Tropical Totem Gallery

Little Pattie is the stage name of Australian singer, Patricia Thelma Amphlett OAM (born 17 March 1949, Paddington, Sydney) later Patricia Thompson, who performed as a 1960s surf pop singer and then in adult contemporary music. Her debut single from November 1963, "He's My Blonde Headed, Stompie Wompie, Real Gone Surfer Boy", achieved #2 chart success in Sydney and peaked at #19 on the national Kent Music Report. She appeared regularly on television variety programs, including Bandstand and toured supporting Col Joye and the Joy Boys. Little Pattie was entertaining troops during the Vietnam War in Nui Dat, Vietnam, when the nearby Battle of Long Tần began on 18 August 1966. In 1994 she received the Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal in recognition of her services in support of the Australian Armed Forces in operations in Vietnam. Little Pattie received a Medal of the Order of Australia on 9 June 2003 for her services to the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (as Natio...

Little Pattie is the stage name of Australian singer, Patricia Thelma Amphlett OAM (born 17 March 1949, Paddington, Sydney) later Patricia Thompson, who performed as a 1960s surf pop singer and then in adult contemporary music. Her debut single from November 1963, "He's My Blonde Headed, Stompie Wompie, Real Gone Surfer Boy", achieved #2 chart success in Sydney and peaked at #19 on the national Kent Music Report. She appeared regularly on television variety programs, including Bandstand and toured supporting Col Joye and the Joy Boys. Little Pattie was entertaining troops during the Vietnam War in Nui Dat, Vietnam, when the nearby Battle of Long Tần began on 18 August 1966. In 1994 she received the Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal in recognition of her services in support of the Australian Armed Forces in operations in Vietnam. Little Pattie received a Medal of the Order of Australia on 9 June 2003 for her services to the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (as ...

Banksias are a great food source for all kinds of birds, animals and insects. There are more than 150 species of Banksia in Australia, and they are a heavy producers of nectar and therefore an imprtant food source for birds, bats, possums, bees etc. The following short video shows Lorikeets and Wattle birds feeding on the nectar and Superb Fairy Wrens feeding on insects that are attracted to the flower heads.

The Crimson Rosella is a regular visitor to the Sydney area. Here it is seen feeding on a grevillea and below, on wattle seed pods. The Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans) is a parrot native to eastern and south eastern Australia which has been introduced to New Zealand and and Norfolk Island. It is commonly found in, but not restricted to, mountain forests and gardens. The bird sounds in the background include the whip bird, who has proved fairly elusive to me so far, because of its shyness and its habit of foraging very close to the ground in dense scrub. The Flowers are Red Spider Flowers (grevillea speciosa). This species is a shrub, growing up to 3 metres in height. Its leaves are narrow-obovate to round or elliptic to narrow-elliptic . The flowers which are red, or occasionally pink, appear predominantly from late winter to late spring (August to November in Australia) but appear sporadically throughout the year.

This morning, both sides of the Garigal Park track were scattered with Grevillea linearifolia (White spider flower). Grevillea linearfolia is an upright spreading shrub up to about 3m high. The form of Grevillea linearfolia in the park, found north of the harbour on Sydney sandstone, has slender leaves, 2-10 cm long. The underside of the leaves is covered with pale silky hairs. The flowers are white, 6mm long, with a protruding style. Grevillea linearfolia flowers July - October, so right now shrubs are covered with small buds and flowers. We can look forward to a beautiful display for quite a while yet. The flowers are white, 6mm long. Typical dry sandstone area, ideal for Grevillea Liearfolia An upright shrub up to 3metres high

Off the beaten track, there are nooks and crannies in the scrub, where wildflowers bud and bloom but are never seen (well, not by many people anyway).   Here I found sprays of Boronias at their peak, beautifully lit by the early sun proudly beaming down on them. Boronias, and in fact most Australian wildflowers, bloom best in winter, finding the dry summer months a time to conserve their energy.

With an warm, sophisticated tone, Maggie Britton sings smooth evocative jazz. Maggie is singer, songwriter, producer and singing mentor. Back in the '60's, Maggie, fresh from a modelling career in Sydney, travelled to New Zealand with her manager, on tour, and to make a record. "Come On Down" was a smash hit... Here she is, singing that song and chatting with Brian Henderson. More recently, Maggie has performed in major cities including Paris and Tokyo.  This following performance at The Basement, showcases a few evergreens that she does so well.    Maggie's album "Ditto" is available on iTunes  or on Maggie Britton's Official Website Enjoy a sample here.....

With an warm, sophisticated tone, Maggie Britton sings smooth evocative jazz. Maggie is singer, songwriter, producer and singing mentor. Back in the '60's, Maggie, fresh from a modelling career in Sydney, travelled to New Zealand with her manager, on tour, and to make a record. "Come On Down" was a smash hit... Here she is, singing that song and chatting with Brian Henderson. More recently, Maggie has performed in major cities including Paris and Tokyo.  This following performance at The Basement, showcases a few evergreens that she does so well.    Maggie's album "Ditto" is available on iTunes  or on Maggie Britton's Official Website Enjoy a sample here.....

Boronia sprays.  The sun admires each one,  glowing and beaming.

Searching the bush track,  awakening the tiny denizens,  lighting the tree tops.

Magic time of day.  An hour earlier, nothing.  Now life shows itself.

Searching the bush track,  awakening the tiny denizens,  lighting the tree tops. Magic time of day. An hour earlier, nothing.  Now life shows itself. I entered the bushland this morning on my usual search of something new. Flowers,  birds, trees, rocks, animals? But then I became aware of the morning light, revealing itself differently. Light fog and low Winter Sun combined to give me these wonderful images. I didn't go home empty handed. 

We spent Monday July 8, way out in the West of Sydney at Featherdale, a wildlife park first opened to the public in 1972. Our visit coincided with the arrival of Dingo pups. Commonly mistaken for the domestic dog, Dingoes don't bark and have only one breeding cycle per year The Wildlife Park celebrates the arrival of three Alpine Dingo Pups.  The litter of pups were born to proud parents Tia and Ernie on the 27th May.  During these school holidays (29th June to 14th July), visitors can get right up close and meet these gorgeous pups with encounters daily. I've always considered that I was fairly knowledgeable about Australian Birds, but I never heard this one... The Chiming Wedgebill. I wouldn't want this little chimer outside my bedroom window each morning, but a nice little bird nonetheless. Pied Imperial Pigeon Agile Wallaby Koala Kookaburra Pied Heron Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby Centralian Carpet Python Egret Pied Stilt Built on 7 acres, Featherdale has become a popular...

We took an easy walk from Manly Beach to Shelly Beach, alongside the ocean all the way. At the halfway point are two cafes at Fairy Bower, offering an chance to stop for a warming coffee. Close by to the coffee shops sits Fairy Bower Baths. Young and old are well protected from the ocean waves.  Others sit on nearby rocks to sunbake and take in the views Manly Beach, sea and skyscrapers. Shelley Beach is a small sheltered cove ideal for swimming and snorkeling. Divers enter the calm waters here and work their way round the nearby rocks and crevices There is anecdotal evidence from regular divers that the abundance and diversity of marine life has increased significantly in this time, however no formal studies have been conducted.

A beautiful blue sky day in Manly. The sudden sunny conditions had everyone thinking the same thing "Gotta get out in the fresh air". A lot, even ventured into the sea.  I suspect these people do this every day of the week regardless of temp or weather.