Sloughed And Ready To Roll

Today, I came upon this Shingle-back lizard enjoying the sun. It's pretending it's not there, of course!

I was really pleased to see it as the local population appears to be dropping.

This one is only half-grown.

(Click to enlarge)

Trachydosaurus rugosus

Striated Pardalote

Gouldiae recently provided very useful data about constructing nesting boxes on his blog. For Pardalotes, I've had success by using a simple Finch nest one buys from a pet shop. The "tunnel" is nothing more than a square plant tube with the end cut off. A bit of rasping to smooth the edges and a bit of a rasp inside the modified plant tube to provide a non-slip surface. Fix into position; a couple of perches and you're in business! Obviously, my method will only work in a dry environment, such as a stable, open shed or in this case, under the eaves of my verandah on the eastern side of the house.

I have used the recommended nesting boxes for Pardalotes and they didn't even look at them!

I had a very successful Pardalote nest in a stable and all I used for the tunnel was a the cardboard cylinder of a toilet roll!

The Striated Pardalote is one of my favourites. These little birds have a range of communication calls, including hissy-fits from the female when the male approaches the nest! I never tire of their presence and they are quite the acrobats.

This one is putting the finishing touches to their nest.

I must confess the photo could have been better, but the position of the sun can pose a bit of a problem (and if I had adjusted the camera settings)! :-)

(Click to enlarge)

September Fungi No. 1

Do you ever have one of those days when you and your camera are simply not working as a team? I had one of those days yesterday when I went off to investigate what fungi had emerged since the 22mm rain over the past few days. Half of those I photographed, I had to bin!

(Click images to enlarge)

Two for the price of one, here!
I don't know what the orange
one is. It could be a fruiting lichen. The hairs
around the cups are quite interesting.



Another Bird's Nest.
Crucibulum laeve again, I suspect.



I think these are Entoloma moongum.
Cap width: 2.5cm
Gill colour was whitish/mauve.
Height: 2.5cm



These, I'm sure are Poronia erici.
This species grows on herbivore dung,
particularly, macropod and wombat.
These were on kangaroo dung.
They are very small.



Another Earthstar. Geastrum triplex, I think.



The gills of one specimen belonging to
the colony below, growing on a log.

Another cup fungi. If I'm right with

my identification of Peziza thozetii,

then apparently, this cup fungus is

uncommon. They are normally found

in pine plantations.

UPDATE: (Thanks to Fungimap) This is

actually Aleurina ferruginea. I have photographed

this species previously in a different location at this

site, so it makes sense! :-)

A gilled bracket, possibly

Lentinellus aff. ursinus.

The gills of an older specimen growing

on the same log.

Don't even ask me where photos of the greenhoods I found are!! :-(

I have marked the location and will have another go later in the week. They weren't quite out, anyway.