If it walks on water like a holy duck, and is only there like half a duck, then it must be half of a holy duck.

Anthocaera carunculata, or the Red Wattle bird, is a species of large, noisy honey eater found throughout southern Australia.  This particular cheeky specimen was down for a drink from the birdbath while I was photographing flowers in the garden.  Certainly not shy, they tend to chatter and crow all day, with noises ranging from clucking sounds, to squawks and songs.

A very relaxed pelican floats gently upstream through the creek behind Toogoom, QLD.

A Black-Winged stilt ponders infinity on the shores of Lake Monger.

Two watchful seagulls survey the late afternoon crowd of water birds on the shore of Lake Monger.

Golden late afternoon light cascades onto the shore of Lake Monger.

Toogoom, QLD.

And with that, I have returned!  With a bit of luck, it will be for a while too.

The above image is of (part of) the beautiful Hotel Shamrock in Bendigo.  The architecture of this building is exquisite, right down the the coloured tiles beneath the window sills.  It’s great to see a country town maintaining a pub like this and not to see it adorned with garish large modern billboard advertising for mid strength beers.

This fine specimen was more than happy to pose for me in the yard of Ford House in Bridgetown.  Even without getting snappy!