Saturday 6 October 2012

Not a bad day in Blighty

The Safari and Frank enjoyed a bit of autumnal sunshine today for the first time since we got back from the Southern Hemisphere! We had a bit of a wander out n about and a little time in the garden. We had a Mediterranean Gull shown us, thanks AB, a total of three Jays equaled our Jay sightings for the year so far! A late Swallow whizzed by too but back at the garden at Base Camp the only bird of note was a female Sparrowhawk. Frank's walk at lunchtime, he wanted to stay out for ages, gave us a Small Tortoiseshell, a Comma and a bumble bee sp; which goes to show how nice it was out this arvo.
Going back down south mammal-wise we didn't see that many species but a Brush Tailed Wallaby on the roadside was a good sighting..nowhere near as good as our ultimate mammal sighting ever. After the Emu scare we had to double up on bush walks and to go and see what if anything the trail cameras had picked up even though the cameras were only a hundred yards or so through the gate beyond the 'safety' of the paddock.
On this occasion we were with Steph an almost qualified vet from Perth out at Maroo on here final bit of work experience before her final results. The track is virtually straight but just has enough of a kink in it not be able to see its full length. Anyhow we were chatting about nothing much in particular when as we hit the 'curve' a movement caught our eye. We stopped and fell silent...there in the middle of the track about 50 yards in front of us was a Numbat. It stayed still long enough for us to get the bins on it but annoyingly before we could pass them to Steph it shot off in to the bush. The first ever seen within Maroo's boundaries...to say we were chuffed is the understatement of the decade..we were overcome with pure joy and tears welled up in our eyes. This critically endangered marsupial is the species we saw featured on telly 20+ years ago that fired our imagination about that great continent, indeed is the reason we went there in the first place. And now we've actually gone and seen one...so so chuffed but sadly no chance of a pic.
Another critically endangered marsupial is the Woylie, didn't see any this time although one of the locals may have done one morning. Seen them both times we've been before and they are great fun but now seriously declining after a bit of a comeback for some as yet unknown reason.


Although Western Grey Kangaroos are very numerous they are very hard to find in the bush, generally they hear you coming and bounce off with a thud thud thud long before you can get anywhere near them...but...

Where to next? Hopefully we'll be up early for some vis migging in the morning...and some Aussie moths.
In the meantime let us know what's impossible to sneak up on in your outback.

No comments: