Interesting challenge this week from Egidio from Through Brazilian Eyes as he asks us to use the word WILD, I think it is the best description. To fully understand the challenge then you need to go and look at his post. The link is above.
I had to think of what I was going to do and thought initially I would animals from the zoo, the wild animals in captivity. Then I was thinking as I was driving down the road and I saw Banyule Flats and thought this is a bit of a wild space in the middle of suburbia, so that is what I will do.
When we looking for a house to buy we were brought to this house and one of the things that we were amazed with was that there were cows in paddocks across the road. Amazed because we aren’t that far from the city. We were told it was proposed parkland, and since then it has been made parkland.
Near the house there was a space that was once a swamp but had been drained and used for cattle. However, the same year we moved here that land was given back to the council. The swamp was restored and slowly the area has been allowed to go wild again. So this seems like the perfect space for this challenge.
It is a fairly large area and we see kangaroos, wombats, snakes and lots and lots of birds. The swamp or wetland attracts many birds. Over the years I’ve taken many photos down there and this is my subject today.
Banyule Flats
I’ve split it up into three galleries.
Fauna
I’ve concentrated on birds mainly as I never seem to have the camera with me when I see kangaroos and if I see a snake I don’t stick around to take photos. The main snakes down there are very venomous, so you run when you see them.
I have seen a few wombats, but again, not when I have a camera. I’ve taken some photos with my phone, but they aren’t great.
Here are just a few of the birds we see.
Flora
The plants are mostly Australian natives, but there are some that are not indigenous to the area. The best time to go down for flowers is the end of winter when all the acacias or wattle start to flower.
Here is some of the flowers I’ve taken of the plants.
Landscape
I didn’t know what to call this part, but I suppose it is the landscape. The swamp is something I’ve been photographing for many years and I think a perfect subject for this post. It is where the wild things live.
The swamp changes throughout the year and my favourite photos of it are taken when there is mist over the top of it on a cold morning. I also love seeing it in the height of summer when it dries out. It doesn’t happen every year, but from time to time it does.
I think most of us around here feel very lucky that we live near this amazing spot. We are protective of it and will do whatever we can to protect it. The most amazing thing is that it wasn’t sold for development and that it isn’t covered in houses. Let’s hope that never happens.
There are no longer cows across the road, but there are horses there now, so I’m good with that. We even get the odd kangaroo.
Great challenge Egidio and thank you so much for being our host this week. I would love everyone to go and take a look at his post to see his wild photos. Apologies to Egidio, I hated being limited last week, so this week I’m showing a lot more, but in 3 galleries. So I limited myself to 7 or 8 images in each one.
If you would like to participate in this great challenge then go to the following link to find out how to join the Lens-Artists Challenge, click here for more info. Don’t forget to put a link in your post back to the host.
Great photos, as always, Leanne. The swamp shots are my faves.
That’s great John, thank you.
May it stay unspoilt like this, beautiful place so well captured. The landscapes are my favourites but all your photos are stunning.
I really hope so Sofia. Thank you Sofia, I think the landscapes won in this post.
Beautiful sets of photos!!
Thank you Nora.
Leanne – Your pics are fabulous and I so agree that there so much of wild nature very close to us. Your moody swamp pics are stunning!
Thank you, it is great that some of our governments can see how important it is to keep inner city nature spaces.
What beautiful galleries showing all things wild, Leanne! Park lands are so important for sustaining wildlife as well as giving us humans a glimpse into their world. How cool it must be to see a random kangaroo!
Thank you Terri, it was once fun to see the kangaroos, but we see them all the time now, so they are normal now. In winter we have some paddocks that you will see a whole mob of them eating the grass and lying around watching us.
Now that I’d love to see!
It is a great site to see, I feel lucky every time I see it.
What a fantastic wild space to have so close to you in the suburbs! Your landscape shots show how beautiful it is, and I loved seeing your birds and flowers too
I have no problem with you going over Egidio’s limit!
WE are very lucky to have it Sarah. Thank you so much Sarah.
Lovely images Leanne. It’s always surprising what you can shoot close to home. I saw an article over here yesterday in relation to the UK Wildlife Photographer of the Year. The winning entry was a suburban image of a fox.
Thank you Steve. I love that I can, though I always seems to want to go elsewhere. That’s great about the fox. We get them around around here too.
What I love the most is the reflection of nature in the water. I so love it.
Thank you Hazel, have to admit I love getting reflections in water.
Yes, it’s mesmerizing. It’s always my pleasure, Leanne.
That’s great to hear Hazel.
Splendid
Thank you.
Three wonderful collections, Leanne! Wild is as wild does. >grin<
Thank you John, and yes, it does.
Great idea to separate the photos. It made it easier to appreciate them Leanne
I’m glad you liked that Brian, seemed kind of logical to me. Thank you so much Brian.
Leanne, thanks for this beautiful gallery! I liked how you broke it into specific sections. Most importantly, though, I like that it has reverted to being wild again. The birds and flowers are amazing, but the moody landscapes top it all.
Thank you Egidio, I hope you didn’t mind me also making it 7 or 8 images per gallery, lol. I love that too, apparently they were talking about putting a sports stadium there are one point, so glad that never happened. Good to hear, I think the landscapes have been the most popular.
Leanne, I did not mind it. We need more communities to care for nature as yours did.
Oh that is good, and I agree, we do need more communities to do it.
I like the landscape photos best but all of them are wonderful.
That’s great Lynette, thank you so much.
All beautiful images, Leanne. Your final landscape image is just stunning. You are lucky to live midst such nature.
Thank you Joanne, you mean the infrared one. I am very lucky.
Beautiful, atmospheric images Leanne and what a treat to have this on your doorstep
Thank you so much, and it is an absolute treat.
You bought one fabulous house, didn’t you,Leanne?! People around here are starting to rise up and complain to their city council about companies that want to take land and build so darn many homes on the property. I’m so glad your area has stayed more or less rural. With new homes comes all sorts of problems, not the least of which is so much unwanted traffic. The photos are wonderful.
We really did, I have to say I’ve been surprised that it has been left, but also so gratiful. What you talked about has been happening here a lot too. The extra traffic is terrible, and the houses they build here are just crap and many of them start falling apart soon after they are built, that is if the builder doesn’t go belly up before it it is finished. Thank you Lois.
Beautiful post as always Leanne. I especially loved your landscapes of which you are truly a master!
Thank you Tina, the swamp is fantastic to photograph. Can’t wait to get back there to take more photos, have to wait for the snakes to go to sleep for the winter.
wow, what a magical wild place and I can see why you were drawn to it filled with all of this
Thank you Beth, It is all that, it is amazing.
Absolutely amazing photos.
Thank you Michael.
You’re welcome, Leanne.
You’ve chosen well. Beautiful images!
Thank you Dawn, good to hear.
Absolutely beautiful Leanne. It’s wonderful that you have such wonderful images to show off your local “wild!”
Thank you Anne, I’m very lucky to live near it.