Tag Archives: Australia

Secret Places – disappearing Melbourne

Posted on June 24, 2015 | 2 comments

A little laneway off Exhibition Street, Melbourne CBD,  leads to a dead-end and an old building that won’t be long for this world…

Old Building

Not a lot of time left for this old Building

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Posted in Architecture, Melbourne CBD, Victoria

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Off the hip: Bookstore window

Posted on June 23, 2015 | Leave a comment

A bit of a wonky shot. Shooting from the hip takes a little getting used to. I liked the shop window display – it had a busy-ness that appealed to me with the books covering random subjects.  After processing I realised that there was not a single book displayed that I have read. I did find one on birds that I will have to go back and possibly purchase. From memory it was 6 books for $50 not Books for $50 – my wonky aim again…

Melb CBD Bookstore

Melb CBD Discount Bookstore – click to enlarge

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Posted in Black & White, Melbourne CBD

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Lethal Weapons?

Posted on June 22, 2015 | Leave a comment

I noticed 5 Masked Lapwings along Elster Creek recently that seemed to be in a constant state of agitation with each other. Several would stood tall and thrust out the wing spurs when another pair flew over or around them. Spur-winged Plover is an alternate name for Masked Lapwings. I knew about the spurs but had not  seem them closely until I had developed these shots. The male tends to have larger spurs.

Lapwings use these spurs against potential predators or anyone coming too close to nest sites and chicks. While the attacks can seem quite aggressive,  the birds rarely strike their ‘victims’, preferring a close approach to scare them away. The species is fearless and I have seen them go after much bigger birds like Kites and Eagles.

The birds I saw below did not attack each other but did make quite a bit of noise and displayed much posturing.

Masked Lapwing

Masked Lapwing (aka Spur Winged Plover)

Masked Lapwing

Masked Lapwing strutting his stuff

Masked Lapwing

Spurs on display

 

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Posted in Bird Behaviour, Birds, Victoria

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Off the Hip: Eyes of Youth?

Posted on June 21, 2015 | Leave a comment

Part of the “Shooting from the hip” series.

Drops of Youth?

Drops of Youth?

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Posted in Melbourne CBD, Victoria

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Things you find in the Street

Posted on June 20, 2015 | Leave a comment

Walking along Bourke Street looking for interesting angles I came across this guy and his two friends standing at the Corner of Bourke and Swanston Streets.

Swanton St Statue

Smoko break on Swanston Street.

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Posted in Black & White, Melbourne CBD, Street Art, Victoria

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Secret Places – Block Arcade

Posted on June 17, 2015 | Leave a comment

Looking up at the Block Arcade at the Victorian era iron fretwork holding up the dome of the arcade.

Block Arcade Roof,

Block Arcade Roof, Melbourne CBD

Up the stairwell behind the lifts…

Block Arcade Stairwell Letterboxes

Block Arcade Stairwell Letterboxes

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Posted in Architecture, Black & White, Victoria

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Secret Places: The Royal Arcade

Posted on June 16, 2015 | Leave a comment

Looking through the roof of the Royal Arcade – a building sails by…

 

Mystery site

Royal Arcade, Melbourne CDB


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Posted in Laneways, Victoria

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Secret Places: Behind the Brick Wall

Posted on June 15, 2015 | Leave a comment

well there is at least one big tree…

Brick Wall

Brick Wall, Rear of Melbourne Club, Ridgeway Place

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Posted in Architecture, Laneways, Victoria

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A warm Winter’s Day and a Lifer

Posted on June 14, 2015 | Leave a comment

The Pink Robin has eluded me for several years – it even turned up in my neighbourhood last year and no matter how many times I took off to find it I kept missing out. Recent reports put one at a Melbourne Water Wetlands on Huntingdale Rd in Oakleigh East. So today I followed the bird report’s details to the backyard fences along the creek feeding into the wetlands where it had been seen and waited quietly to see if I could be lucky this time. I was visited by a Grey Fantail and while taking a few photos of it to test the conditions I saw a little flutter of wings on the fence beside me. I finally had my Pink Robin ( a female).  My 31oth Victorian Lifer.

I followed her around for an hour trying to get better shots as she moved into low scrub with a small feeding flock of Brown Thornbills, White-Browed Scrubwrens and the Grey Fantail.

Grey Fantail

Grey Fantail

Pink Robin

Female Pink Robin

Pink Robin

Many of the shots were like this one.

Pink Robin

Getting closer

Pink Robin

Pink Robin – my 310th Victorian Lifer.

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Posted in Birds, Victoria

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Swift, Muskie and Scaly

Posted on June 13, 2015 | Leave a comment

Reports have been coming in of a good sized flock of rare Swift Parrots roosting and feeding in a park between the Macleod shops and Railway Station. I had run into David E at St Kilda pier last weekend and thought we might head over to Macleod and try our luck.

On arriving at the Train Station carpark we were hit by a cacophony of bird noise – miners, ravens, magpies and many parrots and lorikeets. We immediately found Rainbow and Musk Lorikeets, and soon found a flock of 20 Swift Parrots in one of the large flowering gums. It took a while but we got a few average pics of the Swift Parrots. All the parrots and lorikeets were a bit unsettled and we saw why pretty soon – a circling Collared Sparrowhawk.

The Swift Parrot is rare and endangered. It breeds in Tasmania and then makes a crossing of Bass Straight to winter in Central and Southern Victoria.

We also found a pair of Scaly Breasted Lorikeets – a lifer for me and number 313 on my bird life list (309 for my Vic List). I was pretty happy and a bit too slow in getting a clear photo – I do have a beautifully clear shot of the tree trunk and branch that the Scaly is standing on. Maybe next time.

Swift Parrots,

Swift Parrots

Swift Parrots,

Bickering Swift Parrots

Swift Parrots,

Swift Parrot – feeding on Lerp

Musk Lorikeet

Musk Lorikeet feeding on Flowering Gum nectar 

Musk Lorikeet

Musk Lorikeet

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Posted in Birds, Victoria

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ACDC Lane: Art and Music

Posted on June 9, 2015 | 2 comments

Near Hosier Lane is another Laneway, ACDC Lane, named in honour of the rock band AC/DC . The Lane circles back to Flinders Lane via Duckboard Place. Many of the walls have large colourful pieces. Along with the great art are several good restaurants and a famous Bar and live music venue – Cherry.

Street Art, ACDC Lane,

Street Art, ACDC Lane

Street Art, ACDC Lane,

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Street Art, ACDC Lane,

ACDC Lane

Street Art, ACDC Lane,

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Street Art, ACDC Lane,

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Street Art, ACDC Lane,

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Street Art, ACDC Lane,

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Street Art, ACDC Lane,

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Street Art, ACDC Lane,

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Next Post – Duckboard Place

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Posted in Laneways, Melbourne CBD, Photography, Victoria

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A Western Gerygone: far from home

Posted on June 8, 2015 | Leave a comment

My local birder network sent through a message that said a rare bird had popped up in our neighbourhood – a Western Gerygone. It had been sighted down Elster Creek near the mouth. So after leaving work earlier than usual on Friday and having a few extra hours of light I headed down the creek to look for the little bird. It is usually found north the Great Dividing Range so we are not too sure why it has ended up along the Southern coast.

Along the way I found a Great Egret grooming between snacks.

Great Egret

Great Egret

Great Egret

Great Egret

Eventually I found the Gerygone where it had been reported, flying over the creek from side to side with two little Brown Thornbills.

Western Gerygone

Western Gerygone

Western Gerygone

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Western Gerygone

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Western Gerygone

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Posted in Birds, Victoria

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Protest Art: Posters, Stencils, Stickers, Balaclavas

Posted on June 4, 2015 | Leave a comment

Amongst the large murals and spray-painted images in Hosier  and Rutledge Lanes are quite a few smaller ones. Many are comments, statements, protests and funny thoughts. I like finding these more unusual images.

(Update: I walked through Hosier Lane today and many of the larger pieces that I have posted over the last few days that were taken a few weeks ago are now gone or are partially obscured by other artists work. Much of the new work seems to be large ornate tags rather than pictures  – I will have a look after the long weekend coming up)

Hosier Lane, Melbourne CBD

Pirate Empire – Hosier Lane, Melbourne CBD

Hosier Lane, Melbourne CBD

Hosier Lane, Melbourne CBD

Hosier Lane, Melbourne CBD

Hosier Lane, Melbourne CBD

Hosier Lane, Melbourne CBD

Hosier Lane, Melbourne CBD

Hosier Lane, Melbourne CBD

Hosier Lane, Melbourne CBD

Hosier Lane, Melbourne CBD

Hosier Lane, Melbourne CBD

Hosier Lane, Melbourne CBD

Hosier Lane, Melbourne CBD

Hosier Lane, Melbourne CBD

Flinders Lane, Melbourne CBD

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Posted in Laneways, Melbourne CBD, Victoria

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Laneways of Street Art

Posted on June 3, 2015 | Leave a comment

Moving further down Hosier Lane there is a looping alley called Rutledge Lane with its own artwork on every wall and surface. I spent a few minutes watching an artist work as well as helping a few tourists take some photos of themselves with the walls…sometime the selfie sticks are just not long enough.

Rutledge Lane off Hosier Lane, Melbourne CBD

Rutledge Lane off Hosier Lane, Melbourne CBD

Rutledge Lane off Hosier Lane, Melbourne CBD

A street artist in Rutledge Lane off Hosier Lane, Melbourne CBD

Rutledge Lane off Hosier Lane, Melbourne CBD

Rutledge Lane off Hosier Lane, Melbourne CBD

Hosier Lane XI, Melbourne CBD, 18 May 2015

Hosier Lane

Near the bottom of Hosier Lane is a very good Tapas and modern Spanish style restaurant called Movida.

Hosier Lane XII, Melbourne CBD, 18 May 2015

Movida in Hosier Lane

 

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Posted in Laneways, Street Art, Victoria

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Melbourne Laneway Street Art

Posted on June 2, 2015 | Leave a comment

Continuing from yesterday’s post on some of the recent street art in Hosier Lane during May. Another week or two and much of this will be gone and covered by other pieces (or a mess of tags until an artist claims a chunk of wall).

Hosier Lane Artwork, Melbourne CBD, May 2015

Hosier Lane Artwork, Melbourne CBD, May 2015

Hosier Lane Artwork, Melbourne CBD, May 2015

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Hosier Lane Artwork, Melbourne CBD, May 2015

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Hosier Lane Artwork, Melbourne CBD, May 2015

IV

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Posted in Laneways, Melbourne CBD, Victoria

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