A topsy-turvy month at Red Mill House in December.
Unexpected surgery meant cancelling guests and taking time off, which was rather nice in it’s own way - -.
A hot and dry December made it hard for wildlife. Lots of birds attracted to water baths and feeders, lots of fruit and insects about, but generally difficult conditions all round for the birds and the visitors. The Little and Azure Kingfishers are hidden away in the mangroves nesting, Great-billed Heron difficult to locate at times, Papuan Frogmouth and Wompoo Fruit-Dove chicks have fledged,Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher settled in their nests and not calling - all of this in preparation for the oncoming wet season.
Heaps of Magpie Geese feeding in the fields, heaps of Rainbow Lorikeets getting tipsy on the nectar of the Umbrella Trees, heaps of Figbirds enjoying the Terminalia fruit and heaps of Channel-billed Cuckoos enjoying the rainforest fruits.
Australian Figbird
Magpie-Goose
The best thing about this time of year is the frogs!
The rains have started in the past few days (5 inches in 3 days) and the frogs have gone crazy!! Giant White-lipped Green Tree Frogs (Litoria infrafrenata), Litoria Rubella, Litoria Leseuri, Litoria Rothii and others, all calling madly - some in the house, some in the pond, some in the garden.
It is great fun showing guests our frogs.
Giant White-lipped Green Tree-frog
Litoria Lesueri
