and pray that there's intelligent life somewhere out in space
Well, yesterday it made it to the promised 44° …
This little fellow took shelter in the shade.
A welcome cool change came along in the afternoon dropping the temperature by 15°C in an hour. Strong winds brought raised dust which presented us with a gorgeous sunset.
Meanwhile 2,600 plus kilometres north-east Cyclone Penny has both cleaned up her image and intensified in strength. It is expected to weaken before making land fall.
Today has been much cooler. But that won’t last long
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.
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.
I was just heading off to one of my favourite birding spots, Maryborough sewage treatment plant when I noticed that my driveway was busy with woodswallows. So I changed my plan and grabbed the camera.
These birds are summer visitors and seem to always be on the move. There are plenty about this year probably because of the dry conditions further north. Flocks can be huge, White-browed Woodswallows tend to be the most numerous often accompanied by their masked cousins. They breed in mixed colonies.
The adult males of both species are beautifully marked. The youngsters and females are also attractive but in more muted tones – designer pastels.
My neighbours were shearing the other day.
Flying past Brim. Still a favorite about which you can learn far more than you ever wanted to know <HERE> …
Past Sheep Hills …
and heading for Rupanyup.
I saw this one nearing completion. Now it’s finished. It’s by Siberian mural artist, Julia Volchkova.
Not far from the silo is one of Georgia Goodie’s works honouring the fire service.
and Kaff-eine’s homage to country folk. Rosebery is 40km south of Lascelles.
The Silo Art Trail in western Victoria has grown a bit since I last drove it.
At Lascelles Rone has painted local farming couple Geoff and Merrilyn Horman, part of a family that has lived and farmed in the area for four generations. They occupy one silo each facing in opposite directions. Maybe they’re not talking to each other …
It has an unwanted effect for the photographer. When Geoff is nicely lit Merrilyn is contra jour.
I’ll have to go back on an overcast day. Although the sky that day was being generous in other ways …
It’s not only time for the orchid society to flaunt the seasonally gaudy it’s also time for Victoria’s native orchids to show off their more subtle and delicate flowers. Here’s a couple that I’ve found in the past week.
This first one was in open woodland in the Grampians …
This one was in the Wail State Forest …
Disclaimer … When it comes to matters botanical my id skills are suspect. Treat these names with caution.
bobmcgee 