just as showy.  In my humble opinion this red hibiscus has foliage that eclipses the flower. 
Here are some of my favourites.

And how gorgeous does this croton look?

 The colours in some Cordyline plants can be quite extraordinary, and their delicate flowers when they come are delightful.

Now, strictly speaking, I should have posted this one yesterday in "What's This?" but the delicate colours are striking too and fit this post to a tee.

AUTUMN COLOURS IN QUEENSTOWN

 

Just some of the autumn colours we found so enchanting in Queenstown NZ.  These colours will eventually appear here in Queensland but there won't be the numbers those who live in more wintry climes will enjoy.  Perhaps I'll have more when I return from Melbourne next month!

IT'S WET OUT THERE