dparis

Mini mantid

admin — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 22:51:10 +0000

This little mantid appears to be calling my courtyard home for now. I’ve seen him on the laundry drying on the line and when he spots me, he usually jumps / floats to the ground—an amazing feat for a creature barely a centimeter long.

Starbuck 1995–2011

admin — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 21:57:02 +0000

Sixteen years, six cities, four states, two countries, two continents—one great dog. I miss you baby boy. Today Starbuck returned home to the woods on the Canal. In our final walk together he found me a new bird, the American Dipper. A bit ironic considering he hated water.

Snipe hunt with little (r)egret

admin — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 11:06:05 +0000

I headed to Koona Bay to spot the recently sighted Latham’s and Painted Snipe, but I dipped. However, I did see a Little Egret and Marsh Sandpiper.

Slug, bug double dare

admin — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 23:15:48 +0000

It’s spring, the critters are getting adventurous, and I think there’s a bit of double dog daring going on in the insect and mollusc world with ladybugs on citronella candles and slugs on salt jars.

A year and a half later—it’s finished

admin — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:48:28 +0000

Fifty zip ties, 35 embroidery hoops, 30 birds, and 25 meters of fabric—all for a crazy art project. It’s finally complete and hanging on the wall.

Birding from a boat

admin — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 04:21:38 +0000

Recently, I went on my first pelagic tour to the continental shelf off Wollongong, NSW. I quickly followed it up with a second tour. I’ve seen 16 new species and have held an Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross in my lap!

The desert for dessert

admin — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 06:07:11 +0000

After completing my third ornithology subject, I packed my bags and headed to the far northwest corner of NSW for nearly 3 weeks with my fellow birding and ecology students. I saw 57 new birds, including the Grey Falcon, and 11 species of mistletoe.

Birding FNQ

admin — Fri, 13 May 2011 06:17:57 +0000

Far North Queensland, one of the greatest birding locations in Australia, was our latest holiday destination. While we avoided the big deadlies (crocs and jellyfish), dealt with the merely annoyings (mossies and leaches), we failed to see the fabled Southern Cassowary (very wary indeed). However, I did see 53 new species and managed a handful of good photos.Forest Kingfisher Double-eyed Fig-parrot, male Double-eyed Fig-parrot, female Olive-backed Sunbird, male Olive-backed Sunbird

Res school redux

admin — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 22:16:15 +0000

I spent the past four days in and around Albury for the residential school portion of my latest ornithology course. While class is 9 to 5, we always manage to squeeze in a bit of birding. I saw four new birds and the robins were really showing.Scarlet Robin

Falling for autumn

admin — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 08:18:34 +0000

Blue skies and a hint of crispness to the air drew me out to Scheyville NP. I saw my first Speckled Warbler and took my first decent photos of a Double-barred Finch and Rufous Fantail. Above all, the birds were very active and highly entertaining.