Echidna

Looking at the photo above, I guess I can let the Melon and the Quokka be the cutest marsupials, because the Echidna is not a marsupial.
But it sure is extremely cute!

A cute little tank. Always focused, with one thing in mind: "Find ants!".

I have seen bushfire survivors, with a few molten spines, but as determined and as lively as any other.
I've seen them cross creeks and climb hollow tree trunks up to a meter above ground.

Amazing little creatures!
Spotting one always makes my day special.

Short-beaked Echidna, Tasmania

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Melons

Together with the Quokka, Tasmanian Pademelons are among the cutest marsupials.

I spot them quite often when I walk through the gully, but photographing them is not easy. Almost always they disappear quickly in the thick shrubs. The gully is always shady and quite dark and my old camera struggles to expose well even at high ISO.

But a few times I've had magical moments when a mother 'melon would let me stay close while she feeds and her joey hops around totally unafraid of my presence.

And here is a Bandicoot.
It just appeared out of nowhere, while I was quietly photographing a wallaby. Walked quickly past me, sniffing under the fallen leaves. A minute later it had already disappeared.
It was so great to see a Bandicoot during the day.

Above: Tasmanian Pademelon, Southern Brown Bandicoot, Tasmania

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Brushies

I love seeing the brushies.

I often get up at night to try to spot them and I don't mind at all when they wake me up with their squeals, roars and hisses. I even recognize their individual voices.
There are 3 colour variants here where I live: Grey with cream tummy, Chocolate red, and Dark chocolate with cream tummy.

I'm told that today is Mother's day in the anglo world.
All praise and medals should go to the Chocolate red female possum on the photos below - a heroic, gentle and caring mother, whom I've known for 6 years already.

She raised two healthy, happy kids one after the other this year alone!

Brushtail Possums, Tasmania

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Sammy - the beautiful, friendly seal who often visits Hobart's waterfront

I have been thinking of posting some photos of Sammy, just to fill a void. Although he is so popular with tourists and locals, Google image searches find only mediocre pictures and very few of them.

Sammy is a star. A very photogenic star who deserves better online presence.
So I decided to do a one off, break the silence and share some of my hundreds of photos of him with all the seal lovers, shooting with their smartphone cameras and then feeling frustrated that "It just looked so much better there!".

I've been photographing Sammy fairly regularly in the last 15 months, whenever I get a chance to spot him. Unfortunately don't have any photos of him from the time of my first Hobart period, 10 years ago. There was a whole year when I did not have any camera at the time and then when I bought my 30D, he was gone. Then I had to go too.

I always wonder if he is the same seal. And when I think about it, I always decide he is, because it is such a complicated route up the estuary and he is so incredibly relaxed and comfortable in the waters of Constitution Dock.

I love the huge range of facial expressions he has - the curiosity and intelligence in his eyes.

But make no mistake! Sammy is there for the free lunch and does not really care about anything else. I've tried to make noises to attract his attention. No chance. He is hypnotized by the guy with the long ginger beard who cleans fish and gives him treats. That's why most photos are in profile.

There is another thing that I am not quite certain about. After much reading and looking at images, I think that he is a New Zealand Fur Seal, rather than an Australian Fur Seal, but I can't be 100% sure. If anyone can help me with the ID, please post in the comments.

New Zealand Fur Seal, Tasmania

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Buff-banded Rail portrait

Again this Friday I could spot a Rail and was lucky enough to have it stop and look at me for a second in the middle of a nicely lit spot and beautiful surroundings...

Buff-banded Rail, NSW

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Beautiful White Cockie

The red fruit this cockie was eating added beautiful colorful accent to the images...

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, NSW

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Juv. Ibis

More in-focus sharp and detailed images of a young Ibis.

Australian White Ibis, NSW

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Baby Rainbow Lorikeets

But, of course, from a photographer's point of view the most rewarding sequences were the beautiful images of cute Rainbow Lorikeet fledglings that I managed to take. I often hear the typical squeaky call of young Lorikeets, but this was the first time I saw baby parrots just out of the 'nest'.

For ten seconds the parent assessed the risk, decided there was none and then went on to feeding the youngster.

The scene was heart-warming, light was just right, sky was cloudy and the setting was beautiful.

There were two fledglings that could jump into the branches and climb up the tree trunk using their feet and beaks. The next images show how funny and cute they looked with their non-existent wings and tails.

Good luck, little parrots! Hope your primaries grow fast!!!

Rainbow Lorikeet youngsters, NSW

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