Monday, June 20, 2011

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.

36 comments:

  1. Beautiful shots of the birds and trees that I've never seen. You and yours sound like me and mine. My hubby stays on the track, normally with binoculars while I creep through the bush in search of the elusive birds and other creatures. Blessings, Jo

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  2. You and hubby sound like the perfect compliment. Mike usually wanders in and out of my lens view. I've never seen a tree bleed like that. I'll bet it will make interesting dye.

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  3. interesting sap. very brightly colored. :)

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  4. Wonderful shots as always, Arija! Sounds as though you both had a good day! I've never seen a tree bleed like that either, very interesting! Hope your week is off to a great start!

    Sylvia

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  5. Beautiful shots - I would love to see the colour you made on material with that red dye.

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  6. Oh wow! The tree sap looks like strawberry jelly! You are so brave. I am often afraid of touching nature because I envision myself highly allergic to these things and then I have an anaphylactic shock in the middle of the forest and pass out then wild animals will maul my body and the vulture will peck on my eyes. That is why I never go into the forest alone. But then again only I will compare weird looking things to food! My other choice is to compare them to human anatomy and this one looks just like serosanguinous curdled drainage. See why I am not a good nature photographer? I get sidetracked. Funny thing though. I also do the same with food.

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  7. Just what I'd have done too! Beautiful area and such interesting pictures!

    Arija, I'd be delighted if you check out my latest post. I've uploaded a video of my nephew singing.:)

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  8. Love the photos. What fun it was going on this walk with you. Thanks for sharing.

    Have a great day today!

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  9. Beautiful shots from your part of the world. I'm always fascinated to see the robins in different places since they are so different from the American Robins.

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  10. That syrupy stuff is new to me. So, in fact, is all you have here. What a great place. Thanks for taking us to your Alps!

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  11. Wonderful tour!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River. Canada.

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  12. Beautiful post. I am amazed how red the three sap are and I really like the last picture!

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  13. Nice shots, there's so much to see in the trees.

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  14. Very interesting post Arija. So much to see in your world, and it's almost like being there with you.
    We're home and back to the "old grind".
    B.

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  15. it looks like you had a wonderful time. I loved seeing your journey through your photos.

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  16. Hi there - thanks for the name check.

    Have to say I think you’re on the money with Tree Creeper. The picture does not show the chest area which would have helped. ;)

    Can’t pick up a pale eyebrow of any sort, so not Brown Tree Creeper - I think there's a hint of red in the picture which may be make it Red - Crowned, but that’s less common than White Throated. At this point I give up, before I make a fool of myself (assuming it’s not already happened)!

    Cheers Stewart M

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  17. you sure have really good eye to capture those birds among the thick foliage and the trees. very interesting post!

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  18. Thanks for the wonderful walk in the Austra
    Ian forest and for showing the birds.

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  19. What a fantastic place to explore.
    And the tree sap colour is amazing.

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  20. A lovely post to read as I keep being reminded how beautiful and diverse this planet is.
    Many thanks for sharing.

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  21. A Mindful Walk. What a title for this immaculate post. Now, if I can just get my Suzanne to call me "Professor"(I'm assuming from Prof) and not laugh while doing it!

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  22. Nice captures of birds and scenery! The "bleeding" tree is interesting.

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  23. It sounds like a beautiful place. I always find it challenging to see small birds in among the trees! Hear them- Yes! See them - seldom!

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  24. What a terrific walk you had!

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  25. Well, here's how poor my geography is, I didn't realize there was a mountainous region called the Australian Alps over there. Thanks for enlightening me Arija. I have really enjoyed this lovely series of photographs.

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  26. Came via reader wil's site to answer your interest of the wizard of Christchurch.

    This is my second comment.


    Once, we had a party, he came uninvited with a friend who was invited. he didn't dress as the wizard, Just a very smart man in a business suit.

    No, I didn't go and talk to him, I didn't want to embarass him. He has a masters in sociology. He was wearing a suit, and his long hair was brushed to the back, so you can't tell that he was the wizard. My daughter listened to him and says he was very clever.

    I didn't listen to him because I can't get over him coming to my house unvited, and every time, we have a census, he takes a group of his followers in a boat so they don't have to be counted.
    Of course, the police will wait the next morning to get them to be counted.
    He lost credibility when he "ran" away after the earth quake.

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  27. Those are nice birds and what a strange tree. It is always interesting to creep through the brush to see what you can rustle up. Great blog.

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  28. Interesting birds and very pretty scenes. The image of the sap is amazing.

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  29. Beautiful shots! I love your spectacular view through the trees!

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  30. you found some interesting things on your walk. Love it. :)

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  31. Wonderful place to explore. How interesting about the red sap being used to dye paper!

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  32. Excellent walk--love the creeper!! and that red sap was really cool too...Such a brillant color!

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  33. That is one heck of an amazingly beautiful place!
    I love that forest, the trees, the view, wow!
    And of course the birdies :D

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  34. Thanks for a delightful look into the Australian Alps Arija. I am sorely in need of a trip away, but can never get my travel longings in sync with the school holidays when husband and I are free. This morning on the way to school,I heard the call of the soft and drizzly Mornington Peninsula.
    I apppreciate you sharing such interesting holiday photos to many familiar places - thank-you!
    ( Hardened red tree sap, particulary that of the almond trees of my childhood, has given me a life-long love of amber!) Lovely colours in that particular photo!

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  35. Wow..35 comments and I am lucky to get a few..You are much loved and deservedly so Arija..hugs...

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