The Little Button-quail bred in the grasslands on Raakajlim in 2020. Very exciting to see them.

The sand turds are everywhere in the Mallee and this is one of the beetles responsible!

Some parasitic Broomrapes are introduced pests, but one is a very rare native species. How to identify the weedy and native species.

A 67 year-old mystery has been solved by citizen science and social media, and a lost Jewel Beetle has been rediscovered on Raakajilm.

The Orange Immortelle produces a stunning wildflower carpet after good winter rains.

This nocturnal, burrowing snake is rarely seen above ground. Completely harmless and cute.

We dug this Pobblebonk (or Banjo Frog) out of our vegie patch today. He posed for some photos to show off the identifying features.

Good Autumn and Winter rainfall means fields of swaying Spear Grass (Austrostipa spp.). These clever grass have self-planting seeds.

Spring is the perfect time for lizards. Identification and color variation in Stumpytails and Bearded Dragons.

Episode 2 of “They’re not all the same skink!”. This glossy, sand-swimming skink was in our vegie patch.

The Murnong (Yam Daisies) are flowering in the Mallee. Read more about identification, cultural uses for food and how to grow this beautiful plant.

The deep green of an emu egg is a beautiful find in the bush. Stripey chicks, black-headed young ones and “running bushes” make the Emu one of my favourite Raakjilm residents.

Year after year, the Wattle have their own, consistent rhythm for flowering … and seed collection.

A Nankeen Kestrel and thoughts on bird photography.

I wish this was the intriguing Insect Egg Slime Mould, but it’s not … it’s Dog Vomit Slime Mould. Yuk.

Pink Cockatoos can struggle to find a suitable hollow tree. This pair nested in our creekline!

Oh what big eyes you have! This is a key identification feature of the Ragged Eyed Skink.

The sad demise of the Southern Whiteface and the habitat provided for this threatened species on Raakajilm.

Fairywrens! We have a magnificent trifecta here on Raakajilm - Purple-backed, Splendid and White-winged Fairywrens.

Wandering Lichen is usually found blowing about on the soil surface, but when it rains the lichen unfurls to reveal …