Top End Tales

Monday, March 13, 2006

The boardwalk at Fogg Dam.

This was quite a good walk with the heavy recent rains.

Snake's eye view!

I was on my belly on the boardwalk for this one.

Just a couple more.....

People seem to like these shots so have added just a couple more!!

The variety of birds

Karen took this shot,Pied Herons, Royal Spoonbill,Little Egrets,Brown Falcon all at the washed over road/dam wall at Fogg Dam.

Sunday, March 12, 2006

Ben, Karen and Ross at Termite Mounds.

Last time I came here it was so dry and the area was blanketed with smoke from fires from burning off.The grass was very high today and so green.

Ben kindly drove Ross and Karen and I out to Fogg Dam and then Corroboree Tavern for lunch. Ben and Ross, friends of Karen have both come up from Adelaide looking for work as pilots.We visited the Termite Mounds on the Arnhem Highway.

Others were taking the opportunity to grab some shots

It was quite busy here today with fish jumping out of the water, birds enjoying the feed.

Pied Herons at Fogg Dam

We saw a lot more and quite a variety of birds today including Royal Spoonbills, these Pied Herons, Brown Kites, all attracted by the lovely rains this week, what a difference we noted in a week.

Karen enjoyed the paddle

We both had fun with our shoes off walking through the water.

Another first!

The road at Fogg Dam was awash with water and birds, with fish easy picking for the falcons, herons and others.

Variation on a theme?

I know, not another Waterlily!!!

They are photogenic!!

A snake at Fogg Dam

This was a bit of a first too! I had been lying on the boardwalk near this spot and Ross pointed it out. It took off , back into the water.

See this web page about Green Tree snakes!

A white WaterLilly

This was slightly unusual, most of the Waterlillies I see are blue.

Stunning views at boardwalk

Although it was a somewhat steamy walk this morning, it was great taking photos in the forest boardwalk at Fogg Dam.

Saturday, March 11, 2006

Ever changing Sunset at Darwin Sailing Club, Fannie Bay

Even on an overcast wet evening, a pleasant evening with friends watching the sunset.

Getting older and greyer! And bits need fixing!

Its interesting seeing a photo of oneself. Could surgery fix my drooping eyelid, or should I just get more sleep!!!?????
Saturday evening at the Darwin Sailing Club, a very pleasant night

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

A flower for my friends.........

About time to add a flower photo . Noticed this bee in the Waterlily so thought it was worth adding to the blog. Taken at Fogg Dam.

Sunday, March 05, 2006

Striated Pardalote at Bird Billabong

This bird was fairly well camouflaged amongst the leaves and blossom.

Bird Billabong

After spending the late morning at Fogg Dam, Karen and I drove further down the Arnhem Highway to Bird Billabong via the Corroboree Tavern, which is a little wild. There was a utility with some pig dogs.I chatted to the owner and heard that wild pig meat is shipped to Germany.

See this fact sheet about Pig Doggers!

Bird Billabong is a 1.5 km walk from the car park once you leave the Arnhem Highway about 90 km from the Stuart Highway. Its quite a walk , but very picturesque although with 37c temperature it was quite an experience.

Crimson Finch at Fogg Dam

These are very common at Fogg Dam, but are constantly on the move so you need to be quick to take a photo.

Karen at Fogg Dam

Karen and I spent a day out at what has become a regular trip to Fogg Dam. She is a keen "Twitcher"
For more on the topic of twitching see:
The Big Twitch

Rainbow bee-eaters

These Rainbow bee-eaters were enjoying a constant feed.

Rainbow bee-eater

There were quite a few of these to be seen today at Fogg Dam.

Buffalo seen near Fogg Dam

These beasts were once wild in the area, destroying much habitat for birds and other wildlife. Today they are farmed.

I was happy to get this shot at full zoom of dragonfly

Not easy , but I'm happy with this.

Dragonfly on reed at Fogg Dam

These are not the easiest of shots to take as the autofocus on the camera is trying to focus on anything but the dragonfly!

For more information See this fact sheet about Dragonflies

Dragonfly standoff at Fogg Dam

We saw plenty of dragonflies today. Local lore says that the "Dry" must be near when you see dragonflies. These two were quite colourful.Actually it has just been pointed out to me that the one on the left is in fact a DamselFly,it's something to do with how they fold their wings at rest!

Tuesday, February 28, 2006

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!).

Friday, February 24, 2006

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.