Birds

Cacatua galerita: sulphur-crested cockatoo

I took these photos with the Nikon D3000, a few weeks ago.

Wikipedia says …

It has a total length of 44–55 cm (17–22 in), with the Australian subspecies larger than subspecies from New Guinea and nearby islands. … The bill is black, the legs are grey, and the eye-ring is whitish. Males typically have almost black eyes, whereas the females have a more red or brown eye, but this requires optimum viewing conditions to be seen. …

 

sulphur-crested cockatoo

sulphur-crested cockatoo (Nikon D3000)

 

It was a lovely sunny day. I love the pale branches of the manna gum this time of the year. It begins shedding bark around Christmas time, until the branches are bare. Some thick layers of bark stay on the lower parts.

Have a good day.   🙂

 

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Butterflies & Moths

Meadow Argus Butterfly

I spotted this Meadow Argus butterfly late this afternoon while out with the Nikon D3000 looking for a photo op.

Wikipedia says …

The meadow argus (Junonia villida) is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae, commonly found in Australia. It is also known as Albin’s Hampstead eye in the United Kingdom, where it has occurred only as an accidental import.

Meadow Argus Butterfly

Meadow Argus Butterfly (Nikon D3000)

 

As the butterfly rests, it can sit in four different positions depending on the current situation. These positions include:

  • If the sun is shining, the butterfly will open and relax its wings
  • If danger approaches while in the sunlight the butterfly will open its wings further revealing eyespots on its hindwings
  • If the sun is not shining the butterfly will close its wings
  • If danger approaches while there is no sunlight the butterfly will raise its frontwings revealing hidden eyespots

 

 

Meadow Argus Butterfly

Meadow Argus Butterfly (Nikon D3000)

 

 

I hope you are having a good day.    🙂

 

 

 

 

 

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and other things slithery things, Bees & Bugs

In my garden

It has rained these last few days, bringing cooler weather, and  snails.

looking down on two snails

looking down: snails in the wet (Nokia Lumia 520)

 

Before the rain, we had very hot days and blue skies, with droves of bees loving the flowering ivy. At this time last year, we had lots of wasps but it looks like the bees are winning in 2016.

two bees enjoying the bounty of ivy flowers

looking up: two bees enjoying the bounty of ivy flowers (Nokia Lumia 520)

 

I hope you are having a good day.  Thanks for looking.   🙂

 

 

 

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