Saturday 4 December 2021

An Early Morning Local Walk.

 The weather on the Wednesday following our Lower Beechmont walk, was torrential rain, followed by more torrential rain. The Hungry Hikers made a very early call for a 'stay in bed and read a book day!'

In fact, we had over 220mm [9 inches] over the following 5 days. Last year November recorded only 4 mm in total! This year well over 300mm. The past few days have been hot and humid. This finds me sitting near the door in an almost chilly breeze, the aftermath of an intense thunderstorm that has just passed through.

These rains haven't just been local, but have drenched much of the brown lands I drove through on my western road trip in August / September. Farmers are rejoicing, but it seems that here in Oz, it never rains but it pours! Several communities in the west are on high flood alert with evacuations. More wet weather and storms are in the forecast for the coming week.

This 'Gaiter Girl' walk was several weeks ago, when the spring temperatures were blissful for walking.  It was just a short drive to our starting point at Eagleby Wetlands.




How lovely was this little knitted caterpillar, left by one very kind soul.



Leaving the wetlands, we were soon enjoying the rural landscape and shady swamps.









We are so very fortunate to have this escape on our doorstep.

The sounds of the kookaburra laughing. 

And for Bill [well for Ben, actually] - our little trickle became quite a gurgling rushing stream, with all the rain.


I would love to read your comment.


13 comments:

  1. The kookaburra sound seems out of place. I associate it with movies involving jungles. Obviously that’s wrong.

    Such great shots of birds which look similar to some here, like a kingfisher. Great post.

    We’ve had what feels like weeks of rain. It just got sunny and we have to get outside and enjoy it.

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  2. Lovely to see you back, Marie. Wonderful that it seems you have had another successful cataract removal.
    Kookaburras can be found in our rainforests but they are certainly not limited to there. Did you know that they are the world's largest kingfisher? There are also 2 kingfisher images in this post. I love them but they are rarely seen and if seen don't linger long.
    We hear the kookaburras often, but on this morning their laughter went on for so long, I was able to record them.
    So sorry about all your rain. I see it is -5 in Charlottetown now. Possible snow this week.

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    1. Update - 2 special photos of Ben and Nora, making snow angels in the fresh snow, have arrived!

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  3. I enjoyed all your wildlife photos and the video of the kookaburra laughing. Wow, it's either feast or famine for oz in the rainfall department, huh?

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    1. You are so right Linda, feast or famine! I much prefer the feast. I am loving the 'green'!

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  4. I think I've told you before. We had a song we used to sing at 4-H meetings, "Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree. Merry, merry king of the bush is he. Laugh, kookaburra, laugh, kookaburra! How gay your life must be!" I have no idea why a bunch of kids in the center of Kansas were singing about kookaburras. Thanks for sharing the video.

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    1. Kim I love that the "Kansas' kids get to sing our song.It is delightful and lots of fun sung in a round. I was very fortunate to get the video as they don't usually sing for very long.

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  5. Thank you for this beautiful post, Helen! I like especially the cute little birds, and the handsome black swans (?) and all the lovely green there is in your photos.
    The kookaburra laugh is so funny that it made me smile even though I'm in the bad mood (because of my own tiring everyday life reasons). :)
    About the Australian folk songs, I think I have mentioned we learned Waltzing Matilda at school and I'm forever grateful to our music lessons that made us learn songs from different parts of the world.
    Stay well and safe!

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    1. I'm glad the kookaburra cheered you up, Sara. I didn't know that Waltzing Matilda had reached Finnish schools. I wonder if the words make any sense to you. Enjoy the snow for me. We are now sweltering.

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  6. That kookaburra makes me laugh too! Many birds and a deliciously green landscape on this walk. Rain is good until it's too much!

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  7. I love your last comment Barb! 'Rain is good until iy is no good! So very true!
    The kookaburra call cannot fail to cheer one.

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  8. I had no idea that Kookaburras were part of the Kingfisher family although I can now see the resemblance. Listening to the laughter reminds me fondly of our Queensland trip

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