Wild BNE

This month, I am presenting three photographs taken by other residents here in South-east Queensland. Supercell Thunderstorm, Kai Linkerhof. Approaching storm, Brisbane City.

Batty Boat Cruise departure point on the Brisbane River, with the CBD skyline in the background When I returned to Brisbane after living overseas for a few years, I was able to briefly see the city from a fresh perspective as I re-acclimatised to my surroundings. That was when I began to notice and appreciate a strange sight that happens every evening around our downtown district, one that long-term city residents undoubtedly take for granted. If you ever get to walk around the city centre at sunset yourself, you'll see what I mean. The bustling peak-hour crowds, the traffic and the noise will feel familiar no matter which city you are from. And when you look up at the skyscrapers towering into the evening air, well that could be a sight from any modern-day metropolis around the globe, couldn't it? But then you'll notice the bats.

A Parched Landscape Humpback Whale, Noosa Heads October has seen me showing off South-east Queensland to visiting guests from overseas. We have been enjoying sunny day after sunny day, but weeks on end without rain are starting to make the bush seem almost painfully dry. The month is concluding with record-breaking temperatures in areas away from the coast, and the heat is giving rise to towering clouds full of lightning. There's just one catch though

Wandering Percher (male) As a young man, I was always dismissive of Brisbane. My need for adventure took me far away, first to Sydney, then to London and Toronto. Eventually though, being on the other side of the world allowed me to see my home clearly for the first time, and when I finally returned to Brisbane, it was with love and pride. Showcasing South-east Queensland through my 'Wild BNE' blog and Facebook page has only increased my admiration for this beautiful city, and it leaves my hunger for adventure well satisfied. When I say I love Brisbane, I mean all of it. I find interesting and scenic places all around the city, from Bellbowrie to Brighton. Yesterday, a visiting English friend and I explored another delightful Brisbane location - Inala.

Signs of Spring Slender Hovea (Hovea lorata) , Bellbowrie Though it may be introducing itself to us gently this year, spring has definitely arrived in Brisbane! Temperatures have been slightly cooler than average, but decent rains from some robust storms have allowed the landscape to enter the new season with vigour. 

Squirrel Glider One of my favourite things about Brisbane is that native wildlife persists in our suburbs. One balmy night last week for example, I was thrilled to see a Squirrel Glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) less than a hundred meters away from houses in Kippa-Ring, a suburb on the Redcliffe Peninsula. If I had asked residents in the area how far I'd have to go to see such an animal however, I'm sure I would have been directed to National Parks forty kilometers away or more.

Rains bring mercy for some, but not others. Warning: Graphic image may cause distress Native Sarsaparilla, Ormiston August is often a fairly dry month for Brisbane, but the clouds have paid no attention to the calendar in recent weeks. Heavy, soaking rains have settled in over successive weekends, reviving lowland catchment areas and showing mercy upon previously parched plant life.  Before the rains hit, I undertook a plant survey along Hilliards Creek, in the Redlands. Longtime 'Wild BNE' fans may remember a post I made last year about the  fish of this waterway , and once again, it was a beautiful place to spend time in. On this occasion, I was pleased to become acquainted with Weeping Figs (Ficus benjamina)