Underhill in May

Gang Gang - photo by Nathan

Last weekend I met Terry and Ellie down at Underhill. Geoff arrived with friends Nathan and Brad during the morning by which time Terry had injured his leg (later found out he'd actually broken it!).  He was not happy and eventually he and Ellie left to get home before dark. I am so sorry they had to leave and even more sorry that Terry got injured.

It was the first drive down in his new car for Geoff. He brought Brad and Nathan and three bikes. They all spent a lot of time creating a bike trail around the block and kept riding it to make it even more visible. Great entertainment!

Geoff had asked for makings of a camp oven meal. I brought meat and some hard veg. But Nathan also brought meat and Geoff brought hard vege he had grown himself. We had enough food to feed us all and bring home about 5 more meals. It was absolutely delicious!

We left Sunday morning after lots of washing up and clearing away. Nathan had taken some great photos of a group of Gang Gangs that came in during the day. We also saw Rose Robin and some White Cockatoos and heard a Yellow Robin. I was able to test out my new bird identification app and it is great. I would recommend it for all you bird watchers out there.

Thank you to Terry, Ellie, Nathan and Brad for coming and sharing Underhill with Geoff and I.

The Water Garden

 

You may remember that Surrey had lots of pots and buckets of water plants all huddled around a garden shed near the barbeque. This area is the 'last frontier' for Kim and I to organise. Progress will take a few sessions but I am documenting it here so that when you come to visit it is not too much of a shock.

First Geoff and his mates helped dismantle the barbeque that had rusted out anyway, then moved the garden shed to a more useful spot in the chook yard. This opened up the area a lot. Then Kim and I had to clear a path into the stump in the far corner.

'Bob and Ben the Tree Men' finished removing a stump that had regrown right in the back corner of the area. They could not get to it when they came two years ago so this time we cleared around the base so it could be ground out. This left a space! So Kim and I started clearing it of weeds and debris.

 

 Rod helped me move our large wooden recycling box out of the carport and into this space. This now shelters the cat cage and replaces the tiny metal storage shed that used to be there.

 

 

 After much back-breaking movement of rocks, water tubs and weeds we have now paved the area to make a more organised water garden that takes advantage of the sun that is now able to come into the area.

Our next space to work on is already paved and I will call it my rose garden when I pot up the struggling roses near the back wall of the house and add them to the 5 rose pots I already have there. 

Now Kim and I are finding it very difficult to move! I think a bit of TLC and RnR are in order.

Surrey's Birthday Picnic

A few of us gathered at Surrey's tree in the Botanic Gardens today to celebrate his birthday just a few days late.

Thanks to all who came to join with me. It was certainly a beautiful day for a picnic.

Australian Geographic Scientific Expedition - Kimberley - Part 2

Saturday 28 April

Up at the crack of dawn again and had to put on a jacket, it as so cold. I'd even worn a singlet and long PJs last night.

After breakfast I started my day of data entry for Simon Clulow for his frog research. He is the only one to have taken me up on my offer to do so. Ian, Simon Cherriman and Clark were left back at camp as well and as the day warmed we sat around each doing our own work, listening to music and chatting. Most of the morning I had a black-headed python on the table next to me. Quite an incongruous juxtaposition of computers, cameras, field guides, live snake and lizards in bags and my workstation on the dining room table! By lunch time I had finished more than half my data entry. As the computer seemed to be overheating I unplugged it and gave it a bit of a rest while I chatted to others as they returned from their tasks.

During the afternoon I finished the data entry with Kerrie's help reading out strings of numbers. Then it was time to enjoy all the animals that had been brought in and stories as they were told. I also spent a little time in daylight organising clothes I had washed – a one-hour drying time in this weather makes the task easy.

In the late afternoon I went up to Saddleback Lookout with Simon Cherriman, Clark, Rebecca and Ian to photograph the sunset for AG. While there we found a beautiful red/white Callitrix in flower. We also found the other Callitrix that Geoff and I had found earlier in the week but this time with small creamy flowers.

A few groups came and went before sunset. Then just after sunset the building workers from the next camp arrived very disappointed about missing the show. We chatted about the science we were doing, the animals, birds, plants and stars. They were very keen to find out about things they did not know. We drove back down the steep drive and over the river crossing in the dark, an interesting experience for us all!

After dinner Simon Cherriman gave a talk about Wedgetailed Eagles and followed this with his movie “A Wedged Tale”. Again I was so tired I was in bed by 8pm and sound asleep by 8:05pm.

Sunday 29 April

Surrey's Birthday

I am having a great time with my new camera! It does fabulous close-ups as well as excellent happy snaps.

After breakfast the bird watchers set out only to return in a very short time with an injured Agile Wallaby. Vicky (a volunteer but also a vet) was consulted and Simon had the unenviable job of ending its life as there were no euthanasia drugs on site.

Once everyone had left camp and I had begun writing diary Wayne came back into camp and asked what I was doing for the next half hour. When I said nothing particular he said there was a seat on the helicopter with his wife Renee and to go and have a ride. It turned out there was a weight limit per person.

With much trepidation I buckled in, warned the pilot of my tendency to motion sickness, had the safety briefing then took off, camera securely fastened around my neck as there were no doors.

What a magnificent experience! The worst thing that happened was that I lost both hair combs and Renee lost her sunglasses out the open door area. I didn't even get white or green!

We flew upstream along the Pentecost to Pentecost Falls, came back towards Champagne Springs and Emerald Pools, then up the ridge parallel with the Chamberlain River.

Back down the Chamberlain to Branco's Lookout then on to Pigeonhouse Lookout. We returned to fly over the Homestead then circled Saddleback Lookout where I had been last night at sunset. We then left there quickly on seeing a wedgie as apparently they are known to attack the tail rotor on helicopters and can cause damage and/or accidents.

We returned to the helipad after about half an hour and I was absolutely gobsmacked by the whole experience. Thank you so much Wayne and Renee!

At lunch time we grabbed our lunch bags and headed out to Zebidee Springs (a thermal system of pools). The water was delightful and as there were only about 5 of us for a while we were able to explore and try out all the pools. We were then joined by some of the others returning from their activities.

After one and a half hours of wallowing in the warm water we returned to the camp and chatted watching and listening for stories as other groups returned. We all enjoyed our last dinner together before heading out again en masse to Emma Gorge for our toad-busting evening. I chose to do the gorge (or at least the lower third of the walk). While I was with the group we found one toad but there were four more found higher up the gorge after I had returned to the cars. I did a good search of the gardens but did not find any.

I opted out of the frog search that followed as I was very tired and it could have gone till midnight. So it was only 9:30pm to bed but that was certainly later than we had been experiencing. I think Surrey would have approved of the way I spent his birthday, especially with the helicopter ride.

Monday 30 April

Woke as early as ever this morning so I had time to have breakfast then go on a bird watching walk with Simon Cherriman and others. We went along the Saddleback track to look specifically for Gouldian Finches. I saw none but did find tracks of Bush Curlew, large frog (or toad or hopping mouse), dingo, and kangaroo or wallaby.

When the mammal trapping team returned they brought back the bonus of the whole trip – a Scaly-tailed Possum. One of the very few ever seen. They had been captured on night cam in 2010 and only recorded a few times before from this area. We all spent time oo-ing and ahh-ing and taking photos of the possum and group photos before leaving for Kununurra.

Ian, Di and I had lunch at the Kimberley Cafe then Ian dropped Di at her caravan park and me at the airport ready for the next part of our journeys. I arrived to check in at the airport to find that my plane was delayed by an hour. I was soon joined by Rebecca and Leigha who had lunch at the airport cafe while we waited.

Garry picked me up at Darwin airport and I enjoyed dinner with the family before another earlyish night.

Tuesday 1 May

A quick family breakfast before everyone left for school and work. Alice was unwell so was allowed to stay at home today. She spent most of the day listening to CDs of Narnia stories and I guess dozing on an off. I booked a cab to give me time to check in for my 3:25pm flight home.

In all a magnificent working holiday!

Australian Geographic Scientific Expedition - Kimberley - Part 1

Sunday 22 April

Up at 5:30 am with the daylight and birds. I had to get dressed so I could go to the kitchen and make my coffee.

A lazy morning with another trip to IGA for some ginger beer and some orange drink. Drinking so much water is really making my stomach slosh.

Leigha arrived on the morning plane so after she had settled in we went for a walk. The Kimberley Cafe was actually open so we had some lunch there. It was as delicious as I remembered from last year. They open for breakfast tomorrow. We then went to Coles and IGA for more supplies. At IGA Leigha wanted a postcard so the manager opened their store next door and took us in to get one, amazing!

We spent some time chatting to Ryan (another AG volunteer from Perth). There was a heavy downpour leaving a very humid hot atmosphere in its wake. Leigha and I both had an afternoon nap in the heat. We then chatted and eventually turned on TV. We had bought sausage rolls from the Kimberley Cafe for our dinner but I did not even finish mine.

I spent a little time identifying my lizard photos with Ryan then retired to the TV and fan.

Monday 23 April

I woke at sunrise at about 5:30am again and did a bit more computer work and played solitaire until Leigha woke.

We wandered down to the Kimberley Cafe for breakfast with Ryan, bought more supplies and posted a letter for Leigha. We returned to the room with time to pack and check out ready for pickup.

Gill and Ian came with two cars. I went with Gill to do the airport pickup where we met Liz and Mike (two more volunteers. When we arrived at camp we settled in and had a dip in the river before lunch to cool down. Anther dip after lunch cooled me off quite well before we all headed out in convoy to Emma Gorge and the toad fence.

Our task today was to empty the pit traps still full of water from the wet season. We found one female cane toad and various native frogs, lizards and turtles.

On the return journey we saw three boobook owls on the road in the headlights. Back at camp (now dark) we sorted out bedding and bags, had dinner then crashed into bed ready for an early start tomorrow.

Tuesday 24 April

A restless night till about 2am when it began pouring with rain. Then I slept soundly. When I stepped out of bed at 5am it was into water but luckily it was only in the track down the centre of the tent, our bags were all dry.

Daylight saw a campsite that was extremely wet and the river rising at almost 2cm/hour. Breakfast was followed by the great cleanup, moving wet tents, adding flys to the volunteers' tents and rearranging the flooded kitchen tents.

A walk to the crossing revealed that it was closed and somewhat destroyed so it could be a while before anyone gets in or out. I had a cattle tick on my leg this morning but it did not seem to be in too far.

Lunch was followed by a talk about the toads and toad fence then Simon Cherriman led a walk to the Wedgetailed Eagle nest up towards Champaign Springs. I got nearly to the nest but decided not to push on so Ian came back with me and we did a bit of botanising along the way. By the time we got back to the river crossing the water had fallen somewhat but was not yet passable. The crossing will need a bit of work by Rocket (the grader driver) before anyone is allowed through.

Back at camp I had time for a shower before dinner. After dinner Simon Clulow gave a fantastic presentation about his reasons for his frog research. Bed early again but most welcome.

Wednesday 25 April

Anzac Day

Up at 5am (after a gusty wind all night) for a brief dawn service for all campers and El Questro staff. It was interesting to experience the bugle, blue-winged Kookaburras and silence of the crowd in the half light. Breakfast followed then by 8:30am we were out on projects.

I was rostered on with Brett but found it difficult with the lack of direction and focus. We had to set net traps along the toad fence, I chose the dry half of the fence this time. Maybe that will avoid the ticks.

Picnic lunch at Emma Gorge with the other car load and then I went with Geoff and Kim back to the fence. While Kim tried to toad-proof the cattle grid into the gorge, Geoff identified the frogs caught in the pit traps and I did the recording.

Back to camp for show-n-tell from all the animal catches of the day – turtles, two different small lizards and a young rock rat. We had released all the frogs as they were identified then disposed of all the can toads via Kim's Stop the Toad team's drop off box. There was an autopsy of a dead spotted quoll and more intense Ids of unusual mammals – the Pale Field Rat (Ratus tunneyi) and a House Mouse (Mus musculus).

After dinner Micko (Manager of ELQ) gave a talk about the property – about one million acres and 4500 head of cattle.

By the time we went to bed the party in the next large camp group (the builders working on the Homestead) was well under way and the noise kept us awake till about midnight when Robbie phoned Micko to come and do something and Kim went over and asked them to stop. I am not sure which one worked but I'm glad it did.

Thursday 26 April

Up early again but a slower start to the activities. I was to go goanna hunting and tracking. Leigha left early to the toad fence so I did our washing before my activity.

Our first task was to attach a radio tracking device to a medium sized goanna and give it time to dry before release tomorrow. Then we went out to the Chamberlain crossing and worked our way back via a lot of the campsites to try radio tracking animals previously released.

At 'Emu' we found one and ran through long grass to find it – snakes notwithstanding! It had another one with it when we sighted it that we tried to capture but with no luck. In the process I trod on the tail of the bigger one and as I jumped it high-tailed it through the grass and disappeared. At least we were able to record a position for it. Back to the car to a few more sites but unfortunately we did not find any more of the monitors with radio tracking aerials on them. Just near camp Mike hopped from the car and caught a tiny legless lizard (Delma borea?). Dave then saw a monitor in the donkey paddock and came to a screeching halt saying 'I want that animal!' He ran after it but missed. He eventually flushed him out of the scrub but it ran across the road and headed straight for the helicopter then under the fuel pump, never to be seen again. We then headed over the Pentecost at the Station and tracked another of the tagged monitors. On the way back for lunch Dave headed for the tip where staff had seen a large goanna. As soon as we arrived one ran out of the hole, Mike saw another one and Dave and he eventually caught a huge one with the noose and a lot of cunning. After much wrestling and groping around in the scrub and long grass Dave and Mike succeeded in getting hold of it. There was much discussion about how to get the goanna (Veranus penoptes penoptes – Yellow Spotted Monitor) back to camp when the decision was made that Mike should nurse it all the way in the front seat.

Much commotion ensued on our return when the film crew (Simon Cherriman and Clark) were alerted to our catch. We were asked to reverse several times to repeat the entry into camp for filming. Simon Clulow and team had also found a snake so it had to be filmed as well. Next step was to gut-flush the monitor (nothing came out) before we enjoyed a very late lunch.

Back out after lunch we saw another V. mertens near the Chamberlain crossing but after that nothing. We returned to camp to see what others had found in their exploits.

During dinner Simon Cherriman and Dave arrived home with a black headed python so it was 'dinner and a show' for us all. After dinner two groups went out for night work – one to do toad-busting at Emma Gorge with Kim and one to go Frog Hunting with Simon Clulow at El Questro Gorge.

I stayed home, as did Ian (AG editor) and Robbie (camp cook). We caught up on chores and diary, had a chat and eventually collapsed into our beds with no excess noise from rain, wind, or loud parties. I have not been wearing my pedometer as the step counts have been way huge and I keep forgetting to put it on anyway.

Friday 26 April

After breakfast Team Goanna headed out to Amalia Gorge to deliver a goanna back after processing. I walked to the bottom pool but the others had to go just a little further. It is a beautiful secluded gorge.

Back at camp we then had the job of taking 3D head photos using 6 synchronised cameras that were linked to a computer but had to all be refocussed for each of about 8 shots in case the goanna had moved (very likely). The last one to be done was the huge monitor we had caught yesterday. I did not get any photos of this process as I was on camera duty for the task. This proved to be a popular activity as it was being videoed by Simon for the documentary. The animal was extremely strong and put on a good show. By the time we had finished those tasks we were all quite tired and hungry so lunch at camp was really appreciated.

Our afternoon task was to release three more goannas along the Emma Gorge toad fence. We then had to track two goannas in the gorge that had been tagged and released previously. I gave up walking so turned back towards the car and was collected by Simon Clulow and Brett who were also on their way back to camp. I got a lift home with them and spent time in camp chatting before dinner.

Sean gave his talk tonight about his results and predictions so far in his toad research along the Daly and on El Questro.

Last night and tonight have been cool enough for a bit of extra clothing and a sleeping bag.