Showing posts with label Winton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Winton. Show all posts

Wednesday, 27 July 2011

Desert life

 Ctenophorus caudicinctus Ring-tailed Dragon, Lark Quarry south of Winton.
Male Scarlet Jezebel Delias argenthona, in garden near Winton.
As spinifex ages the centre dies and provides nutrients to the soil - and the perfect spot for other plants to start growing. Enlarge this photo to see a young eucalypt tree in the middle of an old spinifex.

Dinosaurs at Lark Quarry


Lark Quarry is a World Heritage site about 100 km south of Winton so went went to see what all the fuss is about. The road is sealed more than half way and the rest wasn't too bad so it was a good trip. The signs above had us confused because the road is wide, straight and flat but then we realised that the overtaking sections are sealed so it's much safer to pass where there is no dust or flying stones. Good idea - if all drivers are patient enough to wait for the next sealed section.


Lark Quarry is the site of dinosaur footprints - not just any old footprints, but three species of dinosaurs involved in a stampede. Scientists have measured and analysed and decided that the little species were minding their own business on a muddy spit in a lake or slow moving river when a very large dinosaur attacked them, causing them to run back past him on the spit.




The guide was good, the information boards excellent, the building impressive, the environment stunning. The excavated layer containing the prints are now covered in a state-of-the art and environmentally friendly building. The whole was awe-inspiring.

Sunday, 24 July 2011

Twitching

We're visiting family on a station property near Winton that backs onto Bladensburg National Park. I had time for a wander near the house this evening and found a pair of Mistletoebirds, White-plumed Honeyeaters (they have been everywhere I've looked this trip), Willie Wagtails, Magpielarks, lots of Zebra Finches, Masked Woodswallows, Crimson Chats (a new bird for me) and a flock of about twenty Spinifex Pigeons (another new bird for me). I'm on a roll - Night Parrot next!