Gouldian Finch search, Talks, Blue Bush and Sir John Gorge

Wednesday 4th June 2008

We were up at 5:30am! Another record to be recorded in the history books. Richard and Jill took us and another three guests out to One Tree Hill to look for the elusive Gouldian Finch. The girls were under strict orders to keep noise to an absolute minimum and made a pretty good effort – even if Gemma did have to be consigned to the vehicle for a while. Holly took them all further up the road and they made more stuff for fairies – food and drinks on little tables. She also removed her beanie as the sun warmed us up and left it sitting on a bush...

The birds of interest that we saw were a Striated Pardelote, some Wood Swallows and a Yellow Honeyeater and Paul and the two Richards saw a female Gouldian sitting on a distant branch but by the time they’d alerted us, all Lynsey and I saw was it flapping its wings as it flew off into the distance.

The pikelets and water had been demolished and more breakfast was required so back at camp Paul cooked up some bacon, eggs and leftover sausages while I tackled yet more washing.

The next item on our agenda was some talks back at the Research Centre. Malcolm gave a great slideshow about Predation – by what, how much and what they are doing about it. Holly was very interested in the collaring of the three dingos and one cat and even had a couple of good questions. Then Jo told us all about Ecofire and the fire management policy that they are implementing at Mornington and spreading to neighbouring properties and even further afield. It sounds like their ideas are already starting to work and each year more of the surrounding properties are joining their crusade to cut down on the enormous, disastrous impact late-season fires.

After that we had a review of the itinerary and decided that a trip out to Lake Gladstone for more bird-watching was not really viable for the four kids – it was a long drive and keeping them quiet twice in one day was more than any of us were up to dealing with.

So the plans were changed to an afternoon swim at Blue Bush followed by sunset, drinks and dinner at Sir John Gorge.

We had lunch back at camp and Lynsey and I knocked up a couple of curries – crazy, I know, in the boiling heat of the day.

We headed out of camp and stopped along the way at the Termite Trail. Katie was not at all keen to leave the car but we persuaded her out and she and Hannah ran around the trail in record time (maybe 10 minutes – a bit shorter than the recommended 45). I got Holly to go ahead of us, read the signs and then tell us the most interesting bit so I think she actually learnt quite a lot from it – the info was really well presented. Then on to Blue Bush where we had a lovely swim – no sign of any freshies.

At Sir John gorge we unloaded tables, cookers, gas bottles, picnic blankets and food as well as the usual swimming stuff and cameras and made it in one (slightly overladen) trip down to the riverbank in time for a swim before sunset. The colours weren’t as impressive as I’d remembered but it is still a stunning spot and when Richard (Faulkner) came down with the drinks and nibbles he showed us the aboriginal art that was tucked away nearby.

We persuaded him to join us for dinner and we sat on the beautifully warm rocks in the light of two citronella candles eating chicken and vegetable curries. What a way to end the day! Katie’s suggestion of Good Day, Bad Day (sharing the best and worst parts of your day) led to most of us admitting that it was the highlight of the day.

One small fly in the ointment was Holly leaving behind her thongs but they were old and manky and she does have her Crocs so it’s only her who’s really sad.