The House(s) of Fran_mart

 This will be a collection of photos taken in various spots.  The narrative may be even less coherent than usual.  On looking through them sunsets are a feature! I nearly always look at flocks of Corellas to see if a Long-billed is mixed in with the Littles.  On 6 April I heard an aberrant call as we walked in Commonwealth Park and on checking 2 birds perched in a nearby tree found I had Bird of the Day. Less exciting in Canberra, but very much so for anyone from overseas (with the possible exception of some, Macaw-infested, places in South America) was a Crimson Rosella perched on the sunviso outside my study. The Shire, also known as the ACT Government, has set up a school holiday facility in Glebe Park where they have a container of junk which is spread out over the lawns.  Kids then get stuck into the stuff to play with as they like.  A brilliant idea which works very well.  (As a side benefit it must give OHAS onanists conniptions!) Sunrise on 7 A...

The second of our longer walks.  Frances thought this was about 6km each way but it turned out to only be 4km.  And only had a couple of pimples in it, no real hills. As we were driving to Betka I noticed an odd looking cormorant on their tree at th Betka River,  On reversing it turned out to be a White-bellied Sea-Eagle. For folk that have trouble identifying birds with white heads here is the Sea-Eagle contrasted with a Little Pied Cormorant and (in the background left) a female Darter We moseyed on the walk without taking photos etc - they came on the way back and while there.  As we arrived an Eastern Reef Egret flew off a reef to some larger rocks. This will help students of Rock Birds tell the Reef Egret from Little Pied Cormorant Here is an overall snap of the beach. A horde of Black Nerites ( Nerita altramentosa ). This shows the wee tracks they were making. Here is a real close-up showing body parts emerging from under the shell. ...