October Nature Study in Australia

Last weekend we went on a bush walk and saw an echidna out in the open. Usually we hear them before we see them but this one was in the middle of a path through some bush. The varied gold, brown tones of its spikes were in their full glory so it took me some seconds to realise what it was. I’d never seen one with the light of the sun shining on it. We weren’t quick enough to get better photo before it moved to the shelter of a tree stump but here it is trying to hide from us:

Echidna

Australian native bottlebrush

Little Wattlebird – I finally caught one on camera! They’ve been frequent visitors to our garden in the past year but I took this one near where my older daughter lives.

In the garden the Azaleas are in flower, the Camellia Japonicas have finished flowering and the Camellia Sasanqua’s are about to begin.

Today’s nature outing and driving lesson took us to a reserve about 30 minutes away and we spent some time watching these beauties – Australian Wood Ducks!

Miss 16’s Nature Notebook
My attempt at duck drawing

I bought this book by John Muir Laws in 2016, not really sure if we’d get much use out of it, but there are many general topics that apply wherever you live – what equipment to have on hand, drawing instruction, using different media, how to draw animals, wildflowers, trees and landscapes. A great book for budding naturalists and long time amateurs like me.

Miss M’s first attempt in a long time to draw/paint a horse.

12 thoughts on “October Nature Study in Australia

  1. I loved my “walk” through the Australian Bush with you. One day, maybe I can get over there. Australia (and Antarctica) are the only continents I haven’t visited. I just wanted to grab a baby duckling and hug it to my chest.

    And that horse!! I mean, it’s not just that it’s well done, but she has captured so much power and expression through her use of perspective and colors.

    Really excellent, Ms. 16!!

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  2. Spitfires were the bane of my childhood on the Central Coast, dropping suddenly from trees, curled up in piles on park seats and the benches we ate our lunches on at school. Ugh!! I know they have a role to play in a healthy ecosystem, but I’d not much rather spot an echidna!

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