I have arriven!
Feb. 2nd, 2005 12:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gemfyre(yes, I know that's not a real word)
Well, here I am at the BBO. I'll start at the beginning and stop when I get to the present.
As the plane taxied down the runway I was seen off by five Nankeen Kestrels, they're rather fond of the fields of grass down there.
As we passed over the Darling Scarp I saw the burnt out bushland and saw how low the resevoirs are.
Looking back I could see the Swan River and pick out Herrison Island and Fremantle and Rottnest and Garden Island.
Passing over the wheatbelt it was heartbreaking to see so much saline land.
The Gascoyne is amazing from the air - it's one massive catchment riddled with riverbeds and lakes.
It was ironic to see ashtrays in the plane toilets even though smoking on a plane is a federal offense - as is tampering with the smoke detectors in the toilets.
We passed over a bank of clouds just before sunset - the sun was blood red. Eventually descent began and soon the lights of Broome came into view.
I swear we were taxing along that runway for 5 minutes, it must be miles long.
Came out of the plane and was immediately hit by the hot, humid air. 30C
Found Ricki with no trouble. She took me to Coles to get some supplies and we headed to the BBO - many bats on the way, but no nightjars or owls which were expected.
Last night after being shown around the site, and being informed by Ricki that she is a vegan (I'll need to find someone else to teach me to fish), I almost wanted to burst into tears and come straight back home.
- The kitchen is grotty (but it will be cleaned) and not well equipped. My appliances!! I need a pasta bake dish! I bought things for pasta bake but lack a dish, alas! It's also a long walk from my bedroom but does have beautiful views through the flyscreen around it. It is also populated by green tree frogs.
- The bathroom isn't bad, it has one resident frog, but it's also miles away.
- My room is small, the desk is tiny. But it's not that bad seeing as I'll be spending most of my time out of it.
- I can get computer access pretty much any day. YAY!
- Ricki left me at the ablutions while I went to the toilet before going to bed. My fandangled rechargable 2 million candlepower torch decided to cark it on me half way back. Was a barrel of laughs finding the way back to my room in the dark, but I managed.
Put the air-con on for about half an hour (apparently using the air-con stuffs up the electricity), then used the fan for the rest of the warm night. I managed to sleep eventually.
Awoke to thunder, lightning and rain. Got dressed and headed out into it. It wet my hair so I could tame it. Took a wander around the grounds and down to the beach. Ate breakfast. Eventually went and found Ricki and she took me around the place birding a bit. We also went out to Roebuck Plains and One Tree Hill and saw all kinds of things (list to come in this post).
I'm now not so shocked. I should be able to manage 9 months with a dodgy kitchen and far away bathroom. As Ricki told me, it's living like a caveman but the nature is astounding.
Yep, there are green tree frogs everywhere. I realised this morning that they are the culprits behind the loud grinding sound the sometimes starts up.
Many Agile wallabies around as well.
And the birds - of course. I'll head down to the beach again soon with a scope and try to teach myself a few waders. But so far I've got quite a few newies, as well as old friends and birds I just haven't seen in ages.
Great Egret
Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia) - NEW! - Spotted on the bay this morning.
Australian White Ibis
Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus) - NEW! - Beautiful! Sitting in a mangrove near One Tree Hill.
Bar-Tailed Godwit
Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) - NEW!
Terek Sandpiper (Tringa (Xenus) cinereus) - NEW!
Red Knot (Calidris canutus) - NEW!
Black-Winged Stilt
Oriental Pratincole (Glareola maldivarum) - NEW! Yes, this is the bird they got 2.5 million of on Eighty Mile Beach. They're very sleek and tern/falcon like in the air.
Greater Sand Plover (Charadrius leschemaultii) - NEW!
Silver Gull
Gull-Billed Tern (Sterna nilotica macrotarsa/Sterna nilotica affinis)) - NEW! Apparently one race is resident and the other migrates from Asia.
Crested Pigeon
Peaceful Dove
Bar-Shouldered Dove (Geopelia humeralis) - NEW!
Pheasant Coucal (Centropus phasianinus melanurus) - NEW! Heard near One Tree Hill.
Rainbow Bee-Eater
Red-Backed Fairywren (Malurus melanocephalus) - NEW! - Finally got a male after searching all morning. Stunning little critter.
White-Throated Gerygone (Gerygone olivacea) - NEW! - Call is totally different from most gerygones.
Little Friarbird (Philemon citreogularis) - NEW! - My first newie for Broome.
Singing Honeyeater
Brown Honeyeater
Rufous-Throated Honeyeater (Conopophila rufogularis)- NEW!
Grey-Crowned Babbler (Pomatostomus temporalis) - NEW! - loads of these around the BBO.
Rufous Whistler - Their whistle is a bit different up here. And MAN are they noisy!
Grey Shrike-Thrush (harmonica) subspecies.
Restless Flycatcher (nana subspecies. - good views of them around the BBO.
Willie Wagtail
Black-Faced Cuckoo-Shrike
White-Breasted Woodswallow (Artamus leucorynchus) - NEW!
Black-Faced Woodswallow
Pied Butcherbird
Singing Bushlark (Mirafra javanica) - NEW!
Long-Tailed Finch (Poephila acuticauda) - NEW!
Welcome Swallow
Tree Martin
That's 18 new birds already! Including a few new sub-species. And I haven't even really started on the waders!
I can currently hear a dove cooing outside, it's a lovely sound. :) And I need lunch badly. There are also colourful little moths and butterflies everywhere.
Well, here I am at the BBO. I'll start at the beginning and stop when I get to the present.
As the plane taxied down the runway I was seen off by five Nankeen Kestrels, they're rather fond of the fields of grass down there.
As we passed over the Darling Scarp I saw the burnt out bushland and saw how low the resevoirs are.
Looking back I could see the Swan River and pick out Herrison Island and Fremantle and Rottnest and Garden Island.
Passing over the wheatbelt it was heartbreaking to see so much saline land.
The Gascoyne is amazing from the air - it's one massive catchment riddled with riverbeds and lakes.
It was ironic to see ashtrays in the plane toilets even though smoking on a plane is a federal offense - as is tampering with the smoke detectors in the toilets.
We passed over a bank of clouds just before sunset - the sun was blood red. Eventually descent began and soon the lights of Broome came into view.
I swear we were taxing along that runway for 5 minutes, it must be miles long.
Came out of the plane and was immediately hit by the hot, humid air. 30C
Found Ricki with no trouble. She took me to Coles to get some supplies and we headed to the BBO - many bats on the way, but no nightjars or owls which were expected.
Last night after being shown around the site, and being informed by Ricki that she is a vegan (I'll need to find someone else to teach me to fish), I almost wanted to burst into tears and come straight back home.
- The kitchen is grotty (but it will be cleaned) and not well equipped. My appliances!! I need a pasta bake dish! I bought things for pasta bake but lack a dish, alas! It's also a long walk from my bedroom but does have beautiful views through the flyscreen around it. It is also populated by green tree frogs.
- The bathroom isn't bad, it has one resident frog, but it's also miles away.
- My room is small, the desk is tiny. But it's not that bad seeing as I'll be spending most of my time out of it.
- I can get computer access pretty much any day. YAY!
- Ricki left me at the ablutions while I went to the toilet before going to bed. My fandangled rechargable 2 million candlepower torch decided to cark it on me half way back. Was a barrel of laughs finding the way back to my room in the dark, but I managed.
Put the air-con on for about half an hour (apparently using the air-con stuffs up the electricity), then used the fan for the rest of the warm night. I managed to sleep eventually.
Awoke to thunder, lightning and rain. Got dressed and headed out into it. It wet my hair so I could tame it. Took a wander around the grounds and down to the beach. Ate breakfast. Eventually went and found Ricki and she took me around the place birding a bit. We also went out to Roebuck Plains and One Tree Hill and saw all kinds of things (list to come in this post).
I'm now not so shocked. I should be able to manage 9 months with a dodgy kitchen and far away bathroom. As Ricki told me, it's living like a caveman but the nature is astounding.
Yep, there are green tree frogs everywhere. I realised this morning that they are the culprits behind the loud grinding sound the sometimes starts up.
Many Agile wallabies around as well.
And the birds - of course. I'll head down to the beach again soon with a scope and try to teach myself a few waders. But so far I've got quite a few newies, as well as old friends and birds I just haven't seen in ages.
Great Egret
Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia) - NEW! - Spotted on the bay this morning.
Australian White Ibis
Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus) - NEW! - Beautiful! Sitting in a mangrove near One Tree Hill.
Bar-Tailed Godwit
Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) - NEW!
Terek Sandpiper (Tringa (Xenus) cinereus) - NEW!
Red Knot (Calidris canutus) - NEW!
Black-Winged Stilt
Oriental Pratincole (Glareola maldivarum) - NEW! Yes, this is the bird they got 2.5 million of on Eighty Mile Beach. They're very sleek and tern/falcon like in the air.
Greater Sand Plover (Charadrius leschemaultii) - NEW!
Silver Gull
Gull-Billed Tern (Sterna nilotica macrotarsa/Sterna nilotica affinis)) - NEW! Apparently one race is resident and the other migrates from Asia.
Crested Pigeon
Peaceful Dove
Bar-Shouldered Dove (Geopelia humeralis) - NEW!
Pheasant Coucal (Centropus phasianinus melanurus) - NEW! Heard near One Tree Hill.
Rainbow Bee-Eater
Red-Backed Fairywren (Malurus melanocephalus) - NEW! - Finally got a male after searching all morning. Stunning little critter.
White-Throated Gerygone (Gerygone olivacea) - NEW! - Call is totally different from most gerygones.
Little Friarbird (Philemon citreogularis) - NEW! - My first newie for Broome.
Singing Honeyeater
Brown Honeyeater
Rufous-Throated Honeyeater (Conopophila rufogularis)- NEW!
Grey-Crowned Babbler (Pomatostomus temporalis) - NEW! - loads of these around the BBO.
Rufous Whistler - Their whistle is a bit different up here. And MAN are they noisy!
Grey Shrike-Thrush (harmonica) subspecies.
Restless Flycatcher (nana subspecies. - good views of them around the BBO.
Willie Wagtail
Black-Faced Cuckoo-Shrike
White-Breasted Woodswallow (Artamus leucorynchus) - NEW!
Black-Faced Woodswallow
Pied Butcherbird
Singing Bushlark (Mirafra javanica) - NEW!
Long-Tailed Finch (Poephila acuticauda) - NEW!
Welcome Swallow
Tree Martin
That's 18 new birds already! Including a few new sub-species. And I haven't even really started on the waders!
I can currently hear a dove cooing outside, it's a lovely sound. :) And I need lunch badly. There are also colourful little moths and butterflies everywhere.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 05:36 am (UTC)I know just how much you need a good kitchen! what sort of kitchen stuffs do you have? i mean if she's a vegan she has to cook something? i guess you just have some saucepans and maybe a frypan. maybe you can find a dish that'll do to make the pastabake in, or you might just have to buy one and sell it later (or donate it to the kitchen!)
You'll get by with it though, and you always knew that it would be a bit like living in a caravan and having to trek to facilities.
2 days till you start the real work now.
I guess you'll be getting some time to yourself while not working.
Has the other assistant arrived yet?
Maybe you'll learn to see in the dark while your up there! or just remember to recharge the rechargable torch.
no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 05:43 am (UTC)And I'm relying on my little battery powered torches.
no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 05:44 am (UTC)It's World Wetlands Day today. An auspicious way to start your adventure.
no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 05:46 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 05:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 05:59 am (UTC)*hug*
keep updating lots.
I am comtemplaying posting you a pasta dish... but knowing australia post they would break it on the way up. *sigh* but the thought is there...
go out and get some chinese instead...
no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 07:06 am (UTC)Mostly cos the car stereo place was having a demolitions sale.
no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 07:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 07:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 07:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 07:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 07:16 am (UTC)at $15 an hour, i could afford to actually do the trip!
now to convince work...
no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 07:17 am (UTC)S'Okay, we found an appropriate dish, just needs a good clean.
no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 07:18 am (UTC)I'll tip well! It may not be money... ;)
no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 07:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 07:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 07:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 07:45 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 07:58 am (UTC)Frogs eat bugs. I like frogs.
no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 08:57 am (UTC)And I saw a large lizard of some description on the road.
You can add green tree frog to my amphibian list and Agile wallaby to my mammal list.
no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 02:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 02:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 10:40 pm (UTC)(What crack were they on when they came up with that?)
no subject
Date: 2005-02-03 12:20 am (UTC)The dish drying racks are pretty gross tho. They need a clean too.
no subject
Date: 2005-02-03 12:35 am (UTC)Well it's certainly the Aussie one.
no subject
Date: 2005-02-03 06:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-03 06:16 am (UTC)cool.
I don't get down there much anymore, but it still feels like my shopping centre ;)
Now Belmont Forum needs to expand. We don't even have a Target!