Feeding the gulls at Sandgate

Feeding the gulls at Sandgate
Originally uploaded by Royjackward.

Silver Gulls brighten-up an overcast day at Sandgate Beach.

Dogs not allowed, but beetles is OK

Dogs not allowed, but beetles is OK
Originally uploaded by Royjackward.

Organised this little beetle inanity to impress my Grandson. Why else would you ride a giant beetle through the shopping mall?

Little Black Cormorant

Little Black Cormorant
Originally uploaded by Royjackward.

Photographed at the Brisbane Botanical Gardens. Notice the blue around the eyes and the way each bird has bent the foot that is in the shade to keep it cooler. I didn't notice the large black thing behind the rock at the time, and I haven't got the faintest idea what it is. Looks sinister though.

Fly portrait

CRW_7918 Fly portrait
Originally uploaded by Royjackward.

These flys have a nasty bite, but they do have lovely green eyes.

Australian Reed warbler

Australian Reed warbler
Originally uploaded by Royjackward.

Here is the photograph I took a year ago at the Port of Brisbane (see the note in the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper below).

Sharp-tailed Sandpipers at Port of Brisbane

Sharp-tailed Sandpipers at Port of Brisbane
Originally uploaded by Royjackward.

Went to the Port of Brisbane Visitors' Centre to try and get a better photograph of a Reed Warbler singing. I took one a year ago but the resoltion wasn't that good as I had to photograph through the window of the restaurant. Unfortunately the Port of Brisbane has been altering the restaurant and the reed bed that I could see from the window has been removed in the process.
There were lots of Reed Warblers singing in the long grass around the lake but they weren't visable.
In the end I gave-up and got the key for the bird hide at the lagoon where I photographed these little guys.

My pet beetle

My pet beetle
Originally uploaded by Royjackward.
Growing very rapidly on a diet of fruit, my beetle doesn't seem to want to leave. He/she is very strong and I need a stout chain to restrain it when going for a walk. Hope he doesn't get much larger as feeding him is quite expensive.