Posts

Let the Sunshine in

Image
 I have posted previously about a visit to Costco at Ardeer - possibly read that after this. Today (21 November) we had quite a tour of the wild west in mind with 4 stops planned. The first stop at Millers Junction in Altona North was intended to be a visit to the Woolies as it is the only place I know still selling Schlossgold no-alcohol beer.  Got a few 6 packs of that and some Edenvale no-alcohol Sauv blanc ($8.90 a bottle vs $12 at Coles at Prahran).  Then to the plant section of Bunnings (a nice potted Dahlia) and a few things at Aldi - as we had the car and thus avoided a walk to Prahran the next day.  Next, following Google Maps as satnav, we dodged around an industrial area to get to 6 Law Court in Sunshine West where Mount Zero Olives can be found.  An interesting warehouse staffed by very pleasant people selling olive products among other things.  We purchased some stuff and had interesting chats about where they source their product: in summary...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Western Mosquito Plant

Image
 We took ourselves out to the Western Treatment Plant (WTP) at Werribee, mainly because we hadn't been for a while and the Summer birds should be around.  I will comment that some of these photos are straight from Crap Bird Photography (CBP)  because the mosquito population (not standard mosquitos, as a bit bigger and apparently didn't bite) so perhaps better to just say Diptera) at times was reminiscent of a swamp in Canada.   We started at the T-section ponds well down Port Wilson Rd.   Here is our route for that site. We soon found a few waders, mainly tiny Red-necked Stints but also some larger Sharp-tailed sandpipers (with orange arrows). Mozzies were very bad here so this pic of a Yellow-billed Spoonbill was taken through a closed and dusty car window 2 Cape Barren Geese. A male White-fronted Chat.  They were present in many areas today. Whiskered Terns were also a constant presence.  Despite appearances these are not perched on the bac...
Post a Comment
Read more

Bits of Prahran in an evening or two

Image
Or in fact 3 evenings - see addition at the end. This covers a few snaps in various bits of Prahran (now and then).   It begins with us going to the Prahran Mechanic Institute Library for a talk about stained glass windows as War Memorials (aimed to happen on Remembrance Day).  This was the opening slide of a relatively brief Powerpoint which started the Presentation. The speaker was Dr Bronwyn Hughes OAM an art historian specialising in stained glass.  She has established GLAAS Inc ( GLASS LIGHT ART & ARCHITECTURE SYNERGIES) based nearby at 140 High St.  She then ran the film Let the Sun Shine In  covering 5 windows in Australia covering major conflicts from the Boer War to Vietnam.  To watch the film, scroll down a screen in the linked page and press an obvious button. It is a ripper of a film. On the way back to 505 we passed through Prahran Square where an installation has been established.  It includes lots of bubbles once fully operation...
Post a Comment
Read more

Albert Park Henlings

Image
 I recently saw a post about there being many Moorhen chicks in the SE Conservation Ponds in Albert Park Lake.  So as it wasn't bucketting down (Saturday) or blowing a gale (Sunday) I took myself over there.  Astonishingly, Queens Rd was clear in both directions so I scuttled across to the Golf Club, saving a few metres and minutes. On settling down at the most Northerly pond 2 chicks were visible, but their legs looked pretty robust.   In a few minutes an Australasian Swamphen jumped into the pond and the two chicks squeaked and rushed over.  (An earlier post to BOAPL FB group had included this species breeding.) Moving on towards the Pavilion another brood of Swamphens appeared. At an exercise station I met the first Dusky Moorhen chick.   There was another single Moorhen chick and an adult with 2 chicks in that area.  Then I came across a group of 4 chicks and 4 adults. What has me puzzled is that my guess is 250 Eurasian Coots were in the...
Post a Comment
Read more