Friday 12 October 2012

October Nature Notebook

The Outdoor Hour Blog Challenge has been focused on trees this month.
Here are two trees we've observed around here:

This one is a large gum tree with a bees' nest in it - you can see three of them up towards the top of the hole.


A termite nest in a tree you can from one of our windows. They are very common around here and other areas where sandstone rock is predominant.

 

We've recently returned from a week away on the coast about 3 hours north of us where we had a look at the largest tree in New South Wales. It's a flooded gum and is known as the Grandis. It's cordoned off so we didn't get to try & join arms around its base. We weren't able get a great picture either, unfortunately.



This is a close up of one of the trees nearby - a type of palm, we thought.


Our biggest nature adventure while we were away was exploring the lake and beach area where we were staying. It was a great opportunity to read  Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome to our 7 year old.


Sea Fever

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;
And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull’s way and the whale’s way where the wind’s like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over.

 By John Masefield

White-headed Pigeons (Columba leucomela)


I'd been trying all week to get a photo of the two kingfishers in a dead gum tree and just managed to snap this one. I think it is either a Sacred Kingfisher or a Collared Kingfisher.


        New Holland Honeyeater ( Phylidonyris novaehollaniae)


When we left for our week away we had one rose on our one and only rose bush which is in a pot. When we returned it was flush with flowers. I can't remember what the name of it is but it has the most beautiful fragrance and I've managed to keep it alive over about 10 years of neglect.



5 comments:

Barb said...

I truly enjoyed reading your entry and seeing your images....trees, insects, birds..everything.

The termite nest is so big! Amazing!

Thanks for sharing your entry with the OHC.

dstb said...

It is interesting to see nature study from around the world. The bird pictures are fantastic!

Swallows and Amazons is one of our favorite read-alouds.

Sarah

Jamie {See Jamie blog} said...

Lovely study. It is so interesting, like Barb and Sarah said above, to see nature in other parts of the world. So thanks for sharing!

Silvia said...

Yes, what a lovely study. I enjoyed it so much.I am glad I found your blog. It is new to me. I like to see those who use CM in the older years.

Silvia

Virginia Lee said...

Wow, that termite nest is huge! So cool to see nature study from different places. And the pic of your kids in the surf is great! Don't you just love it when you capture a photo like that.