The House(s) of Fran_mart

 We decided to avoid driving on the Easter weekend, and to give ourselves a gap between driving days so headed for Melbourne at 0624 on 12 April.  Thanks to swapping back to normal time it was reasonably daylight by then, albeit rather cool (~7 o C).  Genoa Rd was in quite good condition with a major pothole filled in and many unnecessary signs removed.  We didn't see another car on that stretch.  In fact by the time we got to Orbost (150km) we had only crossed with 10 vehicles, overtaken 2 and been passed by 1.  The weather started to get ungood as we got towards Orbost.  As Frances took over occasional sprinkles of rain began and continued through her 2 hour spell to Rosedale.  We stopped to refill with diesel at a Mobil station in Bairnsdale where the price was only horrendous (309.9 c/l)) - in that town prices varied between that and 315.9c/l. The pumps for 95 octane were flagged 'Empty'.  There was a bit less traffic around, but not as d...

 Mainly white.

 We needed a few things that we couldn't get in Mallacoota so took a trip to Eden.  It was drizzly as we headed off but not heavy rain.  The number of caravans on the road  - in both directions - was amazing.  We initially assumed this was something to do with the time (about 10:00am) but it was the same coming back (about 1pm). We began in Eden by heading to the viewing platform past the wharf.  Nothing of interest there so we headed off towards Eagles Claw Nature Reserve to check the penguin situation.  Enroute we came across a bloke working on a great length of rope beside the road.  On enquiring he was a professional fisherman and was cutting the rope to the length he needed for dropping fish traps down 100m into the sea a few kms off Green Cape.  He hadn't been able to get out for 3 weeks as the current was too fast  and would drag his buoys under.  An interesting conversation followed with him explaining where he sold fish (Me...

 Today I thought I would got to MSAC before it got closed off.  Leaving the tram stop, at least one resident had expressed an opinion about the bogans.  I suspect the majority of locals would agree with their sentiment, if not precisely his choice of words. This is Gunn Island, still well decorated with Australian White Ibis, about 450m away, at 8x magnification. Mud Island with a city backdrop. I met my friend Cathy (who was on a run round the Lake) and she told me she had seen A Great Crested Grebe and Grebeling earlier in her outing at the South end of the Lake.  Here are Ibis, Swans and friends on Mud Island. Great Cormorants: 150m range. I then discovered how to add digital zoom (up to 40x) and got this bunch of Little Corellas. Some Ibis flew by. A Gull passed by some Corellas o the edge of the NE ponds. A Pied Stilt (BAD) with a Silver Gull. The back side of Gunn Island. Oops! Men at rest.  Certainly not working.  This is why they need months to set ...

 I have finally bitten the bullet and got a new iPhone.  I now have an iPhone 17 Pro, acquired through MYMAC on Flinders St, who were as always very helpful in setting the device up. A large part of the reason for choosing this model was because of its excellent camera.  The device has many other other good features - one can even make phone calls with it!  So I decided to go to Albert Park Lake to test the camera.  The first few images are of birds within about 50 metres.  I am very pleased with their quality. The photos were taken at the SE Conservation Ponds. When I got to the top pond I saw a tiny Crake with tawny upper side and grey breast etc.  Clearly a Baillon's Crake.  I didn't have the phone in my hand and by the time I had got it out the bird had disappeared into the reeds.  I hung about for about 20 minutes, and saw a crake-shape in tunnels in the reeds but no snappable sightings The species has been reported to eBird 5 times in t...

 On 21 January the hot air balloons took off from Fawkner Park rather than landing there.  I pulled on my dressing gown and crocs and got a few snaps. Note the sprinklers in the mid-ground.  I didn't spot them at first as I was looking at the balloons! Somewhat to my surprise there were already 2 in the air, my guess being approximately over the Shrine.