Garden Guests Diary // Browsing posts in Garden Guests Diary
Nature Can be Cruel- Garden Guests Diary?
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I’ve been watching and photographing a couple of huge Orchard Swallowtail Caterpillars for the past week and they are the biggest caterpillars I have seen. I was keen to keep an eye on them to perhaps be lucky enough to witness the transformation to cocoon and butterfly. If you get upset easily you may not...
Orville the Orphan and others – Garden Guests Diary
This juvenile magpie has been coming down to our garden and is spending a lot of time with us. He has been abandoned or pushed away by his parents and he is a lost soul at the moment. The resident magpies are less than happy that “Orville” is around and they attack him to the...
Leaf Curling Spiders and more – Garden Guests Diary
Again, I ventured out into my garden after a shower of rain and the atmosphere was uncomfortably sticky and humid but it’s worth it to see the garden guests who emerge in the freshly soaked foliage. Leaf Curling Spiders and more – Garden Guests Diary
After the Storm – Garden Guests Diary
We had a fierce storm the other afternoon causing one of my cats to bolt under the bed. The rain teemed down and I actually jumped when I heard the first clap of thunder. It didn’t last long fortunately and afterwards the sun shone through the damp foliage with the smell of rain lingering in...
The First Summer Garden Guests
Well, I think we are having an early summer in Queensland, Australia as the temperatures have been reaching 30 degrees centigrade already and it is hot and sticky. Whilst this can be uncomfortable for us humans, the hot summer weather brings about gorgeous summer guests such as butterflies, hoverflies, dragonflies, cicadas and a whole lot...
Amorous Male Lorikeet caught in the act!
I have been filming some of the birds in my garden recently and have been using my old four megapixels camera so the quality is not wonderful. To make up for this, I think that you will find this clip of an amorous male rainbow lorikeet “hiliarious” as he “struts his stuff” trying to impress the...
Spring has arrived in Queensland!
Due to the spring weather that is now upon us in Queensland, Australia, I have noticed a lot more insects fluttering and buzzing around plus all the spring blooms which are bursting with vitality, colour and fragrances in my garden. The flowering Jasmine for instance has the most beautiful smell and it’s just a shame...
Sharing Supper – Garden Guests Diary
I captured Mr and Mrs Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo sharing supper late this afternoon. Our seed bell had been munched to the point where it had fallen to the ground and these birds are known for their intelligence. Sharing Supper – Garden Guests Diary
Crested Pigeons Puffed up in the Cold – Garden Guests Diary
We’ve had a couple of chilly, wet days which always brings down more birds looking for shelter and food. There seems to be a growing number of crested pigeons who love our yard but in particular our neighbour’s roof. Crested Pigeons Puffed up in the Cold – Garden Guests Diary
Gecko and Galah – Garden Guests Diary
I happened to spy this itty bitty gecko when I was in my garden today and he was about the size of a matchstick. He kept sticking his tiny little tongue in and out but I couldn’t quite capture this in time. Gecko and Galah – Garden Guests Diary
Casper the Friendly Ghost – Garden Guests Diary
I have seen this miniscule critter twice in my garden and despite looking up my reference books and scouring the internet, I cannot identify this bug. He is tiny, measuring about 1cm in diameter and I don’t know if he is a young butterfly/moth/grasshopper who will grow into something larger or if this is as...
Photographic Journal of Mt Cotton Rainforest Gardens
I am enjoying three weeks holiday at the moment and I have had the chance to get out and about as an artist and photographer for awhile. I visited a local ’spot’ that I had read about which is about a ten minute drive from my house. This place is beautiful and is off the...
Drinking Companion – Garden Guests Diary
While I was happily celebrating with you all about the 24,000 visitors to my site, I was joined by a garden guest. I have no idea what this “drinking buddy” is and he looks like a young orange palmdart butterfly but I’m not convinced due to his very long legs but they might look longer...
Garden Guests Diary – Are you sitting comfortably?
I took this favourite photograph of mine a couple of months ago, which I had forgotten about and just came across it again which prompted this post. This little fellow, a young pied butcher bird has made himself at home in our hanging basket, maybe just waiting for his next meal or just shooting the breeze. ...
Singing in the Rain – Garden Guests Diary
We’ve had a lot of rain over the last month or so which is fantastic for the drought Queensland is suffering from. When it rains here, it really RAINS and I thought the rain was bad in Scotland! The rain always brings down more birds and they just love our garden on a wet afternoon...
Garden Guests Diary – Elusive Butterflies
There are still lots of butterflies fluttering around my garden and I find them to be a frustration as they rarely choose to land anywhere near me and if I’m on one side of the yard, they will be on the other side just to annoy me even more! I have seen some beauties flutter...
Pale-headed Rosellas – Garden Guests Diary
I haven’t seen the pale-headed rosellas coming down to feed for a while, until few days ago. They are intimidated by the rainbow lorikeets and galahs due to their shy and wary natures. I am fond of these birds and still marvel at their gorgeous plumage. A few recent photographs of them.
Glut of Grasshoppers – Garden Guests Diary
Since I have been out and about in my garden over the Easter weekend, I noticed a glut of grasshoppers. Now, I detest the adult grasshoppers and I would run a mile if they got close to me but I can handle the nymphs as they are so cute, tiny, green or orange and black patterned. Glut...
Garden Guests Diary – Ant Nest
I discovered an ant nest in my garden today, quite by accident when I was looking for dragonflies. The makers of this nest are dome-backed spiny ants (Polyrhachis australis) and I watched, fascinated as they toiled away, looking after their Queen and pupae. Garden Guests Diary – Ant Nest
Bird Dropping Spider – Garden Guests Diary
I did my usual walk around the garden today and it never ceases to amaze me that it is different, no matter how many times I go out there. I sometimes think, camera dangling around my neck, that it will be a useless endeavour, that as a photographer, “I’ve been there, done that” but I can assure...
Dragonflies, up-close and personal – Garden Guests Diary
I have always loved dragonflies but have never been able to get up-close & personal with them until I started photographing them using a macro lens. I really adore this lens and taking shots with it is my favourite passion in my photographic endeavours.
Beauty is only skin deep – Garden Guests Diary
I recently noticed a few cicada skins, still attached, in pristine condition, to branches in my garden and you can’t help but marvel at how amazing nature is and the natural life cycle of these insects. As a result of macro photography, I am getting a lot closer to nature than ever before and I am learning all...
Native Paper Wasps – Garden Guests Diary
When wandering around my garden today I discovered at least two of these paper wasp colonies and after looking at the close-up photographs I took, I have immense respect for these industrious builders and protectors of their young.
Outbreak of Toadstools – Garden Guests Diary
Toadstools have sprouted up in our garden recently due to a combination of wet weather, humid conditions, warm days and nights. They are quite beautiful and grow in clumps or rings and always bring to mind fairies and magical potions. Outbreak of Toadstools – Garden Guests Diary
Brandon is growing up – Garden Guests Diary
Brandon is the boldest of last year’s pied butcher bird babies and after a year, his feathers are gradually turning black and he is losing his brown colouring. When they turn black and white completely, it is impossible to tell these birds apart! Brandon is growing up – Garden Guests Diary
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I am a trained artist, teacher and photographer who specialises in wildlife. This blog showcases my work and regular garden guests diary.
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