2 forays around Canberra

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 (24.7o 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 adopted a very low profile in the promotion of the event.   Presumably this is to deter the gun nuts and other bogans from disrupting it.
 As well as the planted specimens there are representatives of the pre-existing flora around.  I  channeled my inner arty-farty to get this snap of Hardenbergia violacea behind an unknown, introduced, Acacia.
 Frances pointed out the attractive tail on this Crimson Rosella, inspecting a potential des-res.
 Acacia denticulosa: one of several species of Wattle around the ANBG today that didn't really look like a wattle.
 Now that I know where the Australian Owlet-Nightjar hangs out it is easy to find!
 An unknown bug (I suspect a True Bug) on Olearia viscidula.
 Arty-fartiness reared its head again with the Olearia in front of an Acacia.  For once the lack of focus was deliberate!
 Another bizarre wattle Acacia pterocaulon.
 I think a Grevillea, being visited by an unusually cooperative Eastern Spinebill.
 I couldn't remember what this red bean was formally labelled.  However Frances had noted down Chorizema cordatum.
 Thanks to Angus this is Acacia leprosa "Cinnamon Wattle".
 A cluster of grass trees Xanthorrhoea johnsonii.  Despite the flowers on the spike there were now visiting birds, just a few bees.
 Alogyne huegelii
 The Gippsland Water Dragons were out in force at the rock garden waterfall.

They are pretty bold so it is possible to get close and obtain images of their body parts.  I think this eye abd surrounds is astonishing!
 A Gymea Lily, which will be spectacular when the spike opens.
 In the afternoon I took myself to Jerrabomberra Wetlands (which is in Fyshwick not the suburb of Queanbeyan).  A Freckled Duck presented its freckle ....
 .. and then the rest of its body.
A Lathams Snipe was wandering around on the grass in front of the Ardea Hide.  Another birder managed to get a photo of the leg flag enabled the local leader of the Snipe project to report:
It was originally captured 23/12/2018 and then photographed on the 16 /1/2019 (in other words it likely hung around the Wetlands for the season).
 A bad day for the local worms!
 I finally got a photo of the Northern Shoveler.

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