The Back Garden and other sites

I really shouldn't forget the back garden.....   Red-Tailed Black Cockatoos whilst getting ready for the wedding (the reason for the visit) and nearly caused chaos driving 'home' one evening with a small flock of White-tailed Black Cockatoos (think Baudins having listened to some calls) at the side of the road.   Blue Wrens, Honey-eaters and others to entertain whilst having breakfast on the deck....

The happy couple being on honeymoon I offered to water the plants in return for a few days of urban living. Beach or birding in the early (for me) hours - what a choice - a few hours of both satisfied and back home before 10am too!!  Lake Claremont proved a joy and just love the Pink-eared Ducks!!  The Black-winged Stilts were pretty good too.

Other places visited include Bibra Lake, Perth Zoo (to see the Orangutans!), strolling the banks of the Swan River (Darter feeding) and the vineyards (Galah)

Penguin Island - WOW!! (and Bunbury)

Again, another place visited a few years ago - last time early Spring, this time Summer (otherwise known as Christmas to us).   A Dolphin cruise to catch the local residents, followed by a stroll around the island (getting sunburnt in the process) and ending with a (very) late lunch on the beach accompanied by an Osprey!   

Crested and Bridled Terns,  Pelicans, Pied Cormorant.....  and a Little Penguin trying to snooze in the mid-day sun under the boardwalk (think there is a song about that!).

A new location was Bunbury - and another Dolphin cruise with the added bonus of standing waist deep in the sea (growing my phone in the process) whilst the Dolphins checked out the visitors.

Flight shots with a difference and other beach delights

As most people know, my trip down under did not go quite to plan, instead I discovered the delights of urban (and not so urban) spaces around Perth.  My first stop is the 'city' beaches........  Four years ago we sat at a cafe on the beach and had an Osprey fly past - back again this year and guess what - Osprey fishing!!  .... A colony of nesting Fairy Terns (next to a petrol station) was a great find (thank you to the fitness fanatics of Perth for your website and Fremantle Men's Community Shed for the nest boxes!). I found a new hobby - photographing wind/kite surfers (nearly as frustrating as birds in flight) and as for the west coast sunsets.......  especially good when followed by fish and chips washed down with a beer!!