A Very Happy 2012 To You All.

My favourite birds, hopefully flying into a better year ......

Salt & Pepper Moth.

I was practising using the tele lens for a close up of this moth and was pleasantly surprised to see it was quite colourful. more details here

Approaching Storm.

Unfortunately this skirted around us.

Lightning.

Our first thunderstorm this season and NO rain!

Merry Christmas Everyone.

Thank you all for your support, and I do hope Santa treats you well.

Basking Mud Skipper.

These fellas have quite an active life ... fighting each other over an ant that got too close to the waters edge.

Going Fishing With Dad.

We found another fishing spot this morning, but didn't have our fishing gear with us! It was great to see dad taking his young daughter out with him, she's apparently a great fisherman.

Smoking Cane.

The cane still smoking after the fire.

Alligator Garfish.

This was taken in the shallows of our local fishing spot without a polarising filter. I've just invested in one, so I now have to wait for my next lot of days off to get out there again.

Sunrise Over the Coral Sea.

This lot of days off we're relaxing by the sea, and boy is it beautiful!

Todays Pic.

This crop is about to be harvested and the Hawk is looking for a meal.

What A Sunset!

There had been a few cane fires prior to sunset.

On The Way .....

... to our favourite fishing spot, it's about a 30 min. drive.

A Bug.

It was fascinating to watch this beastie removing the stones and then digging itself a home.

B & W Camo Cow.

Just playing .........

Hawk ...

... or Whistling Kite.

Camo Cow.

These Brahman were checking us out as we were on our way to another fishing spot, this place is a beauty.

Now THIS Is A Carbon Footprint! (Oswald Bastable would approve)

We finally managed to get a time when the farmers were setting the cane alight, just as the sun was about to go down.

Cane Fire.

I've finally caught up with a cane fire in full flight, the farmer is putting out a spot fire near his house.

A Few Herons.

These wetlands are scattered amongst the cane fields around here, you never know what's around the corner ....... even snakes!!

Sunrise This Morning.

We went out fishing this morning, and this is what we were greeted with.

Guess What This Is?

Trying to take a photo of a cane fire while following another car & driving over a rough road, with the shutter speed too slow.

Landing Approach.

Pelicans always appear so ungainly.

Old Work Horse.

Being warmed by the morning sun. There are many like this in their final resting places amongst the cane fields.

Mr + Mrs Brahmin.

I don't think they were too impressed having their photo taken ......

Brahminy Kite.

This fella was about 60m away when we were checking out another fishing spot.

Another Harvesting Pic.

Up close ...

Sugar Cane Harvesting.

It's apparently a bumper sugar cane crop this year and they'll be harvesting right up to Christmas.

Fishing Spot.

This is one of the local fishing spots and is taken looking straight into the sun, with cane fire smoke in the background.

On The Road Again .....

Things didn't work out here, so we're heading north in the morning, three long hard days of driving .......

Moth

This is a beautiful moth, almost looked like a biplane. Unfortunately the wings were vibrating so they're a bit blurred.

This Evenings Weather.

There was a bit of thunder and lightning thrown in as well.

Pedicure.

These are noisy and destructive birds, but very entertaining.

Wild Fox.

This fella was happily hunting mice in the paddock next door.

Paging Oswald.....

We saw this 2m snake on the road this morning and it was starting to get quite aggressive! I'm not sure whether it belongs to the brown snake family, I haven't been able to find anything similar on the net.

You Want Fries With That?

This was a rather large ant dragging a dead moth home.

Tawny Frogmouth Owl.

I won't reveal how many shots I took of this fella sitting on it's nest way up in the tree, this is one of the better shots.

We're still on the road at present and will be until the end of the week. Maybe the weather will be better by then!

Take Off ....

I'm really enjoying this new camera :)

This pic needs to be enlarged to see more detail.

The Pelican Has Landed .....

..... I've just found a supply of me mates ... the pelican.

Australian Water Dragon.

I've checked a few sites on the net and I'm sure this is what it is, but I'll cheerfully accept any other name offers.

Corny Gull Pic ...

..... the first off the new camera that's reasonable and I've taken heaps of shots, and the weather is quite overcast at present.

Camera Died.......

....... I've only had it for 15 months!!!! ...... I'm now in the process of learning to drive my new camera as the other was going to be more expensive to fix .......

Frog's Eye View.

Very difficult to line these guys up in the dark ........

Reeds.

We've had a lot of rain the last couple of days, these are the reeds in the drain at the back of the units this evening.

Moving Again.

We're in the process of packing up as my contract here finishes in a couple of days. We'll be on the road for a few days heading towards the coast for a well earned break and hopefully some new photos.

Large Ants .....

....... that bite!

I was going to get out & about after my night shifts to get some different pics, unfortunately the weather has been wet and very windy, along with wireless Broadband problems ...... hmmm, enough said!

Last Night Shift .....

...... for about a month, thank goodness!

Another Dove......

..... I have this unhealthy obsession with Doves, I can't believe how evil they look and yet they're so unbelievably dumb, a bit like battery hens.

Back on night shift :(:(

Seed Thief.

This cute wee fella and his mate have made a home under the door frame outside and come out to clean up the left over bird seed.

Heron 1 Toad 0

This pair was about 50 m away and I didn't see if the Heron finally ate the toad, he was playing with it for ages.

Yum, Sunflower Seed.

Up close and personal ......

It's MY Offal!!

I'm on night shift again, so it's back to photographing the locals .....

Major Mitchell's Cockatoo.

What a pleasant surprise to see a pair of these down at the river this morning.