A Big Weekend in Mallacoota

 As is traditional with Big Weekends, this one starts on Thursday.  That is mainly because it was ANZAC Day: given the Victorian Governments love of adding Public Holidays at the drop of a Union endorsement, I am surprised that 26 April wasn't so declared.  Surely Flathead Capture Day would be worth celebrating?  At least as good as Melbourne Cup Day or -for 💩's sake - Grand Final Eve!

The Mallacoota Pony Club is filling the void left by the RSL running out of members by arranging a ride to the Bunker Museum.  I think they had 22 riders of various ages and sexes on equines of various sizes.  Very well done that Pony Club!

Thelwell eat your heart out!

A fair squad of folks (and dogs) walked behind the hosses from Betka.

While a bunch of others had driven to the Bunker.

The next day I was returning from Bastion Point and had to swerve on Betka Rd to avoid an unruly, and somewhat portly, pedestrian.  She - I think - was very obliging in posing.

Eventually she declared that tree inadequate, and headed off across Bastion Point Rd showing a fair turn of speed ....

... and then headed for the hills.

The sea harvest event is on this weekend so lanterns have been positioned in Coulls Inlet.  They will be illuminated for the next few nights.

Here are the lanterns by night!

A visit to the near West

 On 23 January I visited two of the cultural sites of Mallacoota: the Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTP, also known as the sewage works or the poo pits) and the Waste Facility (also known as the Tip).

The most exciting thing was a the entire time I was at the WWTP - close to an hour - was a flock of about 60 White-throated Needetails was swooping at great speed above the ponds.

Displaying great foresight I didn't have my camera with me so offer a 3 image offering courtesy of my iphone. The first is a still image in normal view with about 20 swifts circled in red.

The second is a similar shot but the camera zoomed so the birds are actually visible.

The third is a video clip with a single bird showing the full meaning of 'zoom'.

I think the country must be drying out to the West. There were about twice as many of the common duck species as in the recent past and there were Coots and both usual species of Grebe back after being very hard to find recently. Still a few ducks missing (Hardhead; Shoveler; and PInk-eared) but some positive signs for birders at least.

Getting back to the tip I was very pleased and amused by the use made of donations to form installations. The site manager commented that people sometimes go there just to take photos. Here is the welcome sign.

Note the smiley on the rock!

If your calls haven't been getting through ...

I thought the array of toys needed a close up.

Personally, I'd use a four iron, rather than a wood, for this hole.

Kiah sculpture

 An alert reader will notice that this post doesn't directly show anything about weather, wildlife or Mallacoota but I think it is close enough. We stopped at the Kiah store on the way back from Eden to fill up my car with diesel: it was 216.7 c/l, compared with  237.9 c/l in Mallacoota.  

There was a very good bit of sculpture beside the driveway, which does reference the 2019/20 fire, so that justifies the inclusion.

On checking Jesse's website I found that "2020 Vision" was installed at Jindabynes Lakelight Sculpture Competition in 2021 as well as Sculpture Bermagui where it won Peoples Choice Award in both competitons!"

Photos of an evening

 It was an interesting evening on 22 September.  This began while we were sitting in our lounge having a beverage and looking out the window (as we usually do).  The current near SChnapper Point looked strange.  Its hard to capture in a still image ..

... so I have added arrows to show that there seemed to be a strong current flowing out towards the Sands, while another nearby current seemed to be flowing in almost the opposite direction up the Narrows.

This is just because it is the first photo I have taken on my iPad!  And it's pretty.

Some snaps of moonrise from Fisheries Jetty.  This first set are from 1908 - 1920 hrs (not years).

We then went in to town for a few minutes (see below) and snapped these on the way home about 1930.

The reason for going in to town was to see the fish lanterns installed in Coulls Inlet.  A stunning display.

The lanterns stand out quite dramatically in daylight.  Here are a couple of snaps from the far side of Coulls Inlet taken on the morning of 23 September.

We'll be passing by later in the day and get some closer shots.

A beach interlude

We felt a tad used after the Sheepstation Creek Track and the weather was not good so went for a prowl on Bastion Beach instead.  Inspired by the British artist Andy Goldsworthy we did a little kelp tossing.  Should this become an Olympic event by 2032 Mallacoota should put in a bid to hold them here (we're in the same country as Brisbane).

A bit down the beach a moderate flock of terns were up the spit, while a moderate flock of gulls were in the water.

The terns got spooked by our presence and took off.

After a relatively quiet walk we found a few White-fronted Chats were still snuffling around in the kelp.  I am fairly confident they are harvesting insects.  This is a male.