It isn't only native ducks who populate the Torrens. This old vetereran exotic was sunning himself as I walked by. The most common type of exotic species is the Mallard. Their numbers are down at present, they were culled out a few years ago, but increasing again. They are certainly more aggresive than the locals, and less friendly.

...

Magpie

I photographed this female magpie (she had a grey back) hunting worms along a quiet bank of the Torrens. These are one of our more well known birds, and have a range that is almost continent wide. They have a beautiful warbling song amongst their repertoire, which is particularly beautiful on a dusty evening in the country when they gather together in a group on an old dead tree.

...

Adelaide Rosella

Adelaide Rosellas are common through spring and summer along the Torrens and in the parklands. In our previous house, they came raiding the fruit trees in mid and late summer. Here's a fairly magnificent example of the species, spotted recently at maximum zoom down the Torrens.

...

This pair of Rosellas was squabbling with a bunch of Noisy Minah birds who were trying to invade their tree.

...

The Minah birds gone, it was time to check me out a bit closer...

Adelaide Rosellas don't make your traditional 'nest'. Instead, they occupy holes in trees. This nesting hole was one I came across by accident, having seen an adult rosella enter it - which event was shortly followed by the squacking of the young within. Ten minutes later, the adult emerged.

... My presence was registered when s/he was part way out.

Rosella Tree

For interest's sake, here's the tree in which lies the nesting hole the bird above is emerging from.

...

Nearby Frontyard

There are some beautiful gardens in our neighborhood. This one, which we pass on the way to the river, is more 'formal' than most but, unusual for me given this fact, one of my favorites in the present season.

...

Happy Birthday to Me!

I had a birthday recently, held a party to celebrate. This was my chocky cake ...

...

I still had a bit of huff and puff earlier in the evening...

But it all good a bit hazy from there on in!

(That's me on the right.)

Hills at Dawn

I took these photos through the upper kitchen window at dawn on 23 September 2006 - a very enjoyable and long day for me.

...

This was a good start!

I used the flatscreen viewfinder on the camera to line this up and compose.

These photos are unaltered (except for reduction in resolution to make them more internet friendly).

Stobie Pole Dawn

Despite evidence to the contrary provided by this photo, South Australia suffers a distinct lack of tall straight trees. This made it hard for laying out electricity and phone wires, as well as street lights. A bloke called Stobie designed a substitute made of steel and concrete. They now litter our skyscape, another of Adelaide's little idiosincracies.

...