Still in Canberra

 On the 15th we started with a walk in Commonwealth Park as it is a little longer than our walks in Reid and we wanted to do most of our outdoors stuff before it got hot.  On the way we noted this new crane, which looked very colourful against the blue sky.

In the park this tree appealed.  I suspect it is some form of smokebush.
The traffic seemed busier than it has been recently.  Canberrans must be coming in to their office for Christmas parties!  Comments at the Croquet Club also referred to heavier traffic and on16 December the Target carpark was full for the first time in many months. 
I thought this to be an interesting art installation.  On closer inspection I think it was a planted tree that had blown over but left in this manner: perhaps art baisse?
The next image shows where the top of the falling tree ended up.


To avoid the worst of the heat we went to Kelly's Swamp.  There were lots of baby fowl around.  The first is an Australian Swamphen.
Chicks were not evident with a Great Egret ...
... nor a Pacific Black Duck.
They were very evident with Dusk Moorhens.  Several broods were around with this lot the most amusing.  In addition to the general 'cute' the red quills of emerging wing primaries was interesting.

Baby Coots are not really 'pretty' although their mothers probably love them.
A Darter showed the flexibility of its neck.

On the 16th my main business was getting my new denture fitted.  This happened in the morning.  In the afternoon I had a croquet game which went quite well.  The games are good fun but even though tagged as "Social" are a lot more serious than the games at Mallacoota.  My game was satisfying as I ended it with a 1.5m hoop shot that didn't touch the sides.


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