tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81099809623430594792024-03-13T22:31:37.608+10:00Sandy Straits and Beyondmickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230845410313320080noreply@blogger.comBlogger685125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109980962343059479.post-72360040707881316052019-10-24T18:26:00.000+10:002019-10-24T18:26:55.217+10:00Everything has an endI hate unfinished business. When I was a little girl, I learned piano for many years, got within a year or two of getting my piano letters, and when I was in my mid 50s I found a teacher who was happy to take mature aged students. I went back and started again, and ended up with my letters from Trinity College London.<br />
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My health has deteriorated recently in a number of areas. The end result is that I can no longer manage in my house, so I'm about to go to a care facility. I'm happy with the place I'm going to, it has beautiful grounds, and the birds are encouraged to visit.<br />
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I have enjoyed reading so many of your blogs, commenting on some, and have appreciated your comments on mine. I'm not sure of the future, so this is my chance to end this blog on my terms.<br />
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I'd love to stay here, and go out on the kayak on the bay. But it's not possible. Life moves on.<br />
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<br />mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230845410313320080noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109980962343059479.post-385692068392763542019-05-27T16:39:00.000+10:002019-05-28T03:32:30.731+10:00Early Winter...In Queensland it is not really winter at all!! The biggest difference in the season is that the excessive heat has gone. It is very pleasant and I actually have a light blanket on my bed.<br />
While much of the country is still very dry we have been having more than average rain for this time of year. None of it has been very heavy but most days we have had short sharp showers. Most days have stated out bright and beautiful - blue sky and fluffy white clouds. However, it has not taken long for those clouds to turn very dark and bring showers. Fortunately they often sail off just as fast.<br />
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The other day I had an unexpected bird visit the yard. The Pheasant Coucal is a large long-tailed cuckoo. It is a shy bird and this is only the second time I have seen one around here. It can fly but prefers to run across open ground when it has to The brown color is a non-breeding adult or a juvenile. This bird moved across the lawn so fast I almost missed it and only just managed a rather dark photo as it went to hide under the hedge.<br />
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<h4>
For more photos from around the world visit <a href="http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/">Our World Tuesday</a>. </h4>
mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230845410313320080noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109980962343059479.post-47499652346922282612019-04-22T12:23:00.000+10:002019-04-22T12:29:39.337+10:00Distant VistasI had a problem - I had not been able to get out and see or photograph anything new and interesting around here. BUT then I remembered I did have a stack of photos saved up that put a smile on my face whenever I looked at them. They were not my photos but when I checked with my brother he told me to go ahead and use them if I wanted to! So these are not taken anywhere near here and are not my story either - but they are Australian<br />
My brother lives down in Victoria and he loves the water and the sea as much as I do and possibly more! Where I am content with slowly puttering around on a kayak and close in-shore he likes a big fast boat that will take him out on the ocean where there are lots of fish! At present he has a Kevlacat. He (and his son who enjoys the sea and boats just as much) usually put the boat in at Port Welshpool in SE Victoria.<br />
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Of course, the very best time to get out on the water is very early. Before the wind starts to blow or the seas start to get up.<br />
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Even after that it is still very beautiful. I think what I like the most are the colors of the ocean and the wide open spaces.<br />
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I get told lots of lovely "fishie' stories but in those moments no-one thinks to take photos! I was told a week or so ago they were catching some nice eating fish when a VERY BIG fish unexpectedly took a hook and bait and got unhappy. The first they realized there was something wrong the big fish was jumping towards a motor looking as if it would take a big bite out of it with its big mouth full of teeth! At the last moment it snapped the line and took off in another direction."Of course we didn't leave! The other fish were biting too well and we wanted a few more!"<br />
This was a few days ago - They stopped the boat in behind a little island called Rabbit Island where it was a bit more sheltered while they waited for the tide to turn and the fishing to get better again. Fresh fish are good for breakfast especially when cooked immediately - "but I forgot the bread and butter, Sister!!"<br />
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<h4>
For more photos from around the world visit Our World Tuesday</h4>
mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230845410313320080noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109980962343059479.post-35392349549692228002019-04-16T07:13:00.000+10:002019-04-16T07:13:31.497+10:00Birds - Up CloseIn reality - up too close! Plus I am getting slow and the camera was not even close! I was sitting reading next to my glass doors when I saw movement and looked up to see three White Ibis calmly stalking past right on my back patio. My house has become one of those I used to write about - no children and no pets!! The birds must know!<br />
N.B. Keep the camera closer and ready to go!!<br />
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<h4>
For more pics from around our world go to <a href="http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/">Our World Tuesday</a>. </h4>
mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230845410313320080noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109980962343059479.post-66800847020087058592019-04-01T06:08:00.000+10:002019-04-01T06:08:03.893+10:00Worth waiting for!I moved up here to live here just over 15 years ago, One of the first things I started to do was plant a garden. I wanted lots of greenery around my house. Some of the first things I planted were strelitzia - commonly called Bird of Paradise. The first one I planted was the orange flowered one - strelitzia reginae - but the plant I put in did not do so well so I got another couple of plants and put them in a different part of the garden I also bought the blue flowered one - strelitzia nicolai. This is a very tall plant and it has done well but I seldom get to enjoy the flowers because some of the honey-eating birds such as the Blue-faced Honeyeaters - love it and tear the flowers apart. It must have lots of nectar! All the strelitzia reginae have kept growing but never a sign of a flower. I admit I am not a great gardener - once a plant is growing I just leave it alone! As I drove down my driveway the other day I noticed a splash of orange. After nearly 15 years there was a flower. I took photos that first day but thought it was not as good as I expected. A couple of days later it had opened up further . Definitely worth waiting for!!<br />
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<h4>
For more pics from around our world go to <a href="http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/">Our World Tuesday</a>. </h4>
mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230845410313320080noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109980962343059479.post-9721042861155350512019-03-11T14:52:00.001+10:002019-03-12T05:28:03.823+10:00Early MorningYou know your days are not going to be very pleasant when the BOM (Bureau of Meteorology -the official weather place) puts out warnings that the whole of SE Queensland is going to have extremely hot weather for the next week. GET READY!!!<br />
Very early mornings are the only really comfortable times and I like to sit just inside the glass doors in my family room and watch the morning slowly brighten. <br />
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Over the last few weeks there have been big flocks of Rainbow Lorikeets flying around. Even before it is properly light they start arriving and like most of their parrot 'cousins' they are noisy. <br />
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To give an adequate idea of the size and noise of the flocks I need to really work on my camera skills! Until then - please use some imagination with these still pics. Rainbow Lorikeets always seem to want to do things as groups. I especially like to see them catching hold of unopened palm fronds and lining along the extent of the frond until one too many tries to join in and then it sways down and they all fly off again with much squawking. Also,being parrots they don't seem to mind if they hang upside down - or right way up.<br />
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<h4>
For more pics from around the world go to<a href="http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/"> Our World Tuesday</a></h4>
mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230845410313320080noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109980962343059479.post-73130639238843946702019-02-25T12:45:00.002+10:002019-02-26T06:10:28.034+10:00Very High TideWhen it gets excessively hot - as it has been recently - I retreat inside, turn on the air con, and hibernate! Fortunately I have good friends that keep me up-to-date on what is happening outside! Early last week I got an email and some photos reminding me that it was one of the highest tides of the year. As well there was a tropical cyclone coming towards us which was pushing tides even higher. These are a couple of photos Sarah sent me showing the height of the tide along the shoreline towards the Mullens bird roost. I always appreciate Sarah's photos as she captures angles and details that I often miss!<br />
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The next day I went out in the car to at least record where the tide had got to in the parking lot. In previous years I have seen the tide completely fill up this area and even surround cars that had been left parked by owners that had not realized what can sometimes happen down here.This photo shows the parking lot towards the south and also the track usually used to get down to the boat ramp on the creek.<br />
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This photo is the opposite end of the parking lot and when the tide is lower this is a favorite place to park where you are not likely to be boxed in!<br />
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After seeing the height of the tide here I decided it would be worth it to check Tin Can Bay at the Crab Creek end. There was a lot of water lying around on lower parts,<br />
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I have used the amount of water over the path as a guide to just how high the tide really is but this year the path was new concrete and I think it was moved slightly as well - so it was a bit hard to guess the height.<br />
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I should also tell a bit more about that cyclone. They are notoriously hard to predict and this time the worst that happened was higher than average tides and big seas - which made the surfers happy but caused life savers lots of trouble when people went out to try the waves for themselves without enough experience to manage the waves or to get themselves back safely to the beach!!!<br />
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<h4>
For more scenery from around the world visit<a href="http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/"> Our World Tuesday,</a></h4>
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<br />mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230845410313320080noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109980962343059479.post-65548639462920303382019-01-18T09:01:00.000+10:002019-01-22T06:12:33.910+10:00Unexpected!It is obvious from my recent blog postings that I have not been out in my local environment the way I used to be. Fortunately I have several friends who keep me informed about anything unexpected. Over the last few days I have been hearing about a very large die-off in the mangroves. This is a photo sent to me by a friend.<br />
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Yesterday morning Sarah offered to go down to the bay side with me so I could see for myself. The bay is still as beautiful as ever but the heavy clouds looked like rain - but it did not rain and we are still as dry as ever. <br />
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The devastation is everywhere! This first photo is taken from the picnic area looking down over the creek. <br />
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All the people I talked to think this must have been caused by that hail storm that hit the area on the 11th of October. (That is more than three months ago.) Sarah went down to the bay the next day and saw lots of damage then - trees stripped of their leaves and lots of leaves and green foliage floating in the water. But as usual I am left with more questions than answers. Was there more damage done to some kinds of mangroves than others? Was the age of the plant/tree a factor? How much can the different kinds of trees rejuvenate?<br />
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These leaves are new growth on a Grey Mangrove.<br />
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These are close photos showing hail pits on the trunk of a mangrove tree. The first photo was taken soon after the storm when the pits were new and showed the damage with color as well as the pits.<br />
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To document most of the damage to the trees I need to be out on my kayak to get up close - and I have not been on the kayak for some time. Still Hoping!<br />
<h4>
For more scenery from around the world visit <a href="http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/">Our World Tuesday</a></h4>
mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230845410313320080noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109980962343059479.post-57854315704795942072018-12-30T10:34:00.000+10:002018-12-30T10:34:43.247+10:00Local TriviaVery local! around my house and yard!<br />
After the big hail storm it took me a little while to discover the amount of damage that had been done to the trees and plants around my yard. This Leopard Tree is mid way across my back yard and very visible from my back window. Every year it loses some of the leaves but this is what the hail storm did - I could get a good view right through all the leaves and see all the birds that usually hide somewhere in there. <br />
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Slowly the dead looking branches flushed with new color and soon after that leaves covered everything again.<br />
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This palm tree is in front of the Leopard Tree and shows the hail damage. Some of the fronds were totally dead - many more badly shredded and right in the middle is a new green frond. However it will take a while for some of the palms to look really good again.<br />
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It was the palm trees out the front garden that were the most surprising. I assume it was a response to the severe weather and then the soaking rain we got a few days later. They all put up flower stems and then set seeds at a similar time.<br />
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This is an appropriate place to say that when I had a tradesman go up on my house roof he found a lot more hail damage than I had expected. Both sky-lights were broken, the roof itself pitted quite badly in places, the solar hot water system damaged, and the two roof vents on the shed roof broken. Now I am waiting for the insurance to make up their minds!!! It will all have to be replaced. Anyway there is no water coming inside so no-one seems in a hurry<br />
I have recently passed another milestone. It is 5 years since I was diagnosed with macular degeneration and started getting injections in the eyes to control it. I am very grateful that I can still read and drive the car and I guess the rest is not important in the long run. I must say that the injections are never comfortable. When the eyes are too uncomfortable I retreat and remind myself that ' this too shall pass'!<br />
Enough of the doom and gloom. The other day there was a heavy rain fall and much of the property next door to me had a few inches of water lying over it. Australian White Ibis found this and came down to poke their beaks into the softened ground and hunt for whatever they could find. These birds have got a bad name because they are very good at finding all the rubbish that we humans discard - they are commonly called 'dump chickens' . On nice clean grass like this they look too good for that name!<br />
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<h3>
For more pictures from around our world visit<a href="http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/"> Our World Tuesday</a>. </h3>
mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230845410313320080noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109980962343059479.post-64248334843988920102018-10-22T16:16:00.000+10:002018-10-22T16:17:24.515+10:00After the StormsAs I looked down the side of my drive I could see that the callistemon trees were in flower - and this in spite of it being barely a week since the big hail storm! I planted two kinds of these trees - one with red flowers and one with creamy colored flowers. The red flowered kind looks much more spectacular but the flowering this year has been rather spasmodic up here. (For a really spectacular display of red flowers go and look at <a href="https://diane-adventurebeforedementia.blogspot.com/">Diane's blog</a> and her wonderful header photo.) Anyway the birds seemed to like the cream flowers this last week. I even saw some Rainbow Lorikeets come down for a brief visit.<br />
The cream flowers looked best up against the blue sky.<br />
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Most of the birds I saw on the flowers were Brown Honeyeaters. These birds are tiny. The book says they are 12-16cm and they seem to be able to reach any way they please to reach the flower they <br />
want - all while hanging by a 'toe-nail'!<br />
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There were quite a few birds fluttering around and at first I thought they were all little Browns but then I saw a flash of yellow and realized there were also White-cheeked Honeyeaters. The book says they are a little larger16-19 cms but I could see little difference up in the trees.<br />
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Now a couple of days later and most of the flowers have fallen and there are few birds up there.<br />
<h4>
For more views from around the world visit <a href="http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/">Our World Tuesday</a>. </h4>
mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230845410313320080noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109980962343059479.post-60037633317251583272018-10-14T17:45:00.000+10:002018-10-16T04:24:33.480+10:00Real Summer ExtremesYou know it is summer in Queensland when -----<br />
First the gentle and non-threatening evidence! You draw the drapes and turn on the lights and there is an immediate pattering of insects on the window all sounding as if they are splattering their tiny bodies to approach your light. Modern buildings are all fully screened but the screen door into my family room must not be perfectly fitting any more. I have been finding quite large beetles caught between the screen and the inner glass door. I have simply opened the outer screen and brushed the beetle out on to the path. First the magpie found these additions to its breakfast but then blue-faced honeyeaters, 'leatherheads' and 'peewees' came along and some of them even stood outside the door and scolded me when they did not find a beetle to eat.<br />
Temperatures have been variable with the BOM ( bureau of meteorology) predicting storms nearly every day, But it did not happen until last Thursday, There was an article up on their web site explaining why summer storms were so hard to predict too early. There was plenty of time for the warnings but no-one predicted how bad this one would be. This photo was taken out my back door - I cracked it open a few inches and closed it again ASAP. That hail was bouncing off the ground. I now see that lots of palm leaves were shredded - especially the leaves which are normally fan shaped.<br />
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Fortunately this hail did not last too long at my place and I missed the big winds but I was lucky! Water poured into the big shopping center food store just a few blocks away. I was told they worked all night to clean up and dry out . There are horror stories being reported from all around. The worst I have read is a young mother who was in a car - pulled off the road because the rain got too heavy and then the hail started and broke the back window - her baby daughter was in a car seat back there so she dived over the seat to cover the baby with her own body and ended up bloodied and bruised but protected her daughter.. Agricultural damage still has to be assessed but whole crops were wiped out. Houses have been damaged everywhere. My friends in Gympie think they are lucky because they just lost one window.<br />
This kind of summer storm is not unheard of but I am glad they don't happen too often.<br />
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For more happenings from around the world visit<a href="http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/"> Our World Tuesday. </a></h4>
mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230845410313320080noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109980962343059479.post-62802833882203331382018-09-17T16:53:00.001+10:002018-09-17T16:53:09.137+10:00Australian MagpieMagpies are not uncommon in Aussies backyards but I have not had any in my yard since I moved up here nearly 15 years ago. However, not everyone likes these birds in their yard. They often become very aggressive during the breeding season and they are big birds with big strong beaks. This is the bird that has recently been visiting my yard - I think it is a male.<br />
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More often it sees me coming with the camera and takes off. I am hoping that it will get more used to me as time goes on. <br />
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In my opinion these are some of the smartest birds around! I came to this opinion some years ago when living in New South Wales. My house was next door to my parent's house but about 300 meters down the hill. There were magpies nesting in a big tree behind their house. We found out later that some teens who lived close by had made a habit of throwing stones at the birds and their nest. I think this was what had initially made these birds so very aggressive. But not to Mum! She gardened close under their nest and when she saw the birds she talked softly to them. They used to come to her back door and 'warble' to her until she came out with some crumbs. But not me!! I had only to open my door to walk up to her house and they would aggressively swoop down and threaten to attack me. My solution was to borrow Mums floppy blue hat that she always wore out in the yard. It worked As long as I had her blue hat on my head those birds ignored me. Smart birds!! Hopefully the one now visiting my yard will get as friendly as Mum's birds became. </div>
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For more photos from around the world visit<a href="http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/"> Our World Tuesday.</a> </h4>
mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230845410313320080noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109980962343059479.post-86558869628852138552018-09-03T09:21:00.000+10:002018-09-03T09:21:37.365+10:00Australian Wood DucksThe other day because I was expecting friends to visit, I opened the front gate and left it open. When they arrived they drove straight around to the back. Sarah jumped out of the car and asked me if I knew there were ducks and ducklings just outside. I hurried inside and grabbed my camera then followed her quickly outside my yard. I wasn't expecting anything to wait long so left the camera set on automatic. Big mistake!! I needed to change both the speed and the depth of focus. By the time I realized that, it was too late to worry about it - so I just took multiple photos and hoped some would be usable.<br />
Both adult ducks were resting on the grass. The male had the ducklings around him but the female was by herself a few paces away and was stretched out with her head and neck close to the ground,<br />
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Then they were off! The male is one the right and the female on the left.<br />
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<i>BTW I have done some checking now and reminded myself where to find the right buttons and dials!</i><br />
<h4>
For more scenery from around the world visit <a href="http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/">Our World Tuesday</a><i> </i></h4>
mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230845410313320080noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109980962343059479.post-70032344383601680482018-08-28T07:15:00.000+10:002018-08-28T07:15:56.588+10:00More Queensland Winter WeatherAfter showing some frosty photos last time I decided I should show more of what I like to think is more typical winter weather. Although we do occasionally get some frosts we also have lovely sunny blue days. The temps this week are all up in the mid twenties C. I got in the car and drove around to Tin Can Bay amd started at Norman point. Most visitors start here.<br />
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Next stop was Crab Creek. There are a lot of boats at permanent anchor just down the bay from here so there are also numbers of small boats along the shore which are used to get out to the larger boats.<br />
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As well this is a popular place to launch "tinnies" for fishing for a few hours. I saw a fellow using a small kayak to get out fishing and another fellow take these two little pets out to his boat. They looked pleased to be there!<br />
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Mullens was my final stop. This is where I most often started my kayaking trips. This morning there were several boats at anchor - which would end up sitting the sand as the tide went out.<br />
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One of my favorite views from here. There is a shorebird roost on the other side of the mangroves and I always feel rather frustrated when I am not on the water going over to watch whatever birds may be there.<br />
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I could hear lots of small birds up in the trees and there were a number of trees in blossom.<br />
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The only bird that came down and sat still for long enogh to get a photo was this Wecome Swallow.<br />
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<h4>
For more views from aroud the world visit <a href="http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/">Our World Tuesday</a> </h4>
mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230845410313320080noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109980962343059479.post-47008380909338786102018-08-21T17:14:00.000+10:002018-08-21T17:14:10.528+10:00A proper winter?Usually when I wake up feeling cold it just means I have kicked off too many blankets while sleeping. This morning it was still very cold in the family room and when I opened the drapes this is what I saw.<br />
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I get very few frosts where I live. After all this is the sub-tropics and I am close to the sea. Since I have lived here I have only had one frost that damaged leaves of shrubs and trees. This morning was not nearly that severe so my banksia rose was still flowering - even more flowers out since last week. I have a friend that calls this my 'demon rose' because it is so hard to keep it from growing up onto the roof of the house. When that happens ants use the plant as a highway into the house and then I have real problems. The rose has been pruned extra hard this year and I wonder if that has contributed to its extra strong flowering. <br />
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<h4>
For more scenes from around the world visit <a href="http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/">Our World Tuesday</a> </h4>
mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230845410313320080noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109980962343059479.post-88354101804342869902018-07-31T07:45:00.000+10:002018-07-31T07:45:44.688+10:00Winter in QueenslandI think I have been reading too many posts about gardens and flowers and fresh veges up in the northern hemisphere. I do wish that my garden looked lovely and tidy again but I am NOT a dedicated gardener - and when energy levels are low it is way down on my list of important things to do. So things kind of get along by themselves and because this is SE Queensland they just grow a little bit slower in the winter, The climate here is very nice except when it gets a bit cold at night and then I have a whinge about it!!<br />
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I planted two banksia roses outside my kitchen window and they are just now starting to flower. The yellow one has fewer flowers but they are bright and beautiful. With buds like these the white flowering one should look good soon. A whole flock of sparrows came and twittered and fluttered in there close to the window but as soon as I moved to get the camera they were gone. I am not having too much luck with bird photos recently.<br />
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I planted a number of "bottle-brush" trees along the sides at the back of the yard and they always look good when they flower. Also the birds love them but unfortunately those birds are usually LBJ's (little brown jobs) that do not sit still to have photos taken.<br />
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Now this is one plant I haven't seen in those northern hemisphere gardens! In this climate when I buy a nice fresh pineapple I cut the top off it and just put it in the soil. As long as it is not disturbed it eventually grows - even when the whole patch of ground gets covered with weeds. This pineapple is not ready yet but will eventually get a nice golden color and will smell nice and sweet! Then it is time to cut it and enjoy it. <br />
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<h4>
For more photos from around the world visit <a href="http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/">Our World Tuesday. </a></h4>
mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230845410313320080noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109980962343059479.post-54421986869072740072018-07-24T08:56:00.000+10:002018-07-24T08:56:39.153+10:00Everyday EnjoymentsNothing too exciting or spectacular to post this time. These are some of the enjoyable moments I see out my back window. <br />Sunrise is always beautiful and this kind of golden morning is especially welcome as it means a nice clear sunny day.<br />
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Some clouds are needed to make it more spectacular - but not too many please! I even sometimes catch birds flying past and I'm sure I could get lots more if I waited outside in the cold for them to fly past. By the time it warms up most of them seem to have gone.<br />
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It would be a very strange morning if there were no white cockies - Sulphur crested Cockatoos - flying by. Just occasionally they stop by to investigate something that has caught their attention. Mostly I only see silhouettes but this morning they also stopped next door where they were in the sun <br />
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<h4>
For more photos from around our world visit <a href="http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/">Our World Tuesday</a></h4>
mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230845410313320080noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109980962343059479.post-30607860793843419232018-05-14T10:24:00.000+10:002018-05-14T12:58:30.775+10:00Lake MacdonaldWell it is more than time to put up another post but I just can't get motivated unless I have a series of good photos that makes a coherent story. So it takes me awhile to get going again!!<br />
Last week I had to visit the eye specialist I see on the Sunshine Coast but this time it was only for a series of tests and not any 'nasty' injections with the associated medications that alleviate the pain but make me almost blind for a few hours. The good friend who drives me down for the injections suggested we have a few hours doing what we wanted to around that area. It was lovely! She knows the area well and drove me through areas I had known many years ago so I could see how everything has changed! It is now so 'built up' and I am not sure the changes are for the better. - so many people and so many cars!! Oh well - I guess it's called "progress!<br />
The one beautiful highlight of the morning was a visit to Lake Macdonald and the Fearnley Bird Hide. Lake Macdonald is located in the Noosa hinterland and is part of the South east Queensland's drinking water supply. The part we visited looks just as if the water filled up the lower parts of valleys and is now perfect habitat for all birds that love water! Much of the water is covered with lots of water plants - and the birds make use of these to hide! The lists of birds that have been seen there are fantastic - but as ever! - we should have been there the other day!!<br />
These photos were taken from close to the bird hide. There were lots of birds around but most of them were away on the other side.<br />
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Ducks? No - Eurasian Coot - but still beautiful in that water.<br />
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Closer to the car park this Forest Kingfisher was sitting in a paperbark tree.<br />
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Underneath the tree were a number of Comb crested Jacana walking on the the lily pads. It looked like a couple of adults and a number of juveniles but none of them were close enough for great photos. Very young birds walk around on the lily pads by themselves but occasionally you can see adults carrying some of their young ones tucked up under their wing. Their feet and legs hang down and it looks wonderful. I saw good photos of these birds a number of years ago and it was one of the things that first 'sparked' my interest in bird photography. <br />
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<h4>
For more photos from around the world visit <a href="http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com.au/">Out World Tuesday</a>.</h4>
mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230845410313320080noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109980962343059479.post-14219324256464401652018-03-27T07:08:00.001+10:002018-03-27T07:08:10.879+10:00Backyard Blues!The excessive heat has moderated a little but now we are faced with rain - non of it too heavy and not constant! However, even showers that come and go most of the day can make things uncomfortably damp. The plants love it and my lawn is well out of control. For the last three days I have walked out on the grass first thing in the morning to check how 'squishy' it is under my feet.When I make wet muddy marks in the ground I know it is impossible for the mower! Here's hoping for later today!<br />
What I do not understand is why so many birds love it. The other morning quite a large flock of Lorikeets flew over. Then I heard a few that had settled in the palms along my boundary fence. No flowers there so what had attracted them? I moved slowly around hoping to get a better view. Fortunately, I did click one photo from a less than perfect angle and then they all flew off. The photo shows 4 birds but I counted 8 as they flew past me.<br />
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Later I saw that the birds were eating from the bunch of seeds these palms have grown this year.<br />
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Next day I tried for a better photo when I heard the birds again but a rain shower started again and I went inside very damp and had to quickly dry drops off the camera as well. Photos showed even more damp than I had realized and even the bird's plumage showed damp!<br />
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<h4>
For more photos from around the world visit <a href="http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com.au/">Our World Tuesday. </a></h4>
mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230845410313320080noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109980962343059479.post-63566809815055589582018-03-05T15:19:00.000+10:002018-03-06T04:20:12.409+10:00Low TideFinally I am posting again ! First the excessive heat broke but in typical Queensland fashion we then got very heavy rain. Right around where I live we escaped the floods BUT water plus heat makes a sauna! Even typing at my computer is enough to make the perspiration run! Contrary to what you northerners are saying we are consoling ourselves with the thought that summer must soon come too an end!<br />
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After my last two posts I needed to show what low tide is like on the bay around here. After seeing what high tide looks like it is a little hard to imagine low tide in the same places. The bay has very low gradients all over so contrary to what it looks like it is possible to walk out for a very long way. I have watched fishermen wade back to shore from such a distance out that I have not been able to recognize them until they got almost back This photo shows the little creek that the boats use to launch only a few meters further up stream. The water now is only ankle deep - I have frequently walked all over this area. The creek divides here and the deepest channel is over by the mangrove trees in the background.<br />
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of course, this wide expanse of sand is ideal for shorebirds to feed. The birds roost up on higher ground as the tide comes in but then follow the water as it falls away. Sand is softer where it is close to the water and the long beaks on the shorebirds can be damaged if they are knocked on hard things. I have occasionally seen a bird with a beak pushed out of shape but I am told that they will die quickly because they can't eat like this. On very low tides one only sees birds right down along the channels in the distance. Way out close to a channel I have found there is more mud than sand and it is definitely not good for watching birds. Shorebird watching needs to be done close to one of their high tide roosts. Shorebirds use the same high tide roosts day after day - and even year after year. From our observations around the bay we have seen slight changes in the birds' preferences for roosts because of the tide height.<br />
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I don't have anything new or exciting for bird photos I WILL NOT and CAN NOT go bird watching in this heat!! BUT there is nothing more Australian than a kookaburra. I think they have been increasing around my house because I have been hearing a group of them giving their group call very early in the morning for some mornings now. I am told that this is a group territorial call. The first bird was sitting up on the roof of my house and the other bird was on a tree close to my friend's house, <br />
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<h4>
For more photos from around the world visit <a href="http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com.au/">Our World Tuesday</a> </h4>
<h4>
and for more birds visit <a href="http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.com.au/">Wild Bird Wednesday</a></h4>
mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230845410313320080noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109980962343059479.post-57134008240022829592018-02-13T10:42:00.000+10:002018-02-13T10:42:04.360+10:00Very High Tide 2These are the photos I took of the very high tide around at Mullens. I had hoped to go back and get some photos of the same places when the tide was out - but - the temperatures this week are too high to make it comfortable to wander around during the day time. 39 Centigrade is over 100 Fahrenheit - just too hot for me!This extreme heat is predicted to last for another week but after that I shall go down to Mullens again and take some nice sandy photos to show what it is usually like.<br />
This is the boat ramp where the bigger boats are launched,<br />
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This is the area immediately down from the car park.<br />
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Looking south across the creek where the boats go out onto the bay,<br />
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The same area but looking up towards the bank where cars usually park to be close to the water but not right in it! All the leaves under the trees get picked up on a high tide like this. <br />
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With the tide this high more of the mangroves close to the sea are right in the water and with no wind look very beautiful.<br />
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<h4>
For more scenery from around the world visit <a href="http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com.au/">Our World Tuesday </a></h4>
mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230845410313320080noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109980962343059479.post-66945321756299655382018-02-04T17:18:00.000+10:002018-02-06T06:59:58.535+10:00Very HighTideWith two major events in one day I had to attempt to document them. The most important one - the special moon - I had little hope of really seeing it. I am NOT a night person - so the best I could do was catch a photo early in the night to at least show I tried!!<br />
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The other big event was a very high tide. Although it was too hot to want to go wandering around outside I could at least get in the car with the air conditioner going and drive to what I wanted to see and photograph. First I went to the Norman Point end of Tin Can Bay and photographed the boat ramp for small private boats. <br />
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Then I went to the other end of town to the Crab creek end, There was more activity there with quite a few small boats lined up at the boat ramp. <br />
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There was also a group of four people enjoying the water. <br />
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Finally I saw three kayakers coming close. They were all in the kind of kayak which is moved along with paddles moved by the feet while you sit back and rest much more comfortably than in the kind of kayak I am used to where you paddle with arm movements. However I am told that these kayaks weigh quite a bit more and I think that would make problems for putting them up on my roof racks. <br />
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This is also the area that I have taken photos of all the high tides over the years. The highest tide I have seen came up and washed over this walking path - and this one this year was nowhere near that height.<br />
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The only birds I saw were these Crested Pigeons. They are pretty but quite common. <br />
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I also got some nice pics of the high tide down at Mullens - but that can be posted in the next post.<br />
<h3>
For more scenery from around the world visit <a href="http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com.au/">Our World Tuesday </a></h3>
mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230845410313320080noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109980962343059479.post-29573443292954620732017-12-31T09:28:00.000+10:002017-12-31T09:28:36.280+10:00Late DecemberI long ago decided that I preferred a sunny Christmas to one where I was surrounded by snow and ice. However, I also find that high humidity and temperatures of 34-35 degrees - 93-95F- is not really comfortable - at least outside. So I have been making use of my air conditioner and these photos are from around my yard rather than out on more extensive walks.<br />
There has been enough rain that the palms and trees still look nice and green.<br />
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This is a Crepe Myrtle - one of the few trees flowering at present.<br />
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The other afternoon I noticed a small brown bird hopping around on my lawn. I kept still and it eventually came close enough for me to get clear photos. It was an Australian Pipet. My book says that they are common across Australia.I have seen them at other times but their small size - 15-17cms - and habit of quickly flying off somewhere else means this is the first time I have got reasonable photos.<br />
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<h4>
For more scenery from around the world visit <a href="http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com.au/">Our World Tuesday</a></h4>
<h4>
and for more birds visit <a href="http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.com.au/">Wild Bird Wednesday</a></h4>
mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230845410313320080noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109980962343059479.post-75858522033066153982017-12-05T06:56:00.000+10:002017-12-05T06:56:05.678+10:00Weather Dependent!Sometimes,even with the best intentions, it is not possible to photograph the birds. It has been raining for a couple of weeks. Much of the time it has been just light showers - but enough to make you wet if you stay out in it! Yesterday morning we had a heavy downpour and the photo shows my back yard. Then by afternoon the sun was out again and it felt like a sauna. Now the weather bureau says we can expect more of the same for the next week. Oh well! This too shall pass!!<br />
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<h4>
For more scenery from around the world visit <a href="http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com.au/">Out World Tuesday</a></h4>
mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230845410313320080noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109980962343059479.post-73001458964808615652017-11-21T06:32:00.000+10:002017-11-21T06:49:22.602+10:00Fairy-wrensI take frequent short trips down to the Mullens foreshore but unfortunately it is not a part of the bay often frequented by shorebirds. It is always beautiful no matter the weather.<br />
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I also find the trees that dabble their stems in the water - mangroves - very beautiful.<br />
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The other day I took this photo looking north along the shore. The boat would be well up on dry land when the tide went out - and I hope the fisherman had some luck after standing out in the water for so long.<br />
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A couple of weeks ago several bloggers posted photos of Fairy-wrens on this meme. I waited for others to show some of the other very colorful Fairy-wrens but since no one did I went back into my photo archives so that all the overseas birders could get an idea of the variety of such birds you can see.<br />
These first birds are the ones that were posted a few weeks ago - Superb Fairy -wrens. For some reason I have never seen these birds right in my area. According to my birding books they should be here! I saw these ones on a trip out west my sister and I took a few years ago at a place called Mitchell. I have included photos of the little brown females - which I find difficult to ID.<br />
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The only blue colored wren that I have seen right in my own area is the Variegated Fairy-wren <i>Malarus assimilis</i>.I have frequently seen this bird on the bushy walk out to Inskip Point but it likes the more dense shrubs and is not easy to follow or to photograph. The colors are especially bright!<br />
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The Red-backed Fairy-wren <i>Malarus melanocephalis </i>is fairly common around here and I took these photos out at Inskip Point and at Bullock Point.<br />
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<h4>
For more scenery from around the world visit<a href="http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com.au/"> Our World Tuesday</a></h4>
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and for more birds visit<a href="http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.com.au/"> Wild Bird Wednesday</a></h4>
<br />mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230845410313320080noreply@blogger.com19