By November the Superb Lyrebirds have regrown their tails and begin to follow females, shake their tails, raise their wings and call vociferously. I came across an entourage of 5 lyrebirds this morning in Royal National Park and this boy was clearly getting hot and bothered! #birds #birding #nature

Back in April 1975 "Grumpy Scientist" Dr Harry Recher stuck a New Holland Honeyeater in a precocious child's hand telling her to "hold this". Thus he laid out the course of my life, my calling and obsession . . . #birding #birds #nature

Immerse yourself in a few moments of the breathtaking ridge top dry sclerophyll habitat and its aural beauty on Wise's Trail in Royal National Park. Look out for this trail on my Nature Walkabouts schedule in 2026. aussiewild.com.au/nature-walka... #birds #birding #nature #naturelovers #hiking

This is the #Izembek. Trump has just signed off on destroying this magnificent wilderness for yet more fossil fuel extraction which scientists warn us must stop. We have the capacity to create such a different world. All we have to do is decide we want it. #nature #climate youtu.be/RkBbA7iJN8g?...

Sound UP! I survey Yellow-throated Scrubwrens in Royal National Park. Whilst in Boris and Natasha's territory yesterday I found a lyrebird foraging. Boris enters from left at 26 secs and begins his mimicry which will grow in volume and complexity. Enjoy this sonic celebration of planet Earth! 🧵 1/

Birds truly are the splendour of Planet Earth . . . youtu.be/ej4LPcJu-54?...

Sound UP! When a gang of young male Superb Lyrebirds surround you, often within less than a metre. I zoomed back to 80mm but often had to lean back to get this footage. I've left it largely unedited to capture the mayhem of the moment. #birds #birding #nature #lyrebirds

This is the Larapinta Trail . . . youtu.be/Ox-M9mWme34?...

Just as I pressed submit after my count two Australian Magpies clashed viciously in the sky right above me, locking claws in the air for an instant before parting with angry cries . . . Tonight's winner was certainly the Rainbow Lorikeet! aussiebirdcount.org.au #aussiebirdcount #birds #birding

For lovers of the Willie Wagtail (especially when they sing to the Springtime full moons) . . . #birds #birding #nature #naturelovers youtu.be/1FUGB1JxMnw?...

Just another urban Sydney Echidna giving it his best shot, snuffling about and hoovering up masses of ants along the curb at North Head . . . #naturelovers #nature #wildlife #echidna #australia

Final votes friends. Let's go Team Southern Emu-wren and highlight the plight of one of its subspecies which is under threat from a ridiculous planned rocket range on the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. #birds #birding #birdoftheyear #southernemuwren www.theguardian.com/environment/...

"The purpose of freedom is to create it for others" - Nelson Mandela

Here, in the predawn along Bola Creek in Royal National Park, it would be at least half an hour before sunrise, so apologies for the grainy footage. However, I think the ambience is clear. I've had thousands of lyrebird encounters of the years, but each one is as exciting as the first! #birding

A 15 minute stroll over the spinifex covered hills from Ormiston Gorge brings one to this vista; looking west along the Larapinta Trail on the Macdonnell Ranges. Thereis some amazing birding to be had along this trail . . . 1/

A detailed and damning report by a respected team of clinicians and researchers. It confirms that the Cass Review was little more than a thinly veiled deceitful attack on the rights, humanity and dignity of transgender people in the UK. Shame on them and shame on UK politicians for falling for it.

It was a difficult decision, with many of my favourite birds on the starting ticket, but I've kicked things off with a sentimental favourite . . . Go Team Southern Emu-wren! 🥳 www.theguardian.com/environment/... #birds #birding #birdoftheyear #birdoftheyear2025

This cheeky busy body came so close to me I had to put my camera down. I shook a few plants for him and he dashed over in the hope that I might dislodge and insect or two. When I held my hand out he hopped to within 2 or 3 centimetres hand. Certainly the friendliest Willie Wagtail I've ever met!

In 2019 we had at least 6 Welcome Swallows living around my home. Now there's one. I'm observing this trend everywhere. We're losing small aerial insectivores because we're losing our insects. I urge everyone to keep records of Swallow and Martin numbers in localities. (image: Clinton Wood) #nature

Superb Fairy-wren, Royal National Park. #birds #birding #nature

Far, far away, over 24.8 billion kilometres . . . beyond the heliosphere in the freezing darkness of space Voyager 1 continues a journey which may last as long as this universe does. On board is this image. A person chosen to represent the human species . . .

When the world seems too evil to handle I go to YouTube and search for "Guilty Dogs" . . .

A tiny second year male Variegated Fairy-wren is taking a moment to preen in the early morning sun and is joined by another second year male, most likely his brother from the same clutch . . . but they're fairy-wrens so nobody can be sure whether they share the same father. #birds #birding #nature

Nelson is one of my favourite Koalas in the zoo . . .

I love the many moods of this Angophora as the sun traverses the sky . . . Nothing says "Sydney" like an Angophora costata and I think this tree on Wise's Trail in Royal National Park says it best. #nature #trees

I got my first Copper-tailed Skinks of the season yesterday. I just adore their clean lines and the glow of their tails which I think may be when they're ready to breed. #nature #reptiles #herping

What a life I'm having spending so much time walking these bush trails, experiencing in those countless moments the stunning wildlife and surrounds of nature . . . "He prayeth well, who loveth well both man and bird and beast . . ." - Samuel Taylor Coleridge

I love synchronicity in nature. Two weeks ago Brown Gerygones began nesting and the first Brown Ringlet butterflies also appeared. This happens every year on the same day. Just look at this beautiful nest of cabbage palm fibres decorated with lichen. It even has a porch to exclude cuckoos. #nature

The Hacking River Valley in Royal National Park is one my favourite places on earth. Here, the awesome Blackbutt, Eucalyptus pilularis reigns supreme . . . #ThickTrunkTuesday #nature #nationalparks

Around Sydney, we frequently see Yellow-throated Scrubwrens attending lyrebirds as they forage. This is generally thought of as a commensalism. However the lyrebird also benefits as the scrubwrens will alert the lyrebird to any approaching danger with their sharp "tack" call before departing. #birds

The Superb Lyrebird males have been quiet for the past three weeks as most have commenced tail moult.There are now many males in the forest with stumpy tails but they regrow with surprising rapidity and within the next couple of weeks they will be back to their former glory! #birds #nature #birding

Three ages of Variegated Fairy-wrens: 2nd year blue faces and red shoulders, 3rd year full colour but grey on the cap and nape and 4th year mature adult, bright all over with deep violet cap and nape. All but the 4th year bird will return to dull plumage at the end of summer. #birds #birding #nature

STEWART: “Comedy doesn’t change the world, but it’s a bellwether— we’re the banana peel in the coal mine… authoritarians are the threat to comedy, music, art, thought… progress.” Nailed it.

A Green Catbird snacking on some berries on the forest floor in Royal National Park this morning. Catbirds are members of the bowerbird family, however, the males don't construct a display bower. #birds #birding #nature

This sleepy Powerful Owl in Royal National Park is keeping a firm grip on last night's prey . . . a hapless Ringtail Possum. #birds #birding #nature

A couple of moments of not great quality footage of a Striated Thornbill taking nectar and invertebrates from a small grevillea today. These birds are inner canopy foragers where they largely feed on invertebrates and lerp. When nesting they come down to build their nests in the mid storey. #birding

This century is downright weird . . .

Blackbutt (Eucalyptus pilularis) Lady Carrington Drive, Royal National Park . . . The real carbon capture and storage technology. #ThickTrunkTuesday #nature #naturelovers

One of may male Variegated Fairy-wrens I encountered today. You can tell he hasn't reached full maturity as his crown is still grey, not the vibrant violet blue typical of fully mature males of this species. He's also probably pretending to be a helper but is mostly here to cuckold the alpha male.

It would appear that one of my local Satin Bowerbirds is going for a more yellow theme this spring. I dropped a bunch of beautiful blue Crimson Rosella primaries and rectrices into his bower a week or so back but it appears that some of his thieving neighbours have made off with them. #birds #nature

Working in a zoo I meet hundreds of people from all over the world every day. Every single one of them reacts the same way when they come to the Koala nursery and see this . . . We need to stop letting the media, crooked politicians and the most ignorant among us divide us over race and culture.

One of the many Rufous Bettongs I once kept when working for Earth Sanctuaries around 20 years ago. These small macropods were a pure delight to observe foraging, often squabbling as they competed for the best mushroom and truffle patches. They were super fast when they got upright and bounded away.

The need of the hour . . .

This is how they do it.

A little time line cleanse . . . "Does this make me whole?" I believe this is the question we must ask to help us make choices which will ensure we live our best life. Because it's ultimately wholeness which we seek. And, of course, always bring our A Game. #nature

Meanwhile in a more peaceful place . . . (Female Superb Lyrebird, shot during a tour in Royal NP yesterday morning.) #birds #birding #nature #naturelovers

I was inspired to create this in memory of a day 2006, when visiting the Taronga Zoo Free Flight Bird Show. There I met a Peregrine Falcon up close on a trainer's wrist. The intelligent sentience in her dark eyes was devastating. Her power, beauty and majesty made for an unforgettable moment.

SOUND UP! Just a few moments of many from another fab morning of birding and immersion in the living world at Royal National Park . . . What a joy to be alive to witness and savour such things. #birding #birds #nature #naturelovers

Clouds burst, rain falls and the forest magic intensifies. Puddles form, streams, rivulets - rivers roar. Everywhere is the music of a billion raindrops pattering upon a billion leaves, each creating a tiny diamond in the moment it catches the light. There's nothing like a rainy forest walk. #nature