and pray that there's intelligent life somewhere out in space
Down here in the south-east of Australia we’re bracing for 44°C (111°F in the old money) which brings the attendant risk of bushfire. We have our plan at the ready
but we still have the humanity to think of the folk in far north Queensland in the path of Cyclone Penny.
They’ll, no doubt, be expecting a few inches from that.
I’ve been impressed in the past by how close you can get to birds when you’re largely submerged in a waterhole. I took my camera with me when I went for my morning dip (very carefully I might add). Not a bad start to the new year …
I recently spent a little time around Chimpanzees. They are our closest living relatives. Our common ancestors were around approximately 6 million years ago. Some of their descendants took to the savanna, adopted an upright posture and developed language and large brains.
We are proud of our large brains. I’m happy to concede that Chimps can climb trees better than me but surely when it comes to mental abilities there is nothing that they could beat me at.
This came as a surprise …
The last couple of days have been days of laziness and overindulgence. Christmas is like that. They have also been hot … high 30’s. At five thirty last evening it was 38°C (100.4°F). Today we are expecting it to top 40° for the first time this summer.
With that in mind an early walk seemed like a much better idea than a later walk and for my enterprise I was rewarded …
Tawny Frogmouths are nocturnal. I quite often see them after dark hunting insects along my driveway.
During the day they roost in a tree and their plumage is so treelike that you can walk past them without a clue that they’re there. They tend to use the same place regularly so once you have a roost you can expect to see them whenever you wish. The only local roost I’ve been aware of is on someone else’s property and although the invitation has been extended I don’t like to visit with a camera in hand so I’ve reserved that for visitors who share my interest.
There is a small bushland reserve close to home. I walk through it several times a week. It’s anyone’s guess how many times I haven’t seen these guys but this morning I found them. I’d already thoroughly depixellated the first one before I saw the second one just a few metres away …
When they’re relaxed they are rounder and dumpier. When they feel in danger of being discovered they stretch out like these and do their stick imitation.
It will be interesting to see if this is their regular roost.
Let there be peace on earth. I wish all my readers. wherever you are and whatever your beliefs, a very happy Christmas.
I found this creature in the front paddock this morning. It took ages to photoshop some snow on …
Poor thing must have gone lame and been left behind.
So this African sojourn comes to an end. As always when I’m writing about travel I have picked up new subscribers. Welcome to you, it’s nice to know that there are people out there, but what have you got in store now?
My neck of the woods is the Goldfields region of Victoria, Australia. It has a rich history and is rich in wildlife. People travel long distances to see Australia so stick around and I’ll show you what I can of it.
This may not be as exciting as an elephant about to charge the side of the vehicle but I took it this morning about 200 metres from my house.
Mountains are often shrouded in cloud, rainforests wouldn’t be rainforests without the rain. Our stay in Bwindi was probably quite typically cloudy and rainy but the day we left was a gem. If you came here every day you could probably expect an experience like this about once every four hundred years.
The mountains in the background are the Virungas which mark the borders of Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. There are eight major volcanoes in the chain including Mount Nyiragongo, an active volcano that I climbed last year. See that account <HERE>. The night-time time-lapse is well worth a look.
From here it was a drive to Entebbe and a flight home.
Part of Bwindi Impenetrable forest is at high altitude (up to 2,607 metres or 8,550 feet). So despite the proximity to the equator temperatures are relatively pleasant. There are plenty of birds to be found but because of the dense forest finding them is sometimes challenging.
We were also treated to a brief glimpse of a Black-fronted Duiker. These reputedly make good eating and are consequently very shy.
Guest post by Gayle …
The boys had seen both Mountain and Lowland Gorillas in the past so they went bird watching.
The Gorilla trackers met at the visitor centre where we were entertained by some enthusiastic dancing from some of the local ladies.
Scouts are sent out early to locate the gorillas. We were briefed and assigned to teams. We would be walking from one to eight hours.
I was in a party of eight. We were driven to our start point which was on the top of a ridge. And over the edge we went. It was steep and because of very recent rain it was slippery. There was no formed track, the guides were cutting a way for us.
Fortunately for me we found our gorillas after two hours. We were instructed to leave our back packs and food with the porters and make our way towards the gorillas. We would be with them for an hour but we were not to touch or disturb them.
The party of Mountain Gorillas consisted of two males, two females and two babies. The males slept or pretended to as we watched, while the females and young played in the trees until they were ready to join the others on the ground. It was an amazing experience being so close up with nothing between us. They did not seem to mind that we were there and moved among us without fear.
Our guide made sure everyone got good photo opportunities and didn’t short change us on the time but it was soon time to head up hill. Now the hard work would start.
I was very glad that I had hired a porter. She was a lovely young lady in her mid twenties named Gertruda. She was very fit and enjoyed her work helping others to see gorillas in the forest. Gertruda carried my backpack and watched my every step down and up the steep and slippery mountain. We were very friendly by the end of the trek and both enjoyed the experience we shared together.
Seeing the gorillas is something you really must do when visiting Uganda. A booking is essential and hiring a porter makes the trekking less strenuous.
Back at the visitors centre you enjoy a celebration with your group of your achievement and a certificate is presented to each individual.
An amazing life-time experience in Bwindi National Park.
bobmcgee 