Wild Bird Wednesday - Masked or White-Breasted?? Woodswallow

A few hundred yards down river from that noisy water-skier

(post below)

where there is a patch of wetland, these swallow came in to 

roost in their hundred as the sun sank lower.

Hard to say whether they are Masked, or White-Breasted

swallows, I need Stewart's expert opinion on to put me right on 

that one.

Whatever they are called, they were an inspiration to watch

and photograph.

Aren't birds wonderful?

Linking to
Wild Bird Wednesday

OUR WORLD - Curved Balls and Water Skiing

As some of you may have noticed, my blogging and visiting

have both gone to the dogs. Life has been serving me a 

succession of curved balls and my fielding skills have 

unfortunately deserted me.

I have missed you all.

Here are a few shots I took in March, when times were happier

and we had a bit of a holiday in Renmark on the Murray River.

This chap was having great fun raising lots of spray to show off.

In fact, so much spray, he became invisible.

Then, like a ghostly apparition, there he was again.

I sincerely hope you are all having a great time where ever you are

in OUR WORLD!

SkyWatch - A Moment of a Sunrise

The cold of winter brings joint pains with it, so this none too

happy bunny, is posting just one moment of a magical sunrise

at Wilpena Pound in the Flinders Ranges.

Enjoy!

Variegated Fairy-Wren

My mind seems to be a blank and my camera has been very lazy

as well so I am regressing a little in time and returning to a happy

snappy time in the drylands around the Flinders Ranges.

Early morning at Wirrealpa Station and the birds were coming

for a dip in the big water tank near our little cottage.

Here is the little hen Variegated Fairy-Wren, Malurus lamberti, 

and just that you don't think she was an easy shot, below is the 

uncropped version of the little grey dot in the middle.

Here is her colourful little mate, not yet in full mating plumage

but looking rather dapper none the less.

I am linking to:

OUR WORLD

Wild Bird Wednesday

id-rather-b-birdin

and

Nature Notes

and thank all the organisers of these memes.

SkyWatch - Just a Little Weather

Late today, we were hit by the biggest electrical storm of the year.

A little bit of this

and a little bit of that,

resulted in a new out-door shower!

The storm, with pelting rain and hail, hit directly above us.
Within minutes, not only the power was out but our daughter's
house took a direct hit to the chimney.

Massive bolts of lightning are frightening at any time but
being locked in a Faraday cage can be just as unnerving.
Water being an excellent conductor, the electricity from the
lightning is conducted into the ground down the wet walls.
Although one is safe inside and thank goodness the cats
and dogs were as well, the sensation is to say the least,
eerie.

Luckily, the power was restored after 5 hours but too late
for a hot meal. A sandwich by candlelight was all we managed
to rustle up.

Hope you are all keeping safe!

SkyWatch - Winter Sunrise

Captured on my early morning foray to the Angaston farmers' 

market.

As the sun lights up the landscape, you can see a touch of frost

and a stand of willows in the distance shivering in the cold 

of the morning.

Valley fog trails across the road

and lingers in low lying meadows.

Hope you all have great skies wherever you are!

World Bird Wednesday - Grey Fantail +

The Grey Fantails have been around since late summer and try as 

I might, I don't seem able to get a good shot at them.

Same place, just cropped

and flitting just above the ground.

I thought I'd throw in an Adelaide Rosella for good measure.

They are just coming into mating plumage.

Happy birdwatching everyone!

OUR WORLD - Mintaro

Our last trip in autumn was to the tiny, historic town of Mintaro, 

renowned for it's slate. Perfect, huge sheets of slate from 

here were sent all over the world for full sized billiard tables.

The township dates from 1854 and we stayed in a house of a 

similar vintage as our historic house on Mt.Lofty, that we 

lost to the 1983 bushfires. 

We felt so at home here with the garden the same age as ours that was 

mainly destroyed.

Above, the street view of the part os the house we stayed in and

 below, a view from our private verandah.

Wide slate steps and lavender hedges, water features and autumn 

leaves

8' high windows with 'heritage gree' shutters

and plenty of splendid colour to ramble through or sit under.

The glory vine on our verandah came complete with a bird's nest,

late roses still bloomed and enhanced the view across the street.

Our bedroom was sumptuous and in period, befitting us 

golden oldies.

A luxurious bathroom complete with spa-bath was a sheer delight,

especially as all piped water was smooth as silk rainwater.

The kitchen was a dream as well with a fire that just needed one 

match to light and plentiful wood supplied. 

A bottle of wine and box of quality chocolates welcomed us

and fixings for ample cooked breakfasts graced the fridge.

Quaint cottages littered the back streets

and everywhere was evidence of slate mining.

A most restful and really delightful stay off the main tourist track,

a perfect place to be transported back in to a more gracious time.