Fur, Feathers, Flowers And More #11

The Winter Solstice is behind us; longer warmer days beckon.

Friends measuring output of their solar panels are laughing ruefully about how insipid has been the recent solar radiation.

Bleak days indeed.

The plants in the small FofEV nursery have bemoaned the lack of sunshine to fuel their chlorophyll-based energy system - pale leaves, and barely putting on growth.

Better days are ahead. Warmer days. Brighter days.

Bird of the Week

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

Such robust birds.

Sulphur-Crested Cockatoos give the impression of being muscular  body-builders of the bird world.

On the ground their waddling gait is comical - rocking from side to side as they walk.

Very sociable within their own flock, quite tolerant of other cockatoo species and popular as long-lived pets.

One of my childhood friends had a pet cockie that was known to be over 80 years old, having been in the family since his greatgrandfather was a boy.

How impressive is that sulphur crest when erected, how bright their eye, how raucous their alarm call.

Beast of the Week

Red Fox

We have foxes enjoying suburban living here in Eaglemont.

High property values and high rents do not deter them from taking up residence.

As an introduced species foxes get very bad press.

Being nocturnal and mostly solitary they are not often seen, but an estimated 16 foxes per hectare roam Melbourne's suburbs.

That is more than 1 per housing block!

Mischief includes taking shoes and thongs (the feet type) from doorsteps.

Botanical Beauty of the Week

Hakea petiolaris

We have several hakea species growing along the rail corridor.

The most obvious (and older) specimens are some Pin Cushion Hakeas - Hakea laurina. These have been in flower along Alandale Road recently.

Closely resembling these is the Sea Urchin Hakea - Hakea petiolaris.

Significant differences are the broad leaves on petiolaris compared to laurina's strappy leaves, and the petiolaris flower balls tend to pink rather than the red of laurina.