The past few months in the west

Sadly, we are about to move from our bushland property. We will however be staying in the western suburbs until we find a bigger and more suitable property for us to live. I am so grateful my children have spent the first years of their lives in such close proximity to nature. Only this morning did we hear the alarm calls of Noisy Miners to rush outside and find a beautiful Carpet Python we could observe and admire. I will continue to admire the natural world in our newer home in the suburbs and I will also continue to get us out and about to discover nature in the western suburbs.

 

Here are some photos from the past few months on or around our property and also in local bushland areas.

 

 

 

Redneck Wallabies frequent our yard everyday. This past week we have 5 adults and 1 visible young joey.

 

 

 

We have many different spiders but the most noticeable and abundant at this time are the Tent Spiders.

 

 

 

We continue to admire this pair of Tawny Frogmouths and they will be sadly missed when we move.

 

 

Pheasant Coucals have been very vocal over spring with their loud and whooping call.

 

 

 

 

We had some fun in the cooler months burying pitfall traps and trying to catch various insects. The children mostly trapped ants but it will be interesting to try the traps again in the warmer months.

 

 

 

 

Playing at the creek and catching and identifying water invertebrates is always an enjoyable day.

 

 

While participating in the Birds in Backyard survey we spotted this nest. With a friends help we identified it to be that of a Red-browed Finch, which we also saw several of that day.

 

 

 

With some recent rainfall, we discovered an emergent Great Barred Frog and a pair of Ornate Burrowing Frogs.

 

 

 

 

Carpet Pythons have always been in this area however I have never personally spotted one on our property until yesterday. This python was at our back steps and then we spotted it again today having much difficulty getting across the telephone wire.

 

 

 

Earlier in the year I posted about my daughter walking the back of our property alone. She has many times since. Then just this week, they were up and dressed early eager to look for Goannas. My daughter decided to head down the back and with enthusiasm my son joined her too. I was so pleased that he got to experience walking in the bush (without me) before we move away. It was such an adventure for the two of them and I will be forever grateful for this beautiful part of the world they have connected with and can call home.

 

"I need the bush to build my strength"

John Williamson