Forbes swamp

We passed this swamp on the way north but didn't have the time to do the u-turn thing (it's a pain when you're towing a van). But today we had looped back on to the same road on our way south so we called in. It's a swamp just south of Forbes that is easily accessible, has a good gravel road in and a bird hide.

The photo doesn't show it but there were lots of birds on the lake and in the surrounding bush. A Pink-eared Duck with a family of little ducklings was near the hide, Clamourous Reed-warblers in the reeds singing their beautiful songs, rosellas and parrots in the trees and many other birds out across the water. It was a great spot for a cuppa.

Let's have fun and ruin a beach

In Victoria we're not allowed to drive on a beach. But in New South Wales and Queensland it seems that the beach is assumed to be a highway. It's a shocking sight, and cannot be sustained surely.

This is the access to the beach at Lighthouse Beach, Port Macquarie and the second photo shows the damage being done on the beach by 4-wheelers. And who knows what unseen damage is being done to microscopic creatures and nesting birds.

Brown Quail at last

I was watching Rainbow Lorikeets, Scaly-breasted Lorikeets and Spangled Drongos in the vegetation at the caravan park behind the dunes at Emerald Beach. I glanced at the ground, and looked again. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Seven Brown Quail pecking around near my feet. I'd never seen one before and now I had a feast.

Eventually I remembered that I had a camera in my hand and took a couple of very ordinary photos, but at least it's evidence. When I went back after checking my bird book to confirm my ID I couldn't find any. Sadly we had to pack up and leave but I'm betting they'll be out and about tomorrow morning.

A new rainforest

Our friends live on a few acres on the hills west of Ballina. Last year they planted an acre of rainforest plants that originally grew in the area, put up a fence to keep the wallabies out, and look at the result. And they haven't even watered! Later they'll reuse the fencing to establish another planting.