Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Melbourne

Not much to tell, but for my overseas friends the video might give you an idea what the countryside looks like. All birds spotted were spotted from the car. The Superb Blue Wren was nearly a windscreen mascot! I do like Melbourne with its wide streets and bridges. Its a small model of Paris in some ways. Its about a nine hour drive door to door.



Birds spotted:-Australian Magpie, Grey Butcherbird, King Parrot, Sulpur Crested Cockatoo, Pee Wee, Galah, Straw Necked Ibis, Little Raven, Australian Raven, Silver Gull, Wedge tailed Eagle, Black Shouldered Kite, Nankeen Kestrel, Willy Wagtail, Welcome Swallow, Brown Goshawk, Black Faced Cuckoo Shrike, Australian Wood Duck, White Necked Heron, Cattle Egret, Pacific Black Duck, Black Kite, Little pied Cormorant, Superb Blue Wren, Rainbow Bee Eater, Common Bronzewing, Crested Pidgeon, Red Wattlebird, Masked Lapwing, Dusky Moorhen.

19 comments:

  1. This video was taken somehere on the Hume freeway heading towards Melbourne. :o) boring post I know, but sometimes thats just the way it is....

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  2. It's not quite as flat as central Ohio, but looks amazingly similar!

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  3. really?! Well it has some flat parts believe me!

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  4. Hey Simon
    WEll I have never braved the drive from Sydney to Melbourne but hope 'one day' to do the Great Ocean Road... can't believe it is still on my to do list. I loved Melbourne, only been there twice but thoroughly enjoyed it. It must be the city you want it to be.. as it reminded me often of Roma.. with it's fabulous cafes and wide footpaths. Not sure which area I am referring to.. but I sure liked it. Have a great week. Julie

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  5. I was telling someone today that the best steak I ever had in my life was in Melbourne, in 1969, for a dollar. It overhung the sides of the plate. The next best one was in Broken Hill.

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  6. Kiwi- yes it was very surprising and quite nice in fact.

    Julie- The drive is very boring, but the Ocean road is not. I idid the Oean road when part of it was still dirt!

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  7. Maalie- yes those steaks were good!

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  8. Not boring at all, but I would love to see them for real one day!

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  9. Simon,
    I'm amazed at your knowledge of birds. Quite good.

    Melbourne looks like a lovely city from Google Earth. Nice clip.

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  10. Ellee- you really should visit. BTW spoke to Wendy re the property.

    Ted- thanks for compliment. I do owe Maalie a huge "thank you" for introducing me to birding. BY experienced birders standards I don't know a great deal. YOU will note that most of the birds are large making them quite easy to identify. Its the small brown flitty things that are difficult. Whats good though- you are always learning and it makes you aware of your environment and whats in it!

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  11. Yesterday, a hawk flew right over the hood of the car on a freeway entrance ramp - I almost wrecked trying to have a look at it as I'm not as good as the rest of you at spotting which birds there are about!!

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  12. Ooooh, this brings back memories! I drove through the Snowy Mountains from Melbourne to Sidney several lifetimes ago - and I very nearly emigrated to your fair land a couple of years later (except I didn't know fate had a different plan in store for me).

    I fell in love with your country, and the wonderful people living there.

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  13. Thank you for stopping by my blog. I can't believe how many birds you spotted! My daughter would love that. She loves birds of all kinds! If I ever make it to Australia I would love to go to the bay you mentioned in your comment.

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  14. Susan- really you should get a book on birds. It can make a trip to work interesting regardless of the transport.

    Shrinky- Really!! :o) well there you go! Amazing how small the world really is!

    JBS- again perhaps if you get her a bird book and start with birds in the garden she would like that.


    BTW everyone drop into JBSstudios- great art for real there!

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  15. You are so totally a bird watcher :))

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  16. One day, maybe I will make it there too..

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