Melbourne Adventures

 We went to Williamstown this morning mainly hunting Great Crested Grebes, being promised lots of them by our friend Elke.  They delivered for her, and us!  But first a map of our route at Jawbone, and some other species. There were lots of Pied Cormorants perched on rocks etc. 3 Male Blue-billed Ducks were nice to see. So were some Pied Stilts and Royal Spoonbills. We saw one Great Crested Grebe pretty much as soon as we looked at the liquid.  Then another 11 as we crossed a small bridge on to a wee island.  (I have missed one from this snap.) A couple of portraits. Overall I wrote down 35 species here.   We then moved on to Point Gellibrand where a few more birds were seen.  More Pied Cormorants and lots of Crested Terns were the feature species. This is the Ball Tower at Point Gellibrand.  The history of this site i s extremely intersting and we must make sure we are there when the ball drops! Our final call was at the very pleasant Will...

The first full day mixed history in town and a serious walk in the afternoon.   We began with a walk round a Swamp a little further down Glenelg St.  Quite pleasant but very little recorded on the stroll. I am starting with the photographs and will add text later.  The first image is our accommodation, which the owners say dates from about 1840 while the guide map says 1854 (either way, definitely historic - and very well maintained/restored). Governor of Gaol's cottage (1872) on the left and Courthouse (1854) which still functions as the Magistrates Court. A couple of samples of the painted inspection covers found all over the town centre. Town Hall (1863). Customs House (1849) still used by Border Farce ( sic ). Percy St: the main retail drag. A Spanish Cork Oak tree, dated as 1875. in front of the Wesley Church (1879). All Saints Catholic Church (1862): a surprise of the town was that this Catholic Church was closed while the Anglican St Stephens was open: in othe...