Seasonal matters

 This will cover a fair range of topics noticed since we returned to Mallacoota.

The first shows a gathering of birds on a sandbank in the Inlet.  Most of them are Crested Terns but a few waders are also present.  The green arrows point to a few Bar-tailed Godwits, mainly to emphasise the smaller size of the Red Knots (orange arrows).

A clearer shot of the Knots.

I went for a ride to Stingray Point to check for Topknot Pigeons and any other fig munchers.  None present, but a lot of action in a flowering eucalypt. This is one of several Red Wattlebirds.

A Little Wattlebird moons a Laughing Kookaburra.

Across the District the Pittosporum is coming in to flower

As is Clematis aristata: in this case ascending a fig tree.

Some figs: I don't think they are quite ripe yet.

Pink eucalypt flowers.

I think these are also eucalypt flowers but they were well on to a private garden.

The following morning (15 September) was notable for the difference in temperatures across 2 BoM sites and my Weather Station.

This can be explained by wind at the airport coming off the cold mountains while at Gabo it's coming off the (relatively) warm sea.

The search for Topknot Pigeons continued on the 16th with a visit to the Radley Place fig tree.

The figs here also need a little more time to ripen, so no Pigeons, Figbirds or large Cuckoos.

An enormous succulent flower: my guess is that if fully erect it would be at least 3 m high.

I went down to the Inlet looking for a Lewin's Rail near the Boardwalk.  Not present, but a perched Azure Kingfisher was a good alternative,

Frances recalled that last year there had been an excellent floral display along the Narrows so we went t check that out.  It was pretty good, including this Clematis.

A few orchids, beginning with Caladenia catenata.

Not an orchid, but both members of the pea family - Hardenbergia violacea and Platylobium formosum.

Diuris pardina.

Pterostylis pedunculata (Maroonhood)

Another pea - Glycine clandestina.

The only Heron seen was a White-faced heron.

An interesting clump of fungi.