MARY CAIRNCROSS RESERVE VISIT...

Recently, I returned to Mary Cairncross Reserve very early in the morning with a friend. The idea being there'd be fewer people around to spoil shots. 

This is the view from the Cafe there where we had a much-needed coffee at the end of our visit. By then the light was better but not by much. It was very gloomy along the paths although I managed a few decent snaps of some of the wildlife. I promised myself I'd go back when the weather is sunnier. It's worth the visit.

A little juvenile scarlet honeyeater enjoying the pink evodia at the entrance to the Reserve. His head will be bright red when he matures.

These Wonga vines have a strong visual impact. Nature's sculpture. The vine below has had to be strapped up as it had fallen across the path.

One of the pathways showing various fig trees along the way.

I spotted this galah high up in a dead tree. It spotted me too.

This tiny critter is an antechinus of some sort.

These are brown gerygones and were a "first for me". Tiny little birds.

Another first was this russett-tailed thrush. Its camouflage is so good I was focussing on clumps of leaves at one stage instead of the bird. It certainly has picked up a good breakfast.

Of course, due to the nature of the rainforest and the recent wet weather, lots of fungus was spotted.

A little grey fantail was flitting around with several others.

We saw a few pademelons and initially thought this one was ill but when it heard noises would raise its head and then go back to sleep. Cute little things.

There was a shallow pond on the grounds full of dark tadpoles but these two caught our attention.

Rufous fantails are notoriously hard to photograph in low light because they rarely sit still but here we had a captive audience as they were sitting on a nest. I couldn't get a decent shot of one of the many yellow-throated scrubwrens, just too quick.  Next time!

THROUGH THE WINDOW...

An advantage to having clean windows is some of the great things you see. Sometimes I get a better shot because of the vantage spot or because I know the critter I'm spying on can't see me so doesn't take off the minute I bring out my "shotgun". 

The little brown honeyeater above is a great example. It would have taken off in a shot  had I been outside. It was raining anyway so I wouldn't have been able to use my camera unless I was also juggling an umbrella!

The male satin bowerbirds I've seen in the jacaranda have been very skittish so I usually snap them through the window.

This is Brucey who will usually turn his head before I can snap him. Don't think he could see me properly here; was probably trying to work out what I was doing.

Green catbirds hop around in the jacaranda too and are also very skittish; because of their colour are often hard to spot. Besides their famous "catcall" they often utter a high pitched "twit" first, which is usually alerts me to their presence so I can try to find them.

 I may have posted this guy before, small green banded blue butterfly. I've seen dragonflies as well on the other side of the glass.

 I'd be ecstatic to see this bird return. It's a grey goshawk and was on the other side of the tree then my battery died before I could get outside to try for a better snap and it was gone when I got back.  Gotta be happy with this though. 

 Not sure if this is the same kookaburra in both snaps but they were taken on the same day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.  I could have gone outside I think though, because the kookaburras (along with magpies, currawongs and crows) are more used to human interaction.

These guys, brown thornbills, give me endless entertainment. I could watch them all day as they flit around, splash in the bird bath and admire themselves in the metal struts.

I've had a few tree snakes around and been outside to photograph them but this one (and another posted a while ago) I only took through the window. It was trying to get up into the ceiling via the deck but because I'd blocked it off, it couldn't get up and at one stage went "splat!" on the deck. This was taken shortly afterwards and it looked annoyed, or so I thought at the time. I've since had part of the deck glassed in so, hopefully, that will dissuade them from coming in, unless I leave the windows open of course. 

And lastly, a female cicada bird which I couldn't have seen (or snapped) except from inside the house. Love seeing the birds in the trees outside. Currently up to 43 different species in the trees and shrubs around the house. The latest was a male golden whistler but unfortunately he was too quick for me and I didn't get a snap of him. I'll keep watching (and window washing) though.

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT....

Hahaha, not really... more birds, more walking!

This magnificent creature is a black shouldered kite and I took its photo in the Maleny Community Precinct walk a few weeks ago. The half dead tree in which it's posing is also a popular roosting spot for a lot of other birds. This morning, at different times on the walk, I spotted the kites, 

a couple of pied butcher birds (reckon this one was waiting for the kites to leave) and 

six galahs using the tree. I have been trying to walk in the area at least 4 times a week, weather permitting, although this morning it was overcast and I did get rained on. Despite that, it was still a wonderfully fulfilling walk because of the birds.

This cow with her familiar (cattle egret) was very interested in my activities.

I was standing on the platypus viewing platform (no platypus today) when this sweetie flew in and perched on the railing beside me. The absolute highlight of my walk. Once it had moved into the trees I was able to get a snap. It's a restless flycatcher and, who knows, maybe it's one of the fledglings in the nest I posted about here a while back.

 I'd heard about male cicadabirds and seen other people's photos of them from the area but this was a first for me.

The female was close by and I must say she's quite beautiful with her distinctive plumage...

 ....unlike the female red-backed fairy wrens which are very dull compared to the males.

I was surprised to learn recently that the males' stunning plumage is shown only during breeding season.  What the????

 I'm told that this photo is a male without his plumage (the beak is darker).  Amazing.

This little cutie is a shining bronze cuckoo... doesn't show here but the wings are an irridescent green in the right light.

ANOTHER SUNDAY WALK...

I'm continuing my Sunday walks for the paper in an effort to keep fit for an upcoming trip to Borneo and am extending the route as well.  Always lots to see, not that I'm always successful in capturing everything I see, but was very happy with this shot of a silvereye enjoying callistemon (@ bottle brush) for breakfast. 

This brown honeyeater was also having a "brush" for breakkie...

These  spangled drongos seemed to be in the middle of a singing contest...

Just recently I seem to be constantly walking into spider webs so couldn't believe I didn't stumble into this one, phew! Looks like the owner wasn't in residence at the time though.

The weir is usually alive with all sorts of critters but this morning, to my eyes and ears, it was deserted...  Across the road, the amazing nest tree from last post, was also deserted. Not one of the nests I documented was occupied. 

I wandered further into town and was treated to sighting of juvenile platypuses. I wouldn't know the difference but met up with a friend who is a bit of an expert on them and if he says it's a juvenile, I believe him. In fact, we saw 3 different ones in the creek below the infamous Woolworths store. 

 This turtle was also hanging around in the same area.  I've not spotted them there before...

These long walks in summer really are draining so I was happy to finally get the paper and start the climb up the hill home. This crested pigeon cheered me on...

 I'm surprised my heavy breathing and gasping didn't scare off the bees fighting over the magnolia at the gate but they allowed me to take a snap..

BRUNY ISLAND SAFARI...

Part three...
We took a tour of Bruny Island with Bruny Island Safaris which meant we didn't have to worry about driving down and on the day only four of us were on the bus which made it a much more relaxed experience...
Bruny Island is well worth the trip and we'd recommend BI Safaris; our guide, Nigel, was very knowledgeable and lots of fun. 

First up we climbed to the top of the new lookout at The Neck where you'll find Truganini's memorial. Magnificent views from there...

The old Lighthouse is probably the most memorable place we visited and so worth the effort of climbing to the top.

The 120 year old telephone at the top of the lighthouse which is still working!!

Wildflowers line the walk up to the lighthouse (and cover quite a bit of the whole area), and were beautiful. There's a small museum at the bottom where you'll find the names of lots of them.

Then to the Bruny Island Hotel for a delicious seafood lunch and afterwards, a cider tasting. There is a Co-op that uses Island apples and pears for the cider (so we bought some cider! We later enjoyed a fudge tasting (bought some!) as well as a visit to a honey shop (bought some!).

Some of the birds we saw. The hen is endemic to Tasmania and the gull is a juvenile Pacific gull, changes to black and white later.

Saw quite a few wallabies too.
***
We also visited Richmond and one day I might even blog about it. Very picturesque indeed and extremely busy as it was a Sunday. 

Here's the old Richmond bridge...

Also went down to Port Arthur where there is now an entrance fee of $39 (may have been one before but don't remember it), however, as we had only two hours to spend there and it was about to rain, we decided to leave it till next time we go to Tasmania. I did do a few blogs about Tassie in 2014 and this one mentions Port Arthur.