Weekends That Were - November 2024

 2.11.24

Anstead

Mr P picked me just before 6, on site at 6.30. A warm, slightly humid, still morning, cloudy but sweaty. Not a bad morning with approx 40 bird species, 2 Koalas Phascolarctos cinereus and 3 Red-necked Wallabys Macropus rufogriseus

Red-necked Wallaby Macropus rufogriseus

Nothing particularly spectacular on the bird side apart from two Apostlebirds near the ‘dam’ end were nice to see. Eight species of butterfly on the wing, including Australian Painted Lady Vanessa kershawi, which was a site tick for me.

Breakfast afterwards at Westvets, just across the road.

7.11.24

I have to comment.

The US electorate have put Trump back in power. 

It defies belief how any country can elect an individual like Trump into any level of authority, never mind the most powerful position on earth. He's not qualified to run a corner shop.

I would advise all Americans - and current allies - to 'bend over, grab your ankles and put your head between your knees" 'cause it's going to be a rough 4 years - and beyond.

America - kiss goodbye your environment, kiss goodbye justice, kiss goodbye sanity and say goodbye to the international respect you have always enjoyed. With no checks and balances in place this lunatic will do and get away with anything he chooses. There are no controls left. This presidency could well even challenge democracy in the US - and will, I believe, make changes that will last well beyond the next 4 years.

Putin must be cracking the champagne and when corrupt politicians like Victor Orban in Hungary congratulate your 'win' you know something is not right. All other elected leaders will be wondering what is coming down and dreading the prospects of trying to deal with a megalomaniac. Ukraine and the Palestinian people should be especially concerned.

Sadly the result reflects directly on the American people. In the main with this outcome they have shown themselves to be uneducated, gun-happy, misogynistic, racist rednecks - because only people with those attributes would even contemplate voting for an arrogant ignoramus, liar and felon, like Trump.

Good luck to us all.

Birding Pals from Portugal

 

15 and 16.11.24

 

15.11.24 I picked up Isidro and Anna from their accommodation in Balmoral at 6 and we headed off straight away to Sandy Camp Wetlands. It was a warm, cloudy morning with increasing humidity as the day progressed. It wasn’t particularly hot – about 27/28C – but the humidity from the previous day’s rain was pretty heavy and exhaustive.

The guys from Portugal had already birded in Victoria and Alice Springs and were going to O’Reilly’s for two days before heading to Tasmania. They already had a list of birds they had seen/photographed so we focused on birds they hadn’t seen and wouldn’t see.

Sandy Camp was not as active as I’d hoped with few birds on the water. The water level was higher than normal and maybe this contributed to the small numbers. We walked the usual tracks and found some stuff. Isidro and Anna were more focused on photography than actual bird numbers so we had some success with Little Friarbird, Brown Honeyeater, Olive-backed Oriole, Grey Shrike Thrush, Leaden Flycatcher, Australasian Darter and a nicely perched up and patient male Australian Figbird which even I took a few shots of.

Australian Figbird male

After a couple of hours breakfast called. The only local café I knew was the Rabbit Hole and so, against my better preferences, we went there. I was embarrassed at the cost of the meals. I fail to see how anyone can justify $25 for very average poached eggs on toast and don’t even provide full table service. Obviously someone is making a heap of money employing school kids and charging ridiculous prices.

When we left there we headed down to the mangrove boardwalk and found Toressian Kingfisher and eventually Mangrove Gerygone. The tide was very high and so there was no exposed mud for anything. We saw a few other species but nothing exciting.

On to Fisherman’s Island and the visitor centre lake. They had seen almost everything there already but we did have their first Blue-faced Honeyeater which they added to their photo stable.

We checked the man made wader roost, but, as expected, it was almost deserted.

Off to Minnippi and a short walk in for Whiskered Tern – there wasn’t a lot else and the humidity was building badly and taking its toll, although Isidro did spend some time with a couple of Toressian Crows.

We decided a sit down and lunch would be best so headed up to Mt Gravatt Lookout. Just before the summit I stopped at a Square-tailed Kite’s nest I was aware of and we saw a perched up juvenile and adult bird showing very well.

We had a (fairly priced and generous) lunch at the cafe on the Lookout and, as we sat chatting afterwards, I heard a Channel-billed Cuckoo call and, luckily, spotted one perched up across the road. We grabbed the cameras and they spent a half an hour or so taking photos of two Cuckoos who perched up very well. A Pied Currawong came in to complain and added to the party. Near the car an Australian Brush Turkey wandered around innocently to be added to the Portuguese file many times over!

At that point it was felt we had had enough and I dropped them back to Balmoral around 15.00.

 

16.11.24 Mr P volunteered to accompany us and was at my place at 5. We picked up Isidro and Anna before 5.30 and headed west to Anstead. It had rained overnight, but the humidity was manageable. I had a couple of birds in mind for the day but on arrival, and for the first 30 minutes or so, it was very quiet. 

In the end we got them onto Scaly-breasted Lorikeets, Pied Butcherbird, Plumed Whistle Duck, Noisy Friarbird, Red-browed Finch, Laughing Kookaburra, Lewin’s Honeyeater, a brilliant male Red-backed Fairy Wren and a stunning Scarlet Honeyeater – all performed well with a little encouragement. We also found a small covey of Brown Quail – a little distant, but doable.

 

Red-backed Fairy Wren male

Back at the car and over the road to Westvets for breakfast (which again Isidro paid for), then in the car back to Oxley. 

It was deathly quiet at 10.15 at Oxley. There was almost no one else walking the track whicb was a bonus, but there was almost nothing to see either. We did finally find Bar-shouldered Dove, several more male Red-back Fairy Wrens and a pair of Tawny Grassbirds that perched up well, but we did ‘miss’ a couple of birds I had hoped to find.

As we headed back to the car it started to rain – and it poured, very heavily.

We drove back to my place and Mr P took his car and headed home. I invited Isidro and Anna in for coffee and we sat and watched the tropical storm for a while, but it didn’t seem to be clearing at all so I dropped them home again. The rain actually didn’t ease until after 16.00. I had hoped to go to White’s Hill for possible Koala, but unfortunately that was impossible thanks to the weather, but I believe I and A were happy with the time spent.  I had enjoyed their company very much and wished them well on their onward adventure.