MY WORLD and World Bird Wednesday - A Mindful Walk

On our last trip to the Australian Alps we stopped at a lookout.

While the Prof. shot the view, I went into the bush where there

were rustlings and twitterings. I spied a few of our tiny red-

breasted robins, probably a Flame Robin; this one almost

sat still and lots of, even smaller, blue wrens flitting about

in dark, shady place.

This is the meandering path I followed for a little, stopping,

listening and hoping to get a clear shot at some warm blooded

creature.

Although I kept my eyes peeled, I did not spot this little,

probably tree-creeper, I need Stewart M to set me right,

about 20 feet up a Eucalyptus regnans. He was working his

way up the tree, hanging on with his tiny claws and seeking

out some protein under the loose bark.

PS as you can see from my comments, Stewart M has kindly

identified my cute little tree-creeper as the Red-browed Tree-creeper,

Climacteris erythrops. Where would I be without him?

The large trees here were a mixture of Eucalyptus regnans

or Mountain Ash, and Stringybarks, also a Eucalyptus but

since there are so many of them, I could not tell which one.

Our mountain trees grow at different altitudes and this was

obviously a transition area.

The Stringybark was bleeding and I was surprised to see that

it's sap was water-soluble. Where it is black, it is rain washed,

the bright red was crisp but a little tacky due to the light drizzle.

I collected a sample to take home as it is useful as dye on paper.

Apart from that, how could one resist that gleaming red!

The Prof was anxious to move on so . . . oh yes, There was

also a view but I much preferred it through the trees rather

than naked from the lookout.

All photos enlarge as always.

Thanks to the sponsors of both memes for the opportunity of sharing my post.