Birds and Bees

The light for this photo was incredible... there was a very light breeze, so I wasn't able to get the clear cloud reflection, but it is an accurate record of that days light and color.

Monty! Because I praised him for jumping when he was young he has become a bit of a showoff, now he has one of our kelpies, (working dogs), doing the vertical lift off...they are simply a hoot. It is so fun hanging out with my canine friends.

The year is well into a decade of below average rainfall, however the rain fell more evenly over this year than past years. For some reason the bees are back, I think it is (part) because of the flowering red Ironbark trees so much in blossom..(this is a lavendar bush).

Ah! this year we have two Red Wattlebirds with us, they are quite friendly and inquisitive. The more I follow them around taking their photos, the more they follow me around...:)

Our flowering red Ironbarks, has red and white flower.

A pair of Black Ducks nested in an old hollow tree trunk just near the farmhouse, Monty the jumping dog stood up on hind legs and was trying to peer in...24 eggs and this picture actually shows the day they began hatching. (See top egg starting to crack up).

I never dreamt in a million years wild ducks had so many offspring-the reason for this becomes obvious over next few days..

"Yet nor the lays of birds, nor the sweet smell

Of different flowers in odour and in hue,
the warm sun thaws the benumbed earth,

And makes it tender; gives a sacred birth

To the dead swallow; wakes in hollow tree

The drowsy cuckoo and the humble-bee."

The Spring

( Thomas Carew ).

So, of the 24 ducklings, 5 have survived, I walked around the dams to get some photos and saw a couple of hawks circling up high, wasn't able to get any pictures of the hawks, too illusive, but soon realised these babies had a less than 23% ? chance of survival. Only the five left so far...at last they are growing rapidly and look quick, and strong enough.