The House(s) of Fran_mart

Having a couple of hours to spare while El Camion Real was being worked on in Fyshwick I wandered along Newcastle Street and into Jerrabomberra Wetlands.  This was the charming scene which greeted me. At least the checkered tape implies AFP have turned up, probably muttering  "Allo, allo, whats all this 'ere ven?"  and recorded the event.  Presumably the owners of the vehicles didn't dump them there and torch them.  As I meandered around the wetlands I contemplated the number of cars dumped there and ignited (quite high, but not high enough to justify an hourly Police Presence) and wondered what could be done to scrag the  miscreants. I'd have thought a webcam, linked to a movement sensor mounted somewhere nearby could be useful.  While I presume the hooning happens after dark I would think the flames following ignition would give enough illumination to get some decent images?  Perhaps the movement detector could send an alarm to the nearest ...

It was a trifle cool to start.  Following the principle of 'truth in advertising' for which I am a total fiend I must confess that snap was taken at 10:30 so just imagine how cold it was at 9:30. Not all the water was frozen.  Some of it was moving quite rapidsly (sic).  The speed is even more obvious with zoom (quite appropriate when talking about speed). Back at the Crossing the water was quite smooth and, unlike the COG expedition a couple of weeks back, well below the ford. Some of the water had formed drips on these  Casuarina cunninghamiana  needles. Across the river an Acacia dealbata was in fine bloom. So was the Leucopogon attenuatus on our side.  As we walked back the honeyed scent was quite apparent. I took photos of both Grevilleas .  At first the G. lanigera  seemed a little far from full flowering  ...  .. but it eventually lifted its game.   G. juniperina was a tad more reluctant. ...

When we lived in Dar es Salaam (2001-03) there was considerable concern about the spread of Indian House Crows, and the impact on indigenous species.  Similar concerns have been expressed about the Common Myna in Canberra, and as I have better data about that species, I will start off with some comments on them. Common Myna Acridotheres tristis image from  Canberra Indian Myna Action Group ( CIMAG) This species is native to Asia.  The species has an alternative name of Indian Myna which is not that sensible as there are 8 species of myna (in various genera) found in the sub-Continent.  It also has a popular name of Rat-with-wings, which is possibly rude to rats. The beast in question was introduced to Australia in the 1860s.   For reasons that escape me they were popular cage birds, which had the almost inevitable outcome that they escaped and (less usually) became established in the wild.  They are widely regarded as pests, out-competing nati...

Having some spare time on 25 July I decided to do a birding trip from Bungendore via Hoskinstown to the Captains Flat Rd at Foxlow along the various manifestations of Hoskinstown Road which more or less follows the Captains Flat Rail line, which has been proposed - with a lot of community support - as a rail trail. My effort started on the edge of Bungendore, at Trucking Yard Lane.  The disused section of the railway line (green line below) comes off the still active Canberra - Goulburn line (black below) about 3 km out of the village. However, my explorations started on the edge of the village as two dams (and the surrounding paddocks) there often have interesting birds.  The dam on Trucking Yard Lane (TYL in the image above) is the preferred location of a flock of Plumed Whistling Ducks which have taken up residence there over the warmer months.   At times the surrounding paddock, and the trees above the racks in the image below, are occupied by up to 500 each of ...

Despite the crummy time of year Frances has found a few flowers, and attractive foliage items outdoors and bought them indoors. I don't know if this counts as ikebana or not.  Regardless of the answer to that proposition I am pleased I was able to withhold a post title referring to either: Eric Bana's brother Ike; or  Tina Bana's former husband

Before answering that question I will comment that what is to follow does not relate to the people in the local service outlets (what used to be called Post Offices but have been renamed - or possibly rebranded - Post Shops).  They are always helpful and sensible (especially those in the main location in Queanbeyan).  It is unclear whether these are Australia Post (AP) staff or an operation under a franchisee - I suspect the latter. As an update, I am sure the only reason we got our mail 5 working days after our return was the help I got from one of the staff at the Queanbeyan PO (more detail on this later the post).  A large bouquet to her! It also doesn't apply to our delivery contractor who seems to do his job pretty efficiently - and whenever I have spoken to him has been very personable and helpful. A further small bouquet goes to the parcel tracking system.  We ordered some seed spuds and I got a message saying they were on the way and likely to be deliv...

A message appeared on the COG Chatline on 21 July which caused me some excitement. Seen yesterday afternoon from Hoskinstown Road, 11 Banded Lapwing, 2 White-fronted Chat and more than 120 Magpies among other species on roadside just North of Hoskinstown. Although there are nearly always some White-fronted Chats around close to Canberra (Stromlo Forest Park has been a good locale) this is the first time they have been reported in the Carwoola area. Banded Lapwings are not common in this area, with the possible exception of the paddocks around Lake Bathurst, about 40km away as the Lapwing flies. There was a major incursion to the Hoskinstown Plain by the species in 2012-13 and they were reported once from Wanna Wanna Rd in 2014.  So this report pressed a few of my buttons and I fired up El Camion Real and took myself Plain-wards. Going past the Col de Widgiewa one has a good view down into the Plain but despite it being 1030 there was still a lot of fog around.  It ...

Quite a few of my recent posts have been about the miserable and/or cold weather we have been experiencing recently.  So lets brighten up with some flowers.  Not surprisingly they are all bulbs - a plant has to have a good energy store to push out flowers in this season. Before we left on our trip North one daffodil was in bud in front of the kitchen window.  We thought it a pity that we would miss its emergence.  As a result of the truncation of our trip we haven't.  Here are its friends! I rather like the string of drops fringing the flower, so here is a close up-up.