Summer 2026 update

Update

Summer is coming to an end and I finally feel ready to get back into some creative work and nature journaling. It’s been a long while since I’ve shared what’s happening so this is a quick catch-up followed up by what I hope will become a regular series of monthly nature journaling updates.

In October I started off with the Inktober challenge but after 3 days didn't continue. For the few I did, I enjoyed using a pen on toned paper and drawing the wildflowers at a nearby bush reserve. These included the donkey orchid, cat's paw and tiny triggerplants.

There were two workshops that month: a beachcomb at Coogee for the school holidays and in Balga. At the end of the month the Perth Nature Journal Club met up at the Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary and did some nature journaling of the nesting ibis as well as entering a few bird counts for the Aussie Backyard Bird Count.

Since then the weather warmed up, I became busier with school groups and my nature journaling took a step back. In November we managed to visit Dryandra Woodland for the second time that year, for a few days of camping. Sadly we saw a lot less wildlife around the campsite and while hiking than previously - not a single woylie, only a brushtail possum with its young. Perhaps the population has had a recent collapse? Luckily we did spot a numbat and a monitor lizard too. Boobook owls were also calling at night.

In February this year I went for a walk around Lake Goollelal where a new boardwalk has been installed and makes for a wonderful bird-watching experience. I'm excited to visit it more regularly in future. Also in February I visited Rottnest Island again and encountered the dazzling comb jelly (related to, but not actually jellyfish) while snorkelling at Parker Point. Unfortunately, I also suspect there are black rats at the campground now and uploaded photos to iNaturalist (the first reported there) - what do you think?

March - Bunuru

I had grand plans to nature journal daily in March - unfortunately it wasn't to be. It started off well with the blood moon on the 3rd. But that's also when I got stung by a bee that prevented me from walking much for over a week. Then later in the month I was travelling and never got back into it again.

I noticed

• Tiny praying mantis multiple times on our screen door
• Illyarie blooming by the road
• Large orbweaver spiders by my kitchen window that would hide and play dead during the day but come out at night
• Baby gecko and skink
• Interesting moth that I might still journal
• First butcherbird call in a few months

I wonder

Does the blood moon look different (upside down, rotated) from different parts of the world? As in the shadow?

Next time

In April my goal is to do some more nature journaling and plein air painting.