Warm Spring and a Hot Summer predicted

Winter has gone and been replaced with very warm Spring weather.

The blossoms are out giving enjoyment to all but hay fever sufferers.

Not must enjoyment is given in Spring should you cross paths with this guy pictured below.

The Australian Magpie nests at this time of year with both male and female very territorial of the nesting site.

If you find one in your yard the best thing you can do is cut your lawn.

The freeing of small insects and arachnids by this act makes you an instant friend.

Back in time for Spring

Well I never intended to have such a lengthy hiatus in posting, though I'm back with some macros in time for Spring.

 

A burst of hot weather and a little rain has seen an explosion of colour and the insects haven't been to far behind. A great time for a few macros.

 

 

This ladybird was on the hunt for a few aphids

 

 

No need for sprays even with this sort of infestation.

Within a week most will be cleaned up by the various predators.

 

As golden sunshine replaces cold and icy winds, frosty mornings and pleasant days are on the increase.

 

Look forward to a new burst of postings to follow.



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.

First signs of Spring

Although Spring is still a few days away nature has already made her mind up with a number of great days full of the potential that can be felt as Winter ends. Just ask those who suffer hay fever.

To acknowledge the coming of Spring here are a few blossom shots.

With the coming of Spring is the arrival of some of this areas best thunder storms.

I will be out chasing this year with some new territory to shoot.

Here's another shot with Spring colours backdropped with ominous thunder clouds.

Spring thaw at the Australian Alps

Spring is underway, be it slowly, at the Snowy Mountains.

Like a view springing from the Serengeti, the roof of Australia was under snow as the surrounds basked in warm, dry, Savannah.
I wanted to photograph some of the new spring flowers that pop through the snow in the melt.
After the unseasonal warm weather I thought I may have a chance, though the high country plays by its own rules.


The snow has retreated somewhat, with Perisher having enough of the white stuff to have a happy season for a little while yet.
Below that point the cover is scattered.

Areas of melt produce some amazing scenes, like the ones below.




This temporary pond (below) plays host to alpine frog species that wait for just such times.
The Eco system is incredibly fragile and scenes like this leave me to wonder as to the pressure that lack of snow, through global warming, may have on such tenuous relationships between species and their environmental habitats.
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At higher altitudes the snow was still thick on the ground.

These alpine gums hang on to the boulders, their forms twisted and stunted by high altitude and the elements.

Winter hasn't given up hold of the high country just yet, with more snow on the way.

My hunt for wildflowers of the Australian Alps with have to wait a few more weeks.

Birds and the Bees

Spring, especially in an area where the seasons are so pronounced, is a time to get into the act of reproduction while the food sources and climate support the raising offspring.

These pictures below are of Reproduction of two sorts.

The insects are male and female, requiring sperm from the male to fertilise eggs within the female.....whereas the snails are asexual (each being effectively male and female ).

This means that they supply 1/2 of the genetic material needed and both produce young (lay eggs).

The snail below is of the same species, though shows colour differences to those above.

It is redder in appearance and, if I had the time, would be interested to cross snails of both colours.

It would be interesting to see the ratio of light to dark snails, and mixed shells, through this method of reproduction.

...and if you have ever wondered what a bumble bee looks like compared to a regular bee....wonder no longer

....of course, all the regular predators are out taking advantage of the increased food sources.

...and even a little fungi.

This bracket fungi is similar to its Australian counterpart, though was very white and seemed of much denser composition. This is possibly due, in part, to differing climatic conditions from those I have observed in detail in places like Robertson Nature Reserve ( see previous posts).

I would like to wish Denis Wilson and his colleagues much success with their fungi exhibition being held at Robertson NSW Australia. Perhaps a few pics of the exhibition Denis?

Northern Hemisphere Spings to life

Spring has had a late showing in the Northern Hemisphere this year, with winter temps keeping things sleeping well into April.
In warmer areas things have are under way now, though in some parts things are only just getting started.
In Berlin, pictured below, Cherry blossoms are in full show with many deciduous plants greening well though, as you can see, some have only started budding.



In my travels I came across a unusual sight.
The tree pictured below is beginning its regrowth for the spring.
When I first saw it I thought the shapes to be a collection of nests.
Shapes like this are common in Australia after bushfires, as regrowth begins, though no fires have affected these plants and, as I saw many, must be a common and usual event for this species.





The picture below is the view from Schloss Burg.
The area is at about 400m above sea level, and the forests are still to show significant regrowth.



Its not all winter here though, as the following blooms demonstrate.



Spring is underway in the Northern Hemisphere, and I will post more as it progresses.