Geese at the Gooseponds

The Gooseponds: Morning

On Wednesday morning, during peak hour, the geese that live on The Gooseponds crossed Malcolmson Street.  Traffic came to a stop as, one by very slow one, each goose (or gander), in turn, stepped from the footpath onto the road, hesitated, then paraded across the road to the southern section of The Gooseponds.  Two young ganders engaged in a hissing fight in the middle of the road, further slowing up the flock's progress, while the traffic jammed back to Mt Pleasant in one direction and to Evans Avenue in the other.

Claire Wood

email:  JustClaireWood@gmail.com

Daily Blog:  http://www.justclairewood.blogspot.com/

Longlines Blog:  http://www.longline8.blogspot.com

Corellas

Sunset: Bucasia
Each evening a flock of corellas rockets overhead, a joyous, raucous, enormous flock.  As it wheels against the light, the undersides of hundreds of wings reflect palest gold in the last rays of the sun.

Claire Wood

email:  JustClaireWood@gmail.com

Daily Blog:  http://www.justclairewood.blogspot.com/

Longlines Blog:  http://www.longline8.blogspot.com

Bush Stone Curlews

Halliday Bay

Beneath a cloud sodden sky that softened the afternoon light two bush stone curlews sat on the footpath under a small shrub regarding each other.  Perfectly reflecting each other's pose in elegant sinuousity.  From beneath a neighbouring shrub a third bush stone curlew regarded the world through large night time eyes.

Claire Wood

email:  JustClaireWood@gmail.com

Daily Blog:  http://www.justclairewood.blogspot.com/

Longlines Blog:  http://www.longline8.blogspot.com

Sand Plovers

This morning we counted 76 sand plovers on the beach.  Twenty three years ago they were called Mongolian dotterals.  Is this just regional naming differences?  However, as the bard said, "a rose by any other name..."  Ahead of them is the migration back to Siberia for the northern summer.  They are such dainty little birds, it is hard to imagine their long journey along the latitudes.

Claire Wood

email:  JustClaireWood@gmail.com

Daily Blog:  http://www.justclairewood.blogspot.com/

Longlines Blog:  http://www.longline8.blogspot.com

Mopoke

In the evenings a mopoke sits on the hills hoist watching the spill of light from the barbeque area.  When the light is switched off, or if there are few insects she flies silently into the pine tree, and from there her destination is a mystery.

Claire Wood

email:  JustClaireWood@gmail.com

Daily Blog:  http://www.justclairewood.blogspot.com/

Longlines Blog:  http://www.longline8.blogspot.com

Bird

Bucasia: Wednesday

Yesterday a bird flew screeching straight into the insect screening on the office window.  The window was open so she did not hit the glass, nor would have been tricked by reflection in the glass.  She hit the screening so hard I thought she would crash through into the office.  Instead she veered off, screeching, into the clump of trees in front of the window.  She continued screeching for some time before eventually flying off.  She was a medium size dark feathered bird, not one of the many parrot species around here. 


Claire Wood

email:  JustClaireWood@gmail.com

Daily Blog:  http://www.justclairewood.blogspot.com/

Longlines Blog:  http://www.longline8.blogspot.com

Possum

 Bucasia : Tuesday
A possum lives in the old mango tree in the back yard.  She forages at night, her baby snug in her pouch as she clambers over and along fences.  We have had no raids on the potted herbs, nor has she shown any interest in moving closer to the human inhabitants of this block.  She provides nighttime entertainment and keeps an eye on people sitting around the table.  She maintains her distance but is unafraid.  

May 3 2011

Claire Wood

email:  JustClaireWood@gmail.com

Daily Blog:  http://www.justclairewood.blogspot.com/

Longlines Blog:  http://www.longline8.blogspot.com