Questions for our Australian members

[Jos]

My job brought me to Australia this time, Gladstone QLD to be exact.
During the weekends I'm enjoying the nature around here.

All species of plants, trees and animals are "different" than in Europe, so I've got a couple of questions:

1. Spotted this fella walking along the road (it flew of after I took this pic):

Can anybody tell me which bird this is?

2. Up in the trees, there's some "balls" of mud. Are they bird's nests? Ants nests? (they're too high to reach so I can't really see what's inside)

3. What is this plant/tree called? (I saw something similar in Ghana, Africa)

That's it for now, more questions will follow as I explore further!

Kind regards,

Jos

 

[SouthernCross]

G'day Jos

The bird looks like a Bustard.

The nest looks like a wasps nest.

The tree looks like a paperbark tree in flower (melalucca spp).



Kind regards
Mick

 

[Jos]

Thanks Mick.

Wasps nest, didn't think about that. Don't see any wasps though, but that's maybe because it's winter?

Kind regards,

Jos

 

[Jos]

Saw some more plants/trees I couldn't identify:

These pics were taken at "Round Hill Head", close to the "Town of 1770" where captain Cook first landed in Queensland.

1. nice purple flowers, grows close to the sea:

2. yellow flowers:

3. flowering tree?

4. more yellow flowers:

5. even more yellow flowers:

6. berries?

7. red berry?

Oh, and another question: does anybody know a good book for identifying Australian trees?

Kind regards,

Jos

 

[Mack]

The bird is a Crane. Most likely a Brolga Crane. As to the plants, I dunno.

 

[SouthernCross]

G'day Jos

1. Pig face (Carpobrotus spp)

Fruits which are most often red (see below) are edible raw. The leaves are more palatable if boiled first.

2. I'm not certain of the main plant shown. Does the rounded leaves have a very small warty texture on their surface?

The less obvious plant with the spiny margin of its leaves in the center of the pic is a common sowthistle (Sonchus oleraceus) (see below). It will produce yellow flowers that look like a dandelion and have a hollow stem that oozes milky sap when broken. The leaves are edible raw (younger ones are better tasting).

3. A golden Banksia (Banksia spp)
These flowers are loaded with sweet nectar (especially first thing in the morning before the nectar feeding birds have visited). You can suck it directly from the flower, or dunk the flower in a cup of water for a sweet & refreshing drink (its good )

4 & 5. I've seen 4 before but can't name it. I don't think its a native though.

6 & 7. Sorry I can't help with these either.

Since you are virtually tropical there, your better off looking for a book that describes the Flora of Queensland (maybe a google search will turn up some useful suggestions).


BTW Jos, have you had a chance to have a look at the pics from the Daintree area?



Kind regards
Mick

 

[Jos]

Thanks for your help Mick.:thumbup:

BTW Jos, have you had a chance to have a look at the pics from the Daintree area?

I sure looked at those pics! Nice fish you caught!

Kind regards,

Jos