Expecting rain

The forecast is for rain and we will be thankful if we get a reasonable fall, however looking at the forecast on a website is not the only indicator that rain is on the way. We have lots of ants coming inside the house, looking to build their larder supply and I noticed a couple of Striped Marsh Frogs sitting next to the ponds ready to start calling when the rain starts. 

Mating will be their main interest and the right conditions for the tadpoles to grow. Until now we have not seen many frogs this season due to the very dry summer but looks like we are about to see a move to wetter conditions.

Not much olive

We had a visit from a pair of young Olive-backed Orioles and they had me a bit confused as to their identity for awhile as they don't have the adult plumage, eye colour or beak colour. 

After a bit of checking it seems that they do not develop the adult plumage for about a year.

 

No respect

The hot dry weather continues and the bird bath is a magnet for our garden visitors to have a drink, a splash or a full-on bath.
One visitor this evening came down to check the scene before having a dip and showed no respect for the bronze frog by perching right on its mouth.

Yellow Robins are cheeky little guys flitting here and there always on the lookout for a tasty little insect.

Family visit to the waterhole

A forecast cool change and hopefully a shower of rain has yet to arrive and the hot dry weather this morning brought a family of Red-browed Finches to our fishpond for a drink and splash.

 I only had time to get a photo through the window so not too clear but I liked the grouping of the parents and young.