Double-dipping

The weather doesn't know what it wants to do just now so despite temperatures being currently up in the high thirties with blazing sunshine, last weekend was a miserable wet affair with only a few dry spells between torrential downpours.

Long Reef

Bad weather often brings in the rarities but often drives them away as well. And so it was that I spent part of Saturday up on Sydney's northern beaches searching Long Reef for Grey Plovers. They were reported on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday but by the time I got there they were nowhere to be seen. Plenty of waders were running around but, try as I might, none of the many Golden Plovers could be turned into a Grey. I had to make do with the usual oystercatchers, turnstones, stints and tattlers and a crazy green sea anemone.

Anemone

When I got home just after dark I read that a Beach Stone-curlew had appeared up the Parramatta River only a few minutes from my place. Less than 12 hours later I was up with the lark (and the other twitchers) on the edge of the river at Putney. Not a very pleasant spot and no sign of the bird either. I was back in bed before Emily had even noticed I was gone!

Putney

  

Capertee

Things haven't been so great since holidays as I've been struck down by a nasty chest infection. X-rays and a CT scan showed a partially collapsed lung and infection bordering on pneumonia which would explain why I couldn't walk across two rooms without gasping for breath. Everything seems to be ok now though and another round of blood tests and x-rays in two weeks time should see me right.

Capertee Valley

Last weekend I was finally up for an excursion and so a trip to the Capertee Valley in search of a couple of honeyeaters was on the cards. The birds were pretty good but unfortunately the more unusual honeyeaters were keeping a low profile. The Capertee is known as being one of the best places for the drier country birds which wouldn't normally show up so far east. Many of these were showing well but, being quite a warm day, it was an even better day for the reptiles.

Lace Monitor

There were several goannas down by the creek, a couple of Snake-necked Turtles and a cracking big Tiger Snake. Unfortunately most of these disappeared before a camera could be readied but goannas climb trees when disturbed making photography easy!

 Capertee River