Rod, Peta and Jayshree at Thailicious

We had a great meal, dining semi al fresco, upstairs in this very pleasant restaurant.

Celebrating Jessies return from California

We gathered tonight for a dinner at Thailicious in Darwin's restaurant strip , in Mitchell Street.
Pauline, Karen and Jessie (with Rod in background)

The beard is getting better!

The beard is back and getting greyer (so is the hair!).

Book Sculpture

Book Sculpture
Originally uploaded by gwENvision.

Not my photo, but an interesting library sculpture.
The name of this installation is "Good as Gold" by the artist Donald Lipski and is found at the new Country Club Plaza branch of the Kansas City Public Library.

Curlew CDU

Curlews are well camouflaged.

Curlew at rest CDU

The Curlews tend to nest in really basic situations, often near this car park.

Curlew at dusk CDU

The Curlews were still near the car park. They tend to run away, but allowed me to take some more images.

Curlew in university car park

We often see these in the university car park on our walk to the library. I grabbed this shot on the way in this morning.


see Wikipedia entry on Curlews

Lotus Blossom Fogg Dam

Delighful Lotus Flower at Fogg Dam.

Another dragonfly on boardwalk at Fogg Dam

Quite a colourful dragonfly.

DragonFly on Lily pad

Many dragonflies were seen on our walk.

Water lily @Fogg Dam

Such lovely blooms.

A small chocolate block for my birthday.

DSCN1589.JPG
Originally uploaded by topend.

This was a delighful gift from Leigh and family

Skink and fungi

Seen at Fogg Dam.

Fungus at Fogg Dam

Some brightly coloured Fungi.

Well protected

Don't go down to the woods today without protection!

Woodlands to Waterlily Walk

It was worth the mosquito bites to see this!
Its a 45 minute 2.2 km walk, which begins in a fringing forest into the wetland

For more information about Fogg Dam see:
Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve

On the Woodlands to Waterlily Walk at Fogg Dam

I went on a nice walk with Karen on the boardwalk in this forest to wetland area.

Crimson Finch at Fogg Dam

Seen also at Fogg Dam, these are quite common there.

Kookaburra @ Fogg Dam

Seen on the road out of Fogg Dam

Kingfisher@Fogg Dam

Kingfisher at Fogg Dam

The cruise ship "Oriana" leaves Darwin

The cruise ship "Oriana" leaves Darwin
Originally uploaded by topend.

Darwin was busy with tourists as the Oriana spent a day in port. It was leaving as we arrived for dinner at The Jetty for dinner.

Sharing my birthday dinner with Pauline

Sharing my birthday dinner with Pauline
Originally uploaded by topend.

Pauline's birthday is two days after mine so we enjoyed a dinner with colleague Karen @The Jetty, Darwin Wharf Precinct

Karen and Pauline@ The Jetty for birthday

Karen and Pauline@ The Jetty for birthday
Originally uploaded by topend.

Karen and Pauline at The Jetty, Darwin Wharf precinct

Interesting light in Darwin

Together with the sunset, the light was interesting at the Darwin Wharf Precinct.

Ship at sunset Darwin Wharf

It was quite dramatic light at sunset last night.

Sunset at the Wharf

Typical wet season sunset at the wharf precinct in Darwin. Popular eating spot for locals and tourists

Ixoria

This grows in my driveway at Karama. Pauline tells me its Ixoria.

Raffle prize Valentines Day, Rapid Creek, Darwin

I really enjoyed Valentines Day! I went to dinner at the Beachfront Hotel with Pauline and Karen and I won the Jacobs Creek raffle prize, wine, chocolates, a nice Jacobs Creek apron and chocolate kissing paint!!

Belly view of Frog at Howard Springs

This frog was enjoying insects attracted to the light in the kitchen at Howard Springs.

Sunday morning storm

Taken from my front door at Karama,this is a rather noisy thunderstorm early on Sunday morning, with lots of thunder and lightning.

Blue-faced Honeyeater

Another example of bird life in the Top End, a Blue-faced Honeyeater

Torresian Imperial pigeon

This Torresian Imperial pigeon I saw at Howard Springs property.

Annie

Annie, a Golden Retriever I have been minding at Howard Springs.

Rainy morning at Howard Springs

Lovely tropical downpour at Howard Springs

Sunday lunch at Cornucopia

Again a great day with the Fergusons and Karen at the Cornucopia Cafe for lunch on a Sunday.

The Ferguson Clan

Karen and I bumped into more tourists at Fogg Dam, the Fergusons. Clive and daughter Katie have been holiday in Darwin for the past month visiting Pauline.

Same bird different pose!

OK, its not exotic, but it is photogenic!

Very photogenic Willie Wagtail

This bird kept on providing great photo opportunities at Fogg Dam.
Interesting, there are two variant of the spelling, but most spell it a Willie Wagtail rather than a Willy Wagtail. In any case its a Rhipidura leucophrys, a member of the Australian fantails

Yet another Frog

Green Tree frog at Howard Springs retreat

This Green Tree frog delighted us at a dinner party I held at Howard Springs whilst housesitting.

Fungi at Charles Darwin National Park

I went to Charles Darwin National Park and saw some interesting birds especially kingfishers and bee-eaters. Also a great variety of plants etc.

Something a little different

This is Molly who still lives in Adelaide. Its one thing I have noticed in Darwin, that it appears to be a dog town rather than a cat town. I guess with so much wildlife in suburban gardens, that is bird and reptiles and frogs, that's it is perhaps best that cats are not kept as pets.

Grasshopper with blue eyes

Interesting grasshopper at the Territory Wild Life Park. Note the brightly coloured eyes

Frilled Necked Lizard

This lizard was part of the reptile display at the Territory Wildlife Park.

Yet another Orb weaver

This was a slightly different colour and even bigger.

To get more information about Australian Spiders, Dr. Ron Atkinson from the University of Southern Queensland has a very useful site.

Find a spider

Another view of the Orbweaver

Another view of the same spider. It was a little dangerous, not because of the spider, but I managed to have two leeches attach themselves to me when I went into the bushes to get a better shot!

Orbweaver spider at Territory Wildlife Park

I went to visit this great place again with the Ferguson family and there were a couple of great Orbweaver spiders. This is the female. Notice the little red spider on her, thats her spouse.... not long for this world!

For some interesting facts about spiders
National Geographic

Cullen Bay Sunset

A great place for a meal and a drink. I had a few drinks with work colleagues and then a seafood dinner.

Carols by Candlelight Darwin

A balmy tropical evening. Great artists and fantastic fireworks to end a pleasant evening.(Thanks to Karen for photo and Pauline for silly hat!)