First twitch of the year

The new year's twitching has got off to a mixed start with a trip south to Culburra Beach near Nowra successfully turning up the White-rumped Sandpiper #452 that has been hanging out down there for the last couple of weeks. Another vagrant over from the Americas, this is apparently the first Australian record for 20 years. Luckily a fellow twitcher was already there looking at it when we arrived as I don't think I'd have spotted it on my own. Drab non-breeding waders are not easy for me to differentiate especially with my eyesight now unable to really pick out fine detail. I was pretty pleased with the situation until we got home and I read that there were a number of other ticks wandering about on the beach that I could have picked up. Broad-billed Sandpiper, Red Knot, Fairy Tern and White-winged Black Tern were another 4 potential additions to the list that I completely overlooked. I'll probably head back next weekend as it's a nice part of the world and I now know exactly what I'm looking out for.

  

Christmas critters and snail babies

Sadly we're all back at work now after a pretty uneventful holiday period. When it wasn't too hot it was too wet and so I didn't really get up to anything apart from a couple of swims in the ocean. A few sharks are hanging about off the Sydney beaches at the moment though so I might even give the swimming a miss for the immediate future.

Eastern Blue-tongue

The In-laws' place in the Blue Mountains is always good for the critters though and so I just sat back with a cold beer and let the wildlife come to me.

Brown Cuckoo-Dove

Mantis

Back in Sydney the house had attracted a few spiders and one particularly large individual decided to set up home in Emily's shoe. Just as well she saw it move as her foot headed for the opening. Terrifying! I'm now banging my shoes before I put them on.

Welcome home!

In altogether more pleasant news my Golden Apple Snails had babies while we were away and the tank was swarming with the little ones when we got home. Apparently they're good eating so that might be a good way to reduce the numbers to a level that the small tank can cope with!

A proud father and offspring