Road Trip Day 13 - Day 6 in Broome
Mar. 31st, 2011 05:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gemfyre15/3/2011
Today was pretty lazy. I got up around 8 and wandered down to the platform for a look. Today was neap tide, so there were no large flocks pushed onto the beaches or loads of mud exposed for waders to feed on. Despite this I managed to ID a few waders on the mud in front of me. I cooled back down in the donga and slathered sunscreen over myself before heading to breakfast. My milk was off, I guess, it HAS been open for about a week and half that time it was stored in a car fridge that was only running during the day when I was driving. Someone left some rice milk in the fridge so I used that, BBO and rice milk just seem to go together.
I then intended to make my way back to the donga for a cool down, but got distracted by the new signage at the entrance to the Obs and the cool breeze blowing – after last night's rain today was considerably less humid and blessed with frequent breezes. No doubt it was still hot and humid, but not quite as bad as it has been.
I had a long to chat with Al – the caretaker who has been here for the past few months but is about to move out to Roebuck Plains. We discussed how the Obs had changed, it's management and what could be done to improve the place. Turns out the committee only consists of two people at the moment – one of them being Ady. DEC is taking over mud sampling. And there is a new sewage farm being built on Crab Creek Road! I figured I'd have to take a look around there after going out onto the plains. Then the next guests arrived and I went off to get ready for a drive about the place.
I went out onto the plains a little way, until the pindan opened out to grassland and it was quite breathtaking to see such long grass and so much water out there! I would have walked along the track a little but there was an unfriendly looking Brahman bull, so I headed out towards town.
I pulled into Campsite and got some internetty goodness and called mum. Then I got inspired. I had got little presents for everyone except for Matt. A trinket isn't really good for him, he doesn't need clothes, then it came to me – I would get him some Matso's beer! So I took an unplanned trip into town to grab that and then sit and watch town beach for a while before leaving town for the last time (on this trip anyway).
I investigated the new sewer works on the way back out, there were No Tresspassing signs (but they had info to contact a guy to get permission) and signs saying you had to wear full safety gear and do an induction if you were to go out there. I didn't really have time for all that. Hopefully by the next time I'm up here it will be finished. Apparently they seem to be working closely with birdos and it will probably become a popular spot for us crazy people who like to hang around smelly pools full of human waste. :)
The road in is still pretty decent – corrugated as usual. There are a few big puddles on the bay road, but the Terios gets through them pretty easily.
I made myself a late lunch and watched the finches and honeyeaters at the bird baths then checked out the other hide (no birds there) before retiring to my donga for a while. I read for a bit then slept for about an hour, as I told Al I would. When I emerged it was almost time to migrate to the shadehouse for the evening. I chatted to Al for a while longer and deliberated whether I should have a shower now or later – I decided on later, that way I can keep repellant on while I'm still out and about. The rain clouds don't look anywhere near as threatening this evening.
The guys are putting on a farewell BBQ for Al tonight. I should go out and join them – it is currently quite pleasant outside, apart from the incessant mozzies.
I really do love this place. A whole family atmosphere develops and you're among like minded people – people who appreciate the environment and are aware of its wonders and want to look after it, rather than be disconnected from it or destroy it. Tonight the stars are out again, the BBQ is gently smoking after cooking plenty of sausages and veggie patties for all, and walking around with a head torch reveals hundreds of spiders in the bush, their eyes shine like jewels in the light, and frogs sit contentedly on the poles and struts of the shadehouse and in the showers. I'm sad to go, but pretty much all this trip has done is reinforce the fact that I'm going to have come back again.
Most places, even at home sometimes, when I'm walking around at night in the dark I get a case of the heebie-jeebies and rush back to the safety of bed and under-the-covers. Wandering around the Obs in the middle of the night, with just a head torch, I don't get that feeling. I can hear the alarm thump of wallabies nearby, and I know they are just wallabies. I see frogs in the toilets. I know some of the most venomous snakes in the world as well as giant centipedes and scorpions are stalking about, but they don't worry me. Sometimes I turn my light off and just look at the stars. I just feel safe out here.
15/3/2011 (Broome Bird Observatory, Viewing Platform, Roebuck Plains, Old Broome)
Bar-shouldered Dove
Black Kite
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
Black-faced Woodswallow
Blue-winged Kookaburra
Brahminy Kite
Brown Honeyeater
Brush Cuckoo (H)
Common Greenshank
Common Sandpiper
Crested Pigeon
Dollarbird
Double-barred Finch
Eastern Reef Egret
Great Bowerbird
Great Knot
Greater Sand Plover
Grey Shrike-thrush (H)
Grey-crowned Babbler
Grey-tailed Tattler
Lesser Crested Tern
Little Friarbird
Long-tailed Finch
Magpie Lark
Mistletoebird (H)
Paperbark Flycatcher
Peaceful Dove
Pied Butcherbird
Rainbow Bee-eater
Red-backed Fairy-wren (H)
Red-necked Stint
Red-winged Parrot
Ruddy Turnstone
Rufous Whistler (H)
Rufous-throated Honeyeater
Silver Gull
Singing Honeyeater
Torresian Crow
Wedge-tailed Eagle
Whimbrel
White-bellied Sea Eagle (H)
White-throated Gerygone (H)
Willie Wagtail
Yellow White-eye
Photographs from the last day in Broome can be found here.
Today was pretty lazy. I got up around 8 and wandered down to the platform for a look. Today was neap tide, so there were no large flocks pushed onto the beaches or loads of mud exposed for waders to feed on. Despite this I managed to ID a few waders on the mud in front of me. I cooled back down in the donga and slathered sunscreen over myself before heading to breakfast. My milk was off, I guess, it HAS been open for about a week and half that time it was stored in a car fridge that was only running during the day when I was driving. Someone left some rice milk in the fridge so I used that, BBO and rice milk just seem to go together.
I then intended to make my way back to the donga for a cool down, but got distracted by the new signage at the entrance to the Obs and the cool breeze blowing – after last night's rain today was considerably less humid and blessed with frequent breezes. No doubt it was still hot and humid, but not quite as bad as it has been.
I had a long to chat with Al – the caretaker who has been here for the past few months but is about to move out to Roebuck Plains. We discussed how the Obs had changed, it's management and what could be done to improve the place. Turns out the committee only consists of two people at the moment – one of them being Ady. DEC is taking over mud sampling. And there is a new sewage farm being built on Crab Creek Road! I figured I'd have to take a look around there after going out onto the plains. Then the next guests arrived and I went off to get ready for a drive about the place.
I went out onto the plains a little way, until the pindan opened out to grassland and it was quite breathtaking to see such long grass and so much water out there! I would have walked along the track a little but there was an unfriendly looking Brahman bull, so I headed out towards town.
 |
Roebuck Plains I was overwhelmed by the sheer amount of water out here. I had never seen the grass so long! A little further along the road here the plains are dotted with hundreds of termite mounds. |
I pulled into Campsite and got some internetty goodness and called mum. Then I got inspired. I had got little presents for everyone except for Matt. A trinket isn't really good for him, he doesn't need clothes, then it came to me – I would get him some Matso's beer! So I took an unplanned trip into town to grab that and then sit and watch town beach for a while before leaving town for the last time (on this trip anyway).
I investigated the new sewer works on the way back out, there were No Tresspassing signs (but they had info to contact a guy to get permission) and signs saying you had to wear full safety gear and do an induction if you were to go out there. I didn't really have time for all that. Hopefully by the next time I'm up here it will be finished. Apparently they seem to be working closely with birdos and it will probably become a popular spot for us crazy people who like to hang around smelly pools full of human waste. :)
The road in is still pretty decent – corrugated as usual. There are a few big puddles on the bay road, but the Terios gets through them pretty easily.
I made myself a late lunch and watched the finches and honeyeaters at the bird baths then checked out the other hide (no birds there) before retiring to my donga for a while. I read for a bit then slept for about an hour, as I told Al I would. When I emerged it was almost time to migrate to the shadehouse for the evening. I chatted to Al for a while longer and deliberated whether I should have a shower now or later – I decided on later, that way I can keep repellant on while I'm still out and about. The rain clouds don't look anywhere near as threatening this evening.
| The bird hide at the BBO Sometimes you can sit here and birds you wouldn't normally see at the Shadehouse - like fairy-wrens, come in to drink. Not today though. |
 |
The guys are putting on a farewell BBQ for Al tonight. I should go out and join them – it is currently quite pleasant outside, apart from the incessant mozzies.
I really do love this place. A whole family atmosphere develops and you're among like minded people – people who appreciate the environment and are aware of its wonders and want to look after it, rather than be disconnected from it or destroy it. Tonight the stars are out again, the BBQ is gently smoking after cooking plenty of sausages and veggie patties for all, and walking around with a head torch reveals hundreds of spiders in the bush, their eyes shine like jewels in the light, and frogs sit contentedly on the poles and struts of the shadehouse and in the showers. I'm sad to go, but pretty much all this trip has done is reinforce the fact that I'm going to have come back again.
Most places, even at home sometimes, when I'm walking around at night in the dark I get a case of the heebie-jeebies and rush back to the safety of bed and under-the-covers. Wandering around the Obs in the middle of the night, with just a head torch, I don't get that feeling. I can hear the alarm thump of wallabies nearby, and I know they are just wallabies. I see frogs in the toilets. I know some of the most venomous snakes in the world as well as giant centipedes and scorpions are stalking about, but they don't worry me. Sometimes I turn my light off and just look at the stars. I just feel safe out here.
15/3/2011 (Broome Bird Observatory, Viewing Platform, Roebuck Plains, Old Broome)
Bar-shouldered Dove
Black Kite
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
Black-faced Woodswallow
Blue-winged Kookaburra
Brahminy Kite
Brown Honeyeater
Brush Cuckoo (H)
Common Greenshank
Common Sandpiper
Crested Pigeon
Dollarbird
Double-barred Finch
Eastern Reef Egret
Great Bowerbird
Great Knot
Greater Sand Plover
Grey Shrike-thrush (H)
Grey-crowned Babbler
Grey-tailed Tattler
Lesser Crested Tern
Little Friarbird
Long-tailed Finch
Magpie Lark
Mistletoebird (H)
Paperbark Flycatcher
Peaceful Dove
Pied Butcherbird
Rainbow Bee-eater
Red-backed Fairy-wren (H)
Red-necked Stint
Red-winged Parrot
Ruddy Turnstone
Rufous Whistler (H)
Rufous-throated Honeyeater
Silver Gull
Singing Honeyeater
Torresian Crow
Wedge-tailed Eagle
Whimbrel
White-bellied Sea Eagle (H)
White-throated Gerygone (H)
Willie Wagtail
Yellow White-eye
Photographs from the last day in Broome can be found here.
