Bullfrog …
Croaking … Gotta call him a bull, just look at that face. And his call is definitely a croaking, and loud.
In my backyard, a garden safari. Even a little smile, at the corner of his lips.
You don’t get much closer than this to a frog. *Click on the pictures to open them in a new tab, on desktop is best.
There’s a house being built behind me, for a good while now. And in the process it seems one or more of these giant green tree frogs has moved in.
Even from 300m he, or she, can be clearly heard. If the builders ever move in they will know they have a close and noisy neighbour.
The other night, after it had rained for a few days, the croaking began in earnest. Then there was another from a distance, and another nearby.
I was out with the torch at some point and one was only 10m away, silent. A little later I tracked it to my makeshift frog pond – where it stayed for a few days.
After a few days the big frog was gone from my pond and the croaking stopped.
They must have found each other.
My pied magpie, hangs around my backyard. Likes to join in whatever I’m doing, might get fed.
Might not …
The male of a pair of ducks that pass by regularly in their constant search for food on this acreage property.
Calendula, lovely yellow …
And she who must be fed. He is always getting out of her way when there’s food to be had. She might have babies on the way.
Pretty little thing …
A contrary view. Upside down pelican. Sees things differently.
While out one night I almost stepped on this beauty. About five feet long, as soon as she noticed me she pulled back. We gave each other space enough.
Orange tail resin bee. I’ve had the same hotels for years, moved house four times in last five, and after two of them the bees returned – if they had ever left. Did they wait for the right conditions to be born?
Putting the finishing touches to the nest site. After sealing it with resin she camouflaged it with sandy clay or mud.
© Mark Berkery … Click on those pictures for a closer look …
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A Few Birds …
A pair of ducks live nearby. They have it easy on the acreage around here. We all have it so, as far as having nature goes. Nice to see some ducks. … In Norse mythology ducks were symbolic guides that could travel between earth and other dimensions
The Welcome Swallow. Because they welcome in the springtime after a cold dark winter – where they have those. Sitting on a post by the jetty on the sea nearby. … In ancient maritime folklore when a swallow was spotted, it meant the end of journey was near. The swallow was valued as a sign of safe return home.
Kookie, or Kookaburra, king of the fishers. Proud, intelligent, with a quiet no problem kind of nature. Was given the job by the gods, of heralding in the sunrise every morning with their laugh. Way to start the day. … In some Aboriginal cultures, seeing a kookaburra is considered good luck, and its laughter during the day can signal rain.
In the garden, down by the sea, and wherever else they show up. I’ll take a pic or two, or three.
On FB I was recently challenged to substantiate the notion that birds are messengers of the gods, in any culture.
It wasn’t hard to find examples, but don’t we just have to see with different eyes, unconstrained by too much thought.
There’s lots of storytelling around the virtues of birds. This is what google told me, Click this – Birds As Messengers Of The Gods
I particularly liked the telling of the myth of Garuda – who stole the nectar of the gods to save his mum, and other impossible tasks.
And so on, the tales are many, and some still to be told.
© Mark Berkery … Click on those pictures for a closer look …
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Nature's Place 
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