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.