Dance of the Pelicans

7 years ago my family was fortunate to purchase a new home, with views across the fairways and ponds of the Mt Warren Golf Course. Not a day goes past that I'm not thankful. Sadly, Frank is unable to play because of sporting injuries and I only occasionally get out with my sons. Golf however, was not the drawcard for the purchase of this home. It is the open space, ever changing beauty of the ponds, sunrises and sunsets that have me spell bound. So often chores are left undone as I enjoy the panoramas before me.

Sunrise

Moonrise

Sunset

Early morning

Wintery morning

Rainy day

After the rain

Australia Day flood

 Full height of flood

Occasionally a lone pelican will drift in for a quick visit. This year the visits have been more frequent and I have been delighted to spot 2 or even 3 visiting.

Last week my neighbour was up with the sun and walking around the ponds and was stunned to count 30 pelicans enjoying the tanquil waters. Alas she did not have her camera with her. Three days later on my day off work, I looked out and spotted about 10 on the pond nearest to our home. I quickly checked for the presence of golfers, gabbed my tripod and camera and started snapping. It was the most beautiful half hour watching them as they glided in formation, formed a circle and then in unison raised their wings and dipped their long beaks beneath the surface for the tasty morsels that must have been in abundance. They would then stretch their necks, glide back into formation and repeat the process.

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Finally a summit shot!

The 4th October saw me in Townsville to visit my brother and family. 

Townsville is dominated by a 286 m, granite monolith, overlooking the city centre. I've long wanted to have the opportunity to add my name to the many, who have hiked its 'goat track'. The alternative is via the road or other more gradual routes.

We set off at 6am, as this is tropical Queensland and temperatures and humidity quickly rise. Alas, Townsville, like much of Queensland, is suffering from drought conditions, so the rising sun had to pierce the dusty skyline.

 Rowes bay, summit shot.

Magnetic Island view.

2 days earlier I had walked the length of Rowes Bay.  I was delighted to spot my 1st Rainbow Bee Eater bird with its distinctive tail.

The spectacular Curtin Fig Trees along the foreshore, brought welcome relief from the mornings very hot, humid conditions.

Although the midmorning light was not great for photography I did enjoy snapping Magnetic Island.

Below is my final destination of Pallarenda Beach, looking back to Castle Hill. I would have liked my swimmers with me at this point - sad to think that in a month's time, unless you have a full body suit, swimming is too dangerous, because of the marine stingers.

Baby summit - Little Crystal Creek. 

On my final day, my brother took me 60 k's north to drive up the Paluma Range, visiting Little Crystal Creek Falls, the town of Paluma and the Paluma dam and camping area. As we turned off the highway to climb the range, I was excited to realise that this was also known as Mt Speck. All visit, I had been trying to recall the name, as I had been told some 50 years earlier, it was a wonderful cool area to escape to from Townsville, to beat  the heat of summer. So very true.

Little Crystal Creek Falls

  View from the top of the range.

Another summit

 A most unusual sign to spot, as Australia became metric in 1968.

 Finally, the War Memorial section of the Townsville cemetery. My sister-in-law's Grandfather was  curator of this cemetery and Michelle told me how it was her backyard, when visiting her Grandparents as a child.

I've not previously seen a goanna crossing sign.

                                       

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What Not to Miss in SW Western Australia - Part Two

S                          

South of Perth

1. Margaret River area and Cape to Cape walks.

 Mouth of the Margaret R.

Spotless Dunsborough

Sugar Loaf Rock - home of the Red-tailed Tropic bird

Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse.

Canal Rocks

Sandy walking trail.

 

My maiden name is Cullen so I just had to pop in and say hi, over a glass of wine!

Busselton

 

1801 saw Frenchman Nicholas Baudin exploring and naming much of the coastline of WA.

Geographe Bay and the 2 km jetty.

 Dinner sunset - Mandurah

North of Perth

Yanchep - white sand, aqua sea.

Two Rocks beach.

Massive white sand dune near Cervantes

                                                                                Seaweed season - Cervantes

Lunch spot - Cervantes

World famous Pinnacles

These amazing natural limestone structures, some standing as high as 5 metres, were formed approx 25,000 to 30,000 years ago, after the sea receded and left deposits of sea shells. Over time, the coastal winds removed the surrounding sand, leaving the pillars exposed to the elements.

Sunrise - Lake Thetis, Cervantes

  

Lake Thetis, one of only 5 places in the world where living "Stromatolites", the oldest known living form of life on earth, can be found. Fossil remains of these organisms have been dated back to about 3.6 million years and are believed to be the basis of life as we know it.

Coalseam Conservation Park, Minginew

New Norcia - a Spanish Benedictine village, with a collection of churches and schools, built in 1846. Now only 17 monks.

Our final day was spent with cousin John sampling the vintages of the Swan Valley wineries.

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