Finishing up
Dawn looked quite promising on the 28th. Here is a time series. Start at 0652.
Then 0657 ...
0708
and finally 0716.
We did a short dog walk (not finding the rat, most likely due to it being disturbed by a fisherperson or two) and packed up and left.
Reflecting on the trip we quite enjoyed it, despite the weather, like the Jets in West Side Story, having a social disease.
Bird of the trip was Australian Gannet, which I rarely see at Mallacoota. However on this trip they were visible from most beaches. Possibly the foul weather brought them in. Runner up was Rose Robin: they are often around the area but we got a good look at a very pretty male, rather than just hearing their distinctive call.Missing in action in the bird department were Scarlet Honeyeaters: I'm not sure if they migrate but I didn't see or hear a single one. (Possibly this reflects the lack of the flowers they prefer.)
To my surprise, on checking eBird we recorded 84 species for the trip.
The bats were an ongoing matter of interest. A DEWLP officer has mapped the boundary o the site coming in at 11.8Ha, possibly the biggest ever. He has found this is the best way to assess the relative size of the camp as trying to count the flyout is very difficult due to the bats taking a range of different routes, whihh vary according to how the bats feel!.
Best sighting wasof course the Broad-toothed Rat the Swamp Rat. Even though not rare its a new Mammal species.
The drive home was a drive. We made good time, with the only excitements being:
Reflecting on the trip we quite enjoyed it, despite the weather, like the Jets in West Side Story, having a social disease.
Bird of the trip was Australian Gannet, which I rarely see at Mallacoota. However on this trip they were visible from most beaches. Possibly the foul weather brought them in. Runner up was Rose Robin: they are often around the area but we got a good look at a very pretty male, rather than just hearing their distinctive call.Missing in action in the bird department were Scarlet Honeyeaters: I'm not sure if they migrate but I didn't see or hear a single one. (Possibly this reflects the lack of the flowers they prefer.)
To my surprise, on checking eBird we recorded 84 species for the trip.
The bats were an ongoing matter of interest. A DEWLP officer has mapped the boundary o the site coming in at 11.8Ha, possibly the biggest ever. He has found this is the best way to assess the relative size of the camp as trying to count the flyout is very difficult due to the bats taking a range of different routes, whihh vary according to how the bats feel!.
Best sighting was
The drive home was a drive. We made good time, with the only excitements being:
- A flock of farmyard geese wandering about on the Monaro Highway shortly after we joined it from Imlay Rd. They nearly became pate.
- Proving (by gaining about 100m on the caravan we'd been following) that cutting through a back street past the Bombala Pool was quicker than going down the main street!
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