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Sooty Oystercatcher Sighting – a Sydney Surprise
Bird Photography with marysejansenart
The Importance and the Potential of Urban Nature

Wandering through the concrete jungle of the Sydney CBD, I notice very little greenery. However. there are some small pockets of nature that have been conserved. They are scattered around the Sydney Harbour, and together they make up the Sydney Harbour National Park. As I am exploring one of these pockets of bushland in the big city, I am pleasantly surprised to suddenly lay eyes on a pair of Sooty Oystercatchers!

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Pheasant Coucal – a Clumsy Flyer with a Booming Call
Bird Photography with marysejansenart
The only Australian Cuckoo that builds its own nest!

It has happened a few times now, that I’m walking through a forest or rainforest and I hear this amazing, booming bird call that carries far and wide! I’ve come to love that sound and I am so pleased to finally learn the source of it: this bird is called the Pheasant Coucal!

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Eastern Brown Snake – Lightning Fast and Highly Venomous

Wildlife Photography with marysejansenart
Can Humans Co-exist with these Feisty Rodent Killers?

I’m squatted at the water’s edge on a hot summer day, filming a beautiful dragonfly, when suddenly I detect a rapid movement in the water in the corner of my eye. I look up and to my surprise I see a snake swim past. It’s moving fast!! I barely manage to point my camera at it as it was fully zoomed in on the dragonfly and the snake is moving close by at such a high speed.

Thankfully it’s not coming in my direction or I would not even have attempted to film it, instead I would have run for my life! Because this is an Eastern Brown Snake! This snake is regarded the most dangerous snake of Australia or even the world!

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5 Leaf Beetles – Bedazzling Beauties
Wildlife Photography by marysejansenart
Slow down and discover these little wonders of nature!

Taking it slow when you walk in nature opens your eyes to detail. On my recent walk in the rainforest I was initially just enjoying the beautiful scenery of lush vegetation. When I stopped for a moment to inspect a little colourful speck on one of the plants, I found a beautiful Leaf Beetle! I slowed down and found a myriad of interesting little critters that I easily would have overlooked if I had just been walking at a regular pace… and a number of these are also Leaf Beetles.

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CICADAS – A SALIENT SYMBOL OF SUMMER
WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY WITH MARYSEJANSENART
THE LOUDEST INSECTS IN THE WORLD

A DEAFENING SUMMER CONCERT
As I enter the forest today I am accompanied by a chorus of cicadas! It makes me smile, as I know it means it’s truly summer now. Cicadas emerge during late spring and summer. Their peak season is in November and December in Australia, they are only around for a couple of weeks. There are hundreds of species of cicadas in Australia and I can hear a bit of variety in song as I’m walking on, which means there are different species around. Some are even louder then others and a few times I have to protect my ears, because it is just too loud to be comfortable!

It is not just my sensitive ears, it has been measured that they are absolutely capable of breaking the rules on noise restrictions! But thankfully, it’s not that bad most of the time and a lot of people enjoy the sound of the cicadas.

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Royal Spoonbill – a Majestic Bird
Bird Photography with marysejansenart
Sweeping a Spoon-shaped Bill through Shallow Wetlands

Gently finding its way between the pencil roots of the Grey Mangroves I spot a large, majestic looking bird. It is predominantly white and it has a dark, large bill with a very interesting shape! It resembles a spoon! No wonder this bird is called a spoonbill! And suiting its majestic appearance, this particular species is called the Royal Spoonbill!

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Platypus – a Phenomenal Encounter with a Unique Animal
Wildlife Photography with marysejansenart
Rarely seen up close in broad daylight!

My steps take me in the direction of the platypus viewing platform. I know my chances of seeing a platypus are not high, it’s way too late in the day, it’s too hot and sunny and on top of that it’s too noisy as well! But … I’m here now, I might as well have a look....

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Blue-banded Bees Buzzing around my Backyard
Wildlife Photography with marysejansenart
Shining a light on pollinators during Australian Pollinator Week

Did you know that Australia has more then 1700 species of native bees? That’s an amazing number! It’ll take a true specialist to tell them all apart, but I am familiar with some of them. Among these, my favourites must be the Blue-banded Bees! They have been a common sight in my garden throughout the years. Their loud buzz and beautiful iridescent blue bands are sure to attract my attention. Sometimes I spot similar looking bees with green iridescent bands instead.

They’ve just started to appear again as I don’t see these bees during the winter. They live about 40 days. In the cold season the newest generation of immature bees rest inside their nests until the weather warms up. Then they develop into mature bees and fly out to visit the flowers in my garden. As this week (11-19 November 2023) is Australian Pollinator Week, it is a good opportunity to shine a light on these amazing little creatures!

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AUSTRALIAN PELICAN – AN IMPRESSIVE GIANT
BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY WITH MARYSEJANSENART
A BIRD WITH MULTIPLE INTERESTING FEATURES AND BEHAVIOURS

Oh wow! I’m on the beach, turn around and find myself face to face with an Australian Pelican. And it is big! I’m no shortie, but I am looking it straight in the eye! Out of the 8 pelican species in the world, the Australian Pelican is the tallest. It can grow up to a height of 1.90m and has a wingspan of up to 2.5m. It weighs around 5.5kg on average, but this can range from 4-13kg! This makes it the second heaviest Australian flying bird, after the Brolga. Furthermore, it has the longest bill of any living bird, up to 50cm long. It is a very impressive bird!....

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MAGPIE GEESE – ONE OF A KIND
BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY WITH MARYSEJANSENART
INDICATOR SPECIES OF HEALTHY WETLANDS

Wow! Through the trees on the side of the track I spot a lagoon with hundreds of birds! I have to see this up close! I turn my car around and take the side track, which leads to the lagoon. The surface of the water is covered in lily pads and birds, most of which are Magpie Geese. The Magpie Geese are a noisy bunch: their call is a loud honking and in these large numbers they apparently have a lot to honk about! It is always an amazing experience to see such a large flock of birds and this is generally something that will only happen in more remote areas where there is a lot of natural space.....

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Sand Bubbler Crabs – Astonishing Artists of the Beach
Nature Photography with marysejansenart
Tiny little crabs produce natural art galleries on the beach

When I first visit the Australian east coast, I discover an interesting phenomenon on some of the beaches. They are littered with little sand balls, randomly scattered around in strange, sometimes beautiful patterns. As I begin to study them up close I notice that somewhere in the centre of each of those shapes is a little hole in the sand. After a while I can see that tiny crabs move in and out of these holes: they are called Sand Bubbler Crabs!

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A Wonderful Walk in a She-Oak Forest
Nature Photography with marysejansenart
A Pivotal Species in the Ecosystem

This is not a Pine Tree, it’s a She-oak! She-oaks resemble Pine Trees in more then one way. They drop their ‘needles’ on the ground to form a soft carpet in a similar way. And they also produce what looks like tiny pine cones which carry their seeds.
I love how the needle-like foliage creates a soft look ...

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Celebrate National Biodiversity Month
Nature Photography with marysejansenart
Higher Biodiversity Lowers Stress and Lifts Mood

Spring has arrived and I set out for a walk around the lake. Even though this lake is situated in a heavily build up suburban area, surrounded by a large shopping centre, medical facilities and residential buildings, it is a natural oasis! It is so rich in vegetation and there are so many species of birds and other wildlife that it is a great pleasure to spend some time here!

This month (September) is National Biodiversity Month in Australia. We hear the term biodiversity a lot, but what is it exactly?

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3 Wonderful White Winter Blossoms in Queensland
Wildflower Photography with marysejansenart
Wattle, Paperbark and Gum Tree Blossoms


Winter in Queensland can be absolutely glorious! I woke up to a chilly morning today, but there’s not a cloud in the sky and the sun is warming things up quickly to a pleasant maximum of 23 degrees Celsius. The forest is alive with the sounds of numerous birds that are attracted to the flowering trees! Yes, in Queensland we have different blossoms in every season! Interestingly, the dominating colour of the flowers is white at the moment, which seems kind of fitting to match the concept of the winter season! Let me take you along and explore the 3 most abundant white winter blossoms in this forest today!


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4 Graceful Brolgas at the Bus Stop!
Bird Photography with marysejansenart
And many more Brolgas in their natural habitats: wetlands and grasslands

I will never forget this! The first time I encounter Brolgas up close is at the bus stop!!!! Definitely not what I would have expected from these tall, graceful waterbirds that prefer to spend their time in large, open wetlands – away from people!

I’m in outback town Longreach. It’s winter, which I believe in the early morning when it’s absolutely freezing cold and I can’t find enough layers to wear as I try to make a cup of tea on the campsite. But a good two hours later, it has warmed up to another hot and dusty day and most of my clothes are packed up in the car again. As I’m driving through town I have to blink my eyes to make sure that what I see is real: four beautiful Brolgas, hanging out at the bus stop!


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Black Kite – Clever Raptor Plays with Fire
Bird Photography with marysejansenart
The only Australian Raptor that flocks

Birds of prey are circling in the smoke haze around the edge of the fire. These are Black Kites and they are acutely aware that the smoke will drive out potential prey, which will be instantly at their mercy. This easy source of food has led these intelligent raptors to actively seek out the smoke from bush fires in the landscape. And on top of that they have also figured out how to spread the fire themselves. These birds have been seen picking up burning twigs and dropping them in other areas! No wonder the Black Kite is also known as the Firehawk!

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Red-capped Robin – a Colourful Fella
Bird Photography with marysejansenart
Level of redness a sign of good health

During my walk I meet a group of birdwatchers. Really nice people, who are willing to share and they tell me about a Red-capped Robin that has been sighted nearby. Apparently it has been seen repeatedly around the same area and they take me there, in the hope to be able to show me. I follow along through the bushes. Unfortunately we’re not in luck and there is no sign of the bird. I wait for a while and then decide to continue on my walk. Too bad …

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Meat Ants – an Electrifying Encounter
Wildlife Photography with marysejansenart
An aggressively natured bunch and their mass reproductive event

‘Ouch!’, I look at my foot. My friend laughs: ‘Those are Meat Ants!’, she said, ‘don’t worry, they have a nasty bite but don’t sting, so the pain doesn’t last long.’ After this first encounter with these insects I quickly learned not to stand still for long nearby a Meat Ant nest, and preferably not to wear sandals in their territory. This species will defend their nest aggressively against any intruders and they have a tendency to climb your legs and bite when you come to close....

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2 Captivating Caves in Cania Gorge NP
Landscape Photography with marysejansenart
The Dragon Cave and the Bloodwood Cave

Wow! My jaw drops as I gaze up into the Dragon Cave, the first of the two caves in Cania Gorge National Park that I am visiting today. Instantly, it becomes clear how this cave got its name: I am looking at a natural mural on the cave’s back wall and the shape resembles the shape of a dragon quite strikingly! The dragon is black, while the sandstone background comes in shades of white, yellow and brown, so the dragon really stands out! To understand how this cave and its mural were formed we need to go 200 million years back in time!

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Impressions of Great Keppel Island
Landscape Photography with marysejansenart
A journey for the senses

The weather forecast predicts 40-80mm of rain today, and surely it is raining as I am making my way to the boat. I am wondering if I really want to do this today… I have planned to go for a long walk on Wop-pa or Great Keppel Island, 18km off the Capricorn Coast in Queensland. Armed with an umbrella and a raincoat, I hope for the best. With a beaming face our captain informs us that it is going to be an extremely rough ride, sick bags are handed out in anticipation.

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Hardhead – Beautiful Duck deserves more flattering name
Bird Photography with marysejansenart
The only true diving duck in Australia

What’s in a name?!

A pair of beautiful chocolate brown ducks swims gently past down in the creek as I am watching from a small elevated platform. I have not seen these before! They listen to the unflattering name of Hardhead! I can assure you it has nothing to do with the hardness of their skull, nor with their level of stubbornness. In fact, the name is said to refer to the difficulty early taxonomists had with processing the head of this bird!

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Square-tailed Kite – a Rare Encounter
Bird Photography with marysejansenart
Uncommon canopy dweller not often seen up close

I’m talking to another walker on the track as he suddenly says: “Look behind you!” A bird of prey is gliding through the trees, not much higher then eye level! It lands on a branch not far from us so we get a great opportunity to have a good look at it. The smaller birds in the area are not impressed with this visitor in their territory and they make a lot of noise. The bird of prey is definitely a Kite, but I’m not sure which one. Normally I see and hear Whistling Kites in this area, but this one is different. It turns out to be a Square-tailed Kite!

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Exciting News: ‘A River in the Sky’ premieres at PIWEFF
A Nature & Wildlife Film by marysejansenart
My first documentary screened at international film festival

My story of the floods is the perfect story to create climate change awareness as well as a platform to showcase some of Australia’s beautiful wildlife. So I decide to enter my first documentary ‘A River in the Sky’ in this festival. A few months later, I am thrilled to hear that my film has been selected!

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Sensational Seaweeds on Rocky Shores
Nature Photography with marysejansenart
Seaweed has fascinating applications that paint a brighter future

Seaweeds sensational??? What do you think when you hear the word ‘seaweed’? Maybe you think about sushi, about slimy heaps washed up on the beach, or about the giant kelp forests in which Harry Potter fights a massive battle? These were some of my own associations, but as I am exploring this rock pool ….. I begin to think more about this interesting life form.

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Shining Bronze-Cuckoo is Living the Good Life
Bird Photography with marysejansenart
This bird practices lazy parenting in beautiful locations

A small bird grabs my attention. It is not easy to spot as it moves around in the foliage of the trees but every now and then I get a glimpse of a beautiful metallic green shine that has me interested. This shiny colour is visible on the birds back and wings. The underparts are barred with heavily contrasting white and dark green colours. I peer patiently through the lens of my camera, waiting for the right moment to get a clean shot. Yes, there it is! This little beauty is a Shining Bronze-Cuckoo!

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Safe Koala Crossings – Living with Wildlife in Urban Areas
Wildlife Photography with marysejansenart
Nature in our Modern World Part 1

I’m driving home and it’s dark. As always, I drive with an extra focus: not only on the road but also on the side of the road. I see something moving there. Thankfully, I have a habit of driving more slowly under these conditions and I am able to hit the breaks – just in time for a koala to cross the road! I watch the cute little creature reach the other side safely and climb up a tree, before I continue on, pondering on living with wildlife in urbanized areas.

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Old Man’s Beard Creates Mysterious Atmosphere in the Forest
Nature Photography with marysejansenart
Usnea lichen indicator species for clean air

I walk on and it becomes clear that this path has not been used for a while as it is quite overgrown in places by the bushes. I keep going though because this place is drawing me in. It’s slow going in places and challenging to work through all the prickly branches, but when I reach an open spot my jaw drops in awe… I feel like I have walked straight into a mysterious fairy-tale forest! The trees here are literally covered in Old Man’s Beard! The sunlight accentuates their light green colour as the long, hanging mosses slowly wave back and forth in the breeze. It is just beautiful!

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Pacific Baza – Piercing Yellow Eyes Scanning for Prey
Bird Photography with marysejansenart
Crested Hawk performs clever hunting techniques

Silently a large bird glides through the canopy of the Eucalyptus trees. If I hadn’t been looking up to the tree tops, I would never have known it was there! It sits on a branch for a few moments and then it takes off again. Not in the way you would expect a bird to take off by flapping it’s wings and lifting off of the branch. But by plunging straight down head first with its wings folded! The bird unfolds its wings as it begins to fall and easily glides to the next chosen branch with a few gentle flaps. The piercing yellow eyes and a distinct crest on this hawk-like bird tell me it’s a Pacific Baza!

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Are Nature Prescriptions Coming to Australia?
Nature Photography with marysejansenart
Doctor’s Orders: Connecting with Nature for Increased Physical and Mental Well-being

... While we all know that physical exercise is good for our health, it’s not just about that. Doing it in nature has many extra benefits, especially when we pay attention to our surroundings:

Take your time and stop often. Take a closer look and marvel at the interesting things you can find along your path. Stop to enjoy a beautiful view. Take a photo to bring the memory home. Keep a nature journal and write and draw about the things you see. Sit down at a suitable spot and have a healthy snack and/or a drink of water. Lean up against a tree, close your eyes for a while and listen to the sounds around you. Notice the smells. Feel the breeze on your skin. Engage all your senses!!...

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3 Perfectly Purple Wildflowers
Wildflower Photography with marysejansenart
Purple Wildflowers Provide Royal Beauty to the Forest

The forest is dark and damp, even though the sun is shining brightly in a blue sky above the canopy. The harsh sunlight penetrates the forest occasionally with a few thin rays, which increases the contrast with the darkness below. I smell the earthy scent of the dirt under my feet, mixed with that of a variety of plants and flowers. I hear a number of different bird sounds and every now and then I get a glimpse of one of them through the thick vegetation. One of the sun rays reaches ground level and illuminates a beautiful purple wildflower!

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Pretty Red-browed Finches Reproduce Swiftly
Bird Photography with marysejansenart
Nesting several times per season, these birds are on fire!

I stop in my tracks. A couple of small birds are rummaging around in the tall grass beside the track I’m walking on. They are Red-browed Finches! They are easily frightened and will fly off at the least disturbance, but it looks like I stopped just in time. They are not paying me any notice! Slowly I bring my camera up to my eye and zoom in on the bird closest to me, which has taken position on a small horizontal branch...

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Scaly-breasted Lorikeet – a Well Camouflaged Parrot
Bird Photography with marysejansenart
Scaly-breasted Lorikeet often hangs out with Rainbow Lorikeets

Soft chatter and a rustling through the leaves above my head attract my attention. A green bird is moving around in the foliage, feeding on the nectar from the flowers. It has a bright red beak and red-orange eyes, but otherwise it is quite well camouflaged amongst its green surroundings. I stand completely still, quietly observing it and slowly more and more of the little parrot comes into view. It is a Scaly-breasted Lorikeet!

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Meet the Magnificent Tiger Spider formerly known as Golden Orb Weaver
Wildlife Photography by marysejansenart
Does the gigantic female really eat the little male after mating?

... I spot a web, occupying a large open space over a gully. Long, strong threads attach it to surrounding trees. In the centre of the web I spot the female, busy weaving and repairing her web as shown in the featured image. As I’m peering through my zoom lens I am truly fascinated to be witnessing how she pulls a thread of silk out of her abdomen with one of her back legs, pushing it outward and using her other back leg to connect it to another strand. With her other legs she keeps walking along, while she repeats the process over and over....

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Orange Mangrove – a Fascinating Life Cycle
Wildflower Photography with marysejansenart
Cup-shaped flowers, cigar-shaped fruits and knee-shaped roots

Mangrove Forests are an amazing place! They belong to the most valuable ecosystems on earth and it is as if you can feel that when you walk there. There is a quietness and a buzz at the same time – which is hard to describe. The mangroves live in an incredible harsh environment and despite that they flourish and the place is full of life energy.

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Boobook Owls – Cute Little Owls Cause Some Commotion
Wildlife Photography with marysejansenart
Australian Boobook Owl formerly known as Southern Boobook Owl

It’s a hot summer day and apart from the cicadas, which make a lot of noise, the forest is quiet. Most of the birds are at rest, but suddenly I hear a lot of activity coming from an area of dense vegetation. These birds sound agitated, I wonder what is causing the commotion. Peering through the branches I quickly find the answer: two small owls are perched there!

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Pademelons – Cute and Shy Marsupials
Wildlife Photography with marysejansenart
A life in the darkness of the rainforest

I crawl out of my tent. It’s very early in the morning and everybody else appears to be still asleep, but I need to go to the toilet. When I open the zipper I am confronted with a thick fog. A dozen meters away I notice a small figure on the grass, it appears to be grazing. Very quietly I sneak up a little bit closer, until I can see the animal properly. It’s a Pademelon!

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Cotton Harlequin Bugs – Shiny Jewels that Stink
Wildlife Photography with marysejansenart
Aggregations in the Cotton Tree

I stop and admire the yellow flowers on the Coastal Hibiscus, also known as Cotton Tree or Cottonwood. A bright orange creature attracts my attention. There’s two of them, sitting right there on the flower base! Upon closer examination I notice that they have small metallic blue patches on their orange shield. These are Cotton Harlequin Bugs!

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Pandanus Trees Stand Strong
Nature Photography with marysejansenart
Hardy tree withstands the elements

One of the first things that I noticed when I arrived on the eastern Australian coast, were the Pandanus trees. These small trees grow on aerial roots, which was unlike anything I had ever seen at that point in time – except for Mangroves. The roots of the Pandanus tree are also known as prop roots. These roots provide support as they grow out of the branched stems and anchor the tree into sandy soils. It is truly a fascinating sight and characteristic for the coastal headlands and beaches on Australia’s east coast.

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Carpet Python – Big Snake Wears Beautiful Coat
Wildlife Photography with marysejansenart
Cold-blooded constrictor prefers ambush as hunting method

As I am about to top the crest of a hill, two ladies are frantically gesturing me to stop. There is a snake on the road! I pull up and see a ginormous Carpet Python lying on the tarmac. I quickly get my camera and hop out of the car.....

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The Positive Impact of 1 Year of Daily Nature-bites
Nature Photography with marysejansenart
Discovering a new world, lowering stress and improving mood

Exactly one year ago today, I went through the following thought process: “We already know that going out in nature is good for us. But did you know that even looking at an image depicting a natural scene lowers your stress levels? It literally calms your nervous system and helps you relax and recover from stress!” This very fact led me to create my daily Nature-bites project! I began posting a nature-bite every day in the form of a nature-image on Linked-In, created with my mobile phone. A lot has happened since!

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The Mystery of the Tea Tree.
Wildflower Photography with marysejansenart.
Pretty Tea Trees flower abundantly but cause some confusion.

....The colour of the flowers is usually white, but there are also pink and even red variations. The best part is the abundance with which the Tea Trees produce their flowers! The tree or shrub literally gets covered in these little beauties and flowering can last for a number of weeks, even two months! ....

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Eastern Rosella – an extremely colourful parrot.
Bird Photography with marysejansenart.
A mission to capture these stunning feathers on camera.

One of my missions while I am on a short holiday in South Australia is to photograph an Eastern Rosella. It is one of the most colourful birds I have ever seen! I have seen them on a previous visit, but I never got an opportunity for a good shot. They were mostly flying through the tree tops, a dazzling flash of colour accompanied by a chirping call – their flight call.

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5 Surprising Facts about the Black Swan.
Bird Photography with marysejansenart.
Famous waterbird displays some unexpected behaviours!

What a spectacle! A bathing Black Swan draws my attention. Repeatedly it ducks its head in the water to scoop up some water. It then straightens and flaps its wings to shower itself and in that moment it reveals a surprise! The Black Swan is not entirely black! When it opens its wings I can see that they are half white! What a stunning sight!

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7 Wonders of the Rainforest.
Nature and Wildlife Photography with marysejansenart.
Exploring the natural wonders of the Lamington Rainforest.

Exploring a rainforest guarantees to evoke a sense of awe as there are so many natural wonders waiting to be discovered. Each walk will bring a different experience. I like to go in with an open mind and no specific expectations and just open my senses to the wonders of the rainforest! Let me take you along!

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The Relaxing Sounds of the Rainforest.
Nature Photography with marysejansenart.
An extraordinary concert against a magnificent backdrop.

As soon as I hop out of the car, after a long drive in busy holiday traffic, the rainforest washes away all my stress. The silence is so calming … Silence? No, it is not actually silent. By silence I mean that I cannot hear the urban sounds of cars, trucks, lawn mowers, planes, helicopters and barking dogs. But what I can hear is the sounds of the rainforest: birds, cicadas, the breeze rustling through the trees, trickling water and even some frogs! And that against a backdrop of lush rainforest in all shades of green! What could be more relaxing??

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Discover the Wonders of the Undergrowth. Wildlife and Wildflower Photography with marysejansenart. Is there always something new to discover when you go on a nature walk?
A nature walk with a focus on the undergrowth
As I am walking through the bush, today my attention is drawn to the undergrowth. There’s a lot going on here at the moment. It is interesting, I do not plan these things up front. I just go for a walk in a place that I feel drawn to on the day with an intention to film an episode of ‘Come for a walk in the Australian Bush’, and to take photos of course! Sometimes, I begin my walk and I feel a little bit of worry. Will there be enough to see here to create an episode?
But as you may have noticed throughout this year, nature never fails to deliver, as long as you have an open mind!

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3 Amazing Dragonflies in the Libellulidae Family. Wildlife Photography with marysejansenart. Meet the Graphic Flutterer, the Blue Skimmer and the Sultan.
It’s dragonfly season again! The weather is warming up and even in my garden the dragonflies are abundant at the moment, even though there is no fresh water source nearby! One species that is a regular visitor to my garden is particularly beautiful, due to the patterns on its wings. It is the Graphic Flutterer.


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Green Tree Ants – Fascinating and Tasty
Wildlife Photography with marysejansenart
Clever engineers and farmers with a lemony flavour

‘Who would like to eat the bottom of an ant?’ …. silence in the group … ‘It tastes like lemon!’, adds our Aboriginal guide, in an attempt to make the idea more enticing. One hand shoots up, the hand of my 5 year old. The group regards the child with mixed emotions of admiration and empathizing chills, but she has made up her mind solid and steps forward as if eating the bottom of an ant is the most normal thing in the world...

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Mudskippers – Intriguing Animals Inhabit Tropical Mudflats. Wildlife Photography with marysejansenart. Exploring life on the mudflats – the kingdom of wading birds, crabs and mudskippers.
Mudflats stretch out before me, the tide is as far out as it goes and it’s a long way! The grey-brown mud doesn’t look exactly appealing but I quickly discover there is a lot more to it then what you would think at first sight!...

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The Australian Magpie’s Beautiful Serenade. Bird Photography with marysejansenart. Common black and white bird is a highly musical companion.
I’m sitting on my back deck, having breakfast. I’m enjoying a sunny morning in spring and sit there listening to the birds. An Australian Magpie comes to check me out… or is it more interested in my breakfast?
Generally, I don’t feed birds, as they don’t need it and it’s unhealthy for them to eat my food. There is plenty of food to find in my garden, which I always let them know they are welcome to help themselves to. But it turns out this Magpie is not after my breakfast at all as it breaks out in song. These birds have a stunningly beautiful song and without any sudden movements I gently grab my phone and start filming this early morning serenade! What a great start of the day!

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Dianella – the Beauty of the Flax Lily. Wildflower Photography with marysejansenart. Zooming in on small wildflowers – part 4.
I’m on a walk with a friend and she points out a Dianella plant to me. It has beautiful blue berries which, she tells me, are supposed to be edible. She learned this on a bush tucker walk she did recently with a local Aboriginal guide. We take a closer look...

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Burrowing Crabs of Great Importance in the Mangroves. Wildlife Photography with marysejansenart. Bright coloured pincers stand out in the mud.
It’s low tide, and I’m walking through the mangrove forest. These are Grey Mangroves, I can tell by the numerous pencil roots that are sticking out of the mud like little snorkels. I hear a few birds in the tree tops, but I can’t see them. Other then that, at a first glance this place looks deserted. But nothing is less true. Taking my time to look at the muddy floor, I begin to see movement. A little mud skipper… Some tiny fish in a little puddle… And a bit further along the walk I notice it is absolutely teeming with burrowing crabs!

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The Australian Magpie’s Beautiful Serenade. Bird Photography with marysejansenart. Common black and white bird is a highly musical companion.
I’m sitting on my back deck, having breakfast. I’m enjoying a sunny morning in spring and sit there listening to the birds. An Australian Magpie comes to check me out… or is it more interested in my breakfast?
Generally, I don’t feed birds, as they don’t need it and it’s unhealthy for them to eat my food. There is plenty of food to find in my garden, which I always let them know they are welcome to help themselves to. But it turns out this Magpie is not after my breakfast at all as it breaks out in song. These birds have a stunningly beautiful song and without any sudden movements I gently grab my phone and start filming this early morning serenade! What a great start of the day!

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Grevillea Flowers – Colourful Magnets for Birds and Insects. Flower Photography with marysejansenart Hardy beauties decorate bush, park and garden..
As we are coming into spring, I daily enjoy a colourful display of Grevillea flowers! It is incredible how many varieties there are in colour, shape and size of these plants in the Proteaceae family. Grevilleas are native to Australia and generally take the form of a shrub ...

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The Lewin’s Honeyeater and its 2 almost indistinguishable look-alikes. Bird Photography with marysejansenart.Even experts have a hard time discerning three species of Honeyeater.
Screeching calls emerge from the dense shrubbery on the river bank. Slowly I move in a bit closer to see what type of bird is making this noise. There is clearly a group of them, as I see the vegetation shake and move in different spots. Every now and then I get a quick glimpse of one of the birds. It is a Lewin’s Honeyeater!

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Noisy Miner – Native Honeyeater may be a Bully but is not a Pest. Bird Photography with marysejansenart. .Highly social bird defends its mob passionately
I peer through my camera while I start filming. The noise intensifies. The preening bird, which looks like a youngster, is more alert now. Suddenly, one of the adult birds appears right next to the young bird upon which it opens its beak wide and now I see where the piercing call comes from!......

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The Lace Monitor – an Impressive Lizard. Wildlife Photography with marysejansenart. Big, Powerful and Beautiful.
A rustle in the undergrowth tells me there is ‘something big’ there. That’s always a bit exciting! When you’ve heard it more often you begin to recognize what various animals sound like when they move around. The raking sound of the Brush Turkey sounds very different from the hopping sound of a Kangaroo. The rustle of a slithering snake is distinctly different again. The noise I am hearing right now consists of a continuous rustle, like the slither, but I can also hear footsteps breaking it up. This must be a Goanna, or Lace Monitor! There it emerges from the undergrowth and begins to climb a tree trunk! It’s absolutely an impressive creature!

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5 Interesting Facts About Kangaroos. Wildlife Photography with marysejansenart. And a Photo Shoot in the Late Afternoon Sun.
The winter sun is slowly going down and quickly losing strength. The ‘Golden Hour’ is approaching! I’ve been enjoying a beautiful walk through a coastal forest, dominated by Paperbark Trees, Lomandras and lots of wildflowers. I spot some fresh kangaroo droppings as well as kangaroo paw prints. Plenty of signs that this is kangaroo country. And this is just the right time of the day to expect them coming out of the woods and start grazing on their evening meal....

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Sulphur-crested Cockatoo – Cracking a tough Nut. Bird Photography with marysejansenart. Screeching bird cracks the toughest nut in the world with ease!
‘What does the bird say?’ the European grandmother asked her 5 year old Australian born grandchild. In reply the child let out a horrific screech. She laughed and said: ‘No, the bird says ‘tweet tweet tweet’!’ But the child was adamant: ‘No granny, the bird says: ….’ and a few more screeches followed. The grandmother looked confused and glanced at her daughter for help. The daughter confirmed that the child was correct: ‘This is the sound of our beautiful Sulphur-crested Cockatoos!’

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Australian King Parrot – the King of the Parrots. Bird Photography with marysejansenart. A Stealthy Bird with a Royal Costume.
A high-pitched whistle attracts my attention as I am walking through another beautiful Eucalyptus forest. It is distinctly different from the chatter of the numerous Lorikeets that are feeding high in the tree tops. It doesn’t take long to find the bright red bird!

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The Irresistible Pull of Magnetic Island. Landscape Photography with marysejansenart. Magnificent Views and Secluded Beaches.
....I remember stunning scenery of large granite boulders, forests with Gum Trees and Hoop Pines, secluded bays and beaches and beautiful blue water. Can you imagine I am drawn to go here again? Magnetic Island pulls on you like a magnet! With 78% of the island being a national or conservation park, featuring numerous walking tracks, this place is right up my alley!.....

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The Rainbow Bee-eater – a Flash of Colour. Bird Photography with marysejansenart. Pretty Insect Exterminator with Surprising Nesting Habits.
A flash of colour sheers through the sky, and darts back again to where it came from. I try to follow it with my eyes. There it is again! This time I find the branch that it has landed on and I can take a better look. An amazing looking multi-coloured bird named Rainbow Bee-eater is the cause of this spectacular aerial display....

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5 Types of Wetlands and their Birds. Landscape Photography with marysejansenart. What’s the deal with all these different wetlands and waterbirds?
Wetlands and waterbirds are very broad terms which can get a bit confusing. In earlier posts, I have discussed some of them and I think before I take you on my next wetland walk, spotting waterbirds, that now is a good time to give it some more context.

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Marsh Tiger and Tawny Coster – Two Beautiful Butterflies. Wildlife Photography with marysejansenart. Colourful companions during my walks on Cape Pallarenda.
It is a regular occurrence here, during my walks in the Town Common Conservation Park on Cape Pallarenda, that I am surrounded by a myriad of butterflies. It is quite an amazing sight, especially the large numbers of the Marsh Tiger and Tawny Coster. And apart from those two, there are also lots of other species big and small fluttering about....

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Meet the Amazing Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo. Bird Photography by marysejansenart. A unique opportunity for a close encounter.
A soft screechy noise attracts my attention. Next to me is a large tree with big leaves. Hidden between those leaves and branches I find some Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos feeding on the fruit of this tree. Wow! I can’t believe I am so close to these awesome birds! Usually they are quite shy of people and will take off with a loud screech before you get the chance to come anywhere near them!

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Glass House Mountains – Awe Inspiring Peaks. Landscape Photography with marysejansenart.Take a walk at the Glass House Mountains Lookout.
From whichever direction you look, the Glass House Mountains’ awe-inspiring peaks dominate the south-east Queensland coastal plain, rising up in their magnificent shapes. No wonder they have played a significant role in people’s lives throughout history, and continue to do so to this day...

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Bushfire – friend or foe? Landscape Photography by marysejansenart. The difference between Wildfires, Hazard Reduction Burns and Cool Burns.
Driving on an outback road I have to turn around because of a bushfire. But not before I take this photo. The scene has an incredible beauty with the deep red dirt, lined by the trees in a haze of smoke. When you look really, really closely in the centre of the image you might notice a Black Kite. These raptors hang out at the edge of the fire, waiting to ambush prey that comes fleeing out of the smoke…
When you live in Australia bushfires are a common occurrence. They can be very dangerous and destructive. But they can also be a good thing, keeping us and wildlife safe and even aid conservation of natural areas. How is that possible??

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The Comb-crested Jacana and its Abnormally Long Toes. Bird Photography with marysejansenart. The bird that seems to walk on water!
‘What a peculiar bird!’, I’m thinking, as I am laying eyes for the first time on a Comb-crested Jacana. I’m travelling through Cape York and on a walk in a conservation area that contains a lagoon with lots of water lilies. It is a beautiful setting and there is a variety of waterbirds present. But where most waterbird swim in the water, these ones appear to walk on it!

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The Australian Brush-turkey – a diligent bird. Bird Photography with marysejansenart. It’s not all about the looks!
You may not think of a Brush-turkey as a pretty creature, but they surely are fascinating!
... it’s actually called Brush-turkey for it’s behaviour of raking the forest floor with its feet. It does so for two reasons...

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The Huntsman – a Notoriously Big and Hairy Spider. Wildlife Photography with marysejansenart. Freak out or tolerate?
‘Now it’s going to be fun…’, I said to my partner, closing the bathroom door in the cabin firmly behind me. I had spotted a huge, hairy spider on the wall and didn’t feel like being anywhere near it....

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Celebrating 100 Awesome Nature-bites! Nature Photography with marysejansenart. Connecting with nature on a daily basis.
For a hundred days in a row I have been creating these images. Every single day I took a moment to step outside and look around to find something in nature that I could share....It doesn’t have to be the tallest tree, the highest mountain or the most endangered bird to be interesting... Nature has a tendency to make us feel feelings like awe and wonder. These feelings are very good for us...

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The Little Black Cormorant – a Competent Fisher.Bird Photography with marysejansenart. A Water Bird that Loves Company.
It is one of those birds that is often being taken for granted, the Cormorant! This aquatic bird species can be found almost everywhere throughout the world, along coastlines and inland water bodies...There’s a special moment when one bird enters the water. From where I am there is a beautiful reflection of the sunlight on the water, which makes it look like the swimming Cormorant is in the spotlight and there are lots of sparkles around it.....

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Kondalilla Falls – Land of Rushing Water. Landscape Photography with marysejansenart. A Walk in the Rainforest Part 2.
The next morning I set out to Kondalilla National Park again, this time to explore the Kondalilla Falls track.It is raining again, steadily but not too heavy. Nothing my little umbrella can’t handle. The only downside is that holding an umbrella makes shooting photos and videos a bit more challenging. The beauty of rain in the rainforest, compared to rain in other places, is that it is so still, not windy. The dense vegetation breaks any amount of wind that may be present outside the forest. The water drips steadily down the trees and plants and they all have that shiny layer that the wetness gives them.

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Kondalilla National Park – Thriving in a Very Wet Place. Landscape Photography with marysejansenart. A Walk in the Rainforest Part 1.
This morning I started driving in sunny conditions but as I am climbing higher into the mountains I am driving straight into the clouds and a massive downpour! I can barely see two metres in front of me and have trouble making out where the winding road is going, so I’m taking it slow. Finally, I arrive at my destination. Yes, it’s a rainforest so I could expect rain, but ....

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The Dragonfly – a Magnificent Hunting Machine. Wildlife Photography with marysejansenart. Agile flier with big beautiful eyes.
If you are following me you may have noticed that I have recently developed an interest in dragonflies. Being able to zoom in on them more has made me aware of their magnificent design, abundance in colour and great variety in species! Australia hosts over 325 species of dragonflies and damselflies!!

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The many great uses of Lomandra longifolia. Wildflower Photography with marysejansenart. The grassy plant also known as Spikey-headed Mat Rush.
Lomandra longifolia looks like a simple clump of thick, long grass but there is a lot more to it! The flowers are fascinating in the least!

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The Double-barred Finch – a Pretty Little Bird. Bird Photography with marysejansenart. Always on high alert.
The grass is tall, taller than me and I’m not a shortie! I don’t know the name of this grass but I’ve started nick-naming it Elephant Grass. It grows wildly after a bit of rain. It flowers with large plumes and produces lots and lots of seeds. This is what the Double-barred Finches go crazy on.

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Mt Coolum – a harsh, windy and unique place. Landscape Photography with marysejansenart. Rare plants on solidified magma.

Mt Coolum is a dome-shaped hill that rises up out of the mostly flat lowlands of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia. It forms the backdrop of the township of Marcoola which lies right on the coast. Mt Coolum is 208m high and is part of the Mt Coolum National Park. A walking track takes you to the summit and it’s quite a popular track for locals as well as visitors and I am keen to check it out!

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The Secretive Eastern Whipbird – Often Heard But Rarely Seen. Bird Photography with marysejansenart.The story of a whip-cracking duet.
As I am filming the forest for my new episode of ‘Come for a walk in the Australian Bush’, the call of the Eastern Whipbird adds something extra to my shot. Fantastic! Quietly I say thank you in my head, I am so pleased that I will now be able to share this with you! It brings back memories of the first time I heard this bird call. Let me take you back to that day …

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Paperbark Trees – useful and beautiful. Landscape Photography with marysejansenart.A life in the swamps.
There’s something special about a Paperbark Forest. The trees are stunning with their white papery bark and dominate the landscape which is buzzing with mosquito’s and birds all around. I don’t enjoy the mozzies but I’m dressed with long pants and sleeves and sprayed with repellent because I do want to explore this place regardless!

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The Eastern Water Dragon – a Unique and Fascinating Reptile. Wildlife Photography with marysejansenart. Ancient looking lizard likes to show off.
My first encounter with Eastern Water Dragons was in the middle of Brisbane, just after I arrived in Australia. It was not exactly what I expected to see in the middle of a big city...

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Grey Mangroves – a Fairytale Forest. Nature Photography with marysejansenart. Step into the world of the tree that grows pencil roots.
There is something special about a walk in a mangrove forest. It’s like there is a different atmosphere. As soon as I enter the walk, I feel like I’ve entered a another world! The Grey Mangroves dominate here. They are not very tall trees, they grow 3-10m high. They can get old though, they can live up to 100 years!
Their amazing and unique aerial root system is visible above the waterline and complemented with gnarled tree trunks and sprawling, twisting branches that get entangled with the neighbouring trees! Mosquitos are buzzing, cicadas are singing, I hear a variety of birds and there’s a slight breeze rustling through the leaves. Faintly I can hear the water of the river flowing in the background. I feel like I’m ready to go on a treasure hunt!

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9 Interesting Facts About Koalas. Wildlife Photography with marysejansenart. Spot a koala and learn all about this amazing animal.
Last month, finally, the koala has officially been listed as endangered in Queensland, New South Wales, and the ACT. A good reason to put koalas in the spotlight! I’m going to share 9 interesting facts about koalas with you today.
And there’s more: if you’ve read my article about the wildlife spotting and/or saw my video about my World Wildlife Day Walk, you would understand my feeling of elation when spotting a koala that I can share on video with you so soon after! It was almost as if the forest had heard my call!

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Nature-bite: a Quick, Daily Nature Fix to Help Lower Stress. Nature Photography with marysejansenart. Calm your nervous system by looking at a nature image.
We already know that going out in nature is good for us. But did you know that even looking at an image depicting a natural scene lowers your stress levels? It literally calms your nervous system and helps you relax and recover from stress! This very fact led me to create the nature-bite!

Read all about it and view my first 2 weeks of nature-bites:

Wildlife Spotting Experiences: Disappointing or Exciting? Wildlife Photography with marysejansenart. Join me on a nature walk and get some wildlife watching tips.
This week it’s World Wildlife Day, and what better excuse could one have to go on a nature walk and try to spot some wildlife? I don’t really need an excuse, because I will happily do it any day, if I have the opportunity!
Do you go out wildlife watching? What has been your experience? Do you always find it exciting or do you sometimes feel disappointed when you didn’t see what you came for?
Wildlife does its own thing, you can’t order a koala on a viewing menu!

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Variegated Fairy-wren – a Splendour of Colours! Bird Photography with marysejansenart. A close-up look at the male Variegated Fairy-wren.
It takes a bit of effort not to get frustrated… Every time the little bird sits down I try to get my camera to quickly focus for the shot, but most of the time the bird is already gone before I can blink an eye. And that is when I’m lucky enough to even get it close up in my view finder before it hides behind the bushes again! Variegated Fairy-wrens are tiny, restless and fast! It is a real challenge to get a good photo!
A challenge it may be, but I’m up for it, because they are stunningly beautiful!

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Yellow Rush Lily, Goodenia and Wattle Flowers brighten the Forest with Joyful Colours.Wildflower Photography with marysejansenart.Zooming in on small wildflowers – part 3.
Yellow is the dominating colour of the wildflowers in the forest today! At first glance I didn’t notice them in the landscape but upon closer examination the knee high grass on the forest floor is absolutely dotted with tiny yellow flowers!.....
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Little Red Flying Foxes – A Cozy Bunch. Wildlife Photography with marysejansenart. Temporary guests in the local Flying Fox Camp.
Busy chatter comes from the trees overhead. The colony of Flying Foxes, which are also known as Fruit Bats, is even noisier then usual. I look up and notice that their numbers have increased. This colony normally consists of Black Flying Foxes and Grey-headed Flying Foxes but now there are a number of red-brown, smaller looking bats in the camp as well. These are Little Red Flying Foxes! They are the smallest amongst the Fruit Bats, but still a relatively large bat with a body length of about 20cm and a wingspan of around 1 metre!

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Australian White Ibis – a very graceful Bird. Bird Photography with marysejansenart. Come for a Walk in the Wetlands
World Wetlands Day is coming up this week and to honor it I decide to go for a walk in my local wetlands.
Learn more about wetlands, Australian White Ibises and the interesting surprise the wetlands have in store for me on this walk!

Curious? Click the link to read more!

The important Story of Dolphin Calling Point. Wildlife Photography with marysejansenart. The intricate relationship between Australia’s Aboriginal Peoples and the Natural World
“I want you to tell the story! I’ve told it to you today and now I want you to tell it to your friends, your family …” Lyndon Davis, traditional owner of the Kabi Kabi (or Gubbi Gubbi) lands as well as artist and storyteller, looks at me intently. The story of Dolphin Calling Point is an interesting and important story that signifies the intricate relationship between the Aboriginal peoples and the natural world and their deep knowledge of it. In this story the dolphins play a central role. Lyndon told it with so much passion that I know I will always remember it. And today I want to share it with you!

Hunt for Happiness Nature Walk. Nature Photography with marysejansenart. Connecting to nature during the Hunt for Happiness Week 2022. Where do you find happiness? Come for a nature walk with me and bring all your senses! Also in this blog, the launch of my new video-project: 'Come for a walk with me in the Australian Bush'!

A New Beginning - Reflections on a Life-cycle. Wildflower Photography with marysejansenart. How do you envision your new year?? Worries are just thoughts, and we can let them pass and make room for new thoughts, new beginnings. One flower wilts, a new one opens.

The Tawny Frogmouth Chick - Cute and Cuddly. Bird Photography with marysejansenart Following a Tawny Frogmouth nest. For the first time I get a look at the little white fluffy thing that is the Tawny Frogmouth chick. It’s a brief glimpse but it’s so cute, I’m hooked! I decide to keep coming back to see how the chick is growing....

Red-bellied Black Snake – how to stay safe around venomous snakes
Wildlife Photography with marysejansenart
Photographing dangerous subjects – part 2
I can quickly see it's a Red-bellied Black Snake. Red-bellies, as they are often referred to, are a beautiful glossy black snake with a distinctive ...

The Song of the Laughing Kookaburra
Bird Photography with marysejansenart
Why Laughing Kookaburras laugh.
I love waking up to the call of the Laughing Kookaburra!....

The Great Barrier Reef and its fascinating Corals
Nature Photography with marysejansenart
Enjoying the Reef from the air and on the beach
...I'm on a flight between Brisbane and Cairns, here in Queensland, Australia and I’m getting a really good view of the Great Barrier Reef!...

Playing Hide and Seek with the adorable Echidna
Wildlife Photography with marysejansenart
If I can't see you, you can't see me!
The sun is going down, the mozzies are coming out and the temperature is dropping.....

Extreme Weather in the Lamington Rainforest. Nature Photography with marysejansenart.This is a rainforest, it's supposed to rain!
Flashes of intense bright light and an immense racket keep waking me up during the night in the Lamington Rainforest. We are being hit by massive thunderstorms and it’s hard to find words to describe the amount of water that is pouring down from the sky! .....

The Eastern Grey Kangaroo - an Australian Icon!
Wildlife Photography with marysejansenart.
She has a joey in her pouch!

Would you agree that the kangaroo is possibly Australia’s biggest icon?

30 Noisy Rainbow Lorikeets and Counting! Bird Photography with maysejansenart Taking part in the Aussie Backyard Bird Count.... A thunderstorm is approaching fast so there is a lot of activity amongst the birds, particularly from the lorikeets!....

Wildflower Photography with marysejansenart. Zooming in on small wildflowers – part 2.
Walking through the Australian bush all year round is never dull. I love how during winter and spring the bush is decorated with lots of pretty and colourful wildflowers. Particularly charming are the pea flowers ...

Satin Bowerbird - the Story of the Stunning Eye. Bird Photography with marysejansenart. ...Suddenly I feel like I’m being watched. I look up into the most stunning eye I have ever seen! The amazing purple-blue colour draws me right in. There has to be a story there!....

The Saltwater Crocodile - photographing dangerous subjects
Wildlife Photography with marysejansenart
How to stay safe in croc territory

Getting up close and personal with a saltwater crocodile is not a good idea. When photographing wildlife it is essential to keep yourself and the wildlife safe.....

Instant Calm: Why Art and Nature are good for your physical and mental health!

And what is so special about water?

Curious? Please check out my blog post!

Nature Photography with marysejansenart.

Would you like to know more about this fascinating plant? Check out my new blog post 'The Delicate Wombat Berry'!
Wildflower photography with marysejansenart. Zooming in on small wildflowers. The beauty of a close-up photo of the wombat berry is surprising...

Wildlife Photography with marysejansenart. ...Of stiff necks and butt shots ....If you want to go koala spotting and are hoping to photograph a koala in the wild, prepare yourself for a stiff neck and a ‘butt-shot’! That’s on a good day! ......

Would you like to know the story behind this photo and discover the surprise at sunrise at Lake Tinaroo? Landscape Photography with marysejansenart. The best Platypus viewing experience!
....I detected that the stillness of the water was silently interrupted by circle-shaped ripples. That could only mean one thing: platypus!!!....

Would you like to know the story behind this photo and discover the Secrets of the Night at Lake Tinaroo?

Landscape photography with marysejansenart. What happens after sunset at Lake Tinaroo ... We drove in and were immediately taken with ....

Bird Photography with marysejansenart
... As I entered the forest I heard a soft chatter in the bushes. It was barely noticeable but it grabbed my attention. I followed my ears and ....

Do you sometimes feel hopeless when you think about the dire situation the Earth is in? Climate change, so many species threatened with extinction ….
There is still hope. And hope is the key! When we feel hopeful, we feel more ...

Welcome at marysejansenart Nature Photography Blog.

Today – 16 August 2021 – this Blog goes live! I’m very excited to embark on this journey with you!.....