Monday, October 6, 2014

More Backyard Sights

The 'net is a wonderful invention - it sends text, photos, sounds, and video - but so far! - no smells. So please use your imagination on this post.
These Banksia roses have been blooming outside my kitchen window for a few weeks. There are some dead blooms but plenty more buds still to come out. The perfume is delightful - especially in the early morning and late afternoon.

Down the back corner of the yard I have citrus trees planted. This tree is a very large one - a Pomelo (citrus maxima) - and in full blossom right now. Pomelos are the largest of all citrus fruit - 15-25cms in diameter(5.9-9.8 inches) and weighing 1-2 kms (2.2-4.4 lbs). The fruit is usually a white color and tastes like a mild sweet grapefruit but without any of the bitterness of a grapefruit. It was originally grown in southern and south-eastern Asia.  I love the smell of citrus blossoms and so do the bees!

Next to the Pomelo tree is a Macadamia Tree. The flowers smell like very sweet honey and are attracting bees and bugs of all kinds. Macadamias used to be called Queensland Nuts and were originally from Australia. Macadamias were planted as a commercial crop in Hawaii from the 1920s and are now grown in a number of places around the world.

Occasionally rather unusual birds come through my backyard. I am lucky if I am around to see them but this time it was easy! A couple of little Willy Wagtails were making a big fuss and scolding something that had come too close. When I went out to see I found this Pheasant Coucal (Centropus phasianinus).  This is only the third time I have seen this bird in my area - or at least around town. The photos are not good! They were taken against the sun and then in deep shade under some palms. Although the Coucal is classed as a cuckoo it does not have the nasty habit of nest parasitism but builds a nest for itself in long grass. It is usually seen running across the ground and when it does fly it almost seems too heavy to get up!

For more scenery from around the world visit Our World Tuesday

and for more birds visit Wild Bird Wednesday.

27 comments:

  1. The feathers of the bird is very pretty! Oh my goodness, is that where the Macademia nut comes from? It's my favorite nut.
    Thanks for commenting on my blog post.

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  2. i COULD almost smell the blooms - the insect activity confirmed the smell is heavenly! what an awesome bird!!! very exotic!

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  3. Awesome captures for the day, Mick, as always!! I do love Macademia nuts!!! And the bird is SO beautiful! Thanks for sharing! Have a great week!

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  4. How fortunate you are to have such a scented garden.

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  5. The Pheasant Coucal have strikingly good looks. Lucky you to have the Banksia just outside your door!

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  6. At the first sentence I thought you were going to show a stinky flower like that one I posted a while ago. But instead for this post we all wish we DID have smell-o-vision! These are such beautiful flowers every one ... and no wonder the bees love your yard. I do know from Florida how beautifully orange blossoms scent the air and I can only imagine that the pomelo would even be better. And could anything be more better than enjoying that beautiful macadamia tree in its flowering stage and looking forward to your crop!

    Love that bird -- a beautiful cuckoo with none of the bad habits of its cousin.

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  7. I wish I could smell the blossoms, sounds lovely and the are so pretty. The bird is cool, I like their pretty markings. Great post, thanks for sharing.. Have a happy week!

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  8. Absolutely gorgeous nature photography of the beautiful scented flowers and the bird! Delightful!

    artmusedog and carol (A Creative Harbor)

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  9. Such lovely scenery and shots.

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  10. cool name of that bird. Pheasant Coucal! "pheasant" was the first that came to my mind when I saw the image.

    Glad you liked the first day in Q that I posted . :)

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  11. gorgeous flowers Nick… I do hope you will share with I Heart Macro too:-)

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  12. I've never seen a bird like that. Thanks :)

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  13. Wonderful images... we are going into Autumn here now.

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  14. WOW! This is a wonderful bird to find in your garden. great shot of it and I love your flowers on your different trees

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  15. I love all your flowers and your visitor was very interesting.

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  16. Stunning photos and a wonderful bird.

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  17. Wow, what an incredible view you have! Gorgeous, and love the bird photos.

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  18. Beautiful flora shots, love the blue skies! Neat looking pheasant Mick!

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  19. A wonderful and very unusual type of pheasant! Good shots of him! Love the beautiful flowers....oh, yes, I wish I could smell them. I bet they are heavenly!

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  20. Oh WOW! Incredibly beautiful photos Mick....Amazing....:)

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  21. Beautiful bird - love the markings!!

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  22. The Coucal is an unusual-looking bird. Its feathers are beautiful. The pomelo fruit sounds heavenly.

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  23. WOW, what a gorgeous bird, all of the shares are wonderful, but this is one great looking bird!!!

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  24. A lovely set of shots.

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  25. Am on a stint to get back to all the ones who commented on my blog (but I was too exhausted then, since we just moved). Wow, flowers from both the pomelo and macademia tree are beautiful (is that there the macademia nut is coming from? My favorite peanut, by the way).

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