Primitive creatures battle in a desert Puddle

On a recent trip to the inland of Australia I was able to check out  some temporary surface waters around the South Australian and Northern Territory borders.

To my surprise I was able to capture a fierce battle between a horse shoe crab like creature and what I assume are two small predatory larvae.

As the waters do not last very long the race is on to grow and procreate with these tadpole sized players fighting hard to survive. I had been informed that the little horse shoe crab like creature had been found in ponds on top of Uluru after eggs had been blown in the winds with the smallest ponding of water enough to hatch them.

Autumn storms at last with thoughts sent to North Qld

Well I've been waiting for an Autumn storm for a while that would put on a bit of a show.

This wasn't  what I've been waiting for though it wasn't too bad for a start.

This was taken in the South West of NSW at Tumut.

The weather has been wet Australia wide lately with cyclone Ita making news tonight.

My thoughts go out to those in its path and stay safe guys.

Things are cooling down with a cold wet winter becoming a distinct possibility.

Xmas eve storms 2012

Its been a great year for photography and the huge storms that lashed NSW Australia on Xmas eve were no exception. Here is an animation of the build up and light show that has been compiled from the sequential shots taken that day.

Have a great New Year and see you for more in 2013. 

Into Spring

Things are warming up, though Winter hasn't totally given up its grasp with the occasional return to quite cold weather. The thunder storms have begun rolling in though, a sure sign that change is in the air.

There is quite a bit of pollen in that air too. Below a shot of a peach orchard in flower with rolling hills on a misty morning.

Apples are also in blooming, though the storms of late have taken a toll .

Those storms should afford some great shots soon hopefully.

Transit of Venus 06.06.12

Over the last few years there have been quite a few interesting conjunctions alignments and such,

though the transit of Venus today was quite a bonus to see in ones lifetime. 

Not due again for quite a while, it was great that the clouds parted long enough to get

a few shots of an event so tied to Australian History.

Captain Cook was sent south, partly, to witness such an event so as to gain vital triangulations

that, when compared with those taken across the globe, would help calculate the distance of Venus

from the sun and, therefore, help in  calculations for the orbits of other planets, the Earth included.

So, here's my shot of the event.

With a partial eclipse due soon, the sky is keeping me busy as the creatures of the Earth slumber in Winter's grip, and with a new macro outfit constructed you can expect some real close-ups this Spring of a more terrestrial nature.

Autumn Field - feast

Although the rain has been ceaseless for the last heaven knows how long, the paddocks next to us got a cut last week and many creatures such as crickets, frogs and mice got a rude awakening.

This trimming of the verge did not go unnoticed, especially by one very canny Kookaburra

who sat up on the power lines above and kept a close eye on the action.

Kookaburra will eat a variety of prey, including mice, frogs, insects and a snake 

or two when they can get their beaks on them, so I thought it wise to grab the 

camera and hang around for a while myself and see what happened.

The Kookaburra buzzed the field a number of times, quite low, and

seemed to catch a number of things, though as to what was caught

I was not able to clearly ascertain. I believe insects of some sort were the 

victims of  a sharp eye and sharper beak.

The bird seemed to do quite well and eventually left, though not before I got the following shot.

Amongst the masses of grass picked up on the way, suggesting a small meal, were

what seemed to be long insect legs - Perhaps grasshoppers.

Although I was hoping to see a battle with a Red Bellied Black Snake,

a favourite food of theirs, it was an interesting afternoon nonetheless.

Electrical storms continue

With a wet and stormy Summer behind us, Violent electrical storms continue in our area.

Mostly isolated pockets of activity, this one passed by late last night.

It was interesting to observe, with such a small storm, what happened as it passed over a small group of islands just off the coast - the relative warmth differential of the island in relation to the sea caused the clouds to mushroom up causing further electrical discharge as it did so. 

Below is a shot of the "mushrooming", as well as a short vid showing some of the action.

Despite the lack of sleep, its a storm chasers paradise at the moment.

Kickboxing Kangaroos

Today I was lucky enough to see a sparring match between two kangaroos.

The video below captured most of the action and you should pay attention

to the first 4 to 10 seconds where an interaction between one of the opponents

and another kangaroo seem to spark the action that follows.

This video is available in higher resolution HERE

Many wallabies and kangaroo have been present in our area 

of late with this afternoons gathering one of the largest with

over 15 kangaroos present in the mob.

A bird with attitude

You should always have a lookout.

Thats what this Butcher Bird was up to while the scene was unfolding below.

Its mate was sitting with a young bird, on the dogs lead, feeding from the dog bowl.

What is amazing is that the dog was blissfully unaware of the happenings not more that three metres from it.

They even stripped the bone that was left from the Christmas roast.

Butcher Birds are very inquisitive and friendly, one of the adult pair being a bird that was first introduced to us when it was a chick itself.

We have now had four generations of birds introduce their young to us as a good spot for a quick feed.

Luna Eclipse Australia 2011

Although total Luna eclipses are rather common, it is a little hard

 to see two in one  year unless you are willing to do a little travel.

Fortunately I was in Germany earlier this year during such an event

 and even more  fortunate to see one last weekend in Australia.

This weekend's event was nearly marred by cloud cover,

 though It cleared enough to get the following shots.

These were taken over an hour as we progressed to full eclipse.

It then clouded over, though I was able to get some nice glimpses as

 the moon  moved back out of the shadow of the Earth.

The link to the earlier event in Germany is HERE.