******* Update 20th October. *******  Sad to report that the pair had lost the nest.  As well as two of their close neighbours.  Probably Ravens, or perhaps Kookaburras.   Willies are making new nests as I write.

Over the past couple of weeks the number of Willie Wagtail pairs have increased in the area.  Each of them are well into their preparation for nesting, and several are actually well advanced in the siting and construction of their first nests.

Within about 100 metres there are 3 pairs all hard at work.  This pair is in the same area as one’s we photographed last season, and she managed 5 young off one nest.  No reason to doubt they are not the same birds.  Will be interesting to follow along.

The pair both work on the nest, and a big part of the preparation is the gathering of spider web.  It’s the web that binds the whole nest together, and also binds it to the branch. So the first job is to put in a good foundation of Spider web. And given she gets it right round the branch is something to consider as a work of art at the very least.

So here is  a few days of work from this pair.  Once they figure out we are not immediate threat, the work just goes on around us.   Try not to frustrate them too much and so I site the camera and attach radio receiver and use a radio remote control from about 50 metres back.  That way at least they aren’t worried too much by the human presence.

Took an afternoon to revisit the WTP, but as the weather has wont to be of late, it turned first into a very hot afternoon, and then a very dreary hot overcast evening.  So the chances of excellent photos diminished by the moment.

Did manage the Brolgas down along the Murtcain (m) _ love the double spelling.   Also found a pair  of Cape Barren Geese, but without any young, so have concluded that they must have lost the clutch they were attending.

No real display of Raptors and try as we might we didn’ t locate the Black-shouldered Kites nest along Beach Road but that just gives us a chance for return.

The waders are starting to return in good numbers and we saw several Ruddy Turnstones up on 280S hiding among several hundred Whiskered Terns.

In the end the weather beat us, and so we beat a hasty retreat to home.

Realise I’ve been very tardy of late with posts in here, but we have as they say been somewhat occupied with other activities. So much so that I spent 10 days at home with the Garden Gnome, cleaning, raking, moving, chopping and other things that those with gardening tendencies delight in. Me, I’d rather be behind a camera in the scrub, cuppa at the ready, and the breeze flowing though the trees and the sunshine making it final part of its long journey down through the openings in the tall tree canopy.

But. It was not to be, and the work around the house, inside and out had to proceed, and with good reason, as will become clear in the next few weeks.
In the meantime, had the chance along with EE and Mr An Onymous, and Ms  In Cognito to be hosted by Melbourne Water at an open day down at the Western Treatment Plant.

The day consisted of several streams, and we chose the “Wetlands” and the “Historic” tour.  And Melb Water provided the folk to talk about it all, and to show us about the plant in really great big tourist buses.  And to explain along the way the various operations and  the planning and development of what the plant is doing and going to do in the future.  Super.

So much fun to sit in a bus and be driven about the plant, downside was not being able to stop for every interesting bird that went by, but did learn lots of things.  Even got to see my mate Helmut from Flickr on the side of the road, and got everyone in the bus to wave to him.  Not sure anybody other than me understood what was happening, including Helmut, but hey!  I thought it a good thing at the time

After a bbq lunch, thanks to some hard working service group folk, we were back in a bus for the afternoons foray, which covered the historical side of things.  It took us to see some first inhabitants special areas and the work that is being done to keep the heritage and open it up for access to the local people of the area as a park and meeting place. What impressed me most by all this was the opportunity to develop the land and keep it pretty much  a ‘meeting place’ as in the past, but now as a part of a modern housing development.

The highlight of the day was a visit to the old township inside the plant of Cocoroc.  Funny when you Googlemap things that is the identity given to area for shots taken around the eastern end of the plant.
Cocoroc was a township of about 500 people who were the workers in the plant. Known euphemistically as “Water men”, they controlled the flow of “stuff” around the plant and how it was distributed out on to the run off paddocks.   A full working township with bus stops, swimming pool, town centre hall, an historic water tank, and a football field. Having played the odd game of country footy in me time, I was pretty excited by  the chance to walk out on to the old ground and imagine the games that would have been played there.  A beautiful Black Kite played in the the breeze overhead and made it all that more special.

The old water tank was originally part of the water supply system for Melbourne before the Yan Yean Reservoir was opened in the late 1800s.  The tower used to stand on the  top of the hill near where the Eye and Ear hospital is today.   It was moved to Cocoroc, and was part of the fire defence system.  It has been restored by Melb Water and now is in pristine condition and the area under the tank is to be used as part of the information centre in the future.  Super

If the plans go ahead, then in the not to distant future Cocoroc might well have a revival as Melb Water has plans to relocate is Information Centre and some of the operations out to this location and the town will indeed be part of the heritage restored in the plant.

Every year a welcome event is the return of Woodswallows to nest in the Sugar Gums area in the Woodlands Historic Park.

Mostly we get Dusky and sometimes the White-browed.  The Duskies come in huge numbers and by the end of breeding season they can really fill the sky.

They are not only great masters of flight, but can glide superbly as well. They are quite gregarious and seem to play interesting games that have some unspoken rules, but with a little bit of cleverness it is sometimes possible to work out the moves.

We were down the sugar gums looking for our old friends the Eastern Yellow Robins, from last year.  But with little if any success.  Perhaps that was a call over there. Perhaps, but no.

The day before we’d seen no Woodswallows so weren’t taking much notice until almost out of no where a family arrived.  Up to 60 or more birds, calling, flying, sailing through the air, loudly perching on trees and shrubs and hunting.  We really wondered if it was a flock that had just arrived and like returning home, wanted to check up that every tree and branch was in good repair for their adventures.

Anyway here some pictures of these gorgeous birds.

 

We’ve been extremely fortunate to locate a pair of Eastern Yellow Robins. Try as we might last season, they eluded us time after time.  But this year, we’ve been able to locate them as she prepares for nesting.

Because of the way we work, birds that get visited regularly get names.  This pair is no exception and Karen and Jimmy they’ve been dubbed. We normally pick couples from classic literature, or tv series or some such like, but this pair were named as we were watching an ad and the very proper and correct voice-over blob, said, “Let us introduce Karen and Jimmy”, and we said. “That’s the names we’ll use”  Now for completeness I can’t even remember what the ad as about and haven’t seen it since.

When you spend a goodly amount of hours in the bush in one location, sometimes it’s wonderful weather and no birds, or great birds and hopeless light, and sometimes nothing much at all.

As Karen gets ready to nest, she needs to bulk up for the 3 weeks or so on the nest, and Jimmy helps feed her.  So a quivering bird on a branch and shrill chitter is a good pointer to a feeding moment.   The process is so quick, that, blink, and you miss it. As he torpedoes in, she takes the food, and he sprints away.

So as I was sitting in the open, I saw Karen fly in, begin the wing fluttering and thought. This is my chance,  National Geo for sure.
Then she moved to the other side of the tree!

All I get is a tail poking out.
He sweeps in, deposits the grub, and is gone.  All on the other side of the tree.

So enjoy my misfortune.

Hopefully there will more opportunities to follow.

The backlog is getting to me.  Can’t seem to find the few minutes to write even some halfway coherent stuff to make it worthwhile blogging.

But it would seem, in more ways than one, that Spring is upon us.  The early blossoming plum, almond and peach trees are a real giveaway. The slowly decaying winter wattles, and of course the lack of Flame Robins in the Backpaddock, or anywhere for that matter.

We’ve spent a few hours over the past few days, between the high winds, and the torrential downpours, trying to eek the last few great shots out of the dwindling numbers of Flame Robins in the Woodlands Park.

I know when spring is here, they sit on branches and deliver that lovely rolling rollicking song, and then within a week or so, its quiet.

One of the techniques we use to photograph birds is work out the territories, and so more easily predict (?),- is that the right word?- where they may be. As spring and obviously the nesting season fast approaches, its nice to have that all figured out before the female sets up house an then goes furtive and we hardly see either of them.
For the Red-caps its a scarce time, for the Scarlet Robins, its almost impossible to determine where in the large territory she might choose.

So we decided to have a look at a couple of pairs of Eastern Yellow Robins.  Not because I want to know where the nests are so I can set up and annoy her, quite the contrary.  If I know there is a nest in that area over there, then I’ll do my best to stay away from it and give her the privacy she needs.  So we generally sit back about 30-40 metres and watch what takes place.  If they hunt or perch out near where we are sitting we enjoy the moments. But we don’t chase them. It is after all said and done. Their living room.

Last season we had a bumper time with Jack and Jill, two really lovely Eastern Yellow Robins that got to the stage that when EE came by they would flutter down to see what she was up to.   Made for great photography.

We’ve tried to look for them in the old territory a few times since without success.  No idea where they’ve gone. Torquay?   But, today, it seemed like a reasonable morning to have a bit of a sit in the bush and just see.  And we did, and we didn’t see them at all.  Usually within the hour or so, we’d have spotted at least one of them working the logs and greenery. But not so.  So we spent an extra hour just in case they were late sleepers. But. No.

We like the sitting part, as it helps work out who and what else is in the area and can work out predator patterns, other forest users, where the Goshawks are going to nest, and how many Superb Fairy wrens can there be in one colony.

So armed with our knowledge we began the trip home.  We diverged from the track to have a quick look in another territory, as there was a pair there last season, but very furtive birds, I probably only got about 3 or 4 photos of them in the entire season.
Not a minute of the track, and she flew by laden with Spider Web.  Then another trip, then stopping by the tree we were standing near, she proceeded to gather more web and was gone. To return to strip bark from another tree, and go.
Now, we might be considered to be a bit on the slow side, but by now both of us had concluded. She’s nesting. And she was.  Then he came by with a big grub, and topped her up, and away she went again.   So at least one pair have taken the Spring time as here.

No doubt we’ll see more of this pair as thing progress.

I know, I know, I promised not to do politics, camera reviews and other controversial stuff, but this turned up today, and given my tirade sometime back.  Well, I can’t help meself

Here’s the scoop

Nikon is Disappointed With Its Mirrorless Camera Sales, While the Rest of Us are Disappointed with Nikon Mirrorless Cameras

http://www.photographybay.com/2013/08/08/nikon-is-disappointed-with-its-mirrorless-camera-sales-while-the-rest-of-us-are-disappointed-with-nikon-mirrorless-cameras/?awt_l=5VUC6&awt_m=JoK26fI8dv62xu

Nuff said really.

Oh, here’s the original rant.

Buying an FZ200

https://dslrephoto.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=2160&action=edit&message=6&postpost=v2

My posting here have taken a hit over the past few weeks,  not because of lack of getting out, but because of getting out. Just to many filing, sorting, deleting and tagging of images to keep up a steady repartee on WordPress.

EE and I were out looking for Eastern Yellow Robins the past week.  Not, I must say, one of our highpoint weeks, but you’ve got to put in the quiet days to get the magic days.  But while we were sitting looking a most interesting moment occurred on the old tree we were using as base.

A pair of Striated Pardalotes came on to the tree and began their usual “per. plink” chatter. But then the rate became quicker, and the volume increased, and plainly out in the open they began to display.  At first we thought it might be a young juvenile begging, with the wing fluttering and the lowering of the body, but both birds were indulging in doing it. And they followed one another back and forth along a couple of branches.

No contact was made by them, and they kept a small distance apart.  So I discounted a couple of males having a territorial dispute.  They seem to go into flying chest bumping as their opening gambit.

They kept it up on and off over the course of about two hours. Then completely disappeared (as Pardalotes are quite capable of doing).

At one point, they both seemed to be very interested in a small hole in the old tree trunk and popped in and out a number of times.

So perhaps its the beginning of a mating ritual?  I checked the venerable HANZAB, and it responded with the ‘insufficient data’ type comment, so we’re really none the wiser.
Still a couple of hours in the sunshine with some very active and attractive birds is a good day out.

EE’s away at the moment. Shhh, don’t wake the kids.

And as I had a week to ‘myself’, dropped a note to Mr An Onymous and we agreed that WTP on Wednesday in the sunshine would work.  So we set off. Worried of course that without EE to spot things we’d like as not miss an elephant in the middle of the road.

On the way in along Paradise Road, we got our first surprise.  A big black shape sitting on the fence on the road ahead, but the light, isn’t that always the way was wrong and all we were going to get was a dark shape.  So, rather than sit and ponder, we decided to drive on. That’s when it exploded off the fence.  At first I thought it a “hobby”, a joke in there somewhere, and it was gone.  Then An called, “Its landed back on the fence behind us.”.  Ok, let’t turn the car around and head back as now the light will be ‘over your left shoulder dear, said my mother”, and it was, and the colour was great, and lo and behold it was a Black Falcon.  Very elegant and impressive.   Might be a good day after all.

The tide was out, and we went along the coast, plenty of ducks of various varieties, but no shore birds at all.  Mr An, has been wanting to spot a White-bellied Sea Eagle for quite a number of trips down there, but no such luck. Interesting to contemplate but when EE and I go it alone we see one or two regularly.  Sorry about that.   So we scoured the sea, bunds, grasses and ponds, but no sign of a Sea Eagle. What sort of a tour guide am I?
The Brown Falcons must have recovered from hunting season and were out in force and we followed one from post to post along the beachroad, and I did my best to get the car in a position for An to get the best results.  Pull car over sharply on an angle and he gets a good shot out the window. I get a shot of his elbow and part of his 300m lens  Them’s the breaks.

We took the road down to the Spit, or Murtcain (m) depending on whose telling the story.

On down to the Murtcaim (n) outflow, and the tide was in, but a pair of Black-shouldered Kites amused us for awhile until one snagged a mouse and then landed on a box thorn, and of course I just had to get a shot. Nice in the afternoon light.

We drank tea and pondered that it was indeed a Magic Place.

On the way back along the road, I was checking each fence post for another Brown Falcon, when off in the distance on a gate post, was a ‘HUGE’ white blob. Focus binos, and … It was the elusive White-bellied Sea Eagle.

Dilemma: A. Drive down fast, and the bird will fly.  B. Drive down slowly, the bird will fly. C.Drive down a bit, then walk, the bird will fly.  We opted for C. Just about ready to get out of the car, and even though we’re still a long way away, the bird threw.   Now normally they will always fly away from our position. But. Not this time, it slowly got a bit of height and then drifted casually down past our position with the sun “thanks, Mum” over our shoulders and close enough for detail.
The D800 to my left was going berserk. Finally a spot disappeared in the distance, and we regained out collective breaths.  Wow.  Big smiles all round, I’m back in the flavour of the month Tour guide handbook, and the D800 is smokin’ writing out the images to the card.
Talk about fill your dreams.  So he’s got enough images of a White-bellied Sea Eagle to fill his quota on the photo site, and I’ve got a story, and a satisfied photographer.
Mr An Onymus no doubt will post the images on his photo stream  “Na-na-ne-nana”, on the ANTI-social networking website,  In_cognito. 

But, there was more to come. As we headed out the gate, a Nankeen Kestrel, landed on a post by the road way, and then dropped into the grass just in front of us, and rose with a mouse in tow.  It happened as quickly as that.  Settling in to consume the mouse, it suddenly was attacked by a marauding Black Falcon. Kestrel takes mouse and flees, but the Black Flacon was all over it, and completely out flew the hapless Kestrel.  Out gunned, she dropped the mouse and fled.  The Black Falcon must have claimed the prize as it too took off in the other direction

Probably enough for one day.  So we headed for home in the late evening light

 

And just in case you don’t get over to the Anti-Social Networking site, IN_Congnito    here is a cut from Mr An’s photo stream, “Na-na-ne-nana”.

 

The Flame Robin flock seems to have moved on out of the Woodlands Backpaddock area. That figures, as we have access to it this year, (unlike being locked out last year), but for reasons only birds understand, the majority have moved elsewhere.
Given a reasonable day, I decided to have a bit of a walk further afield and perhaps track down some of the new feeding areas.

But no one said anything about ‘The Frost’  as I drove out just on sunrise, the fields were as they say in the classics White.  And when I started to walk over said fields the grass underneath crackled.  So put on the ski hat, gloves and scarf.  And still the cold cuts in.

I was going to ply my trade along some back tracks, kangaroo pads and a few areas where the old gums have opened up the area for grass and moss beds.  But.

No robins. No noise, no Thornbills, no robins. In the background the beautiful and unmistakable mellow descending whistle of the oboe like call of White-winged Choughs. I really like these birds, but have so few even ok photos of them. Too hard as they are black, dig around in the undergrowth and never seem to be out in the open for me.  The calls indicated that at least three separate groups were at work in the forest ahead.

To get to a new location, I had to cut along a vehicle track and then enter a well groomed Kangaroo pad.  As I was walking down the road, in the sunshine ahead, I saw a White-winged Chough on the roadway.  Then it turned and flew, with a beak full of mud.  They build a communal nest out of mud.  It is a large round pot shape, and really quite a work of art.  They also communal nest the eggs, and have long discussions over whose turn it is to sit next.
Now, the light was all wrong for me, and I had no idea where the nest might be being built, although some trees are more likely candidates than others, so I moved past the mud seep on the side of the track, found a suitable out of sight location with some good strong front lighting, set up the camera, and waited.   And waited.  No doubt the passing by had not gone unnoticed.

Then after about 5 minutes some black shapes wafted through the undergrowth on the other side of the road. The committee had decided to check me out.  And they sat.  So did I.  After a few more long minutes, one moved out across the road to take a peek from behind, and one moved up closer.  And sat. So did I.

Given I seemed harmless enough, the consensus was back to work, and they wafted down on to the grass to pick up some mud gathering implements.  Choughs, I quickly discovered don’t just gulp a beakful of mud and take off.  They carefully prepare some grass, twigs, etc and then dab it into the mud, much like a painter would do to prepare a brush,  And not just any mud.  It has to be the correct consistency.  Not that hard stuff over there on the edge, nor that really sloppy stuff near the water, but this fine, sticky stuff just near the weeds.  And dab they do.  And twist it about, and then dab again, until that’s about as much as can be loaded up, then it’s off to the nest.

They also seem to be able to work with the consistency.  A little bit of the hard stuff, blended with the softer mud, wrapped in more grass, given a quick dash in the water, apply more sticky mud.  It’s a craftsmanship that was as much fascinating as perplexing to work out.

After about half an hour work stopped for awhile, and I took a quick look for the nest.  Not to harass them while they are nesting, but to be able to avoid the area and give them the peace that a nursery deserves. But, to no avail.  Cleverly hidden high up in a gum somewhere near, I suspect.

The supervisor came along for a bit of a look at proceedings. You could tell it was the supervisor. No mud on it.

So with their lovely cries ringing in my ears I went back to the more mundane job of looking for Flame Robins.

After the past couple of weeks of somewhat inclement, to downright ugly weather, we had been thinking about another day down to the WTP.  Not in the fog, most said, so we looked with interest at the little icons that the tv folk put up for weather, and even went to BOM to get a broader picture.  Tuesday looked the go, but, as usual with all good plans, important things came up, and so Tuesday came and went.  However Wednesday promised even better, and a nice *definition – not to strong* northerly wind to go with it. Which meant a little interior warmth coming in, so goodbye fog.

We picked up Mr An Anoymous and headed down for the afternoon.  As predicted the wind was blowing toward the water and the big birds seemed to delight in it, and it quickly became a raptor day out.  Which is good, as I’ve been wanting to give the new Wimberley Gimbal head a real work out, and see if it makes me look like a birds inflight photographer.   I’ve raved about it before, but now with good reason.  I delayed, I think I’ve said this before, buying the real thing just because they are expensive.  And they are.  But, you’ve got to think laterally on this, one Wimberley will last a lifetime, produce rock solid pictures day in day out, and save your tired old arms from holding the long lens up, and then just at the crucial point nerve jitters sets in and he images are blurred.  Yep I know Image Stabilisation, Vibration Reduction, get with the times mate,  move on in life, spend even more money.  But, good as VR is, its as many limitations as it has advantages, and I’ve really grown to like the 500mm f/4 especially on the D7100- with its real focusing mechanism.

It looked however a bit quiet as we rolled down Paradise Road. A quick look for the missing Northern Shoveller, but no sightings.

We did find a large flock of Pink-eared Ducks in a pond up toward The Borrow Pit, and settled down behind a couple of small trees near the waters edge and 15 minutes later had some great shots of the ducks as they paddled past, filtering water at a great rate of knots.  I’d not really noted before, but the water is a constant stream, flowing out just at the base of the bill.  They must sift a lot of water in one day.

To our amazement a little further along the line we found about 30 Black Kites in dance in the air.  Most looked like juveniles, but masters of the stiff breeze they were and me and the Wimberely were in Inflight heaven.  After so many passes by the birds my arms were tired only from pushing the camera around. Great start.

Then a Brown Falcon decided that if it mixed with a flock of Ibis, then it might not be noticed.  The Brown Falcons seem to be a bit of target practice for the bigger birds at the moment. Geoff Main on Flickr has a series of Kite vs Falcon, and there is another report of a Black Falcon taking the prey from a Brown. So maybe this Brown sought a bit of shelter.

Further on, and a Whistling Kite was making short work of someone’s family member and calling out to all and sundry to announce its feeding.

Some Cape Barren Geese along Lake Borrie kept us busy for awhile an even had the male come advancing toward us wings displaying.  Don’t think he liked the little grey car.

And out on the Murtcaim (n) outflow the four Brolas made a brief appearance until just about being run over by a cross country rally expert in a 4WD, not sure if he was a birdo or just needed to get home early. Hope he made it. The Brolga took off and went to a safer paddock.

Back along Beach Road, and it was the turn off a pair of Black-shouldered Kites to show they were serious and one took a mouse pretty much infront of the car. Three people with cameras going ‘Ohhhh”, not shot taken.

Then just as the sun was setting and we were already in going home mode, around the corner on Paradise Road. A Hobby sitting in what was definitely the last of the evening sun. And the light was gone.  It however let me get the car up close enough so that a shot or two through the open window was possible.
Not a bad day to be out in the sun

As Mr A says, paraphrasing me, quoting him, “Any day out photographing birds is a good day,  if you get to see birds its a bonus.”
We had the bonus.

Here’s one of the Hobby in silhouette by Mr An Onymous.

 

Between the weather and some other family activities, we’ve not been out near Woodlands in about two weeks.

The afternoon looked moderately clear, and after a really long decision process over ‘mow the lawn’ or go look at the birds,  we were in the car and heading out.

Just about everybody has been saying that the bird activity has quietened down out there, and  a couple of reports show next to no activity from the Flame Robins at all.

A quick look around the dam area revealed that the reports were indeed correct. Not even a sight of the birds we’ve come to expect as locals.  Even the Little Pied Cormorant and the Australasia Grebe had moved else where.

Bumped into Neil A, as we went back up the paddock and he’d found a single female Redcap.  At first I thought it might be Primrose, but no such luck, perhaps one of her daughters as I’d seen them together a bit some weeks back.   Then after about 10 minutes Primrose did turn up.  She has  a somewhat dilapidated coat, as she won’t moult completely for about a month or more just before the season starts.  No sign of Lockie, and I think the brave little dude must have become Goshawk snack time.

No other Redcap males in the area, and Neil reported seeing only one in the area inside the backpaddoock.  I think they’ve moved further down the range, but don’t have time to get out and do a good scout about.

While we were talking a Grey Shrike-thrush moved on to a tree nearby and taking a small stick began to poke it among the bark on the tree.  Very quickly it came out with some goodie attached, and the bird calmly jammed one end of the stick into the bark for leverage and then like a kebab ate the goodie off the stick.  I’ve always admired the GST for its lovely melodic sound, but now I’m even more impressed at is ability to use tools.

Into the back paddock, and the reports were indeed correct. Not even a wing flap, no tree creeper, nor  sitellas.  Not even the rush of Thornbills.  After a bit of a scout round, we took to going up hill into the open scrub area just before the first hill.  And here we found a small hunting party of Flame Robins. Perhaps 3 males, and 2 female/juveniles.   But they were quickly gone.

What seems most strange is that a fortnight back, there were close to 30-40 birds working over the area, now just a handful. Perhaps they’ve all gone to Torquay.

Much to do, but not too many great images this winter.

 

 

Given the near week of rain we’d had and our inability to get out to the bush, we were watching the weather details on the tv with a touch more than avid interest.

In the end, Thursday looked like the go.  Frost on the ground, little fog in the morning and sunny day.   Sounds just about right.
Plug into the universe that Mr An Onymous lives in, and we are right to go.

As we drove down the Geelong Freeway toward the Point Wilson Road turnoff, it did look a bit nigglingly worrying that we could hardly see the car in front, and the verges of the road occasionally seemed to disappear completely in the fog. Oh yeah, fog.  Not your “Oh, it’ll burn off after breakfast, fog.”  Nor your “It’ll be gone by morning tea fog”, but your, this is pea soup, English fog, and you can expect to drive over London Bridge at any moment fog.  Exposure times were looking like f/4 at a fortnight.

And of course once we got into the WTP, (they’ve put up a new gate and entry on Paradise Road. Very nice.  Your water rates at work.), it became obvious that right after heavy rain in  strong wind, fog will just about wipe out all hope of seeing birds.  After all, if you’re just barely able to see the road to keep the car on it,  oh, whats that- a GATE, stop car quickly- then its going to be harder to see a Whistling Kite slipping across a paddock. Speaking of paddocks, where were they?

Then we found a Nankeen Kestrel, sitting on a post on the side of the road.  I think we snuck up on it as it couldn’t see the grey car in the grey fog.  But then suitably surprised, it thew and promptly disappeared in the fog.  Hmmmm.

Let’s go and photograph some trees in the mist.  That seems like a good idea, there are some nice looking old skeletons up near The Borrow Pit, and let’s face it, any respectable Orange-bellied Parrot is not going to be out and about today, so we went.

And.  As we got further into the plant, with more paddocks, and more water in the ponds, of course, the fog got, well, thicker.  How could you tell?

So breakfast fog came and went, so did morning tea fog, and lunchtime fog was giving us a good run for our money, and then the first hint of a bit of blue sky and things became a little ‘clearer’.
By the time we were ready to go, and certainly by the time we’d hit the Highway Lounge in Werribee for a cup of coffee on the way home, it was.   Clear.  Oh well, perhaps that is why we enjoy going, there is always next time to dream about