The Little things in Life

After going for a walk in Parsley Bay in Vaucluse, Sydney, I came across many interesting creatures. This included birds, lizards, foxes and more. However, instead of focusing on them I decided to try and find something smaller, something so different to us humans. Then I found this little one.

The multicolored Asian lady beetle or ‘Ladybug’, is very commonly found all over the world. They are a bit bigger than normal Ladybugs and can also cause a little more damage. Apparently they can damage the inside of homes during the winter as they are in there for warmth, and if they feel threatened they could release a very potent feremone which isn’t poisonous or anything, it does however have a very large stench.

The Orange Ladybug doesn’t cause very much harm at all, and mostly they can be seen flying majestically and continuing the cycle of nature.

Thanks for reading-

Empress Austen

Indian Minor Birds in a Tree

On a brisk autumns morning here in Sydney, I was observing some of the commonly seen Indian Minor birds. The birds are interestingly viewed as pests to many people, although they are under protection.

They can be aggressive and competitive, which puts a certain risk on many of the native animals. For example the birds are seen competing to make their nests in tree hollows, which means many animals such as sugar glider, possums etc. are without a habitat.

Although, they can seem pretty intense little birds, they sure do take a good photo!

Thanks for reading-

Empress Austen

Water Dragons Basking in the Sun

Today was a truly wonderful Autumn day. The sun was beaming and the rays were cascading down onto my garden, where numerous Water Dragons were laying a soaking up the sun, as the nature of a reptile requires them to have external heat resources to warm their bodies. However, the water dragon does inhabit areas that have access to water; in my case the pool and ponds in my garden.

Stay tuned for an insight into the wonderful wildlife of Australia, that I will be documenting throughout the week, as well as the numerous natural world phenomenons that I encounter throughout this year.

Thanks for reading-

Empress Austen

The Dingo Didn’t Eat My Baby

Contrary to common belief, these magnificent creatures live on a majorly vegetarian diet. Funny enough they poop onto of a very spike-y plant which you can’t touch without getting little bits of razor sharp branch in your skin, this plant is called a spinifex and makes up 1/5 (20%) of Australia’s plant population said our tour guide Lou. It is a mystery how the dingo actually poops on top of such a painful plant.

This photo was taken at Ormiston Gorge (McDonnell Ranges, NT, Australia), which is a reliable water source in the dry season (winter), meaning that the wildlife is often active in this region. Of course we were extra lucky to spot a Rock Wallaby! (shown below)

Thanks for reading-

Empress Austen

Uluru’s Magic

After walking the Larapinta Trail (about an hour flight from Alice Springs, NT, Australia), we moved on Uluru. Uluru was so beautifully grand, that when we flew into the airport we got an extensive areal view.

Anyway, after we landed we were taken to Longitude 131* and it was the most creative, luxury, unique hotel/ lodge I have ever had the pleasure to visit. Longitude’s vast view of Uluru and the surrounding bush made it a real highlight of the trip just to watch it from the comfort of your own room.

Yet, instead of just experiencing the magic it’s most well known for, from afar. We actually went for drinks to watch the legendary sunset. Here are some more photographs of the change Uluru experiences twice everyday!

Thanks for reading-

Empress Austen

The purple flower

When exploring a garden I always look for the key thing, which for me is the centre of the flower. I find that the most amazing flowers always have amazing coloured, or shaped middles.

I seem to find all of my gem flowers in my hometown of New Zealand although Australia has much to offer, the best is always the well watered and surrounded by green, NZ flowers.

I actually am hoping to get a farm so I can visit New Zealand more often, and then I can take more photographs of the beauty that New Zealand has to offer. Things I am hoping to explore more (because I love taking photos of them) are more detailed and smaller objects because people often miss out on the detail that nature has to offer. Things like frost and insects are things people don’t tend to visualise up – close.

I will be posting more regularly now, because I have finished most of my major work.

Thanks for reading-

Empress Austen

The Mighty Roar

Here is Tiger my cat. He loves being photographed and he is very photogenic.

Sorry I haven’t posted in a while, just been a bit busy with work. I will be posting some photos of Sydney Harbour’s sunset and maybe even some of my other pets Scout- Black Labrador and Bruce- Siamese fighting fish.

Thanks for reading-

Anna Austen

Autumn Bloom

Today, I’m in Sydney and taking photos of the beautiful gardens that I see on my way home, aren’t they just beautiful.

I thought it was especially cool being able to see the pollen inside the flower, which reminds me of the artwork I am doing with a hummingbird drinking nectar from a plant (photo transfer on wax).

This photo above is lovely too it’s got great shades of pink present, in contrast to the green leave background.

Thanks for reading-

Empress Austen

A Stray a Day

Over the course of three weeks a trek to the Himalayas was in place. These adorable and dusty pups were roaming around the streets of Ladakh, in India.

More India posts coming- sorry been busy with exams.

Thanks for reading-

Anna Austen

It’s a First for Everything

As I am examining various plants I notice something green and plump, yet without much inspection I continue clueless as to what it was that I had seen in my peripheral vision. Then a subtle croak is sounded from that very same bush. I take near to no notice and continue strolling through the dense Australian Southern Highland bushes. Another couple of croaks go off again. I suddenly realise what I’m dealing with and peer back at the Agapanthus Bush. Two lime green frogs continue to croak and sit lazily. To further capture their beauty, I took them carefully in a temporary enclosure and examined their amazing colouring and aesthetic features. It was especially amazing as after I released them I researched up on green tree frogs and it actually turns out these frogs may have the future cure for AIDs and other diseases.

Thanks for reading-

Empress Austen