The Laughing Dove, or Senegal Turtledove, is not a native of Australia. It is, in fact, native to Africa and India.
Apparently, back in 1898, Perth Zoo released a number of pairs into the wild. Given the natural catastrophes, caused by the introduction of other non-indiginous species into the Australian continent, one has to ask …. “What were you thinking ?”
Now, for some, these pretty birds are referred to as “flying rats”. And, in the same way as the ground based version, viewed as vermin.
Just like the Rock Dove back in the UK, they nest on any flat surface, their excrement gathers wherever they nest and smears the outsides of buildings and monuments.
Thanks to Perth Zoo, these birds are to be found over most of Western Australia.
A man is assaulted, albeit with an egg. He retaliated with a couple of slaps.
The Australian Prime Minister says the assault victim should be charged !!!
The victim, Australian Senator Fraser Anning, may be anti Muslim but he was assaulted and in my book was perfectly justified in his reaction.
There should be no support for his assailant.
Compare the reactions here in Oz to those seen when British MP John Prescott was egged. Prescott actually punched the assailant. His boss, Tony Blair, is reported to have said “John is John when asked to comment.
Time to get real and focus on real issues methinks.
Bin Chicken / Tip Turkey / Dump Duck. These are all local names for the ubiquitous Australian White Ibis (Threskiornis molucca)
Apparently the Bin Chicken is widespread across much of Australia. It has predominantly white plumage with a bare, black head, long down curved bill and black legs.
These birds are the subject of a “Planet Earth” documentary ….
And even their own animated series ….
Although they are seen in the wild, they have become a feature of the suburbs in WA.
The picture at the beginning of this post was taken behind the Divers Tavern, Broome.
One can only begin to imagine what kind of “bin juice” this Bin Chicken has been drinking
For the second time in only a couple of weeks we have had a significant fire fairly close to us. This time the fire was just 2.3km away and the smoke from the fire was being blown just slightly west of us. Multiple fire fighting aircraft were buzzing directly overhead.
Here are some photos that I took this afternoon.
Fire Smoke – Viewed from Thornlie
Fire Smoke – Rising from beyond school buildings. Source is apparently the other side of Garden St.
Fire Fighters Dropping Water – Detail from previous photo.
According to the DFES, more than fifty career Fire and Rescue Service and Bush Fire Service firefighters from six brigades were on the scene. They were supported by three helicopters and two bi-plane water bombers
Bell 214B Big Lifter – Operated by McDermott Aviation
Bell 214B Big Lifter – Operated by McDermott Aviation
This area is known as Forest Lakes. Most of the housing estates incorporate ponds and lakes.
Filling Up – Bell 214B Big Lifter – Operated by McDermott Aviation
The water bombers, at least the helicopters, make good use of nearby lakes to replenish their tanks.
We All Got Wet – Bell 214B Big Lifter – Operated by McDermott Aviation
Out of the blue, a phone call from our grandson, and an offer of an evening trip up the Swan River, on Christmas Eve. Being our wedding anniversary, what better way to round off the day. Few details were provided other than that we needed to be present at the East Street Jetty for around 19:00.
Swan River – View upstream from East Street Jetty – Fremantle WA
The trip was being provided by my grandsons partner who runs a charter business.
Arriving at the jetty, we soon found other folks, similarly awaiting the arrival of a boat.
While we waited Steve and I started to scout out the area as a possible fishing venue, having already noted the presence of several anglers. After chatting with one guy, who was packing up, we have added the jetty to our list . Easy access with parking very close by and straight into deep water.
It wasn’t long before our transport appeared upstream and was tied alongside ready for boarding.
MV Cygnus – Approaching East Street Jetty, Fremantle, WA
MV Cygnus is a fully licensed 53′ Catamaran and is apparently capable of catering for up to 60 people. I think that might be a tight squeeze, however we weren’t that many so had room to meander.
Posh Pads – Swan River, opposite East Street Jetty, Fremantle, WA
Shortly after boarding it was time for a little something to moisten dry throats. Make the most of the next photo. It features yours truly which is a rare occurrence as it’s not often that I step in front of a lens.
Gerry and I – Swan River Cruise, WA
By 19:15 we were underway, heading up river and it was time to point the lens outside of the boat. Having made a similar daytime trip, several years ago, we knew we would see some very nice properties along the river banks. At least while the sun was still up. However, an evening trip was going to be somewhat different.
Fremantle Dinosaurs !!
These cranes, silhouetted by the setting sun, look somewhat like prehistoric creatures heading to the river to drink.
Water Police Base – Fremantle, WA
My grandson is a member of the Water Police. This picture shows some of their toys. Am I jealous ? , go on, ask me.
Down here in Oz it gets dark very quickly so photography on a moving platform becomes something of a challenge. Here are some “snaps” taken once darkness had arrived.
At some point we tied up to a buoy, so that the hot food could be cooked on the huge BBQ at the stern. We sat swinging at the whims of the river currents and the wind, just offshore from Mosmans Restaurant.
The crew laid out quite a spread, with steaks, chicken drummies and prawns cooked on the BBQ, supplemented with a variety of salads and roast vegetables followed by fresh fruits and cheeses.
Food consumed, we were then of further up river until the city came into view. Time for some more snaps but, several beers in, I wasn’t really up for the challenge.
Blame it on the Little Creatures – That’s my excuse, not sure what theirs is.
Yes, that’s twice I’ve been in front of the lens on one single occasion.
Here is the best of a bad lot …..
Perth City Skyline – Viewed from the Swan River
It would have been nice to have cruised right up into the city, but that was as close as we got. Still looks good though.
There was a disco on board and we did get up to dance, a bit. Well that’s perhaps a very loose description of the gyrations I was making. I am pleased to say that there are no photos of that brief interlude.
All too soon we were heading back to the East Street Jetty. Just a short distance, from the jetty, is the Left Bank, bar and restaurant.
This place, The Left Bank, was having a Xmas Eve party. It started at Noon and was going on till 2 am . From the jetty we could see that they had swarms of hi-viz jacketed security outside. We could hear it from the river as we cruised by. Call me an old fart, but any pub that requires that level of security is not a place I would want to frequent. Having said that we did have a nice early evening meal there a few years back.
So there you have it, our trip up the swanny.
There are many interpretations of the phrase “up the swanny”, including ballsed up, stuck in the mud, tits up, up shit creek, up the creek without a paddle and so forth.
None of these are applicable. We had a great time and our thanks go to Kate and her crew for a super evening.
Continuing our general exploration of the Perth region we headed out to the township of Northam. The main reason for heading that way is that Northam is said to have the largest number of historic buildings in Western Australia (other than Fremantle).
Northam is just over 30 Km north of York, which we have visited before, and just over 90 Km from Perth. So just over an hours drive. Waiting until the Perth suburbs commuter rush hour was over we set out on a drive through picturesque countryside. Some might question the picturesque descriptor and certainly the countryside is nothing like the green and pleasant land that is the UK.
Driving out we passed through forests of trees, with fire blackened trunks, starkly contrasted by brilliant white gum trees. All topped of with leaves that are tinted close to sage green. All with a constant backdrop of a clear blue sky. Occasionally these forests give way to more open lands, presumably cleared to provide grazing for sheep and cattle. Although mainly open, these pastures are dotted with trees to give livestock some shade.
Countryside – Near Northam WA
The landscape change as we enter the “Avon Valley”, becoming more hilly and open. The road changing altitude more frequently and, as we entered the outer suburbs of Northam, we made a short detour, following a sign indicating that there was a view-point on top of the hill.
The view-point gives good panoramic views over Northam and the surrounding countryside.
Countryside surrounding Northam WA – Viewed from Mt. Ommaney
Countryside surrounding Northam WA – Viewed from Mt. Ommaney
The picnic tables up here have been vandalised and the whole area is looking a little sad. It would seem that it is a popular place for “hooning” around with cars and bikes.
After several do-nuts, I managed to get the son-in-laws car perfectly parked. As you can see now the smoke has cleared.
There is also an information board which makes reference to a grave site accessed down a made path. Unfortunately, most of the information is obliterated but I was able to determine that the grave site is on un-consecrated ground and that it once held the body of a Mrs Iva Jane Burrows. Apparently she shot and wounded her step daughter before injecting herself with a lethal dose of poison. It was her wish to be buried without religious service or sermon. One other oddity was that her husband had the coffin bound with two chains prior to interment. Confusingly, despite the presence of the grave-site on the hilltop other sources on the web suggest that she was buried in the Northam Cemetary which is, presumably, consecrated.
On into Northam and we spotted a sign for the pedestrian suspension bridge and were soon parked up again.
At the foot of the bridge is a modern day wood sculpture, of a Bob Tailed Lizard, entitled Little Bobby.
Little Bobby – Northam WA
The bridge has a 117 metre span and is 16 metres high. Apparently it can hold up to 400 people, evenly spaced, and is capable of withstanding 150 Km/hr winds. It is a popular vantage point for the famous Avon Valley Descent, so the live load capacity has probably been exercised on numerous occasions, since it was built in 1975.
Shire of Northam – Avon River Suspension Bridge
We crossed the bridge, and yes it wriggles, squirms and bounces as you walk. I was told on numerous occasions, to stop making it bounce.
The Ubiquitous Shopping Trolley – Scourge of the western world
Having crossed the river, we ate a very pleasant lunch on the veranda at the RiversEdge Cafe. Here, I had a Curried Rice Salad with added Chicken Strips, while Gerry had a Peach Salad with added Salt and Pepper Squid. Mindful of the rising temperatures we washed the food down with some thirst quenching Iced Tea.
Apart from being the start point for the Avon Descent
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Avon Descent is an annual, two-day, white water event involving both paddle craft (kayaks, surf skis) and small motor boats. It runs from Northam to Perth, Western Australia along the Avon and Swan Rivers, and is held in August of every year.
Sponsors and commercial support regularly changes, sometimes annually.
It is the only event in the world where both power craft and paddle craft race compete. The course has Grade 2–4[clarification needed] white water rapids and is 124 kilometres (77 mi) long.[1] The first Avon Descent was held in 1973. There has been an increase in the prize pool from 2007 of $10,000 providing an extra $6,000 for 1st, $3,000 for 2nd and $1,000 for 3rd fastest single paddle craft. In 2006 757 competitors started the event in 459 craft.
The top class in the powerboats is the 10hp sports class. These boats are made from foam and fibreglass, and have hydraulic jacks that enable the motor to be jacked up. The motors are unmodified and run a surface piercing propeller. These powerboats can reach speeds of approximately 70km/h.
Northam is also known for its many historic buildings …
133 Fitzgerald Street, Northam – A two-storey rendered brick and tile building (1906) in the Federation Free Classical Style
Northam Post Office & Quarters – a brick and iron building designed in the Federation Free Style architecture. Built circa 1909
Commercial Hotel, Northam – Built 1902-1903
Northam Hotel – The original hotel was built on the site in 1887.
Commonwealth Bank – is a two-storey, Inter War Stripped Classical style commercial building. Built circa 1934
During our walk alongside the river we were entertained by various aquatic birds. Ducks, gulls, moorhens, and a lone pelican. The Pelican was fishing, and seemed to be doing quite well. Sailing along majestically, plunging his enormous bill down into the water, then slowly lifting his head while draining the water keeping his bill closed enough to keep his prey from escaping. This would be followed by a uptilt of the bill so that whatever had been caught slid quickly down into his gullet.
Pelican – Northam Town Pool
The gulls spent a deal of time harassing the pelican. Everytime his head went under water, and his bum went up in the air, they would swim in close, as if to peck the exposed behind. Then when his head came back up they would move away. On one occasion, one of the gulls leapt out of the water and used the pelicans back like a trampoline to launch itself into the air.
Other birds on or around the water included an Egret …
Egret ?
…… a Heron ….
Heron ?
…. and a Cormorant drying it’s wings …
Cormorant
Western Australia is known for the Black Swans which feature on the state flag, but Northam is known as the home to White Swans which were first introduced to Australia during the 19th century.
In 1896 the White Swan was introduced into Western Australia by a British colonists. In the early 1900’s, it is believed a Russian settler and the town’s mayor, Oscar Bernard, introduced White Swans to Northam . The Avon River in Northam became the only place in Australia where the newly introduced bird survived and today it is still the only place in Australia where White Swans breed naturally in the wild.
After spending a few hours in an around Northam it was time to head back to Perth. Returning to the car I made a really bad decision. I knew that the car was low on fuel but decided that we would be able to fill up at a service station on the way. This was stupid as I then made a second dumb decision, which was to take “the pretty route” back. We drove for many kilometers along very quiet roads, with few other motorists. Slowly the fuel gauge dropped towards the empty mark.
Then nature stepped in to compound my dumb decisions. We started to see the signs of a bush fire directly ahead …..
Bush Fire – Gidgegannup, WA
Then we encountered signs stating that there was a road diversion ahead due to the fire. This was not good news, with the fuel tank virtually empty, we could not afford to be diverted onto even more remote roads.
Cresting a rise I spotted a guy and his vehicle on the opposite side of the road and I stopped to speak to him. The reason he was parked up was because his vehicle was LPG fuelled so no way through and, being low on fuel, he also had a limited range. He said that he was resigned to spending the night at the roadside.
When I asked if he knew where the nearest service station was he waved his hand towards the smoke and said “the other side of that”. This was not looking good.
Off the road, through the trees on our side, we could see some buildings. So we decided to go and see if anyone there might have some fuel to sell us. The buildings that we had seen were not inhabited but we could see a house further back and made it up to the front of the house.Luckily there was someone home, and, not only that but they had a can with about 10 litres of fuel which they gave us.
Thats right, gave us !!!
Twice I offered to pay for the fuel, but was refused. I siphoned the fuel although he offered to do that too. I couldn’t allow him to do that when he was donating the fuel. The fuel he provided took us back up to about a quarter of a tank. After thanking him profusely we set off on our way, me with the taste of unleaded on my lips and tongue. No amount of water seemed to clear that taste.
Shortly after leaving the “Good Samaritans” home we arrived at the detour which took us through some picturesque wooded roads. These roads were quite narrow, barely wide enough for two vehicles to pass. I guess I should be grateful that they were paved. En route we encountered this little fellow.
Kookaburra
I’m pretty sure he’d had an encounter with another motorist. He let me drive right up to him and even when I got out of the car he just sat there looking at me. Not very humane of me, I took a picture first before considering helping him. Looking at the displaced feather I thought I might have to move him off the road or even contemplate something more drastic. However, as soon as I got within a couple of feet, he took off and flew away through the trees. Hopefully he was just stunned.
A few more kilometers down the road and we began to see signs of civilisation and then we were ejected onto The Great Eastern Highway. Soon after that we arrived at The Lakes Roadhouse where we were able to fill up with fuel and I was able to get some mints to try to get rid of the taste of unleaded.
It took us another hour to get home and a nice hot cup of tea while we discussed the days adventures ……. or perhaps I should say, misadventures.
Here is how the bush-fire was reported on the day ….
Over the last few days we have been discussing getting in a bit of fishing. This kind of talk then leads one into a discussion about possible venues.
During previous visits I have fished various locations, including
Coogee Pier – produced blowies until the dolphin came
Woodman Point – Produced a Snook and a couple of unidentified fish. They tasted OK though.
Mandurah – one of the canals produced blowies until the dolphin came. Bit of a theme here. And an early morning trip to a beach only produced blowies and a cheeky pelican.
A bit of trawling on the interweb and Point Walter / Blackwall Reach came into focus as possible venues.
It was decided that an exploratory visit was in order and as luck would have it there was also a nice cafe where we could have a spot of lunch.
Arriving at Point Walter we strolled the immediate foreshore and slipway. There were some boats anchored just off shore, with folks fishing, and at least one guy appeared to have waded out to a sand bar. He was fly fishing in water that reached up to his thighs.
Swan River – Point Walter
Further strolling took us to the Walters River Cafe and on inside, where we had a very pleasant lunch comprising burgers for Steve and I, Salmon with scrambled eggs on a roti base for Gerry. All washed down with cold beers and a home-made lemonade for me.
In search of the fishing spots we meandered out onto the nearby jetty, at the far end of which we could see a figure drowning worms. Hoping to get some fishing hints I said hello and was greeted with a smile and “no speak english”. In response to my muttering that I was hoping to ask about the fishing he offered “no fish” and settled back to watching his rods.
Jetty – Point Walter
All around the end of the jetty there were thousands of bait fish and we caught a glimpse of maybe half a dozen “bream shaped” fish ghosting through the water, behind the angler. I resisted telling him he was fishing in the wrong direction.
Walking round the point didn’t reveal the fishing points we were searching for but was still a pleasant way to pass time. There was plenty f activities taking place on the water. Sailing boats, fishing boats, paddle boarders, tour boats and seadoo’s. As we walked we were shadowed by the ever-present seagulls and were harangued by the magpies and crows.
Jonathan Livingston Seagull !!
Blackwall Reach – Swan River
From the shore, having walked round the point we were able to look down Blackwall Reach. The cliffs in the distance hold the fishing points we were searching for. Following this water down will ultimately lead one into Fremantle.
Causeway to small islet
We decided to return to the car to drive round to find the access point for the cliffs. En-route we picked up an ice cream, or two.
Place Marker – Point Walter Reserve
To be fair, only Steve and I had ice creams although the picture may say otherwise.
Arriving at the first parking space near the cliffs we were confronted with this sight.
Hope this isn’t representative of what happens to all anglers cars.
There is a sticker on the other side of the car, giving the owner twenty-four hours to remove the vehicle from this site. Seems a bit unfair, assuming that the car was stolen, since the owner may not know it is missing or if they do, may not know where it is.
There was quite a useful information board here.
Interesting, although hardly surprising, is the linkage back to England.
From here we made our way down to the cliffs and the potential fishing sites. There are made paths running along the cliff tops, with view platforms positioned at various points.
View From Platform Over Blackwall Reach
Although the viewing platforms are positioned several metres above the water, the local council has provided for anglers by placing special bins for hook and nylon disposal.
Looking Back Towards Point Walter
General consensus is that this would be a good place to try out, so the plan is to give it a go sometime next week. I’ve not fished from cliff tops before but it can’t be much different from fishing off a pier…… can it ?
Just below one of the viewing platforms there were a number of Black Swans resting….. although, with the naked eye, these two looked more like gnarled, twisted driftwood.
Black Swans
Heading back to the car and onwards to home, we stopped for me to get a couple of shots across the river to the Perth city skyline. This gave me the opportunity to also capture a couple of local wildlife shots.
First up is a cluster of pied (?) cormorants ….
Pied Cormorants ?
Then we have a much rarer species …..
Orange Backed Yellow Jackets – Otherwise known locally as “schoolies”
As you can see in the photo, these are Orange Backed Yellow Jackets, known locally as “schoolies”. Known for gathering onto rafts during the summer season. These are the young but they are always overseen by the elders of their species. They can be identified by the darker plumage.
Further along the shoreline the Perth skyline comes into view…..
Perth City Skyline
Shame it was a little hazy. Hopefully, I’ll get some better shots as we advance through our trip.
I’m sorry but it seems like my posts of late seem to be food based. Actually I’m not really that sorry as I like food, a lot. And, Australia is just full of fabulous food. Down here in WA there is an abundance of fabulous seafood, tender steaks and plenty of new “craft” beers to wash it all down. It helps that many of the fine eateries are located in nice, picturesque, touristy areas.
Today we headed down to the Ravenswood Hotel situated on the banks of the Murray River. We have been here on previous visits to Oz and it is nice to sit out by the river watching the boats and water birds. Since my last visit the outside eating area has been upgraded from grass to a more formal block paved terrace and they have put deterrents up overhead to try and keep the gulls away from the tables. Its a shame, but just as we arrived the weather became overcast and there was a bit of a breeze which at least kept the flies away.
On arrival the car park had seemed really full and we expected the hotel to be really busy. However, there were plenty of tables available both inside and out. We elected to sit outside so that we could enjoy the view.
Ravenswood Hotel – View From The Terrace
A rare event for us is that we all selected the same items from the menu. We all elected to go for the Scotch Fillet, two well done, one medium and I as always chose to go rare. In addition, we all requested the optional extra of Garlic Prawns.
Our meals were ready really quickly and proved to be well cooked. The chef(s) had prepared the steaks just right with only one minor gripe. The chips came ready salted which seems to be the norm everywhere we have been during the last week or so. One of our group is trying hard to cut down on their salt intake and this inclusion by default doesn’t help. It also seems an odd thing to do in these health-conscious days.
Ravenswood Hotel – Murray River Shoreline
Our meals were washed down with Orchard Crush Cider for the girls and One Fifty Lashes for the blokes. The draft version of One Fifty Lashes is very good but, unusual for me, I preferred the bottled version as it seems to be just a little bit more bitter and has a sharper edge. The girls went back later for some Matso’s Ginger Beer which came highly recommended by the barmaid. The drivers had “muggaccinos”, cappuccino served in mugs, although they still came on saucers. These second rounds were required to help wash down two large slices of Lemon Meringue pie and a large slice of Pecan Pie.
With lunch complete we headed off to Rockingham for a stroll along the prom and an ice cream. However the ice cream didn’t happen as the girls were feeling both a little full and a little chilly. The winds were blowing hard, a condition that the many kite surfers were taking full advantage of. We still managed the promenade which has many plaques set in the paving. Each plaque records the names of prominent people and the part that they played in the early history of Rockingham back in the 1890’s.
Rockingham Foreshore – Ships on the horizon, waiting to enter Fremantle
This pelican was just sailing along sedately …..
Aluminium Can – Pelican
….. while further along the shore this power boat was fairly buzzing ….
Power Boat – Rockingham, WA
Power Boat Viewed From Rockingham – In The Background Road Bridge To Garden Island and HMAS Stirling (Naval Base)
Moored just off the beach at Rockingham is this vessel, Lissa Solklint.
Power Boat Passing “Lissa, Solklint”
From the web this 1950’s built ship is variously listed as a cargo vessel and as a luxury “super yacht” ???
Rockingham Foreshore – Looking South-West…ish
Note: For those of you who have looked at the above photo, and questioned the direction of the shot, please look HERE for an answer to Jims question which echoed my own. For me, the position of the sun and the shadows was all wrong.
Looking Towards Fremantle
The beaches were relatively empty. However I am reliably informed that, come the weekend, and later this month when the schools close for their summer break, Rockingham will be heaving.
Tugs Assist A Cargo Ship Into The Quayside
So, a pleasant day with good food, followed by genteel exercise all tempered with a fresh sea breeze. Shame we didn’t get that ice cream but we have plenty of time yet.
Yes, it’s warm. Temps have been in the high twenties thru mid thirties with more of the same forecast. I know this isn’t what friends and family back home want to hear as they prepare for more high winds, snow and a possible white Christmas.
Just to rub a little salt in the wounds I thought I would let you all know that we have been spending quite a bit of time in the pool, alternating with visits to local hostelries where they are serving well chilled beers. Actually chilled beer is available at poolside too ….
Chillin in the pool
And when relaxing in the pool gets just a tad too much there is always the hot tub ….
Just add vegetables … !!!
As I said we have been visiting various hostelries to sample both the chilled beer and tasty seafood. Here you can see some of the locals indicating their approval of the local cuisine …
Fine Dining Critics – Discussing the finer points of the Beer Battered Squid
We visited The Boat restaurant, up at Mindarie. where we had possibly the tenderest squid served in a lemon pepper coating. Once again I succumbed to the call of Little creatures and had a pint of their draught Pale Ale while the others partook of a local cider.
The restaurant is right alongside the quay within the marina with a fine view of some nice properties …
Mindarie Marina Properties
…. complete with moorings.
While promenading, and drooling over some rather nice gin palaces, I spotted this craft sitting idle …
Fishful Thinking – Mindarie Marina
When you consider the current exchange rates $55k is a steal. So, if I blow my pension on this, all I have to do is acquire a nice waterside property where I can park it. Then it’s look out fishies, here I come.
I have just been advised that, should I blow my pension on this boat, it would probably become my home. So I guess that’s another dream shot down in flames.
Oh well, back to the 32 degC temperature and another beer by the pool then.
WrAnTz 