Aussie Birders

Friday Sep 30

Beautiful morning. Guess where we went? Gold Creek Road. We were a little later than is best, gone 7 by the time we arrived. The shorn Alpacas were visible to-day, odd looking beasts.

In a paddock along the way, a family of Variegated Fairy-Wrens were flitting through a large Lantana (marmalade plant) bush. The usual flocks of marauding Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, Cattle Egrets and fly through Cormorants, not much else apart from Magpie-Lark and the pretty Wood Ducks found country-roadside but shy.

Wood Duck

Magpie-Lark

Stopping to see why there was a birder in a small paddock the other side of the hedge, another appeared and the pair made their way to the roadside. Two real Aussie birders at last. Newly returned from Darwin. They invited us under the wire and into the paddock, private land but they have  permission to go in.

Very wet underfoot but Scarlet Honeyeaters made up for that. Small Warbler-sized Honeyeaters which flit through Callestemon feeding high upon the Bottle Brushes.I took a few photos including the one below.One of the loveliest Honeyeaters, such a beautiful colour.

We explored another road, Hillbrook, which climbed steeply off Gold Creek, nearer to where the Bell Miners were tinking, before turning for home and breakfast.
Slight hiccup.....The upstairs loo door is very tight when shut close to. I did so, couldn't open it and spent some time singing 'Oh dear what can the matter be, this old lady's locked in the lavatory' before I was released by Pam putting her shoulder to the outside. She thought it was very funny.
The rest of the day was taken up with Anne-Marie's visit to advise re the garden. She's the Real Estate Agent who sold them this house and quite a character - but not too much use re the garden. She did identify a partially hidden Mango Tree which is in good flower....

Pam and I shopped for Sunday's dinner which I'm cooking, Sara and Josh took Mojo for a walk - we dropped them off at the dog park - and Mike went to Bunnings to buy a wheelbarrow and probably something called an Alligator which cuts through everything. He'd love that.

Now, I've promised Josh a game on the Wii.

We had Rain...

Thursday Sep 29

I was hoping for a lie-in this morning. Awake, we left the house at 6.10 a.m. trying to be quiet - the floors are wooden and make a helluva noise even when tip toeing. I added to the general uproar by tipping the metal toilet roll holder over, it's usually Zulu in the middle of the night, chatting us up during a loo visit.

Gold Creek Road was very quiet to-day, probably the lack of sun for the second day running. Birds were showing in the sunny glades last time, plenty of noise in the forest. We did add Wonga Pigeon, doing its walking along the road act, Striated Pardalote and Common Mynah (introduced).Couldn't resist another Kookaburra photo.....

Pam suggested a visit to Colleges Crossing. No-one else there this morning and, a steady trickle of birds to keep us interested. A diminutive Black-fronted Dotterel joined the Pelicans on a mud island, a Sea Eagle startled a host of white Cockatoos out of the far shore trees, two White-faced Herons glided in. Best for me was two Channel-billed Cuckoos croaking their way across the clearing. They're enormous, they look Little Egret sized in flight and the noise they make is pretty awesome too. A Collared Sparrowhawk showed briefly.

Home via the prefab type temporary Post Office (flood) situated near the Dog Park to buy stamps and a quick look at the river. The required denomination stamps were not available, Pam ended up with three large ones for each card, that will cut down on the writing space!  High tide to-day, four Wood Ducks and a single Striated Heron only. Several Straw-necked Ibis fed in someones front garden.

We got in as Mike, Josh and Sara were on the way out. Josh to friends for the day and Mojo to the Pet Barn to have his matted hair seen to. Sara can't keep on top of it at the moment with all the burrs and seeds around, he looks like a shaggy hearthrug anyway.

As we breakfasted, the heavens opened and it rained steadily until early afternoon, at least it saved watering the pots.

Mojo came bounding in, shorn. Sara is very sad and Mike doesn't like it much either as he 'looks like a poodle'. Not surprising as his father is a poodle. Shaving his lower tummy has made his back legs look kangaroo like. Bless him. At least we can see his eyes now and his hair is so soft and cuddly.

I don't think this photo does him justice, will try again.

Pam dug out another load of sansiveria whilst Mike cleared a path through to the aviary/chicken house to be. That entailed digging out an enormous clump of strappy leaved bush. The perches have been junked too. Scrubbing and bleaching next, then a run and nesting boxes. Maybe the hens will be in situ before we leave for the UK.

Pam and I went to the Post Office to post the cards whist Josh was fetched. He'd had 'the best day ever' on his scooter at a ramp and playing games with three friends in a park.

Delicious supper of lasagne and salad, cooked by Mike. Sara's watching 'Beauty and the Geek' (don't ask), Pam's playing Bubbles and I will soon finish this after the pain of uploading the photos - the programme often has glitches.

We'd planned to go to Bribie to-morrow but, have deferred it until Saturday as Sara's gardening friend couldn't come to-day and will arrive to-morrow to advise re the trees etc. I'll take the notes.....

Birthday and Birds

Weds Sep 28

We woke too late to go out birding before the celebration started. Late to bed after watching the movie 'Up' and then a hysterical-laughter time with we three women trying to catch the enormous moth we had been trying to transfer to a box for overnight refrigeratio and allowed to escape in our bedroom. It was a beauty, apart from the chunk missing from a probable bird attack.

Soon after 8, we were gathered in Sara's bedroom to watch card and present opening. We gave her money for 4 Plymouth Rock ready to lay chooks - what she wanted - and a couple of chairs for her balcony. The boys had bought her charms for her bracelet. Mike had done a good job with many items which included a ring, earrings and a massage voucher. He was all set to get her an IPad and then she decided she didn't want one after all. She does have a 3G IPhone......

We encouraged Sara to take the family to a Surrealist Painters exhibition on the South Bank, too much walking for us. We went to Samford.

First call was an area named Greenmount Court which we thought would be in Samford itself. Glossy-black Cockatoos were reported there a week or so ago. More in hope than expectation, we drove 9.5 k out of Samford and up the old Mount Glorious Road and Fogg's Road, through very promising looking woodland, to... a dead end. At the mini roundabout there were two grand gated entrances to superb looking houses, one named Shangri-La. The latter had an enormous statue of a Gorilla outside the gates. Astonishing.

No sign of the Cockatoos but our first Long-billed Corellas of the trip.

We made our way back to the road without using Martina and went the pretty way! Good job too, three Dollarbirds on overhead wires - they're  Roller family and migrants from the north.

Not a long diversion, we were soon at our fav. cemetery Samsonvale. Loitering along the entry Gold Scrubs Lane, added Variegated Fairywren, Brown Honeyeater and Silvereye.

After checking on the Friarbird nest - still being built - we lunched with the attendant scavengers looking on. They're all frightened of the Brush Turkeys.

Australian Magpie

Bar-shouldered Doves are a feature here but we've only seen them at one other site.

A Pair of Bar-shouldered Doves

No sight nor sound of the Rainbow Bee-eaters to-day, we must have caught them on their initial visit.

A Moreton Bay Regional Council vehicle drew up and John came over to talk to us. A dapper little man with a broad Edinburgh accent - after 33 years in Australia. He's in charge of 13 cemeteries and Samsonvale is his favourite - he has slot No 1 reserved in the Ashes wall.

We were not home until 5 after a liquor store (bottle of fizz)  and petrol stop, just time to have a cuppa and change clothing before Mike drove us all out for the birthday meal. It was a long way and riverside in central Brisbane. We'd been warned that we were sitting outside and I was very pleased that I'd donned a vest and cardigan. It's been overcast and only low 20s all day. As we got out of the car, Josh did one of his mad dashes and ran into the towbar. Very painful. Sara ended up mopping his wound with a panty liner which he soon disposed of.

After a G and T and a pleasant meal watching the CityCats (catamaran river buses) go by, we drove home and enjoyed Sara's Puffer Fish (!!) birthday cake with a glass of N Z Sauvignon Blanc fizz.

Much too late to write my Blog, I'm writing this on Thursday morning.

Phew, Lotsa Shopping

Tuesday. Sep 27
An early start, but not that early, we left at 7ish and drove to Gold creek Road. Much better than our first visit. The first birds were two tiny Forest Kingfishers making feeding forays from roadside wires and then diving back into the forest to eat the result.

Forest Kingfisher

Lots of noise but frustratingly few identifiable views. Brown Cuckoo Dove, Brown Shrike-Thrush, Red-browed Finches, the delightful Eastern Yellow Robin, no response to my tape call of White-eared Monarch, a migratory flycatcher rare in this area. It was seen a couple of weeks ago near the third creek crossing from the Reservoir gates.
Just us at the parking area. I wandered about until a cry of 'I've got a Tawny Frogmouth on the nest' brought me hastening back. It was on a branch of the biggest Hoop Pine to the right of the parking area and viewable as a lump in the sun.

Tawny Frogmouth on nest

Scope views made the bird more distinct. It usually sits very upright against the trunk of a tree looking like a piece of the bark. A gently spoken older man stopped and asked if we had something and was astonished and pleased to look through the scope. he turned out to be the owner of the house visible  on the hill through the trees - the bird was in his garden!
We drove slowly back, adding a couple of Bar-shouldered doves to the day list, some Cattle Egrets attending cattle - as they should - and three young Welcome Swallows on roadside wires, waiting for breakfast. No sign of the shorn Llamas to-day.

Cattle Egret

Juvenile Welcome Swallows

Adult Welcome Swallow

We detoured down Carabeen Road to photo Galahs, I love them. Unfortunately, like most sensible Aussie birds, they mostly keep to the shade.

Galah

A Purple Swamphen near the croquet lawn did the same thing.

Purple Swamphen

A  lovely welcome from Mojo, he leapt off Sara's bed when he saw us get out of the car and rushed downstairs to see us.
A latish breakfast sitting out on the patio, already too hot to sit in the direct sun but very comfortable in the shade.
Mike and Josh and Harry departed for birthday shopping in Indooroopilly in one car, Pam and I in ours hot on their heels. We walked miles in the Mall. We don't know where anything is, there aren't any maps to look at- and there are four huge floors. Oddly, I quite enjoyed it.
Home for lunch, Sara was newly in from...shopping!  I ate my crackers and cheese in the car on the way to Bunnings in Blunder Rd, Oxley. It's an Aus B and Q. Sara wanted some more plants to add colour to the garden. We bought quite a selection plus an orchid to take to Tina next Monday. I had an Email from her this morning saying we could stay until Friday. We'll probably leave there on Thursday and maybe stay a night somewhere new on the way back.
The usual evening routine of computing, food and reading the UK papers on my IPad. Sara Mike and Josh took Mojo for his walk and we used the opportunity to pack presents for to-morrow. Harry didn't come home from his cinema trip until after their return - Josh first as he went on his bike. Nearly time to play the cerebral Strip Jack Naked  with Josh!

Nothing to Report

Monday Sep 26
A domestic day, mooching in the garden, getting meals and entertaining the animals. Harry went to Indoorpilly, Josh was wan all day - missing his parents? Sara and Mike's plane was delayed so they didn't land until 6.15 when they should have been home. They'd had a lovely time but were very tired.
Birding to-morrow.....?

Boy Sitting

Sunday Sep 25

Sara and Mike left for the airport and their flight to Sydney at 7.15 a.m. The flight to the wedding was free, courtesy of Sara's air miles. They're staying the night, back early evening to-morrow. Unfortunately both boys were up early too but ensconced in the media room, playing games. Harry must have slept himself out after his sickness, no sign of that to-day.

Josh chose to accompany us to Cole's in Kenmore Village to do the shopping, very helpful again - but he was well rewarded with a packet of Mentos and some Lynx (!) deodorant.

Both boys love chicken, a bought ready-cooked chook did for lunch  and Harry's tea - he didn't want lamb cutlets.

Mojo has spent his time following us around, it's usually Mike. He chases round the garden like a mad thing, especially if any Bush Turkeys appear. His favourite toy at the moment is a Nike football which he is trying to destroy.

The most stressful part of the day was taking Mojo to the dog park. It was packed with dogs of all sizes, mostly mongrels. very friendly but just too many of them, probably 25+ in only a moderate sized area. We beat a retreat after after 20 minutes. Throwing a ball for Mojo ended up with a mass chase which he didn't win. At least the other dogs retrieved the ball, brought it back and let go. It took Pam and her stick to pin Mojo down - well the ball anyway, so that Josh could grab it.

The delightful fluffball, so good natured and tolerant. Sara's threatening to have him trimmed this week, he gets terrible tangles, twigs and debris entwined, which he loathes havoing removed. Neither is it successful. With summer coming, he could do without his long fur coat anyway.

When Mojo started mounting another dog, we decided to leave.

After dropping them off at home, Pam and I returned to a small park where 23 Galahs were feeding. The sun was low and at the wrong angle for photography. We were only away for 10 minutes......Josh and Mojo were waiting inside the garage doors as they rolled up - we have a remote and are parking in Mike's space.

Shopping for Sara's birthday present in Indoorpilly Mall is planned for the morning, the boys haven't bought anything yet. They got their cards done this afternoon.

Bits and Pieces

Sat Sep 24

Awake at 5.30., reading yesterday's newspaper on my IPad........wide awake. Zulu had treated me to his trademark nip on the calf as I staggered to the loo, very stiff legged after 4 hours sleeping in the same position. Sara had warned me that he did this. It didn't hurt but was startling. A very cloudy dawn until the sun burnt it off and it became the usual blue sky.

Harry had a friend, Matt, sleepover last night - I don't think there was much sleep!  They didn't surface until gone 10.00. By this time, Mike had gone shopping and Sara and Josh had gone to chook school. The local nursery was running a free 3 hour all about keeping chooks session.The previous owners of this house have left the aviary, which is going to be used for 4-6 chickens, mostly ex battery is the plan. Harry was most put out that dad was not available to take them to Indoorpilly Mall to meet friends - he hadn't said anything last night though..... I cooked them pancakes but only Matt wolfed them down, Harry had a headache and didn't feel well. We tried to dissuade him from going out but, he was adamant that he'd be OK and asked very nicely for a lift. Pam stopped her plant pot filling and flower planting and we drove them to the Mall. Very straightforward - proper grandparent stuff !!

Mike was still not back, shopping for Sara's birthday and new trousers for the wedding in Sydney to-morrow. We decided to investigate driving to the dog park, we don't fancy the walk. The road leads to a superb area high up on the banks of the Brisbane river where there are palatial houses in big acreage, parked Bentleys etc in front. We  stopped in a layby and spotted some birds far below, no binoculars. We drove back for them and I remembered that we had a scope in the boot!

Low tide, plenty of mud on the bend which was littered with dead scrub and trees, aftermath of the flood. Four Striated Herons, one White-faced Heron and several Darters drying their wings.

We returned to pick up fruit and crackers for a late lunch, both Mike and Sara arrived within a few minutes of each other as we were leaving. Sara cross because Mike wasn't answering his phone and she'd found a sick Harry at the Mall where she and Josh had gone shopping after a very successful morning. She'd had to curtail her shopping, had Josh witnessing her spray tan whilst dressed in a paper thong alone (he'd walked in and given her a thumbs-up), endured Harry being sick into a plastic bag in her car and Josh throw up because he can't stand seeing others doing so. Mike had left his phone in the car...... Sara was remarkably chipper though, having loved her morning and decided she was going to have Plymouth Rock chooks. One of the instructors breeds them and had brought some chicks along. Irresistible.

Pam and I drove to Golds Creek reservoir, a known birding area which is only 20K away that we haven't risked before as the route is not straightforward. Good old SatNav. The approach road is narrow after some more lovely houses, lined with tropical forest, ending at a small parking area. We didn't walk into the Res area, we couldn't even see any water. The dam no longer provides Brisbane with water, the pipeline was closed in the 1950s. It's now kept as a conservation area. An interesting notice on the gate talked about horses wearing dung bags as a seed found in their food was spreading an insidious creeping plant throughout sub tropical forests.

We saw very few birds in the heat of the afternoon, another early morning visit required I think. The ubiquitous Masked Lapwing can be found in pairs on most pasture, they have a piercing alarm call. Odd looking birds.

Time for another Kookaburra, I love them. Haven't managed a really good one yet this trip, perched too high as yet.

Our Favourite Cemetery

Friday Sep 23

Too early for breakfast, we set off at 7.15, driving to The Gap along Gap Creek Road which is newly metalled. On our first visit here,in our ignorance,  we drove it when it was gravelled, very twisty and climbing. Mike was horrified, he hadn't tackled it in the 4x - and gravel driving is not allowed by car hire firms. It's much more direct and misses out a lot of urban bits. We'd succeeded in making Martina (SatNav) lose her voice, which was irksome. I eventually managed to sort her out in a layby, being provided with an instruction book would have helped as I've never used one before. She is now fully functional and takes a lot of the navigation pressure off me.

We arrived at Samsonvale Cemetery soon after 8.30, set up our chairs in the shade looking into the wood and ate breakfast. Crackers, cheese, strawberries and yoghurt. Lovely. A hungry looking male Brush Turkey came too close for comfort - and my lens - we had to stamp our feet at him.

Sara hates them, she thinks they're ugly and they make a mess in the garden. They're members of the Megapode family and build heaps of soil and leaves in which to lay their eggs - and then walk off to keep a general eye on things returning to kick on more soil etc. I rather like them.

We stayed in the wooded area adjoining the small cemetery overlooking the extensive Samsonvale lake until early afternoon, me photographing the newly arrived pair of Rainbow Bee-eaters which will nest in the cemetery and Pam locating the birds. Unfortunately, I discovered that my camera mode switch was on Aperture priority, achieving a sharp image of moving birds became rather difficult - I discovered when I downloaded them. I loved it though.
The lake was deeper an more extensive than we'd ever seen it. Caspian and White-winged Black Terns fished distantly, Pied Cormorants, Australian Pelicans, Australasian and Great Crested Grebes, Darters, Black Swans, Intermediate Egret and Wood Ducks scattered around. Whistling Kite and a Fish Eagle patrolled the far shore.

Here are a few of the acceptable photos.

Rainbow Bee-eaters

Noisy Friarbird at the partially completed nest.

After lunch, we paid a short visit to Kobble Creek picnic area, just up the road, before the return journey. We've seen some good birds here in the past, not to-day, it was deserted. The only notable sighting was a large, coiled Carpet Python at the side of the road. Pam established that it was newly dead, a probable road kill - through her binoculars. Not harmful to humans, it's a squeezer and swallower of small mammals - including cats and dogs.

Martina guided us home via  a cake stop at Brumbies (Aus bakery chain) in Samford.
Harry was still out, Sara not home from work and Mike and Josh took Mojo for a walk. Lucky we were there to let Matt and mum in. He's staying the night and mum wanted to make sure that his vegetarian needs would be met. Five minutes later, Mike arrived with a very soggy Mojo. He'd chased a bird into the creek and had to be hosed down in the garden. He was devastated that he wasn't allowed into the house and whined piteously. I'd have given in.....
I have now added some of Pam's pics to earlier postings.

Just Mooching

Thurs Sep 22
Our day is easily summed up.I cooked dinner - a requested Shepherd's Pie with leeks and cheese - Pam gardened, emptying and planting patio tubs, Mike totally devastated a hedge. We should now be able to bird the garden from our bedroom - not his primary aim I'm sure. It was overgrown, bushy and had large bare bits. The poolmen left this morning, we should be able to start re-filling it to-morrow.
We did drive to Anstead Nature Reserve which is only 5 minutes away , in Hawkesbury Road at the end of Sugars Road. Nick drew us a map last night and we wanted to suss it out whilst we remembered his instructions.

Josh reading an IPad book

The weather has definitely cooled, down to upper 20s to-day, very pleasant with a breeze. Sara feels better too apart from forgetting to collect Harry on the way home from work! Mike had dropped him at a friend's this morning where he played video games all day. She had to turn round and do an extra 16 miles.
Will add some of Pam's photos to-morrow.

Aus Butterfly - what's its name?

Fast asleep Josh, the only time he's still....

Zulu, the king in his castle

Owling

Weds Sep 21
Food shopping took up the latter part of the morning, Josh came with us. Harry had gone to Indoorpilly to meet friends and to go to the cinema.
Josh got two 'good boy' from strangers, one for waiting to hold a door open and the other for fetching veg. bags for me. He was very useful in unpacking the trolley and loading the boot too, knowing to put the lighter bags at the back.
Pam bought a bargain garden spade and a splendid torch ready for to-night - she's forgotten her head-torch.
We picked Nick up at 3 p.m., in Sugars Road. a few minutes drive away. A tall gently spoken and very pleasant man in his thirties. He guides for Tropical Birding! Waw. He leaves  to-morrow for a two month series of birding trips, Australia and New Zealand. And he fitted us in. Splendid.
Nick knew of a shortcut avoiding much of the traffic holdups on the way to The Gap, it didn't take long to reach Mounts Nebo and Glorious. The first stop was a few K beyond Maiala. We walked about half a mile up a rutted dirt road through rain forest, tall trees giving heavy shadow. A lot of wind in the treetops didn't make birding easier.We managed: Brown and Long-billed Gerygones, Grey Fantails doing their mating display, a Brown Cuckoo-Dove called as did a Noisy Pitta, responding to Nick's whistling. It refused to show itself though.
We returned to the Maiala parking spot to while away the time until dark. A splendid male Satin Bowerbird perched in a nearby tree.
We tried a couple more spots for Sooty Owl, no response. An Owlet-Nightjar did call for us, at last, we've always missed out. Nick called in a Marbled Frogmouth what a splendid call it has . We didn't manage to see it perched, it was hidden by leaves, but, we did see it fly away.
Pitch dark by now and really, rather cold, we drove to Manorina where Nick had originally found the Sooty Owl a few weeks ago. He knew it had been seen ten days ago, we had our fingers crossed. Almost as soon as we got there a youngster called. Three other birders were present, Nick's find must have pleased a large number. It's described in Morecambe as 'rarely seen', thank you Nick, we'd never have found it on our own.
A very pleasant journey home, talking birds with Nick, he's given us a couple of ideas for local birding and an open invitation to contact him whilst he's away. Lovely man. He also ID'd our mystery bird... female Golden Whistler. Now that we know, we can see the possibility but the book illustration is not good(excuse?). The singing put us off too, our UK female birds don't sing.
Home soon after 9 after a wonderful experience.

First Foray

Tuesday Sep 20
Awake early again but after 6 hours sleep this time. I felt like myself for the first time since arriving. After letting Zulu (cat) in, he was calling outside the bedroom door, I showered and then read yesterday's Telegraph and Sun on my IPad. Brilliant. I also managed to fix my frozen Kindle with a little help from Amazon's 'Troubleshooting' section.
Josh's friend Ryan, his seven year old sister plus two others were due round this morning. We went out.....We didn't leave until 10.30, after breakfast sitting on the shed patio looking over the garden. The birds have found the bird bath which Mike filled yesterday and are using it well. We could watch the activity from our bedroom window.
First stop was a shop at Karanda Downs to get water and a snack for lunch, we were not our usual organised selves and had just walked out. Colleges Crossing for the promised photos of the devastation, only really obvious when compared with the past.

All that remains of the cafe, no sign of the centuries old fig tree under which it was built.

The island is new, the lagoon much extended

The cafe kitchen was moved on a flatbed to higher ground

We sat under an awning to eat our icecreams, birding all the while. We had a Sea Eagle, Brown Falcon, Corella, Willie Wagtail, Great Egret and a small grey heron sp, briefly.

The road to Lake Manchester is mostly gravel, occasionally tarred through a wooded area fringed with large tracts of land and dwellings, many of them enormous. Seems to be horse country. An iguana sp. posed on a tree stump, Pam's still trying to identify it. Grassland Earless Dragon is a possibility.

The unknown Dragon

I photographed a delightful small bird singing its heart out on a barbed wire fence.... we can't ID that either. We'll have to ask Nic to-morrow.

Why can't we ID this? Looks obvious!
Female Golden Whistler.

Lake Manchester was viewable distantly through the trees but entailed a long walk downhill which we eschewed (one for Mags). After a snack and a drink in the semi shade in a small parking area, we returned past the warden's house. There, Pam heard a lot of bird noise from a fruiting Fig. Most of the birds were Figbirds (aptly named) but there was a Topknot Pigeon which I manage to photo, hidden amongst the leaves. This is a rainforest pigeon, usually seen flying fast and low, in small groups over the tops of the trees. Our first good view of one ever. I took lots of pics, couldn't resist it.

We let Martina guide us home via a short cut down Kangaroo Gully, an excellent and much shorter route.
Harry was the only one in. The children and Ryan's mum had gone to the cinema, Mike was out as was Sara who was too unwell for work. She'd gone for some medication.

I watched a film with H whilst Pam used Mike's new and mansized fork to dig out Sansiveria from the front garden. It was another hot and cloudless day so she didn't last long out there.
A short period of uncertainty soon after Josh arrived home - the pump which the poolman had installed to empty the pool had shorted the electrics. Mike soon fixed that but, in the meantime, Josh was grovelling arond on his tummy 'fixing' the spaghetti of connections in the sitting room. He reckoned that he fixed it.......Bless...

I made the promised phone call to Nic who lives a few minutes away, we arranged to pick him up at 3 to-morrow so that he can take us - hopefully - to see a Sooty Owl at dusk up Mount Nebo through The Gap. One of our favourite runs actually. We'll do some other birding beforehand. Looking forward to that.
We've just watched the first half of the Man U / Chelsea match. Chelsea had heaps of chances. The Nani goal was spectacular. Time for dinner, pizza and salad. Hope Sara feels better soon, she's pretty rough - I don't want it either.

Happy Birthday Rai

Wheels

Monday Sep 19

I'll try to produce some writing which is not:

a) capitals

b) bold and

c) in a column on the left. As I have no idea why that happened yesterday.......here's hoping.

After a very long night - I was awake before 2 a.m. and still awake at 7 - during which I sorted my IPad, downloaded apps including Sky Sports News and re-configured my Apple account, I was not alert but, very well informed. The best news was Man U beat Chelsea and City only managed a draw.

The local BooBook (owl) which sounds like a hoarse cuckoo, called for an hour, coming ever closer until it sounded as though it was in the back garden. Again, the Kooka was the first to call, well before dawn.

I phoned Abel cars to find out what time they would arrive to pick us up, 10ish was the answer. A man in a hurry, hurtled up the drive at 10.30, hooting loudly. He hadn't realised that it would take as long. He was a flood victim, stating laconically that he'd lost 25 years of accumulated junk and that was OK. Later he said how sad he was that precious possessions which he'd asked to be saved had ended up junked as the messages were not being passed down the line of volunteers emptting the houses. He'd had a little cry, got a cuddle from a stranger and straight back to the office to rent out the trucks badly wanted by others in the same position.

The drive back to the depot at Greenslopes, the other side of the city, on the Logan Highway en route to the Gold Coast, had Pam gripping her seat. There was a bit of a queue in the depot, he had to get to work immediately with the remaining worker.

We eventually drove away in a silver Nissan Tilda, SatNav in place, thank goodness. With  Martina (our name for the SatNav lady) in charge we made a quick and trouble free journey through the centre of Brisbane and it's one way systems plus 5 lane highways, overtaking allowed on both sides, traffic merging unexpectedly, her quiet calm voice giving us plenty of warning re turns etc and then a timely reminder. Very impressive.

She had been programmed to take us as far as Mount Coo-Tha, we were on familiar ground after that. It being school, the parks were full of picnic-ing families, birds in short supply, we soon returned to the Botanic Gardens for a small lunch before driving home.

A bed of Clivia looked lovely

The Brush Turkeys are in full breeding plumage, I must try and get a photo but, they're very busy chasing each other.

Surveying the gardens

Home for a nap (me), Pam read. When I got up, Sara was home and in bed, feeling unwell still. Mike got supper, we computed and then played cards with Josh.

Nick, a local birder, sent an email saying that our owl outing is on for Weds afternoon, I need to ring him to-morrow to finalise details. Great.

A Very Hot Sunday

32 hours Door to Door

Thursday Sep 15 - Saturday September 17

We left home at 4.15 a.m, and had a pretty good journey to Purple Parking, despite the M25 at rush hour - slow but moving most of the time. PP is very slick and the traffic to Terminal 3 horrendous. We were nowhere near as early as we usually are but, because of having  booked in online and printed off our boarding cards, a very short and fast queue to hand in luggage.
Enough time to buy some perfume and have breakfast before boarding time. Unfortunately, the board was mis-read and we ended up on a route march, walking at least as far as to the sea at Titchwell and back!! To add insult to the distress, all the moving walkways were going in the wrong direction. When we reached the lounge at last, we were immediately called to board. It took me a while to cool off......
Two very young children, a baby and an infant made sleep difficult, we try to adjust to the time at destination as does the airline,  it was post lunch UK time that lights were dimmed and the shutters closed.
Changi Airport, Singapore is lovely. Light, airy and just classy looking. We bought Tshirts for the boys, had a drink and a bite and boarded the next plane. Much shorter flight - 7 hours as opposed to 12 - but less pleasant. The Airbus is not as comfortable as the A380.
I phoned Sara from baggage reclaim, she and Josh were already waiting for us. Customs clearance was good too, having declared crisps, Jaffa Cakes and stock cubes, we were waved straight through past the searching Beagle, who gave us a cursory sniff. Hugs and kisses all round, lovely to see them, and a very short walk to the car, Josh helping with the luggage as always. Well, hurtling on ahead pulling Pam's heavy cabin luggage roll on behind him.
We turned up the drive to No 9, Vanwall Rd, their new home, soon after 9, entering the main house via the two car garage. We were greeted by Mike and Harry and all our luggage was carried in to the appropriate places. A short tour of the premises was very gratifying, it looks great, they've worked hard in two and a bit weeks. Turning down food, we all sat in the lounge, the adults drinking champagne, chatting and catching up until midnight - surprisingly late.

Saturday
Harry's 13th birthday.
I woke at 4 a.m and stayed awake, Kookaburra first as always and then Noisy Miners, Rainbow Parakeets, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, Brush Turkeys and Magpies making a cacophany at dawn. Josh stole past our  door at 7, we shared a wave, Harry appeared soon after 8, gesturing cuppa at me, Pam slept on until he returned with a perfect cup of tea. Great. Zulu - Ragdoll cat - shared our bed on and off during the night. Plenty of room, it's a weekend bed, two singles pushed together with separate duvets. Our room is not enormous but perfectly adequate with an inset clothes hanger and shelves/drawer unit.

Zulu - Ragdoll, world's biggest breed

Present opening takes place in Mike and Sara's bedroom, we all gathered in there before a bacon and egg roll breakfast. Delicious and very welcome.

A tour of the back garden in very warm sunshine - mini heatwave. Must take some photos, it's difficult to describe. So many mature trees and shrubs and a garden shed which looks like a cricket pavilion. Lovely.
The rest of the family drove Harry to the Mall to meet his friends and to do some shopping themselves, we decided to stay here and just chill. Seems a shame to stay in on such a beautiful day but that's how we feel. Plenty of time to explore.