Canberra, Early November

 We had to get the car serviced and various other ACT chores so headed for Canberra on 1 November - the day of the Donkey Derby.  Whether related to that or not we didn't know but there was a lot of traffic on both the Princes Highway (to Cann River) and the Monaro/Snowy Mountains Highways the rest of the way.  We had expected a lot of rain, but that didn't happen.  Evidence of recent falls was in the amount of water in the Genoa River a little South of Bombala.

The Bombala River, at the dunnies in Bombala, had a good flow but was well below flood level.  As there is a large catchment area upstream (to Brown Mountain, at least 40 km away) this can gather a lot of water quite quickly.
No dramas on the drive to the apartment.  It was inteestnig that at one point we crossed with a convoy of about 6 original (ie BMC) Minis and a little later about 12 Porsches of various designs, again in a convoy.

On the Wednesday Frances had some business so I took myself off to Edgeworth Pond in darkest Coombs.  To my surprise the newest housing there is even worse than what was already there.  I didn't think that was possible!  Enough with the negative vibrations: there was a very good looking, and very well patronised playground on the banks of the Pond.
Not a lot of fowl on the water, but a clutch of Cootlings were nice to see,
The weather was sunny but with a very lazy wind (one that can't be bothered going round you, but cuts straight through) which made these Welcome Swallows look cold.
The other Hirundines present were Fairy Martins, nesting under a footbridge.
After lunch we went to Kelly's Swamp to see if anything there whupped the Martins as Bird of the Day.  Nothing did but liked this handsome Royal Spoonbill.
A group of Bin Chooks (sorry, Australian White Ibis) were present and one of them displayed the pink underwing patches that I think are a sign of breeding.
Also a family of Pacific Black Ducks.
And three Long-necked Tortoises/Turtles.


We then moved to the hide which used to give great views over the main part of the wetlands.  That seems to be a thing of the past with the rushes continuing their advance so as to more less completely render the hide useless.  Shime, Canberra Nature Park, shime: have (another) brickbat.


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