Friday, September 4, 2015

Getting Amongst It

It is 4:30 am and I am having coffee made with water heated in a pot on the little gas stove in Matilda. I can see my breath as I write this. We are in our first “dry camp” at the Kiata campground in Little Desert National Park, Victoria. There is no external power for heat or kettle. It is beautiful here… scrubby, rough, Australian gorgeousness. Emus abound. We arrived late Wednesday afternoon, following a quick stop in Horsham where we saw an absolutely stunning Bush Stone-curlew, which was another lifer for Lynn.
   
Bush Stone-curlew... they are gorgeous. 
Bush Stone-curlew, look at those eyes...
While chosing a spot, we watched one of the largest Echidnas I have ever seen amble across the track. They are known to amble. Echidnas do not hurry. The campground was almost deserted (two other caravans). After we parked Matilda, we went walk-around birding. Within an hour we had found Lynn a sweet Southern Scrub-robin, as well as lots of White-browed Babblers. Both were life birds for Lynn. I am grateful. The dawn chorus has begun and as my friend Philip Peel said, I need to get amongst it!
   
Coming back from the drop-toilet "facilities." There is always a slight fear that somehow my phone or my keys will leap out of my pocket and "drop." I know it is an irrational fear, so I just ignore it.
It is now 3:45pm and we are plugged-in at a decent little caravan Park in Nhill ($24 powered site senior rate, I ain’t proud) and I am having a non-alcoholic beer and writing and doing photos. We are here for the night and there is free wifi that works! I have already had my Lifer Pie in the form of chips (fries), my go-to treat food. Yes! I got two lifers today (following Philip’s directions). I got Black-eared Cuckoo at Kiata this morning and Rufous Fieldwren at Little Desert this arvo. Both were such sweet birds! I saw the Fieldwren at two different sites. I am grateful! I am happy. I am birding. I am amongst it!

Black-eared Cuckoo
Black-eared Cuckoo 
Lynn and Matilda in Little Desert across the street from the Rufous Fieldwren.
Rufous Fieldwren, we heard it before we saw it...

Birds. Peace. Love. Earth. Laughter. Music.

6 comments:

  1. Thank you, Jan! We were amongst it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Enjoy! I don't have either of those birds yet. Orchids should be out about now too.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Definitely amongst it! Great stuff ... looks like the adventures are getting off to a superb start!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Kenn. It is and it continues! Stay tuned...

      Delete

Comments Here: