Edithvale Wetlands and Belgrave Lake Park, 11 and 12 June The following probably isn't written very well because it is a week afterwards and I didn't see anything very interesting.... A trip to the Edithvale Wetlands was not exactly productive. The water level was so low in front of the hide that 150 purple swamphens were walking where once ducks had swum. That's not hyperbole either, there were 150 swamphens there. I turned the bike around and headed off to Seaford Wetlands where I saw all the common birds I saw there last two visits. Pink-eared ducks are always worth seeing again though. What didn't sit so well was that later that day on the news I saw that a southern right whale had spent the day on the coast – literally a few minutes away by bike! (Well, to be entirely honest a few minutes if I had got there at the time it was passing where I was, otherwise more of a short train trip down a bit further south). With one last day and one last opportunity I decided to next go after platypus. This is not a rare mammal overall, but I was in Melbourne. I knew there was a population in the Dandenongs at the Belgrave Lake Park. I had gone to the Dandenongs previously (for lyrebirds) but hadn't been able to track down the Lake Park. I returned now with a better-drawn map, including all the surrounding street names, and found it easily enough about ten minutes walk from the Belgrave train station. It's quite a nice wee park, with a reedy lake surrounded by eucalyptus woodland. No platypus were to be seen. The next day I flew back to Christchurch in New Zealand because I had no money left for being a hobo. The flight was rather shaky due, I think, to skyquakes, but we touched down safely in Auckland....wait, is that right? Yes, Christchurch was fogged in so the plane got diverted which generally would be fine but I had a bus going from the Christchurch airport to the West Coast. In New Zealand there is usually only one bus a day going anywhere so if you miss it too bad. I ended up staying overnight in Christchurch where I got a little bit of birding in at the botanic gardens. And that is the end of everything. From leaving New Zealand to returning almost a year later I saw 740 species of birds (94 in Australia) and 110 of mammals (5 in Australia). I would like to thank those Zoochatters in Australia who enabled me to save a little money while in Melbourne, whether it was through feeding, accommodation, or other. You know who you are. The End.
You forgot to put the little tagline "Chlidonias will return" like they do at the end of the Bond films. Thanks for taking us all with you on your marvelous journey. Where are we going with you next? Africa? The Americas? Antarctica?
I vote for Europe so that those of us he has made so very jealous can shake him firmly by the neck..... I mean hand.
I do need to get back to Queensland. There is a nice koala handling experience at Cooberrie.... Actually I was going to apply for the job at Bundaberg but I didn't really have enough money left to stretch it out on the chance I'd get it (I would have been using my aeroplane money!). I have my TFN now anyway so I can come over any time and work (allowing for money to get there of course).
I think so to but looking forward to your next trip. For your sake lintworm his mammal list will not grow for a while.
I dunno. I saw this movie called Magic Mike though.... Or maybe Pain & Gain.... I'll come up with something.
Luxury! In a prison cell, you at least get free food and healthcare. (Here in Australia, prisoners are treated far better than pensioners.) No, what I am offering is the opportunity to sit at a computer for 8hrs a day while being chained to a desk. You might love it! And, you get to keep me company all day!!
