Day 5

Posted on December 26, 2013 by Judy's Trekabout

Thursday 26th Boxing Day

Had another great day, just relaxing with Mark and Kay for some of the time, and getting bird shots.

Had lots of activity with the cows and the bulls today, there was one bull controlling the cows with calves from crossing the creek, he really was getting angry for a while. Didn’t even need to leave camp to have fun.

Did some washing, showered, gave the camp a bit of a tidy up.

The weather is real good, not so hot and nice and overcast.

We spent some time at K & M’s fire pit this evening chatting about the day and then did tea.

Lots of people driving around but so far we still have the place to ourselves. Time to have a cuppa and then crash for the night.

Had a couple a young opossums visit us while we were sitting at the fire and during the night. Good night.

Bower Birds Bow, all the blue bottle tops that it had collected, plus many other blue bits, wonder where it finds them. Crimson Rosella, just in the trees where we camped. Azure Kingfisher in the trees at camp. Mother cow with suckling calf, needs to grab a drink while it can. This bull was real funny to watch, he was not allowing a few cows and their calves to cross the creek and as one was crossing and about to go up the bank he turned and ran, I managed to get a grab shot.

Day 4

Posted on December 25, 2013 by Judy's Trekabout

Wednesday 25th

Woke up and got a cuppa made, Kay and Mark were moving around so went and said good morning. They are pretty tired so will be a veggie out day for them.

We went down to the dump point to do the ablution bit, just a concrete pit in the ground with a lid, pour it in and put lid on again, so no tap, we filled the bottom of the cassette up with water and gave it a swirl around and emptied it. It’s clean dirty water. For a place to charge the prices they do and then to provide such in adequate dump point should be not allowed, very disgusting.

Lots happened here at camp with the bird life, we have the Bower birds coming into camp and looking for anything they can have, found its bower and all the blue bits it’s been collecting. A goanna being chased by two kingfishers, crows being attacked by kingfisher, Crimson parrots, finches, a yellow faced honey eater.

Went frog hunting tonight and yes we found quite a few, didn’t take the camera gear, checking it out first so will go shooting tomorrow night.

This morning Don found a frog in the pantry, just sitting in the opening, gave him a hell of a fright as his finger touched it, until he realized what it was.

Well time for bed, just waiting while the fire pit dies out a bit more then crash. We have put the end wall up, looks like it might rain tonight so just being prepared. Not so hot today, nice breeze most of the day. Good night.

Crimson Rosella drinking from the water hole

Female Superb Fairy-Wren

Male Superb Fairy-Wren

Day 3

Posted on December 24, 2013 by Judy's Trekabout

Tuesday 24th Happy birthday to me.

Had a good sleep, was a wee bit cool but not as cold as was predicted. Got up at 6.30 am and put the kettle on, had a cuppa. It is so nice and peaceful listening to the sounds, and a bull roaring in the background.

Having a concern about the Waeco freezer, it’s losing its temp fast, we have had a lot of problems with it, or it’s our battery system, so have had the generator on for 1 ½ hours and took all of the 1 1/2 hours to pick up the freezers temp again. Solar was in full sunlight all day yesterday and is in full sunlight now, so we will be monitoring it, will be getting the system checked out by the solar people when we get home.

It’s warming up now. We went for a drive to check out a few things, can’t find the dump point they have said is here. Checked out other areas for camping, we really do have the best spot for what we like to do. Collected some fire wood for Mark and Kay in case they get here late. They are not here yet so assume that they will come tomorrow.

Lots of birds around us and then tonight we saw the Crimson Rosella’s came in. They are so pretty and colourful.

Opened a red wine to have with tea for my birthday, sorry Kay you were not here to share. Got very hot during the afternoon, but has cooled down nicely now, it’s now 7 pm and quiet windy, so closed up Mark and Kay’s tent. Good night.
Well Kay and Mark arrived at 10.30 pm, she came over and sang happy birthday to me thru the window. Was a lovely surprise, I was to tired to get up and have a cuppa, let them get organised.

Kingfisher My daughter and her husbands camp site Our camp site, well camouflaged

Kookaburra

Gordon Country Trip.

Posted on December 22, 2013 by Judy's Trekabout

Sunday 22nd Dec 2013

Got up at 5 am and started to get organized to head off.

My daughter gave us a ring to say they were heading on down to Aratula, this is where we are all meeting. Kay and Mark have decided to bring their camper and set it up so we are all together, then they go home for 2 days work and come back. We can watch the camper for them.

Okay, Kay and Mark arrived early so they came on thru to the Gordon Country which was great, they got to drive around and picked out the best spots, we all love the same thing as far as camping goes, they did well, we have a very quiet, some shade, by the river, not much of a flow, but there is water, lots of birds, so we are happy little photographers. 🙂

Once we were all set up and had a quick chat, Kay and Mark headed off home.

We got about having lunch, sorted out where everything is to be and it got very hot, about 38 degrees.

When it cooled down we went for fire wood, etc and just relaxed the rest of the afternoon.

Had tea once it cooled down, had a wee fire as it cooled off very quickly, amazing one minute you are sweating the next its cool, but very pleasant.

Had a great night sleep, everything wide open and there was a good breeze all night.

This is the set up for the next two weeks.

Inside of the awning and our living area.

Nice big sites and well away from each other.

Looking out at the view and this is our back yard for two weeks 🙂

Other side of the cub camper.

Weekend away Charlie Morelands.

Posted on November 1, 2013 by Judy's Trekabout

November 1st Friday — 3rd Sunday

Well we had time to go away for 2 nights so the camper trailer was all but packed, we’er out of here by 10.30 am on the Friday. Charlie Morelands is quiet close and such a relaxing time up there. The bird life and small critters are awesome for photography, we had some friends arriving on the Saturday that love the nature and wildlife so a good time will be had. Very dry but still water in Yabbie Creek so that’s always nice to cool off in. Here are a few shots of some of the birds I saw over the 3 days.

Thrush, very hard to spot unless they move. Amazing camouflage. Eastern Yellow Robin with grub in mouth. I think this is a Spectacled Monarch, they are so vibrant in colour, very small. Tree Creeper of some sorts, yet to name it. Another Tree creeper of sorts. Lewin’s Honey Eater. Azure Kingfisher with food in its beak. Srub Wren