Just wanted to pop in on this gorgeously sunny Christmas Eve, to wish you all a very Merry Christmas.
We have a couple of new Kookabubbas here and as a result it is NOISY. Bubbas growling for food, maniacal laughing at all hours, a handful of cicadas every now and again for good measure. We also had our first ever Noisy Miners turn up, which lead to me adding to the cacophony, while banging on the tree they were squawking up a storm in and yelling at them that this was my yard. Haven't seen them since!
There's a few newly fledged King Parrots and Crimson Rosellas as well. It's been really, really lovely.
In a case of perfect timing, I found this Christmas bauble-esque Golden Stag Beetle, making its way across the deck the other day. I suspect I disturbed its time in the leaf litter after a spot of whipper snipping, but look how lovely it is! These beetles spend most of their life as larvae feeding on rotting wood so make fantastic forest cleaner-uppers. Another reason to not dispose of curl grubs that you find: they grow up to be beetles.
Fun fact: It's near impossible to hold a beetle and take images of them!
However you spend Christmas, be it alone, with friends, with family or even if you don't celebrate at all, I hope you get some time to just breathe, to be in the moment and enjoy your backyards (and porches or glimpses out the window).
Much love,
Amanda
Golden Stag Beetle
Northern Illawarra
