A Powl and a Shrine

A birding friend sent me a report on Thursday last week about a Powerful Owl she had seen in Carlton Gardens.  Sunday morning seemed like a good time to try for it  Being a dill I was fiddling with my backpack on the tram and missed the Museum stop so had to walk the length of the Gardens to get to the correct spot. shown by the yellow arrow.

Using information supplied by my friend I was able to work out which set of trees it had been in.  Looking down soon gave a further clue.
Used possum anyone?  With those hints scanning the branches above soon revealed a big lump of feathers.
The size pretty much makes it a Powl and the barred ail confirms the ID.
After returning home in triumph we went for a walk to the Botanical Gardens.  We did get there, see last image, but on the way called in at the Shrine of Remembrance - usually referred to as 'the Shrine') on the Southern border of the Gardens (and the Northern border of Melbourne Grammar, which was a surprise).
We went on to the building and found it extremely interesting.  It doesn't have the gee-whiz things like a Lancaster bomber or the bridge of the Brisbane but an enormous amount of historical information displayed in a very interesting way.  Most of this is a very recent addition, as explained in the wikipedia article.  An exhibition about the competition to design the building appears to be a 'special' commemorating the 90th anniversary.

At the centre of the building is the sanctuary, under the cupola, which lets the sun shine in.
It is described as "an area for quiet reflection" and a number of people were doing just that.  (I have put in blue dots to block facial recognition.)
Going up yet more stairs got us to the balcony with a view South down St Kilda Rd,
Or West - Dorcas St ? -  to the cranes of Port Melbourne.
The city skyline is of course the Northern backdrop.
The courtyards are apparently designed to give the look and feel of trenches.  The poppy in this one has obvious reference to Flanders.
After spending a fair time there we eventually got to the Botanical Gardens.  Having climbed quite a few stairs we didn't do much in the gardens but were taken with the number of punters sitting on the lawns.
We took a tram back to 505.



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