 Muddy Waters.jpgI usually post photographs of sparkling water at this beach. However, due to unprecedented storms and run off the beach is suffering. I shot this photographs during a break in the wet weather last week. The water is full of toxic material from the inland areas and the beach is covered with material swept down too. |
 Jacaranda Spring brings a haze of purple from the jacarandas in New South Wales. |
 Yellow Tail Black Cockatoo Eating BanksiaYellow tail black cockatoo eating a banksia seed. The bird does not look as impressive when it does not have its yellow feathers on display but this shot give a sharp view of its profile. |
 KestrelThis kestrel inhabits our local playing fields. It is not in the least intimidated by rugby league players and is often spotted perched on top of the goal posts. He has become a bit of a local celebrity! |
 Itchy Pied CormorantI spotted this entertaining fellow whilst waiting for the ferry at Ettalong to go to Palm Beach |
 Tattoo SurferA magical morning at Killcare Beach this morning, sitting with friends and family enjoying good coffee and breakfast watching this bloke having a ball in the surf. |
 Tawny FrogmouthA tawny frogmouth is not an owl. It is a nightjar. I have been hearing them for a couple of nights. Spotted this one at 1pm. It seemed to be wide awake and watching me. It really blends in with its environment. |
 QuakeQuake has been a resident of our area for a while. All our neighbours have been catching sight of him for some time. He even resided in one of our gardens for some months. He has now moved across to the wetlands. Yesterday I was fortunate enough to get this shot as he sunned himself on a log. He has unusual colouring but we think he is An Eastern Water Dragon. |
 Grey FaceOur native wildlife has had an extremely difficult year. These fruit bats have struggled and are endangered. On a particularly hot weekend, the bats came out of the canopy and roosted much lower than normal. This little one is panting, showing signs of stress. Luckily our local Council has installed a sprinkler systems to assist these delightful, propagators. |
 Surfer on Top of a waveOn a particularly beautiful morning. Sparkling water and a surfer gave me this opportunity. |
 Susie and BenThis photograph is of our friend Susie. She has MS and is confined to a wheelchair. Ben, the dog, is not hers but that of an elderly neighbour. Susie takes Ben out with her carers several times a week. We try to meet up with her as often as we can. Ben is very protective of Susie but he and our dog, Opal, have learned to be in each other's space. Despite her disability, Susie is one of the most positive and lovely women I have ever met. She is a writer, a poet and an activist. |
 White Roses in ShadeThe Hunter Valley Rose Display was on this month. I took a friend who wanted to photograph the flowers. Due to Covid 19 the area was free of tourists, a mixed blessing for would-be phtographers. |
 Greg and Xanthorrhoea australisThis is our elder son, Greg, in front of Xanthorrhoea australis, one of my favourite Australian native plants. It was taken on a bushwalk yesterday, 2nd November. |
 Mumma and her babiesSpotted dove and two chicks. This is a long tailed pigeon introduced into Australia in the 1800s. Good eating!! We are enjoying watching this little family battle life's trials and flourishing in a bush in our garden. |
 Work of ArtI noticed this lovely spider's web in the garden recently. |
 Going SurfingI recently went on a walk to Little Beach. It was my first bushwalk after surgery. Once there I spotted this surfer waiting for the right moment to jump off the rocks. |
 Native Mina in Pink FlowersThis photograph was taken four years ago in Sydney's Botanic Gardens. |
 New Holland Honey Eater in Bottlebrush I have never seen these swift and active birds before. My attention was drawn to their chatter initially. They were not scared away by my approach. Despite the fact that this one blended into the bottlebrush so well, I was lucky to catch this shot of it looking straight at me. |
 Look What I Can DoYet another photograph of a breaching male humpback whale from our trip in June. Only the males breach and tail flap as they endeavour to impress the non-pregnant females. |
 Two Whales Another shot from our whale watching. This shows two whales and the headlands south of Terrigal, one whale's tail and the plume of another whale closer. |
 Breaching HumpbackIt is whale watching season. The whales are heading up the eastern coast of Australia. Yesterday Glenn and I went on a whale watching trip from Terrigal, NSW, about 1 and a half hours north of Sydney. We were treated to a magnificent display. |
 Kokaburra In a Gum TreeFound this whilst trawling through old photographs. |
 Male Brown GoshawkHappy New Year Everyone. We had a power cut yesterday afternoon in 40C heat. Heard a squeaking noise from the wetlands. I went out thinking it might be a baby bat in distress. I spotted a bird in the camphor laurel tree but couldn't see it for the sun. Took a shot anyway. Thankfully someone else had been using my trusty camera and had put it on Auto. This is the result. |
 Jetpacking SuccessA friend's son is a jetpacking instructor. We were invited to watch as this young lady made her first attempt Not easy. I love her face as she finally got up in the air. |
 Peregrine Falcon with KillThis is another photograph of the Peregrine Falcon. This time I hope you can see that it is eating the entrails of the pidgeon. |
 Pink TulipLast weekend I finally got to visit Floriarde in Canberra. I attended a photographic workshop. This shot was taken early in the morning before the crowds arrived. |
 Peregrine Falcon with KillOn a recent visit to our local park I heard a squeel. Across the other side of the park I observed a large bird on top of the flood lights. I could not see what it was as it was too far away. I advanced across the oval, shooting as I went. It was windy, my hat got blown off, I had a fly trying to get into my mouth and I had left my monopod in the car. This is one of the ensuing shots. When I could finally look in the monitor I discovered it was a peregrine falcon eating a pidgeon. I have never seen on before. The fact that it is surviving in this urban environment is encouraging. |
 SistersMy friends' two daughters shot at Laura's birthday earlier this year. I have known the girls for 25 years, even though Laura is only 24!! So I knew her before she was born. Katherine is a world ice-hockey player whom we coached initally in inline hockey and got her into the sport. (we have to take credit where ever possible.) |
 Winter in KatoombaGlenn and I managed to get away for a few days to Katoomba. It is a couple of hours west of the Sydney CBD. This is the view of the escarpment from our hotel room. If one looks carefully, one can see the Megalong Valley in the distance. |
 Eel and ReflectionsI took this shot a few years ago in The Sydney Botanic Gardens. The original image os of the eels swimming just below the water in the pond. I manipulated the image and rotated it for interest and impact. |
 Night FestivalAnother hand held, slow shutter speed shot taken at The Five Lands Festival. total luck as I had no idea what I was going to get but I like this shot. |
 Straw necked ibisWe are used to seeing the Sacred Ibis in this area. This is a straw necked ibis which seems to be shyer. It has taken me a few weeks to get close enough to get a decent photograph since a pair moved into the area of our local playing fields where I walk. I love the iridescent wings. |
 Long Beaked CorellaWalking around the local oval where a flock of these corellas ofen graze, I decided to try my luck. Luck was wih me, these mischevious birds refused to be intimitated by me. I was able to get very close. These birds eat grass seeds, so spend a lot of time on the ground. |
 Five Lands Another hand held shot from the opening ceremony of The Five Lands Festival. I didn't know what i was doing but I liked the effect. |
 Fire Twirler The Opening Night of Five Lands Celebrations This wonderful lady was celebrating the traditional owners of this land with fire eating and fire twirling. Brilliant on a chilly winter's evening. |
 Easter RescueDriving down to the beach we saw an ambulance. Half an hour later we saw a man being stretchered off the beach with a suspected spinal injury. The professionalism of the paramedics and volunteer lifesavers is to be applauded. The gentleman is expected to make a recovery after treatment and rehab. The surf club asked for copies of this shot for their presentation evenings. |
 Black Swan Taking OffThe black swan is the symbol of Western Australia. We do not usually have them in this area but there appear to be fifty at the pelican breeding reserve. Please look at it in original size. |
 Supper at KillcareThis cheeky kookaburra was lucky enugh to score a bit of steak from the staff at a kiosk near the beach. I was lucky enough to catch this shot before he flew off and gobbled it down. It is best viewed in it original size. |
 Flying Fox in Full FlightI cannot resist taking photographs of these beguiling creatures. This shot was taken at midday. I usually take my photographs at dusk which makes life a little difficult. I am happy to say that the bats have now been with us for more than two years. Unfortunately, 35,000 died in the heat in Far North Queensland last sping. 5,000 in one day alone. This makes me treasure my photographs even more. |
 Greg and Dogs at BeachI took this shot of my eldest son, Greg, some time ago. He is with both dogs. The white one is now 18 years old whilst the other is five. |
 KatydidI discovered this katydid on some of my succulents yesterday. These are found on the eastern seaboard of Australia. it was very slow moving and cooperative. |
 Serena Feeding DucksThis photograph is a couple of years old. I took my friend's daughter to our local art gallery. Outside is a Japanese garden to honour our sister city. This is Serena feeding the ducks and the koi. |
 Yellow Footed Rock WallabyThe yellow-footed rock-wallaby i found in restricted areas of South Australia, New South Wales, and Queensland. I took this photograph at The Australian Reptile Park recently. |
 MONET at KARIONGThe Waterfall Cafe is one of my
favourite places for a coffee or lunch.
This is part of the view from the balcony of the
restaurant.
Best viewed in original size |
 Koala (not a bear) and JoeyTook some relatives from the UK to
The Australian Reptile Park
to introduce them to our Ossie animals.
The koalas were very alert and active,
Luckily I had my camera with me and took full advantage |
 Kite SurfingI took this a couple of years ago at my local beach, Ocean Beach.
It is unusual for me as it was taken on a dull, windy day. |
 Male Blue WrenLucky shot! I had noticed droppings around but had not seen one of these flighty birds for months. Glenn noticed him through the window and I managed to sneak out of the front door and take this one shot. I think he may have been eating our pet spiders as he is surrounded by cobwebs. I have cropped it very close to eliminate the wall of the house as I barely got out of the front door before he was scared off. |
 In The GladeWalking through the bush this morning, I noticed the light highlighting this fern, making it stand out from the shadows. This image has not been edited. |
 Sea and Sand AbstractI played around with this shot of sea and sand when on a walk with Sally and Hal a couple of years ago. |
 Red DragnflyI took this photograph some time ago. The frangipani has lost its leaves but gained a dragonfly. This was taken in my garden. |
 Low Tide Storm CloudsStorm clouds building on a winter's day give my usual beach walk a different mood. |
 TogetherSaw this couple leave their footprints in the sand on an evening walk. I did a little post processing. |
 Secret GardenI noticed the shadows one of our frangipani trees was making on the gate to our back garden. I played around in post processing to produce this image. |
 Dust StormI observed a dust storm that had been created by a man driving a remote control car on the bmx track at our local recreation area. He spoiled the atmosphere for everyone for some distance around. Shame!! Provided a great image tho'. |
 Seaweed FishOn one of my beach walks, I happened to spot this arrangement of Neptune's pearls. arranged in the shape of a fish. I did not rearrange the seaweed in any way. |
 The Old and The NewI took this photgraph with the intention of highlighting these heritage listed cottages in Brisbane Water National Park. Annoyingly or fortuitiously this bright yellow speed boat turned up after a day of entertaining the children who were on holidays. |
 Greg with OpalThis is an older shot of our eldest son, Greg with Opal enjoying a splash in the waves at our local beach. |
 Kookaburra with mysterious catchNot sure what type of turtle this rascal is about to eat. I can see a flipper but the orange spots have me flummoxed. |
 Scratching that ItchAs I waited for the ferry from Ettalong to Palm Beach, I spotted this pied cormorant trying to rid itself of an itch. |
 Water DragonDuring our lunch yesterday for my son's birthday this lovely lizard posed for me for some time. The cafe is in a nursery that is a beautiful rainforest and this fellow is a regular. This is best viewed in original ize. |
 Sunset Woy Woy Taken from just outside our back fence, this stunning sky was a delight to behold last week. |
 Eastern Swamp HenThis photograph was taken in the historic Botanic Gardens of Sydney. It was taken just before Christmas last year, as you will see. I love the muted colours despite the clarity and bright sunlight that was around the rest of the gardens. Please note: It is not a bat nor a flying fox ha ha, just for a change. |
 Time for BreakfastTwo weeks ago, as the sunset, I spotted some greay headded flying foxes in the paperbark trees. I pushed my camera to the limits to get this shot as the light was fading and the bats were in the tops of the trees. |
 Pelican en masse I took this shot some time ago at a Pelican Feeding. I then edited it in an attempt to ephasise the birds' faces. |
 Bluebottle DuoWe had some high seas last week. Thousands of bluebottles were stranded on the beach. I love the artistry of their placement on the sand. |
 Here Comes a big OneIn extremely rough weather, a father was teaching his son in the safety of a rock pool. There is a lot of detail to be seen in the orginal. |
 Drying OffI loved the plumage detail as this bird as it dried its feathers. |
 Up Up and AwayThis is an old photograph I took at The Entrance, NSW. After the pelican feeding show, these two wasted no time in leaving the scene. |
 Torres StraitTaken on our trip last year in The Torres Strait. The water was always sparkling. |
 Taking Care of BabySome of you may already know that we recently had a colony of some 7800 grey headed flying foxes living in the wetlands on the opposite of our laneway. Yes, I do know exactlyhow many were there as I was a volunteer in the count run by our local council and State Land Council Sadly, most of them have moved on. A friend, who is a carer for orphaned flying foxes invited me to meet this lovely little girl. She has been named by the lady who originally spotted her hangng onto her mother who had been electrocued by overhead wiring. She hung on for over four hours before being rescued by The Electricity workers. I was lucky enough to be invited to meet her (but not touch or get too close) by the friend who is caring for her. |
 Crested PidgeonA common bird, often overlooked showing off colours and topknot for me at the beach. |
 The Sheep's BackIt is said that Australia made its money on "The Sheep's Back". These sheep in Cowra look as if they are having a happy life. If you look at this in its original size, you will see some interesting detail. |
 Montserrat Train StationFurnicular Station through the eyes of the monastery. Set in the rock of the national park a wonder to behold. |
 Mystery ObjectSaw this in a museum in Portugal. Just wonder if anyone recognises it? |
 Never Drop InThese two blokes nearly came to grief on the same wave at McMaster's Beach. |
 South Coast DancerWe attended the Indigenous Concert in Sydney for Australia Day. This was one of the dancers from the south coast of NSW. His expertise and enthusiasm stood out. |
 Beach WalkOn an overcast day I went for a walk along the ridge at Mount Ettalong. This is the view down to Pearl Beach. I love the patterns the waves make on this sheltered beach. The lady walking along the beach adds "life" to the shot. This suburb is expensive and attracts lots of celebrities from Sydney. |
 Welcome SwallowThis swallow is so named because it is usually the bird that welcomes seafarers to the coast. They are extremely fast and acrobatic as they dip and dive. |
 Breeding MaleThis photograph was taken on World Giraffe Day at Dubbo Zoo. One can pay $7 extra to feed the giraffes. I wish I had done it. They curled their beautiful blue tongues around the carrots very carefully before gently removing them from the hand offering the food. |
 Baby MantisI have previously put up a fully grown praying mantis. This is a baby one walking along the railing on our front balcony.
Nikon D600 |
 Willy Wagtail in Flight with ReflectionThis is the same willy wagtail as in the previous shot. Still showing off and flying around loop de loop. I forgot to mention that the indigenous people of the Central Desert, the Anangu people, believe that one should not gossip around a willy wagtail as they will carry the information to your enemies. |
 Willy WagtailI was enthralled watching this aerobatic willy wagtail for over an hour on the banks of The Macquarie River in Dubbo last week. |
 Tiger Licking Lips.This tiger had just devoured a chicken neck at Dubbo Western Plains Zoo |
 Blue Sea DragonI came across this incredibly rare find when walking along the beach. It is an extremely poisonous Blue Sea Dragon, stranded in a small puddle at low tide. This creature kills blue bottles and absorbs their poison. I wanted to return it to the sea but luckily my son dissuaded me. I realised my good fortune when I returned home and researched my find. |
 Opal and Reflection My dog with reflection at the beach. She is a rescue dog from Lightning Ridge, far northern NSW, famous for its opal mines. Naturally, her name is Opal. |
 Bluebottle Sperm WhaleLoved the shape of this blue bottle. Had fun with the name. |
 Red Kite Blue SkyI chased this bird after looking for parrots. High above my head I took a pic with fingers crossed. Michael, this is the photograph I mentioned in my comments to you. |
 Cowra Prisoner of War CampThis is what is left of the prisoner of war camp set up in WWII. It is an idyllic setting and many of the prisoners were permitted to work outside the camp. |
 Lilac GrassBacklit grass that looks lilac. Just a throw away shot while out with Mary. I was very surprised when I got home as saw the colours and textures. They are appreciated better in the original size. |
 Butcher BirdThese birds sing beautifully but are very aggressive. There were a pair of them trying to move into our area. The native minas were defending their territory very bravely. |
 Bees in Gum FlowerTwo bees making the most of the pollen in gum tree flowers that are in bloom at the moment. |
 Grey Faced Flying Fox These extremely rare and
endangered Flying Foxes
are still in residence in
the wetlands across from out house.
I finally managed to get some photographs
on a sunny day.
The flying foxes usually sleep during the day,
so I was lucky to get this shot. |
 Dan at SomersbyTook Mary to Somersby Falls for a photo op. Dan was happy to pose for us. |
 Boss Cockie LandingThis is a sulphur crested cockatoo. This one was being particularly noisy and bossy. The others were ignoring him. In the twenties the "Cockatoo" was the name for the gang member who stood watch to warn of the arrival of the police. Cockies can also be the name used for a farmer in Australia. These birds can live to 100 years old. Our cousin has one that imitates his telephone exactly even to the extent of the correct number of rings before the answering machine takes over. Very realistic. |
 Water Dragon Mary, Daniel, Marcia and I had been at Somersby Falls due to the massive rainfall we are having at the moment. As we turned to leave I spotted this colourful fellow as he tried to stay away from us. Luckily managed to get a couple of frames before he scuttled away under his favourite rock. |
 Girl PowerThe ladies from the local surf crew were out for a training run when I took this photograph. Wish I had their youth and vigour!! |
 Dragonfly RedI usually only find blue dragonflies in the garden but was delighted to see this colourful insect yesterday. Unfortunately, it continually came to rest on a plant that died in the recent heatwave. |
 Watching the SurfA young man taking a risk to watch the rough seas at the southern end of Umina Beach |
 Rolling InDuring a recent period of wild weather I managed to take this impressive wave on one of my beach walk |
 Hal Dear friend Hal enjoying a coffee as well as listening to Mary's Musical Mob at McMaster's Beach. I hope you enjoyed the alliteration!! |
 Play MeWaiting for their turn to entertain. |
 JoySelf explanatory....dogs having a race through the surf. |
 Flying Fox at 12 o'clockWe have been entertained by these noisey visitors for the last few weeks. Finally managed to catch one of them. These are the red variety of flying fox. Happy Valentine's Day. |
 BackflipI went to visit some of my ex pupils from far western NSW on a visit to the beach. This young man gave me the perfect opportunity when he did a magnificent backflip. |
 Beach stone Curlews On Horn IslandAgain from our holiday on Horn Island, Torres Strait. An evening shot amongst the mangroves. The juvenile is on the left. |
 Sunset on Horn Island looking at TIThis was one of the wonderful sunsets we witnessed on our recent trip to The Torres Strait. The sun is setting behind Thursday Island...pure magic. |
 Watching LightningOn an evening drive, Daniel and I noticed lightning on the other side of the broadwater. As I was unprepared and inexperienced, I was literally "shooting in the dark". As I had my finger on the shutter, a lady rode passed on a pushbike resulting in the ghostly stream behind Daniel. |
 Lead DancerIn July, 2016, I had the pleasure of attending The CIAF (Cairns Indigenous Art Fair). This gentleman was a dancer in one of the groups. He had great skills and charisma. |
 Eyes Wide OpenThis is a tawny frogmouth. Not an owl. One of the nightjars. Friends spotted three of them in a nearby tree whilst we were having afternoon tea on the veranda. I have heard them for some time but have never been able to find them. As you can see they are extremely well camouflaged. We were surprised how alert they were considering it was daytime. |
 Dicing with DeathRock fishing is the most dangerous sport in Australia. Hard to believe but we lose many fishermen lives each year. I sat and watched as this gentleman diced with death repeatedly. However, he did provide me with an excellent photo opportunity. Can you see the yacht on the horizon??? This photograph was taken at the northern end of Killcare Beach....ironic? |
 Mary At MacsMy dear friend, Mary, looking gorgeous at McMasters Beach. |
 Native Minah in Pink FlowersI know I have posted a photograph of one of these birds before. However, this shot was taken in the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney. I had not realised that these were nectar eating birds until I witnessed this. |
 Big WaveNow imagine me on the same beach as the previous photograph. The spray from the waves was unusually high for this sheltered end of the beach. Probably best to view in original size. |
 Girl on The BeachI was sitting high on the beach trying to capture the big swell. Inadvertently I snapped this little girl as she ran alon |
 In Mid AirAgain sitting on back veranda managed to capture this sulphur crested cockatoo in flight. |
 The HavenThis photograph wa taken at Terrigal Haven This is a popular spot for fishing, scuba diving, picnics and outings. |
 Butterfly and yellow FlowerI had one chance only at capturing this butterfly when it landed on the flower while I was at the beach. Not my usual beach shot folks. |
 Shark AttackI spotted this surfboard lying in the sand. I did some post editing in photoshop to alter the image for effect. |
 Green Tree FrogIn the camelias in the back garden. Love these little fellas. |
 Goanna Climbing TreeI was coerced into picking Glenn up after a long bushwalk. I took my camera, just in case. I had no sooner parked the car, gone to the boot and taken out my camera when I saw this monster at the base of the tree. It took its time climbing up to a fork in the tree as I happily clicked away. He was at least 1.5m (4ft) long. I think I caught him unawares as this road is no longer used since the freeway was built. Be sure to look at in in original size for maximum detail. |
 Mary Playing SaxA group of musicians was playing swing music at a beach where we often go for coffee. The drummer saw my camera and asked me to take some shots for them. This is one I took of Mary, an ex co-worker. As we enjoyed the music two pods of hump back whales swam past. Good to be alive on a day like this. |
 Red Rumped ParrotThis is a grass eating parrot. I watched it for some time but did not manage to get a shot of its impressive red tail feathers. It was taken west of The Blue Mountains of NSW. One can see that the ground is very dry and there are numerous bare patches in the ground cover. |
 DancingI met this gorgeous young lady at my nice's wedding in the Hunter Valley. She was having a wonderful time making her dress twirl. I loved the way the light shone through it. |
 Dragon FlyThis is another shot taken in our back garden. |
 Farm MachineWhilst visiting the Cowra Region with a friend, we saw this in the field where she had lived, just 30 minutes outside Cowra. I thought it look like an art installation but I was assured it is a working piece of farm equipment. |
 Australian butterfly Meadow argus Junonia villida brown nymphalidaeI often sit on our back veranda and watch the world go by. I managed to get this shot of a Meadow Argus Brown butterfly on my lavender. Please view it in original size. |
 Keeping up with Greg and the DogsLagging behind I got this shot at my favourite beach. |
 Kingfisher with CricketOn our recent trip to Horn Island, I was relaxing on the veranda of our cabin. I heard tapping on the roof. This is what I saw. |
 September Spring StormThis shot was from the lookout at Killcare. We had intended to go to the beach but the weather changed very quickly. If you look at this in original size, you will see the small white boats, fleeing back to the safety of Pittwater. |
 Splash!On a sparkling spring day, these young boys were making the most of the waves. |
 Ripples This is Glenn, my better half. We were walking the dogs late in the afternoon at low tide when I took this shot. |
 Sun on the SurfI always enjoy looking for patterns on the waves. I particularly love sunlight reflected on the waves. If there is life in the shot, so much the better. Again, not a bird. Here I captured the waves with a walkers in shot at various positions along the beach. |
 Girl in Pink On one of my many walks at the beach, I spotted this exuberant little girl. She and her brother were playing in the water, despite the wintery weather. I did not want to intrude so I took this from some distance. You can see her dress is wet from her forays into the surf. She is not a bird. |
 Pip FlyingIs it a bird? No it is not a bird. It is my friend's dog in mid air. She is a little pocket rocket who loves the beach. |
 Ghost Net CrocodileThis wonderful creation was at The Cairns Indigenous Art Festival. It is described as "Ghost Net" due to the fact that fishing nets that have been cast adrift float ashore and are salvaged by Indigenous Australians and Torres Strait Islanders. |
 Horn Island KingfisherThis kingfisher was enjoying a morning swim and then drying off by flapping his wings. This is another shot from Horn Island. |
 Yellow Breasted honeyeaterThis little fellow has a long beak so he can delve into flowers to drink the nectar. This image was taken on Horn Island, in the Torres Strait off the coast of far northern Queensland. |
 After the GigTorres Strait dancer shows his pleasure after a successful performance in Cairns, Queensland. His dhuri,or head dress,is representative of a shark with an open mouth. |
 Shearing ShedI went to Cowra, south of Sydney, last week with a friend. We went out of town to where she had grown up. On the way back, I spotted this interesting group of buildings (or what is left of them). |
 Heron CloserThis heron had just swallowed its lunch when I took this photograph. |
 Soldier CrabOn a much over due visit to see Hal and Sally, I spotted this soldier crab just before he burrowed into the sand. |
 ScampOur older dog enjoying his walk at one of our local beaches. |
 Father and Son Checking out the WavesOn a recent day trip up the coast, we seemed to bump into this father and son making the most of the school holidays to spend some time together. Here they are checking out the waves at Birdie Beach ih the Munmorrah State Recreation Park |
 One WingAs the name suggests, this pelican only has one wing but he is 35 years old!! What a survivor. The demonstrators ensure he gets fish at each feeding. |
 Pelican FeedingA local pelican rescue team runs a feeding session daily to check on the health of the pelicans and to ensure that none have injuries from fish hooks or fishing line. This pelican was lucky enough to catch one of the fish..I was lucky enough to catch this shot. |
 Reflections of a Couple WalkingAt low tide, reflections are wonderful. This couple were oblivious to me. |
 Yellow BottlebrushThis is one of our stunning native plants. It provides nectar for birds, bees and humans (when dipped in water). |
 Eastern Water DragonGlenn spotted this little fella on our visit to one of our local nurseries to buy some plants. I quickly got the camera out and caught this before he sped off into the undergrowth. Check it out in original size to see detail. |
 Blue bucket and ClothesI loved the contrast of the bright against the sand in the evening light |
 Running Through the DunesI was sitting taking a break on the sand dunes when I was discovered by one of the dogs who came rushing towards me. |
 Child and ReflectionsA young child making the most of the "Indian Summer" we are experiencing at this time was totally engrossed in play and oblivious to anyone around. |
 Five Lands FishThis fish was part of an art installation at Avoca Beach last winter. I manipulated the image in order to make the the metallic fish stand out from the sea and the sand. |
 Looking SouthI often have coffee at this kiosk at the surf lifesaving club. Blessed to have this view and coffee. Lion Island is in the photograph Sydney's most northern headland behind. This was taken whilst my coffee buddy was still with us but she decided to use "alternative" medicine and paid the ultimate price. |
 Daniel at Little BoxDaniel and I went for a short drive. We wanted to make the most of the last of the evening light. When Daniel walked out onto the rocks to look up the estuary I took this shot with him in profile. As a traditional owner of the land, Daniel must have wondered what would have happened if there had not been such a violent invasion by the white settlers. Sydney is directly behind Daniel in the distance. |
 Surprise VisitorSpotting this wonderful specimen of a Giant Stick Insect on my fly screen the other day. I managed to get this shot of him before he wandered off into the shrubbery. I saw him (perhaps) about a year ago. Nice to see he is still a member of our ec0-system. He was about 25cms (10 inches) long. |
 Daniel with Lion Island behind himDaniel is a wonderful young indigenous man from Brewarrina which is a remote community over 700klms from Sydney. I took this photograph on one of his recent visits. |
 Pelican OverheadOut walking one evening, I could not resist this pelican flying over my head. Very common around here but popular. |
 Uluru from the AirThis photograph was taken from the air on a helicopter trip around Uluru. If you look in the distance you will see the distant ranges. I was truly lucky the light was spectacular. |
 Plover These birds are ground dwellers. The males assist with caring for the eggs. They have a spur on their legs to assist with defense. The nests are usually found in open grasslands. (Often school playgrounds). It doesn't take long for people to learn to stay well away. |
 Happy New Year DebraThis is a dear friend. She is always happy to pose for a photograph. |
 KoiThese are carp in the Japanese Gardens which are attached to our Regional Art Gallery in Gosford. As you can see, the carp are very tame. |
 New Year ReflectionsLoved the repetition of the lines of this old wooden boat. |
 Gi Gi 2I met two delightful young men and their dad with this young, tame, green cheek conure. I did not have my camera but managed to get a couple of photographs with my iphone. Thanks Daniel for letting me take these shots. Thank you for teaching me about a bird I knew nothing about. |
 Wharf ReflectionsTaken on an overcast day, and frustrated that I hadn't taken any photographs for a while, I went out in the rain and found this scene. |
 SqueakMy friend's dog, Squeak. We often "dog" sit when he goes on holidays. |
 Driftwood after The StormOur usually pristine beaches were heavily littered with driftwood after an unusually heavy storm in June. Hopefullly, this makes for an interesting photograph. |
 Rusting AwayThis old timer is spending the its retirement in the front garden of a house only a few streets from our house. |
 Miss WA friend's daughter happily posed for me last year. |
 Spinifex near Kata TjukaWhen viewed from above, the spinifex forms a circle as the centre dies and the grass moves further out. |
 Walking with CloudsThis was photograph taken on the beach at low tide. There were wonderful reflections of clouds in the water left on the sand. |
 Shady RestPoor old truck spending its final days in the shade of an old gum tree. |
 Noisy MinaI was surprised when I got so close to this bird. This is a native mina, not to be confused with the Indian minas that scavenage, made a mess and kill our native birds and their eggs. |
 Fisherman's Wharf Western ViewThis is the other side of the previous photograph. It is vest viewed in original size. |
 Fisherman's WharfA local attraction, this building must be stronger than it looks. Great Fish and Chips, tho'. Photography for a dull, rainy day. |
 The Colour of SpringAt the moment the jacarandas are in bloom giving the land the most beautiful mauve hue. |
 Kookaburra with Evening MealJust managed to catch this cheeky fellow after he flew into the trees to eat this meaty treat. This bird is known for its raucous laugh and colourful folliage. |
 Dancing on the Beach.Reflections of a dancer on the beach on a rainy day. |
 Runing from a WaveAn overcast rainy day. This young lady was having fun. |
 Marge's SelfieI was trying to teach my friend, Marge how to take a "selfie". This is the result. Marge is in her mid nineties and still has the most beautiful copperplate handwriting. She also has a great sense of humour! |
 Aussie DamsThese iconic dams are lifesavers for
Australian Farmers, their crops and herds.
Fortunately, these had water!! |
 Another Male Australian Fig BirdNoticed this fellow above my head
in the lane in front of our house. |
 Male Australian Fig BirdManaged to capture this little fellow above me in the
lane at the front of the house.
First time I have seen one of these colourful males. |
 White Faced HeronThis heron took its time walking along the path near the sand dunes. I was have a much needed coffee under the surf club when I spotted it. I have been trying to get a photograph of one of these beautifiul birds for a while. |
 SpoonbillInitially, I did not see the spoon bill hiding in the reeds. It was a pleasant surprise. |
 Silver ShellTaken in suitu, this little beauty caught my eye despite it being among lots of foot prints and car tracks. Lots of shells have been washed up on the beach due to high tides lately. |
 Back to CampWalking back along the beach with the dogs,
I couldn't resist this scene, the holiday makers returning to the camp site. |
 Clean and GreenThis shot is an homage to Lin Onus who is a famous aboriginal artist. His famous, work, Fruit Bats, hangs in the Art Gallery of NSW. The photograph was not staged, and was taken in the student's backyard whilst searching for inspiration. At the time, I was working with aboriginal Fine Arts students for a local university. |
 Country CottageThis picturesque cottage is
situated in Hunter Valley, NSW. |
 Broke before Hail StormDriving west to Dubbo I came across this wonderfully colourful scene, unusual for Australia So happy to be in the right place at a good time. |
 Big Surf Umina July 2015This beach is very sheltered and we seldom
have waves that are this big.
This was taken at Kiddies Corner
where I often go for a walk with the dogs. |
 Beach CricketLast summer, I watched this family
engaged in one of Australia's favourite
pass times, Beach cricket.
Low tide and late afternoon sun
add to the atmosphere. |
 Ready for FlightRainbow Lorikeets are very noisy and colourful birds
that take advantage of seasonal blossoms.
They suck nectar from Australian native plants.
This shot was taken in a friend's garden. |
 Male Singing in FrangipaniOne of my resident superb fairy wrens
was being particularly co-operative recently.
I never tire of their constant flitting around the garden.
Their singing gladdens my heart. |
 Debra at The BeachAfter a walk along the beach with
a couple of friends, I snapped this
informal shot of Debra as she climbed up
a mound.
|
 Body Surfing in WinterA brilliant winter's day,
perfect surf for those brave
enough to enter the water,
and the opportunity
gave me this photograph. |
 Two Lorikeets in the Grevillea BushLorikeets like to drink nectar from grevillea flowers.
Luckily, I found these two in a friend's garden while
having a cup of tea late on Sunday afternoon. |
 Lorikeet in GrevilliaPopped in to see my friend after she came home
from a short trip up north.
I opted to sit outside and have a cuppa.
Luckily I had my camera to hand when the lorikeets came
a calling. |
 Debra This dear friend of mine, Debra, took me to lunch at
Pearls at Pearl Beach for my birthday.
Along with another friend, we headed onto the beach
for a bit of fun with camera in hand. |
 Anna Bay at DawnGlenn and I drove a friend to
Newcastle Airport for a pre-dawn flight.
Hoping to get breakfast we drove to the coast
and were lucky enough to see this
brilliant sky reflected in the ocean. |
 Looking SouthTaken late in the day,the remnants of a child's
imagination and industry. |
 Blue Wren at The BeachLuckily this little fellow was not at all shy.
Initially he was in the middle of a bush then moved to this spot
which was much more photo friendly.
|
 Killcare BeachThis view is of Killcare Beach.
It looks up the Hawkesbury River and south to Sydney.
I don't know the people on the beach.
I hope this shot shows the majesty of
the headland.
|
 Kookaburra In TreeThis kookaburra was sitting in the melaleuca
for some time an allowed me to get lots of shots of him.
Indigenous Australians believe that when one hears a kookaburra laugh,
it is a warning that there are snakes around!!
|
 Jeuvenile Male SingingAnother shot of my "tame" blue wrens.
As I have said before, these birds sing to their eggs.
If the hatchlings do not know the song, the are kicked out of the nest.
|
 Immature male Blue WrenThese birds are notoriously shy.
I have been lucky enough to find a family that are not shy.
This young male permitted me to take a number of shots.
This was the last, he was in the process of flying off. |
 Winter Surf Five Lands WalkI took this shot at Avoca Beach.
The rock pool is in the foreground the winter sun is glistening on the surf.
High noon. |
 Blue Wren on FrangipaniThis is a mature Superb Fairy Wren.
These are Australian's favourite bird
I have been trying to get a good shot of one of these for years.
His family lives in our plumbago but usually flit away as soon as I go into the garden.
I had been trying for a couple of hours before getting this shot.
Thanks to Glenn who called me out.
I had to be patient but I am happy with this photograph.
Enjoy! |
 Five Lands WhaleThis whale is part of an art installation at Avoca Beach.
In winter The Five Lands Festival pays homage to indigenous culture.
The whale is an integral focus of this celebration.
The wales are migrating north at this time. |
 Vivid Pig This pig is part of the Vivid installation
Around Sydney Harbour for 2015.
Illuminating experience!
|
 Clearing Skies at AvocaUsually very popular with holiday makers
I found the beach almost deserted
except for these two fishermen and one brave surfer. |
 Reuben Doolah Performing for Tribal WarriorThis is a shot of Reuben Doolah performing on Clarke Island for The Tribal Warrior.
The Tribal Warrior conducts Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island tours of Sydney Harbour.
I am ashamed to say that I cannot remember which dance Reuben was doing when I shot this photograph. The shot had to be taken in full sun at midday but, thankfully, under the sun shade. Reuben had asked me to take a series of photographs while he was studying for his degree in Fine Arts.
Great opportunity. |
 Catch of the DaySorry folks but it is another shot taken on my beach walks.
Iphone handy, as usual.
Pleased with the result tho'
|
 Ibis in The WelandsThe sacred ibis are becoming numerous in the Sydney area. They are a menace as they scavenge from rubbish bins.
However, i do like seeing them in a more natural state.
Again, this was taken in the wetlands across from our house.
|
 Sydney Skyline Taken on Clarke Island with Sydney homes in the background.
Centuries ago ingenious indigenous Australians cut grooves in the sandstone to trap fish when the tide receded.
Meanwhile, the white colonists were starving on either side of the harbour!!
|
 Reuben After The GigThis photograph is of my friend, Reuben Doolah, a famous indigenous performer.
Reuben Is of Torres Strait and Aboriginal origins.
He is painted in traditional ochre for a performance on Clarke Island in Sydney Harbour.
I had taken many photographs that day but had trouble as it was full sun and in the middle of the day. I recropped it after uploading the previous pic. |
 Flood on the BarwonThe flood that ad cut the town off was receding when I took this pic.
The students would alight here heir way to on the way to school daily.
You may be able to see the water mark upon the trees.
|
 Baby frog on GardeniasThe day I took this photo there we a large number of baby frogs on the four gardenia plants just outside our front door.
The eastern dwarf tree frog or Eastern Sedge-frog, is a small and very common tree frog found on the eastern coast of Australia, from around Cairns, Queensland, to around Ulladulla, New South Wales |
 Melaluca AbstractDecided to play around with this image of the wetlands because I loved the reflections.
Enjoy! |
 Egret in Mating FineryLucky to have access to a protected wetlands. Just managed to get this before it flew off. Pure luck!! Again!! |
 Fascinating FascinatorMy friend's daughter found my fascinator and popped it on her head. |
 GregThis is our eldest son, Greg, who will be 34 on the 16th March, 2015. A source of great pleasure in our lives. |
 Aussie Beach BumGlenn and I spent a glorious day on Broughton Island, a 90 minute boat ride from Port Stephens. After lunch on board the boat, we walked over the hill to this deserted beach. Just magic. After a swim Glenn lay down on the sand and I could not resist taking this photograph of him. For the non-Aussies, a "Beach Bum" is someone who is unemployed and spends his/her time at the beach. |
 Our Lane WayOn the left hand side of this photograph is an area that is classified as "preservation of flora and Fauna". The Jacarandas are not Australian but provide a wonderfully colourful palette in spring. The lilac carpet is always a delight. |
 As Far As the Eye Can see Broken HillThis photograph was taken just outside Broken Hill. The state was in the grips of a one in 100 year drought at the time. This area is in a national park that preserves local flora and fauna, as well as exhibiting artist' works in the sculpture park. |
 Dolphins Close to ShoreThese dolphins were trawling up and down the beach close to shore early one morning. |
 Fiddler BeetleFiddler Beetle
Fiddler Beetles are common around Sydney and are named for the fiddle (violin) shaped patterns on their backs.
|
 Old Timer on The BeachOn a dull evening, I saw this old piece of machinery that has obviously been in service to the local Life Saving Club. I had never seen it before. The oars for the surfboats drew my attention. |
 My Bean BagGreg loves his beanbag ... when he can get it first.
This is our rescue dog who enjoys her creature comforts. |
 White Duck with ReflectionsI was celebrating a friend' engagement with camera on hand when I spotted the duck and reflections in the pond behind the happy couple. |
 At the base of UluruOn a recent indigenous tour of Uluru I fell behind the group and experienced the calm of this beautiful culturally significant region. One of the elders waited calmly while I composed this shot. |
 Avoca in the MorningThis shot was taken on a cold spring morning. I like the light filtering through the clouds and reflecting on the waves. |
 Yellow Boat.This is an older style wooden boat that is often tied up near a wharf that I pass on one of my favourite walks. |
 Blue BottleDead blue bottles washed up on the beach just asking to be snapped. |
 Blue Shell with ladybirdI spotted this shell on one of my walks along the beach. I didn't even notice the ladybird until I put the photo on the computer screen. This made the walk worthwhile, considering the rain and wind. |
 Granny SueA dear friend of of over 30 years permitted me to take this shot to test my then new camera. |
 Opal at the BeachThis is my rescue dog. She and the other members of her litter were tied in a sack and left in the bush in the heat of summer at Lightning Ridge, hence her name. |
 Uluru at Sunrise Uluru is the an every changing canvas. It is a most magical space, especially when one learns the original inhabitants' beliefs about it. This was one of the many shots I took early in the morning. We got a bus when it was still dark out to the site and watched in silence and wonder at the constant evolution of the view as the sun came up. |
 Uluru at SunsetI took this photograph at the foot of Uluru at several years ago. The colours have not been altered. |
 Elaine at Morpeth NSWThis shot was taken by my friend. I set it up. We were in an historic village on the River near Newcastle, NSW. It was about a year ago.
Hal, I have known you for 30 years now. We visited you about two years ago.
Thanks for all the kind comments. |
 Frog On GardeniasWe live close to a wetlands and this little fella appeared one day. Usually, we get hundreds of tiny green tree frogs at a time. This frog was all alone. I do not know what species he is. Still trying to find out. |
 Early Morning SurfThis surfer was about to enter the water when I captures this shot of him as the sun was coming up. |
 Juvenile Kookaburra |
 Southern EndHi Everyone,
Thank you so much for your warm welcome.
l took this seascape near to where we live,
North of Sydney |
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