DESKTOP 3325 - DIAMOND VALLEY VIEW

Diamond Valley is an outer suburb of Melbourne. Far enough from the City to be like being in the countryside, yet near enough to be near all the big city amenities, conveniences and services.

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme

DESKTOP 3193 - DUCK AND COOTS

This post is part of the Saturday Critters meme

DESKTOP 2820 - LUSH GRASS

Autumn and Winter in Southeastern Australia brings a greening touch to the landscape as the rains come. Grasslands and pastures are filled with lush grass and the evergreen gum trees are rejuvenated. Wattles bloom and quite a large rang of flowers bloom in both bush and gardens.

This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,
and also part of the My Corner of the World meme,
and also part of the Nature Notes meme.

DESKTOP 2771 - SUMMER'S END

This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,
and also part of the My Corner of the World meme,
and also part of the Nature Notes meme.

DESKTOP 2730 - FLOWERING RUSHES

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.

DESKTOP 2680 - SUMMER'S SIGNS

Summer has begun and the heat is now beginning to be more obvious each day that passes.

This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,
and also part of the My Corner of the World meme,
and also part of the Nature Notes meme.

DESKTOP 2677 - ON THE LAWN

 At the Darebin Parklands in suburban Melbourne.

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme.

DESKTOP 2675 - SUMMER SKY

Today was a fine, hot day in Melbourne, the mercury climbing to 34˚C; it was the hottest day since last January. Looks like our Summer has arrived!

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme.

DESKTOP 2628 - LET'S PLAY!

This post is part of the  Saturday Critters meme.

DESKTOP 2625 - GRASSLAND

 Native grasses on a hill in the Darebin Parklands, a nature reserve in suburban Melbourne.

This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,
and also part of the My Corner of the World meme,
and also part of the Nature Notes meme.

DESKTOP 2509 - CAT

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme,
and also part of the Saturday Critters meme.

DESKTOP 2477 - SEEDY

This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,
and also part of the My Corner of the World meme,
and also part of the Nature Notes meme.

DESKTOP 2431 - PIGLET

This post is part of the Saturday Critters meme.

DESKTOP 2400 - YARRA BEND PARK

Yarra Bend Park has been one of Melbourne’s largest expanses of inner suburban parkland for nearly 150 years. Yarra Bend Park and neighbouring Studley Park were reserved in 1877. Both park areas and several reserves were combined in 1929 to create one large park. The combined area became known as Yarra Bend National Park despite never being raised to formal national park status.

During the 1930’s additions included picnic and sporting grounds, toilet facilities and a public golf course. The Park provides a great open space for walking, bike riding, riverside cafes, golf, boating, BBQs, picnicking and a host of other leisure activities. Numerous winding paths provide plenty of opportunity for leisurely promenades in the natural serene surrounds of the park.

This post is part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,

and also part of the My Corner of the World meme.

DESKTOP 2353 - SUMMER SKY

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme.

DESKTOP 2296 - CLOUDY

The unseasonably cool and wet weather continues in Melbourne and our skies remain grey and cloudy.

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme.

DESKTOP 2160 - BENCHES

A superimposition of three different images of the same location, with the one bench acquiring a phantom twin, materialising from some other dimension perhaps?

This post is part of the Mosaic Monday meme,
and also part of the Seasons meme,

and also part of the Blue Monday meme.

DESKTOP 2068 - MAGPIE ON ROCKS

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme,
and also part of the Photo Sunday meme.

DESKTOP 2011 - MAGPIE

The Australian magpie (Cracticus tibicen) is a medium-sized black and white passerine bird native to Australia and southern New Guinea. Although once considered to be three separate species, it is now considered to be one, with nine recognised subspecies. A member of the Artamidae, the Australian magpie is classified in the butcherbird genus Cracticus and is most closely related to the black butcherbird (C. quoyi). It is not, however, related to the European magpie, which is a corvid.

The adult Australian magpie is a fairly robust bird ranging from 37 to 43 cm in length, with distinctive black and white plumage, gold brown eyes and a solid wedge-shaped bluish-white and black bill. The male and female are similar in appearance, and can be distinguished by differences in back markings.The male has pure white feathers on the back of the head and the female has white blending to grey feathers on the back of the head. With its long legs, the Australian magpie walks rather than waddles or hops and spends much time on the ground.

Described as one of Australia's most accomplished songbirds, the Australian magpie has an array of complex vocalisations. It is omnivorous, with the bulk of its varied diet made up of invertebrates. It is generally sedentary and territorial throughout its range. Common and widespread, it has adapted well to human habitation and is a familiar bird of parks, gardens and farmland in Australia and New Guinea. This species is commonly fed by households around the country, but in spring a small minority of breeding magpies (almost always males) become aggressive and swoop and attack those who approach their nests.

Magpies were introduced into New Zealand in the 1860s but have subsequently been accused of displacing native birds and are now treated as a pest species. Introductions also occurred in the Solomon Islands and Fiji, where the birds are not considered an invasive species. The Australian magpie is the mascot of several Australian sporting teams, most notably the Collingwood Magpies and Port Adelaide Magpies.

There are several names given to a group of magpies, but perhaps the most descriptive is “a parliament.” The birds have earned this title as a result of their often appearing in large groups in the Spring, looking stately and cawing at each other - rather like politicians really...

This post is part of the Saturday Critters meme,

and also part of the Camera Critters meme.

HAPPY DOG

This post is part of the Saturday Critters meme,
and also part of the Camera Critters meme.