Tasmania part 1

Last week, Maryann and I took a short vacation to Tasmania. On the way there were some great cloud formations seen from the plane. 1st night was spent at Eaglehawk Neck on the Tasman Peninsular, and we took a walk before breakfast to see the Tessellated Pavement here. Walking down the path I could hear a scrubwren chattering away to one side, and wattlebirds calling from above. I really had to crank up the ISO setting to get the Tasmanian Scrubwren shot so it is a bit grainy, but the Little Wattlebird was a lot more confiding. Further along I saw a group of Green Rosellas. This is Tasmania's only endemic Parrot. The adults are more yellow and the juveniles much greener. They were in a bush that looked a bit like Hawthorn to me. The Tessellated Pavement was fascinating, and reminded me of limestone pavements back in the UK. There was a Kelp Gull resting just on the edge of the rocks. Heading back up to the hotel for breakfast there were a few Superb Fairywrens in the garden. The male keeping guard whilst a female looked for insects on the Agapanthus. More on the Tasman Peninsular to follow........

Skywatch Friday

Beautiful Skies over Greenfields Wetlands, Adelaide, South Australia

Greenfields Wetlands

This afternoon I popped over to Greenfields Wetlands for a couple of hours looking for Long-toed Stint. I did see one distantly, but no photos to show. I recently discovered that there is a bird hide (blind) here. this is where the Stints had been seen. I was a lovely afternoon, and the sky was full of whispy clouds. There were plenty of pelicans there, and also White-headed Stilt showing of their well grown youngsters. Outside the hide, many juvenile Welcome Swallows were on the power lines, and Singing Honeyeaters were on almost every bush. As I focused on this Little Grebe (the broken reflections caught my eye, I flushed a Rufous Night Heron, which I caught up with a little further along the bank. Finally, just before I was back at the car a spotted this group of Great Egrets squabbling, with a Little Pied Cormorant wondering what all the fuss was about. Tomorrow, Maryann and I fly to Tasmania for a few days. Internet permitting, I hope to publish a couple of posts while we are on the road.

Skywatch Friday

Stringybark forest at Deep Creek Conservation Park, South Australia

England 1, Australia 0

Last week, Maryann and I went to Adelaide Oval for the 1st T20 international between England and Australia. In the afternoon we watched the women's match, and in the evening the men. This was my first attempt at photographing cricket, and here are a selection of the shots. The oval is in the process of being re-developed. The new western stand has just been opened, and the famous scoreboard will be kept. Australia lost the ladies match by 4 wickets The oval is right on the flightpath to Adelaide Airport, This is a Qantas Airbus A330 Australia also lost the men's match but it was close. England won on the last ball of the game.

Skywatch Friday

Sunset over a packed members stand at Adelaide Oval during the recent T20 match between England and Australia.

Our Garden

Maryann and I have been working hard on our garden, and have finally finished our raised garden bed. The last plants went in today, so we thought we'd share it with you. We have tried to make it as waterwise as we can, mixing succulents with some hardy annuals. Maryann loves roses, so we have a couple of creeping miniature roses in the bed. Snapdragons remind me of my parents old garden in back in England Here are a couple of close-ups. A rose. Lobelia Snapdragon

Skywatch Friday

Sunset over Spencer Gulf, Moonta, Yorke Peninsular, South Australia

Moonta

On the spur of the moment yesterday, Maryann and I decided to go camping at Moonta on the Yorke Peninsular. We arrived late in the day and after putting the tent up we went for a meal at Seagate, one of our favorite restaurants. It has amazing views of the sunset. This morning we walked on the beach. I love the ripples in the sand left by the outgoing tide. There were a few gulls on the beach. This Pacific Gull was quite happy to pose for me until I overstepped the mark! Coming back through the pools I spotted this Blue Swimmer Crab. Finally, when we got home we were excited to find this small Bearded Dragon in our garden. Hopefully it will make a home here (and keep our garden free of slugs and snails).