Mount Rae Greys

My friend Mark Selmes, from Mt Rae forest, between Crookwell and Taralga, NSW often sends me images he has taken of the Grey Kangaroos and/or Wallaroos with whom he shares life in the Mt Rae forest. Tonight I am sharing some of his latest images.

His latest message was: "Pics - wild eastern grey with joey - spending a bit of time out of pouch,but sticking close to Mum."

"La Pieta" (Mt Rae style)

Grey Kangaroo doe with joey

"Watching animals in the wild -especially at play- allows us to observe
qualities we all share

and helps us to realise that we have a common bond.
(even with the most maligned of species)."

Can I climb up, Mum?

Grey Kangaroo youngster feeling frisky.

"Without the world of nature in all its many forms 

we would all be poorer in spirit 

and eventually as natural ecosystems collapse so would our world."

Grey Kangaroo doe showing her pouch opening

"Hope you enjoy the pics, I know I enjoyed taking them."
Mark

Cute Joey - thinking up a prank to play on Mum.

My own comment is that Mark is (for his sins) now serving time on the Board of the Nature Conservation Council of NSW.

I have previously shared with you images of some of the lovely Orchids which Mark has found growing at the Mt Rae Forest, including the endangered Buttercup Doubletail Orchid, Diuris aequalis.

Having seen some of the wild creatures which live in the Mt Rae Forest, I am sure you will agree that their home ought be protected from native forest logging.

Grey Kangaroos of Hanging Rock Road

While driving back from Canberra on Sunday afternoon, I took a slight diversion along "Hanging Rock Road", near Canyonleigh. This road is in fact the old highway, and runs parallel to the modern Hume Highway, just south of the "MacDonalds on the Hill" at Sutton Forest. On the southern entrance, it is signposted to "Pauline Fathers Monastery". On the northern end it is signposted "Hanging Rock Road".

Much to my delight some "wit" has suspended a small rock on a string, from below the sign - as a hanging rock. I took a photo once, but I don't know where that image is filed, at present. I shall dig it out one day...

Of course, the name refers to a particular sandstone outcrop somewhere in the area of bushland nearby. It is a popular name - usually referring to a large stone perched vertically atop another rocky outcrop. Never really a true "hanging rock". Poetic licence rules in old-fashioned Aussie bush names.

Anyway, I went looking (without success) for some early flowering Ground Orchids. My blogging colleagues in Victoria are reporting spring-flowering Orchids. Not fair!

Then I saw an Echidna crossing the road. This fellow scurried to the relative safety of the soft grass, and clung on - as they do. I tried to budge him, ever so gently, but I knew there was no point. So I took the photo against a two litre ice-cream bucket which just happened to have been dumped there - for a size comparison. He was a good size.Then I found a family of Eastern Grey Kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) which were very tame and quite photogenic. This first image was taken at about 150 metres range - looking down the quiet country road, in the late afternoon light. Usually, they sense that someone is taking "too much interest" and head off, leading the family away from danger.The old male - the old Buck - was very bold, I thought. He is checking me out with his very large ears which are "focussed" on my vehicle. So is the Doe. She is about 30 metres closer than the Buck, so you can see the size differential between them.
This old guy decided I was no threat, and just stared me down. Good for him. He was a very good sized specimen - probably standing as tall as I do. I loved his bold posture. You can see how powerful he is on the lower body. But even those forearms are very strong, with large claws.But, of course, the real power in his body is in the lower body - the thighs and rump. Here you can see how that weight distribution allows him to use all his power for jumping. Here he takes off - suddenly.
He was sufficiently relaxed, though that he only took a few bounds, and stopped to assess the situation again. He stayed there, and I left them all in peace.What a magnificent animal. Long may he reign over his territory!

In the next few days I shall post some photos of the much smaller Red-necked Wallabies, taken at Steve and Amanda's place, near Stroud, north of Newcastle.

Two other observers in the bush, today.

Young Grey Kangaroo
Normally, in the wet forests of this area, the Macropods one sees or hears going "Thump, Thump", are Swamp Wallabies.

Today, however, I found two Grey Kangaroos (Macropus gigantea). I was driving very slowly into a grassy area (beside an old quarry), to look for Greenhoods (which I did not find). But I did surprise these very puzzled Grey Kangaroos.

Not many people drive in here, obviously, and so they allowed me to drive within about 80 metres. Once I had taken a few photos, they gently retreated - without the thump sounds, as the grass is so long there.







With grass in mouth
I love the way this little Roo was not troubled by my presence, and kept chewing on the long, rich grass, while I was photographing her (?).








Greenhood - opening
Previously I had found a rosette-type Greenhood just about to flower. I have no idea (yet) what species it will turn out to be.

I also found literally hundreds more Ground Orchid plants, just at the leaf stage. Anyway, it looks like this season, with the heavy rain in February, is allowing the Ground Orchids to form great growth, which hopefully will lead to a good flowering season over the next spring, and summer months.

Long-leafed Greenhood
Bunochilus longifolius (formerly Pterostylis longifolia) shows its distinctive long leaves. The leaves look almost grass-like, especially if the plant happens to have been knocked over, (which is quite common).
This one is still budding, while there were quite a number of the same species in flower down the coast last weekend. But that is not surprising, given the climate difference, from the extra altitude here.




Another surprise!
This Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus) was so busy chewing on a trunk of a young tree, to get a fat borer grub, that it allowed me to pull up in the car, quite close to her.
They listen for the sound of the grub chewing inside the trunk, and then chew away the wood, until they get the grub out.

Unfortunately the forest was quite dark, and so the shot is not very successful. But the activity is so very typical of these Cockatoos, that I have been hoping to get such a shot for a long time. So, for better or worse, I publish this photo.
I have previously posted photos of the damage which they inflict upon Kangaroo Apples (Solanum aviculare).