Posted on October 29, 2020December 3, 2020 by Ken Banks

Bird Life, Rural areas of Milton N.S.W.

Milton Rural Bird Life: Satin Bowerbird, Female

Bird life during Spring in the rural areas of Milton NSW

“Birds are widely recognised as good indicators of environmental health. A farm with a rich diversity of birds will also have a relatively high diversity of trees, shrubs, mammals, reptiles, frogs and invertebrates – and is also a guide to the overall property condition and sustainability of its agricultural practices” writes Ben Humphries the Southern NSW Woodland Bird Project Officer, Birdlife Australia.

The following are a sample of the images taken in October 2020 over a three-day period (each a brief session) with permission of the owner of this property that adjoins the NSW coastal village of Milton. They are testimony to the beauty, life and health of this rural area.

(Click on images to enlarge)

There’s more, continue reading.

Posted on October 22, 2020August 31, 2023 by Ken Banks

CLOSED Small Town – Food and Wine Bar

CLOSED Small Town Food & Wine Restaurant

Alex Delly and wife Jo Thomas of St Isidore fame have opened their latest venture, ‘Small Town’ in the heart of Milton.

Their reputation alone speaks volumes for their ability to serve quality fine dining meals at affordable prices, having been awarded a ‘Chefs Hat’ by the ‘Good Food Guide’ in 2019, 2018, 2017, & 2016 and being ranked by ‘Gourmet Traveller’ in the top six N.S.W. regional restaurants in 2018, 2017, & 2016 with their previous restaurant, St Isidore.

My wife and I (Ken and June Banks) recently enjoyed the ‘CHEFS SELECTION MENU’ a degustation lunch. The fusion of flavours in each of the eight serving courses was extraordinary, each matched with quality wine that complemented each course. Alex, without a doubt has a unique creative genius in his vision and ability to prepare meal after meal that is amazing.

Some fine dining friends visited ‘Small Town’ two days later and were delighted by the delicate flavours and culinary skills of the chef with quality matching wines. Guests from Mollymook Beach Waterfront have also been unanimous in eloquently describing their experience in regard to quality and variety of flavoursome dishes, service and ambience. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

There’s more, continue reading.

Posted on October 15, 2020October 26, 2020 by Ken Banks

Bird Life Nyngan Narromine Dubbo Wellington

Bird Life in the local area’s of Nyngan, Trangie, Narromine, Dubbo and Wellington

Images of the ‘Sacred Kingfisher’ at Nyngan

The ‘Bird Life’ captured in these images were taken on the latter part of the Mollymook swimmers Western NSW tour, specifically at Nyngan, Trangie, Narromine, Dubbo and Wellington. Prominent in the stories and advertising relating to these specific area’s was the ‘Sacred Kingfisher’ bird. I had never heard of, nor seen this particular bird before. My first stop on this section of the trip was at Nyngan. Nyngan is a rural centre situated on the Mitchell Highway astride the Bogan River on the eastern edge of the Great Outback and has some beautiful river walks and park land on both sides of the Bogan. I spent about an hour at this location early to mid morning. The bird life was quite prolific and as I was finishing photographing and wandering back to my car there sat on my vehicle’s outside rear vision mirror this magnificent coloured bird. So pretty! It soon took off and parked in one of the nearby trees where I was able to get a variety of images as per the above, of this ‘Sacred Kingfisher’.

Wikipedia: “The sacred kingfisher is a medium-sized woodland kingfisher that occurs in mangroves, woodlands, forests, and river valleys in Australia, New Zealand, and other parts of the western Pacific”.

I wish to credit Charles Dove for his help in identifying some of these birds. He has been very helpful in getting me started in the photography of ‘Bird Life’. (Click on images to enlarge)

****************************

There’s more, continue reading.

Posted on October 1, 2020October 2, 2020 by Ken Banks

Mutawintji National Park, Outback NSW

Cheryl’s Choice: The Mutawintji National Park, Outback NSW

The Real Outback, NSW, 100’s of klm’s travelling on dirt roads.

Another incredible day, a visit to this majestic National Park that ought to be on most peoples ‘Bucket List’.

The Mutawintji National Park, is located in the Far West region of New South Wales. It is approx. 170,290 acre in size and situated approximately 880 kilometres west of Sydney. It is rugged and dissected by colourful gorges, rockpools and creek beds lined with red gums. Scattered among the caves and overhangs are Aboriginal rock art and engravings. There are eight major walks, each with there own uniqueness. Cheryl chose the the Mutawintji gorge walk. Each walk varied in length and time, but generally each varied from 2 hours to say 4 hours with one particular historic walk only possible with an Aboriginal guide. You could camp in the area and do a number of walks over a few days if you were so inclined. (Thanks Cheryl, a marvellous choice)

Besides the Mutawintji National Park, the Mollymook Ocean Swimmers later travelled to White Cliffs, and the following day to Wilcannia and then Bourke.

(Click on pics to enlarge)

****************************

There’s more, continue reading.