Things change — The goats have gone. The paddock is empty except for one disconsolate steer. I’m disconsolate too. Although the goats were standoffish and noisy, it was nice to have them around. I prefer to think they’re grazing on another property, perhaps one with mountain views. I don’t think they’ve gone somewhere…

Harriet and Helena Scott’s meticulous observations of butterflies and moths — The cocoon of the Emperor Gum Moth is tough. Spun from silk and cemented onto the branches of a Eucalyptus tree, it is exposed to sun and rain and to predators for whom the developing and defenceless insect inside would be a decent meal. But the protective case that keeps…

A drongo drops by — Despite the rain and wind, this Spangled Drongo paused long enough for a few quick photos through the office window. I have a soft spot for these pirates who decoy their victims with alarm calls and then steal their food. Thirty species of drongos (Dicruridae) are found from Africa through…

Not Goldilocks, that’s for sure — Due to a combination of factors — weather, depleted potting mix, pests — my plant collection is suffering. I’ve had several deaths, particularly of Proteaceae, which prefer to be in the…

A Stroll along the Fence — I had planned to photograph cattle egrets in a paddock, but the birds were not complying. Despite my stealthy approach, they all flew off before I had even raised the camera. So I pretended I wasn’t interested in them at all. Instead, I was wielding this ridiculously heavy telephoto lens…

When you don’t get out of the office — My apologies for the hiatus. Stuff happens. Stuff always happens! While I get my writing act back together, here are some photos of garden birds taken through those grimy office windows. I keep my camera to hand, just in case. The Grey Fantail (above) is one of a pair that…

A: Intermittently — Sit down at computer and open new document Format document Forget what I planned to write Consult notebook for ideas Reject all ideas Do laundry Decide writing is better than laundry Sit down at computer Reformat document with another font Bookman Old Style this time Hang out washing Get distracted…

Homalathus brings all the birds to the yard — As we move from Wet to Dry, new birds arrive. Sulphur-crested Cockatoos fly over in flocks with wingbeats that scintillate against the blue sky. Cattle Egrets perch on the back of the big Brangus steer or stalk around the goats until the goats have enough and chase them off. Black…

A typical Australian backyard scene My office is at the back of the house, facing south-east. The weather comes from that direction and my windows are always streaked with rain and dust. The view is of the garden and the row of trees along the neighbours’ fence. The trees are…