Yep, that is what happened. After a good nights sleep the noise of the birds (and not John Peel's horn) got me from
my bed. A good haul was achieved, of
which the most surprising was two Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoos. Pied Cormorants were also good. The mammal list was enlarged by a fox (being
seen off by Masked Lapwings) and a pod of at least a dozen dolphins in the bay.
As is often the case in coastal areas there are tractors
around the place that are used for hauling boats down to the ramp. I think this one (a Fordson rather than the
traditional Fergie TE20) is past its used by date.
Following breaking our fasts we wandered off to revisit the
areas I had been earlier to see what else we could find and to identify the
plants. We were able to identify the area also: it is the Ricky Bates Reserve, named after a custodian of the site, who
appears to have passed away and been replaced by a local Landcare group.
This is basically a sheoke heath (Allocasuarina verticillata)
on a Limestone base.
We found some good plants (to save upload times I have decided to have a special plants page and will use hyperlinks to let people see images of species when they wish:
Goodenia sp.
Threlkedia diffusa (a saltbush)
There was also a very interesting plant which thus far we
haven't identified with certainty. has finally (close to a year later) been identified as Grevillea aspera: pretty close to endemic to this area.
The cliffs were also photogenic.
In the afternoon, since it appeared likely to rain we drove
to Shelly Beach.
The only plant in
flower there was a lily Burchardia umbellata.
As the rain appeared to be starting we hopped in the car and headed for
home, pausing to look down into a swamp (why there is standing water in a
limestone area is a question I can't answer!).
There were some good birds there including 8 Australian Shelducks and 2
Caspian Terns.
Nothing much came of the rain so I went back to Ricky Bates
Reserve to photograph the Threlkedia.
After finding that I decidable to have a good look for orchids. I think I found some! As they still seem to be at bud stage ID is a
bit iffy but I will opine that Cyrtostylis robusta (the robut gnat
orchid) is looking like a winner!
I haven't commented at all on invertebrates because they
haven't been too obvious. A few
mosquitoes were evident at Ricky Bates Reserve but although their bites swelled
up they didn't itch. Back at the house
we found quite a lot of case moth larval cases stuck on the water tank.
The maritime theme continues inside the house with several
art works made from shells and driftwood decorating the walls.
There are also quite a few mounted photographs of kids enjoying the beach at sunset: presumably that is in Summer not the current climate.
Other residents watch their large digital TVs. We didn't watch the TV as they didn't receive ABC or SBS!
There are also quite a few mounted photographs of kids enjoying the beach at sunset: presumably that is in Summer not the current climate.
Other residents watch their large digital TVs. We didn't watch the TV as they didn't receive ABC or SBS!
Bird of the Day: Australian
Shelduck due to good numbers and speccie looking. [Several others were nominated: Pied
Oystercatchers (Colourful, amusing and nice to see from the bed). Horsfields Bronze-Cuckoo (unusually early
sighting).]
Plant of the day: Correa
pulcella: lots of them and very colourful.
[The orchid will get a guernsey once it opens!]
Most interesting thing of the day: Seeing a dolphin swim by 10m out from the
shoreline.
What we learned today: Preparing
for the plants has paid off!
At Tuesday Eve did cross a Dolphin,
Across the Bay it came;
It ate the food it always ate
Sped up, when meal did same.
(A slight cheat as this combines, as model, parts of
two verses of the original.)
