Orchid royalty: the eastern Queen of Sheba, Thelymitra speciosa. — Orchid royalty: the eastern Queen of Sheba, Thelymitra speciosa.

Our pilgrimage to see the Queen

September 19, 2017

For many orchid enthusiasts, hunters, and photographers, it is something of a pilgrimage to go and see the Queen of Sheba in the wild. And its easy to see why. These spectacular orchids have the most vivid, eye-watering shades of purples, reds and yellows that come together in the most harmonious and unique way. Each individual has a slightly different combination of colours and spots.

A male Western Spinebill pauses on a scarlet Banksia flower.

A new Banksia: the scarlet Banksia

September 12, 2017

It is entirely possible that each time I go to WA I will come back with a new favourite Banksia. This August, Ali and I discovered the gaudy, eye-watering colours of Banksia coccinea, the aptly named scarlet Banksia.

A pair of bird orchids backlit by the setting sun [Pterostylis barbata]. — A pair of bird orchids backlit by the setting sun [Pterostylis barbata].

Fieldwork: a visual tour of WA greenhoods

September 5, 2017

Ali and I are just back from a month-long field trip to the Perth region, Ali having come along to help out as a field assistant. What a lovely place to spend the start of spring! What's more, we've got back to Canberra and its still winter, so its like we'll have two springs...

The famous Eucalyptus macrocarpa, meaning 'big fruit' in Latin.

Odds and ends

August 9, 2017

Its been a while since my last blog post. Almost a month, in fact. I think I've been waiting for a theme or an idea to explore, but in the meantime I've been accumulating plenty of images that I want to share. So, a blog post with odds and ends from here (mostly Perth) and there (one from Canberra), all taken over the last month or so. Ming Thein calls these kinds of posts 'singles' on his thought-provoking blog.

Banksia up close: a post-script

July 11, 2017

A month or two ago I wrote a blog post about how beautiful Banksias are. Last month I was in Perth doing fieldwork and saw some even more beautiful Banksias. I just had to write another blog post about my new favourite plant, Banksia menziesii.

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The view from the kitchen window this morning. Nature photography is a little different in 2020!
#smoke #fires #climatechange #canberra

The view from the kitchen window this morning. Nature photography is a little different in 2020! #smoke #fires #climatechange #canberra

Those who’ve seen Rufous Bristlebirds know that they’re simply the best. Such characters.

Those who’ve seen Rufous Bristlebirds know that they’re simply the best. Such characters.

I was recently asked to provide images of Red-kneed Dotterels for a sign at Jerrabomberra, and I had to go off digging in my old hard drives from way back in 2011. I’d forgotten that I’d spent a magical afternoon at Calperum Station with

I was recently asked to provide images of Red-kneed Dotterels for a sign at Jerrabomberra, and I had to go off digging in my old hard drives from way back in 2011. I’d forgotten that I’d spent a magical afternoon at Calperum Station with Red-kneed Dotterels coming almost within touching distance in beautiful sunset light. At the time I was out with @hoops.daniel helping him catch dragons near Renmark in South Australia for his PhD. . . #redkneeddotterel #southaustralia #australianbirds #ausgeo #canonaustralia #plover #birdsofinstagram #birdphotography #bird_brilliance

The lowly greenhood is quite an incredible orchid. It grows in central northern Victoria and flowers in November-December at a time when most other orchids in the area have died off for the season.
It grows on soil which is baked hard by the hot sun

The lowly greenhood is quite an incredible orchid. It grows in central northern Victoria and flowers in November-December at a time when most other orchids in the area have died off for the season. It grows on soil which is baked hard by the hot sun and seems an inhospitable place for a delicate little orchid to be growing. Plus, it is rare and just looks damn cool! . . #australiannativeorchids #australiannativeplants #pterostylis #pterostylisdespectans #summer #orchids #ausgeo #canonaus #macro_secrets #zeiss100mmf2

The Campbell Albatross is the celebrity of seabird world. Well dressed, perfectly drawn eyeliner, audacious lipstick. Always ready for a night out on the ocean.
#noeyelinerneeded #iwokeuplikethis #seabirdcelebrity #albatross #campbellalbatross #wild

The Campbell Albatross is the celebrity of seabird world. Well dressed, perfectly drawn eyeliner, audacious lipstick. Always ready for a night out on the ocean. #noeyelinerneeded #iwokeuplikethis #seabirdcelebrity #albatross #campbellalbatross #wildlifephotography #canonaustralia #annateenlyf

Sun. Orchid. Explosion! I remember this scene, 5 years ago I found this spotted sun orchid in beautiful Bush at Royal National Park. The last golden rays of the sun were hitting the back of the flower causing the most magnificent explosion of pinks a

Sun. Orchid. Explosion! I remember this scene, 5 years ago I found this spotted sun orchid in beautiful Bush at Royal National Park. The last golden rays of the sun were hitting the back of the flower causing the most magnificent explosion of pinks and purples and yellows. . . #australiannativeorchids #australiannativeplants #sunorchid #thelymitraixioides #sun #orchids #macro_secrets #canonaustralia

So happy for the #hoiho to win NZ Bird of the Year, the first seabird to win. I feel incredibly privileged to have seen these gorgeous penguins on Enderby Island in the sub-Antarctics.
#yelloweyedpenguin #forestandbird #enderbyisland #birdoftheyear2

So happy for the #hoiho to win NZ Bird of the Year, the first seabird to win. I feel incredibly privileged to have seen these gorgeous penguins on Enderby Island in the sub-Antarctics. #yelloweyedpenguin #forestandbird #enderbyisland #birdoftheyear2019 #penguin #subantarctic #seabird

A little bit tongue-in-cheek 😛
I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of how weird these plumed greenhoods are. The densely hairy labellum is probably involved in pollinator attraction somehow but exactly how is unclear. There is some sugges

A little bit tongue-in-cheek 😛 I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of how weird these plumed greenhoods are. The densely hairy labellum is probably involved in pollinator attraction somehow but exactly how is unclear. There is some suggestion dagger flies are involved in pollination (including a great set of photos by Rudie Kuiter) but evidence is still scarce. . . #australiannativeorchids #pterostylis #greenhood #ausgeo #orchid #australiannativeplants #macro_secrets #zeiss100mmf2