Spring is here so there’s some competition in the air. Here are a couple of male red-bellied black snakes in combat outside our house this afternoon [video, 21 seconds].

#spring #wildlife #armidale #metz #fauna

Using the definition for meteorological seasons, today, September 1, is the first day of Spring here in much of temperate Australia.

It was a misty, frosty start to the day, though, with a minimum overnight temperature of -2.6°C (27 °F).

The accompanying photograph was taken about 10 minutes after sunrise with the sun adding a beautiful golden hue to the mist and frost-burnt grass.

#spring #mist #armidale #metz #photogrpahy #sunrise

While wandering through a paddock at sunset this evening the dogs and I came across this echidna doing its own sunset wandering. Unusually, it didn't curl up in a protective ball when it heard us but, rather, kept its head up to check us out. The dogs are well behaved and mostly ignored it.

#rural #newSouthWales #wildlife #photography #sunset #metz #armidale

Well, this morning’s walk with the dogs was a doozy. The temperature when we set out before sunrise was around -11°C (12°F). It was definitely a balaclava-wearing morning. Now, only a couple of hours later (9 am), it’s already warmed up to 6°C (43°F).

#winter #sunrise #rural #newSouthWales #frost #metz #armidale #photography

The dogs and I had a somewhat colder morning walk today with a pre-sunrise temperature of -8.0°C (17.6°F).

The photo from this walk shows hoar frost crystals growing on a old fence at the side of the road.

#winter #rural #newSouthWales #frost #sunrise #goldenHour #photography #metz #armidale

Another cold, frosty morning with an overnight minimum of -9.1°C (15.5°F). The low, just-risen sun gives a strong golden hue to this woodland scene. The local kangaroos, as usual, are alert but not alarmed as the dogs and I pass by.

#metz #armidale #winter #rural #newSouthWales #photography #sunrise

Another cold, frosty morning was had here with the overnight minimum temperature being -7.8°C (18°F).

This photograph from this morning's walk is an example of a common Winter occurrence here - a fog bow [1].

This requires that the low, rising sun is at my back and that a low, shallow mist sits on the ground.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fog_bow

#metz #winter #weather #frost #newSouthWales #armidale #photography #fogBow

Another cold, frosty morning was had here with the overnight minimum temperature being -7.8°C (18°F).

This photograph from this morning's walk is an example of a common Winter occurrence here - a fog bow [1].

This requires that the low, rising sun is at my back and that a low, shallow mist sits on the ground.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fog_bow

#metz #winter #weather #frost #newSouthWales #armidale #photography #fogBow

We had a decent frost this morning with an overnight temperature of -8.0°C (17.6°F). The photograph is of hoar frost growing atop a fence post about 30 minutes after sunrise.

Much of the reason for it being cold here in winter is that we're 1020 metres (3,350 ft) above sea level atop The Great Dividing Range.

#metz #winter #weather #frost #newSouthWales #armidale #photography

We had a decent frost this morning with an overnight temperature of -8.0°C (17.6°F). The photograph is of hoar frost growing atop a fence post about 30 minutes after sunrise.

Much of the reason for it being cold here in winter is that we're 1020 metres (3,350 ft) above sea level atop The Great Dividing Range.

#metz #winter #weather #frost #newSouthWales #armidale #photography

We had a decent frost this morning with an overnight temperature of -8.0°C (17.6°F).

The photograph is of hoar frost growing atop a fence post about 30 minutes after sunrise.

Much of the reason for it being cold here in winter is that we're 1020 metres (3,350 ft) above sea level atop The Great Dividing Range.

#metz #winter #weather #frost #newSouthWales #armidale #photography

The dogs and I definitely know that Winter is coming. The overnight minimum temperature was -3.1 degC (26 degF) giving some nice hoar frost growing on a fence railing. The low temperatures usually mean, though, that the sun’s shining when we're on our morning walk.

#frost #winter #armidale #goldenHour #sunrise #photography

@CaraBruar Mice have started slightly early here.

I trapped 203 of them in 2021 (year of the mouse plague), only 4 in 2022, and 5 in the past fortnight already!

All in mechanical traps with soft peanut butter bait. I don't use poison as that would like likely get into the local native animal food chain.

#armidale #rodents #wildlife

One of this afternoon's storms. The edge of this one passed us by quite quickly but was very squally.

#weather #storm #armidale

Some serious weather's about to hit us now (heading west to east) … we already had 16 mm in 10 minutes this afternoon. If it's heavy enough there’ll be runoff into the dams which desperately need it. #armidale #rural #storm #weather

The The Healthy Communities Foundation Australia Ltd is working with the The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) to build a new virtual training centre in #Armidale to address chronic doctor shortages. #ruralhealth https://www.netimes.com.au/2023/01/26/new-medical-training-project-offers-hope-to-new-england/