Sunday Sails

The tide is not as far out today, and wind power has taken over from motor (well, that wasn’t much use last weekend anyway!).

Perhaps not free to fly like Tuesday’s pee wee (incidentally, his technique is slowly improving); but once you have spent a small fortune on kite, board, stinger suit and UV cream, it is about as free as it gets. The breeze is here today and the kite surfers are out there making the best of it.

Last night was hot – minimum 29.6°C and very humid - so the breeze and water in your face could appear cooling I guess.

Birds on the Wing …Oh to be free to fly

This afternoon when I returned home there was a very noisy pee wee (Magpie-lark - Grallina cyanoleuca) sitting in the back windscreen washer of our car having a lot to say about the state of the universe.

Usually, when a bird does that, it is trying to distract you from a mate sitting on eggs or its own youngster nearby. I stopped and it didn’t take too long to see that there was a reasonably young bird hopping along on the ground nearby. Kids these days; they think they are big enough to fly the coop far before they can!

I kept an eye on him for a while and soon, with a certain amount of encouragement from mother, he had managed to “fly” up to a low branch in a hibiscus. I felt better about that, as several of the neighbours have cats, and if he had still been on the ground come nightfall, he would have probably been in a fairly precarious position.

Mum seemed quite a bit happier about the situation also, and decided it was time to organise dinner. His flying skills weren’t very well honed as yet and a lot of wing flapping took place before he attempted take off. Level flying wasn’t a lot better, actually it didn’t exist. There may have even been some other type of CAT (clear air turbulence) problem! However, he managed, over a period of time to flutter and scratch his way higher up the tree, until he made it to a palm leaf of reasonable height and protection, when he rested.

Even though it was almost dark, I was able to get a photo of him practising his take offs, with claws still firmly attached to the branch.

Gunumeleng - The pre-monsoon storm season

Gunumeleng, the next season in the year, according to the aboriginal people from the Kakadu area, can last from mid-October to late December, and may, in fact, last from a few weeks to several months. It is the pre-monsoon season of hot weather that becomes more and more humid. Thunderstorms build in the afternoons and scattered showers bring a tinge of green to the dry land. As the streams begin to run, acidic water that washes from the floodplains can cause fish to die in billabongs with low oxygen levels. Waterbirds spread out as surface water and new growth become more widespread. Barramundi move from the waterholes downstream to the estuaries to breed.

We are still waiting for the rains. We definitely have the heat and humidity and a lot less breeze in the early evening than we had in October.

http://veronicas-secrets.blogspot.com/2008/09/colours-in-dry-tropics.html

The trees, however, seem to get the message when it is their time to shine, almost as if they can feel the rains coming.

The umbrella tree (Schefflera actinophylla) is native to northern Queensland, north of the tropic of Capricorn. In the close up of the flower there is a brightly coloured rainbow lorikeet, feasting on the nectar.

The red poinciana (Delonix regia) is an old favourite in Darwin, and some would try to call it a weed, but at this time of the year it can put on a spectacular display. As the flowers fall there is a red carpet beneath it.

The orange poinciana is relatively rare, with a few specimins in Darwin which are equally colourful.

In the picture with the “grounded buoy” you will see the following: to the left of the buoy, a yellow/orange bougainvillea, then moving to the right, a large red poinciana, a pinkish/orange bougainvillea, a purple bougainvillea intertwined with an orange poinciana. If you look at the ground below you will notice that none of the plants are getting very much TLC, and they are still putting on quite a good performance, with very little rain.

The day the tide went out ... and out

We have large tidal ranges here in Darwin. The range can be around eight metres. This situation can result in catching people out. Cars regularly go swimming; usually when they have become bogged when loading or unloading a boat from a trailer.

Tide Times for Saturday 15 November 2008
Low 12.48 am 2.41m

High 6.15 am 6.92m

Low 1.10 pm 0.13m

High 7.49 pm 7.75m

Today, almost on low tide, I noticed a boat sitting high and dry, about halfway out on one of our local beaches.

I am still not sure if they ran out of fuel, or simply, got caught by the tide. By the time I parked and found the camera, the occupants had decided to abandon ship and walk (slurp, slurp) across the mudflats. Not an appealing activity, especially when it is as hot and humid as hades in the middle of the day. Most people seek the shade, with a cool drink in hand, at that time of the day; that is if they can’t hide in airconditioning – a bit difficult if you have decided to go for a run in the * tinny, I suppose.

I may have to go back before sunset and see what progress has been made with the tour.

* local lingo for metal runabout boat, usually with an outboard engine – now you know exactly what I mean don’t you?

The following photos tell some of the story. (Usual deal, click on photo to enlarge)

Abandon ship!

Swamp Draining Interrupted

" When you’re up to your backside in crocodiles, it’s difficult to remember that the object of the exercise is to drain the swamp."

Happy, fulfilled, stretched but supported people generally achieve the most at work and get the most from life. They drain a lot of swamps – and have a pretty good time doing it (strange though it may seem, for some of us, swamp drainage is a Very Enjoyable Occupation).

However, many of us face a few crocodiles … those subversive or even submersive, obstacles that get in the way of a productive, high achieving but low-stress kind of life.

Some of them we make ourselves, some of them are placed there by other people.

Some of them just are.

Sometimes there are seemingly pretty fish in the swamp, to lull us into a false sense of security. They can turn out to be just that; seemingly pretty fish, but really piranha in goldfish clothing, and even the crocodile should perhaps watch out.








Copyright 2008 Swamp Productions Pty Ltd


No, it hasn't been a good day!

Tord – Good Memories of a Friend

Three years ago we lost a friend. It felt too hard, at the time, to think of good memories. But, time heals and the memories come.

· The ever present cameras, a snap here, a video there …
· The disappearing walker … to have a few moments alone with nature – but scaring the heck out of those with him, especially when there are big crocodiles nearby!
· Reading the brochures thoroughly and asking questions that you are supposed to be able to answer, but you haven’t read those brochures yet
· A real environmentalist

And most of all, a very good friend. We remember you. Here’s to you mate. Skål!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

The only good thing to come out of Tennant Creek is the Stuart Highway – I think Harmony James has changed that theory…

… I am sad to say that the Territory is losing a rising star, as Harmony James moves onwards to Brisbane to further her careers.

Last night, she performed at the Darwin Entertainment Centre in the Studio Theatre, which was set up cabaret style for her performance. She was backed by well known Darwin performers Mike Foley, on bass and Mark Smith on drums. I think that she enjoyed the experience and I can happily say that I feel that the audience did also.

So, maybe when she is a big star in the big smoke she will remember a smallish gig in Darwin.












Picture © Harmony James

She sang songs from her EP Harmony, as well as some old ones – You’re No Good (from way back in 1964, I think and recorded by names such as Linda Ronstadt and Reba McEntire); and a good version of Cootamundra Wattle (John Williamson), a hauntingly, sad song with some good advice for all of us. This was interspersed with songs she is planning to add to her new album, which should be released in about five months.

There was a particularly impressive song, perhaps called Some People Give (not sure of the name); the words are well thought out and the music and composition are well done. The song came from a blunt reminder that things aren’t always what they appear on the surface.

There was also a reference to Greek mythology (Icarus) with a song about flying too close to the sun. We all do a bit of that at times, I think, and feel a little singed! Or maybe it just feels like that, in Darwin in November!

To listen to Harmony; click below and check out the video clip. And listen out for her new album.

http://www.harmonyjames.com/lyrics3.htm

Her last song was So Long, Wish Me Goodbye; hopefully it will only be Adieu. Good luck Harmony, with the next step in the adventure; and don’t forget your followers in Darwin, because we won’t forget your voice.