Liam and Treanne's House-warming

A lovely evening in a tropical setting at Liam and Treanne's house-warming. The dress suggestion for the cocktail party was formal so it was great fun dressing up.
This is our hosts:

The ladies loved vamping it up!

The stylish clothes were great to see, normally people dress very casually In Darwin.

Even I dressed up, should have had my jacket on!

Pauline's daughter with Jessie and Pauline.

Pauline arrived late so had some catchingup to do with the cocktails (only joking!!)

Peta and Pierre:

John and Jill:

More of the library crew:

Visit to Territory Wildlife Park with Pauline and Lindsey

On Saturday afternoon I went to the Territory Wildlife park and was able to show Pauline and her daughter Lindsey the Raptors at the Flight Deck Display. This a Barking Owl

The raptor display was disturbed by the local kites harassing the birds on show especially the Crested Hawk or (Pacific Baza) (Aviceda subcristata) which was somewhat rattled by the Black Kites. More information Crested Hawk Fact sheet


The White-bellied Sea Eagle,“Terence” was also watching them circle overhead,





The Wedge-tailed eagle was also showing some signs of distress, however allowed this guide to cuddle him.

Enjoying the Darwin lifestyle at Stokes Hill Wharf

Pauline enjoying her daughter Lindsey's visit from Melbourne at Stokes Hill Wharf. It was packed with tourists and there was lots of activity in and on the water.

Excitement...a snake in the library!

This item courtesy of Heather Moorcroft!

"Well, never a dull moment! ... and some people say that libraries are boring.

See this photograph of snake that Nic had bravely caught from under the table watched by 20 staff and students (all giving advice about what to do, how to hold it, what type it was, whether it was poisonous - consensus was a yellow version of the Green tree snake). Peter rang security who came along looking amused (if a little nervous) and joined in the rescue effort.
One student lent Nic his jacket to catch the snake with. Nic then gave it to Rod outside and they let it go in the bush on the far side of campus."

Dry season sunset Mindil Beach

With the onset of the dry season, the sunsets like this one at Mindil Beach are often enhanced by smoke from burning off of the bush.


Plenty of tourists at Mindil Beach, its very, very popular.

Losing some great team members

Sadly Pauline needs to return to her family in Victoria. She has been a great team member,her sense of humour and sense of purpose has endeared her to us all. I played around with Flickr Toys to create these:

Also Karen has decided not to return to Darwin so another good friend and team player has been lost from my team.

Library Week

I was busy with Australian Library Week as I judged a photo competion, went to the Library Technicians Dinner. This was at Karawa, the CDU training restaurant,you can see why I enjoyed the meal!.(Great food and prices)



then the next night a tour of the new Palmerston library and a panel session all of which I was asked to be the official photographer for and then today a morning tea where I announced the winner of the photo competition.
This is a photo from last nights panel and tour. Its myself with Elizabeth from our Library Studies Unit ,and Leigh from my team.

Return to Fogg Dam May!

Managed to get out again to Fogg Dam.This time with Pauline.
The road has been opened up again now the dry has started , but you can see some damage.

Lots of birds though. I was pleased to get a good photo of four Rainbow Bee-eaters


and a few Kingfishers.


There was also this rather magnificent crow, nice body dreadful voice!

Also lots of Crimson finches.

The Egrets and Royal Spoonbills were quite vocal.

Sunset at Mindil Beach market

Returned this week to Mindil Beach, this time with Pauline.

These two princesses were enjoying the music at the market.

I enjoy the Celtic/World Music nature of this group, Jabaru.This is Rene Bradshaw.
Quoting their web site"Through the performance of her music rene uses hammer dulcimer, flutes, djembe and dun duns presenting a haunting sound with soul filled melodies. Rene sings sultry, emotive lyrics, plays the hammer dulcimer like a Persian Princess and enchants with melodies on various flutes."
Hear their music at jabaru.com.au

Pauline looking at the stalls

The first Mindil Beach market's for the year

Delayed for a week because of the threat of Cyclone Monika, the Thursday and Sunday evening markets are a huge tourist magnet.



I always like the humour of the Road Kill Cafe, "you kill it we grill it!"

Return to Fogg Dam

Having missed a couple of weeks due to my trip with son Dave to Singapore recently it was good to get out to Fogg Dam again. I gave David Forsyth from the University a call, and he joined me for the 60km drive out there. It was quite a dramatic change as the road in along the old dam wall is now closed, at least until the "Dry" is well underway. the water is flowing well over the road in the middle of the dam so it was only accessible for driving by official 4WD vehicles.






The usual birds were seen, Royal Spoonbills, Pied and Intermediate Egrets,Kites,Cormorants, Rainbow Bee-Eaters



and something I had not seen there before, a Broad-billed Flycatcher(Myiagra ruficollis).


We also saw a snake in the water. We were also prevented from going on the forest boardwalk because of flooding.