Before you go getting any ideas, blackbutt is an Australian tree in the eucalyptus family. The Blackbutt Reserve, in Newcastle, is more than a park and not really a zoo. It’s a reserve providing a home to many Australian animals. And trees :-).

This duck was the first critter I noticed. Does it look to you like he’s trying not to own that pile next to him?

The high point was seeing the wombats (Catherine’s favorite animal) being fed. They are nocturnal but the reserve feeds them in the morning so that people can see them before they go to bed. This is Sally, 3 years old.

And this is Clyde, who is 15. They live in different enclosures, side by side, because they are solitary animals. It appears to work for them very well.

The koalas were sleeping. Very soundly.

The kangaroos seemed thoughtful, as if they were plotting an escape.

My favorites were the very pretty male Gouldian finches. The females were nice, but not as showy. And none posed for me.