Last week I sold my landcruiser. It felt as if it was part of the ending process that this year seems to have brought about. I will pick my new one up in a few weeks.
I hope to have it set up ready for more travel.
The apartment
Last week I was in Melbourne.
Black swans on the lawn of Albert Park lake.
Birding on the run can be a fun way of avoiding bordom. The trick is to identify without stopping or turning around. It can be frustrating too. I saw a beautiful bird of prey, thought I got all the markings down in my mind, but when I went to look it up, there were a few options. As a esult I cannot "tick it"
The letter winged kite looks almost the same as a black shouldered kite except for the marking under the "armpits". So I was very pleased with that one*. (* After consolation with Tony Dymond Vice president of the Cumberland Bird observers club, I am going to un-tick this. The behavior of the LWK is quite different to the BSK, and therefore I can no longer be certain)
Birds seen- Little Corella, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Galah, Red-rumped Parrot, Australian Raven, Litte Raven, Letter-winged kite, Australian Magpie, Australian Magpie, (White backed form), House Sparrow, Masked Lapwing, Australian Wood duck, Black Swan, Eastern Rosella, Crimson Rosella, Grey Butcherbird, Crested Pigeon, Common Bronzewing, Purple Swamp hen, Little Pied Cormorant, Intermediate Egret, Willy Wagtail, Magpie Lark, Silver Gull, White necked Heron, White winged Choughs, Pied Butcherbird, Welcome Swallow, Straw-necked Ibis. Black Shouldered Kite.
On returning I was pleased to see that the 2 bathroom renovation is complete and I can get a wheel chair into the main. which will be critical for a few weeks in December.
That is a lot of birds identified, Simon. I am impressed. I'd be so happy to see some herons & egrets (of any variety)...that would mean I am close to the shore (or at least the Bay). Grumble. Moan. Whinge.
ReplyDeletexo
I look forward to many photos of the new beast!
ReplyDeleteThanks Badger- wait until you see it when I have all the gear on it. It will be brilliant!
ReplyDeleteThanks Susan, Its not too bad at 70mph I guess. I am going to a Southern Ocean seabird study AGM and thats close to the shore, so I will enjoy that tomorrow! :o)
I remember that first picture!
ReplyDelete"Birding on the run .... " and there I thought you had been taught to slow down ..... ;-)
Good thing the building part is done!
Did you manage to take any pictures of the shorebirds while near the ocean for the "Southern Ocean seabird study AGM" ?
ReplyDeleteMerisi- good memory. Dads appartment does not change, so I used the photo again. Well, birding on the run is somthing I have to do if I am busy!
ReplyDeleteI went to the SOSSA meeting but left in the dark and got back inthe dark. There were people from the Australina mUseum, and a guy who worked for the United NAtions as an advisor so an interesting crowd!