The House(s) of Fran_mart

Not only is Spring the time that birds start breeding in Mallacoota, but also the time that birds begin to migrate back to the area (or in some cases back to where they came from).  So I thought I'd see what I could dredge out of the eBird data set. Methodology I decided that it was better to look at frequency of observations rather than the number of birds seen.  In contrast to the British folk-saying about one swallow doesn't make a Summer, looking at frequencies might mean that one Koel does make a Summer (swallows are around most of the year). My next step was to sort out a concordance between the taxonomies used by: eBird (which follows international rules, and includes some special codes to allow for uncertain identification to species level); and Birdlife Australia (BLA) which is designed for Australia and (in the elements I have used) is restricted to good species. This would allow me to access the data about family membership (eg group all Cuckoos together)...

The ponds at Hume were definitely Muddy Waters . 7 members turned up at Hume to do as much of the usual loop as the building frenzy in the area permitted. One patch of woodland towards the Highway appeared to be blocked off so we went back towards Tralee st.  As we did so a pair of Wedge-tailed Eagles were seen soaring over the land between Hume and the Tip while a flock of white birds were even higher over the Tip.  They were probably Australian White Ibis but too far away to (a) identify with certainty or (b) include in the area covered by the hotspot). The first pond produced an Australasian Grebe which seemed to be either flufffed up or transporting a chick.  After it emerged from a dive it was obvious that it had just been fluffed up. Also on this pond were 2 Pacific Black Ducks and a nice family of Australian Wood Ducks, including 5 ducklings, skulking at the base of some reeds.   Very surprisingly no Australian Reed-Warblers were calling....

These a various photos taken around Canberra that don't fit in other posts.  I'll begin with the snow covered hills around the edge of the urban area. The first image is of Mount Ainslie - Frances could see this from her bed!  Mount Majura  - ibid.  On our morning walk the hills of Taliesin (which backed on to our old place at Carwoola) were clearly visible.  A friend at Carwoola reported that the fall was heavy enough to damage some of her trees.  As we came back across Commonwealth Avenue Bridge the Falun-whatever people were doing a protest about whatever they protest about.   I have no idea what this symbolises, but it has caused me to think about the dance of the bureaucrats in the vintage St Trinians folms.  Quite a nice sunset - this was the clearest the sky had been all day.

At times I feel that the Bush Capital has been completely done away with, by the efforts of the development lobby and the habitat reduction burners.  And then I visit a couple of sites  - admittedly both constructed rather than natural - and feel a little more "glass half-full". The first locale was the Australian National Botanic Gardens (ANBG).  It was a lovely Spring day (24.7 o C) with light cloud beginning to roll in in front of a change. As we set off a large bus arrived with kids on a trip from Broome.  (I asked a teacher, and they had flown down, not come in the bus.)  While their warm-up jackets were about the loudest I have seen, the kids were much quieter than the usual rioting horde in ANBG.  A family of Australian Wood Ducks were feeding in front of the cafe.  These art works were part of a competition in which kids made art works on threatened species. It was organised by the Humane Society International who seem to have a...

This weekend there have been at least 4 events going on in Canberra: Lifeline Bookfair; Floriade Police Remembrance Ride ;  Canberra 100 foot race . In addition to those there has been some interest in looking off our deck, so I'll start there. This bulldozer is working on a Geocon site across Glebe Park.  It was interesting watching it go up this steep bank. When I looked at how close the tracks came to the edge I decided that the driver was: an expert; and devoid of imagination! The sun made a pretty pattern with the leafless branches of an oak in Glebe Park. The tall elm trees in the Park are beginning to show a tinge of green. Over in Reid some ornamental trees have a nice blast of blossom. Blossom brings us to Floriade.   On my way to watch the 'bikes the most direct route was through the site so I gritted my teeth and went in. Compared to the early years there were very few people around.  Notice the big marquees in the ...