Signs & Symptoms - Bollywood, Lamington National Park

A few weekends ago, a birdwatcher from Adelaide, Bert, and his friend Kelly from the US visited. So we went on a weekend birding trip. First to do a pelagic trip to watch ocean birds then to Lamington National Park.

We got on a boat at Southport for the pelagic trip. The sea got rather rough and half the boat got sea-sick. First time I remember vomiting after many similar trips. But it was worth it. Not too many birds but lots of whales and dolphins. We saw a pair of Humbacks frolicking about and a Minke Whale that was enthusiastically breaching in the distabnce. There was also a pod of Deepwater Bottlenosed Dolphins just jumping beside the boat.

The new birds I saw were Wedgetailed Shearwaters, a Brown Booby, Black-bellied Storm-Petrels, a Hutton's/Fluttereing Shearwater & Providence Petrels.

We then went on to camp at the Green Mountain Camping ground near O'Reilly's in Lamington National Park. We woke up to Red-necked Pademelons (a kind of small kangaroo) grazing peacefully just outside the tents! The new bird for me was the Paradise Riflebird although I didn't see any males. Also had very good views of a brilliant male Regent Bowerbird. Unfortunately I don't have a photo to show its striking black & yellow plumage.

The birds there seem to be very friendly including this Eastern Yellow Robin in the photo. It was almost too close for my little point & shoot camera. It was very curious and perched right in from of my face! There was also a friendly Crimson Rosella that perched on top of my head but sorry no pictures.

The lizard is an Angle-headed Dragon.

And oh, Bollywood is a common species of tree there. Didn't see any Indian movie stars dancing around it though

Signs & Symptoms - Buckley's Hole

Last weekend went on a 'Twitchathon' with Mike West to Buckley's Hole Conservation Park on Bribie Island near Brisbane. Yes, the Australians really know how to name their beautiful areas. Rather chily at first but warmed up quickly as it was a clear day. Saw more than 80 species of birds. Not bad for a winter's morning. However there weren't too many waders around as they've mostly flown to the northern hemisphere to breed.

It is an area of varied habitats. The park is dominated by a lake (fresh or brackish water I think) but also right next to a sandy beach and even mangroves and some scrub.

There were lots of signs in the park disallowing a number of natural human and canine activities. Not that I was particularly up to some of these anyway.

That plant is a Coastal Banksia (Banksia integrifolia). Shown here is its 'fruit' or in technical terms, infructescence. Looks almost alien if you're not familiar with Australian native plants.

This n That - Araucaria Track, Brisbane Forest Park

Went with birdwatcher from Singapore, Hang Chong, and his mum to Brisbane Forest Park. Saw or heard almost 70 species of birds in half a day on the Aracauria Track along the Enoggerra Dam. Also this big fellow, a Laced Monitor (Varanus varius), I think. Almost 2 metres long. Scrambled up a tree but stayed motionless for long enough to take almost close-up photos.

Signs & Symptoms - Poor Bill

Poor Mr Posters, harassed all the time.

This n That - My mother's filing system

Re-using take-away boxes, her receipts and other bits and pieces are organised. At their rightful place on top of the fridge of course.

This n That - Poster

Seen in a Church in Hobart. Look Closely, left bottom corner.

This n That - Shanghai

Seen in a large Shanghai bookstore. And abacus right next the the computerised cash register, in case of computer or power failure. In fact this is not uncommon throughout China and small businesses in many parts of Asia. May be getting rarer with the new generation who have more faith in computers and less skilled with the abacus.