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Mollymook Swimmers, Ladies night out at Bannisters Pool Bar

 

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Mollymook Ocean Swimmers, Ladies night out at Bannisters Pool Bar.  

 

Organiser Sue Welch sends these photos from their annual Girls Night Out at Bannisters Pool Bar.

Sue writes: “It was a really lovely night, and we enjoyed the cool change sitting out by the pool.

A very special group of beautiful women and loving friends.”

Click on pics to enlarge.

 

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Bird Pics; Sunshine Coast Qld.

 

Bird life at Coolum, Point Arkwright & Finland Road, Bli Bli, Qld.

 

Again we see bird life species that differ a little as you move from the NSW North Coast up into the Qld. Sunshine Coast areas. Being a new comer, taking an interest in the variety of bird life, I came across some interesting species as we travelled up into the Sunshine Coastal area’s near Coolum.

Some species I had never before seen / photographed included; Torresian-crows, Red-Backed-Fairy-wrens, Black-winged-Stilts, Comb-Crested-Jacana’s and Brown-Honeyeater’s.

 

Click on images to enlarge

 

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White-Bellied-Sea-Eagle @ Point Arkwright

 

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Torresian-crow @ Point Arkwright

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Rainbow-Bee-eater @ Point Arkwright

 

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Rainbow-Bee-eaters @ Point Arkwright

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Red-Backed-Fairy-wren-male @ Point Arkwright

 

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Brahminy-Kite @ Point Arkwright

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Australian-Darter @ Finland Road, Bli Bli

 

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Black-winged-Stilt @ Finland Road, Bli Bli

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Comb-Crested-Jacana @ Finland Road, Bli Bli

 

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Dusky-Moorhen @ Finland Road, Bli Bli

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Purple-Swamphen @ Finland Road, Bli Bli

 

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Black-Faced-Cuckoo-Shrike @ Point Arkwright

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Blue-Faced-Honeyeater @ Point Arkwright

 

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Brown-Honeyeater @ Point Arkwright

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Silvereye @ Point Arkwright

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ken B., Mollymook Beach Waterfront: Editor for Mollymook News, Destination Mollymook Milton Ulladulla and Mollymook Ocean Swimmers

 

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Mollymook Ocean Swimmers compete at Husky.

 

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Mollymook Ocean Swimmers take home the medals at the Husky Swim.

 

Mollymook Ocean Swimmers compete in the 3km Husky Swim.  

 

Kate Wardner files this following report on the Husky 3km swim last weekend: “On Saturday Ian, Cate and myself (with Leonie very kindly being support person) entered the Husky 3km ocean swim as part of the ‘Sand and Sea’ festival. 

While the water conditions at Mollymook were pretty miserable, Husky was blue and flat but with not great visibility – and apparently 19 degrees but still not warm enough for me to not wear a wetsuit after 27 degrees in Vietnam!!

As you can see we all got medals and stood on the podium, and were so caught up in the moment that Ian and I said we might do the 5km next year!!! (Or not).

A fun event and special thanks to Leonie. 

Click on pics to enlarge.

 

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Bombala walkabout

 

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Paul and Tracy chosen as ‘Best dressed’ male and female in the fashions at the Bombala Picnic Races.

 

Mollymook Ocean Swimmers go ‘Walkabout’ in Bombala.  

 

Tracy (Ingram) Holt sent through this update on their (Mollymook Ocean Swimmers) trip to Bombala and writes: Attached are some photos of our recent trip to Bombala (Platypus country), however, to our disappointment we only saw a glimpse of the Platypus floating in the distance. 

The old building in the pics below was known as the Bombala Literary Institute , formally the Bombala School of Arts and dates back to 1865. It is currently for sale.

The final pic is the Anglican Church. The building of it commenced back in Bombala in 1856 and the first service was in December 1857. Since then, there have been four generations of Ingram’s come through the doors for Weddings, Christenings and Funerals.

Click on pics to enlarge.

 

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2023 Bombala Picnic Races

 

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Mollymook Ocean Swimmers take to the stage in the fashions at the Bombala Picnic Races.

 

Mollymook Ocean Swimmers strut their stuff in the fashion stakes.  

 

The Bombala Jockey Club traditionally holds its annual race day to coincide with the running of the Caulfield Cup. The day is always well attended by the Bombala community, and is one of the premier social events for the whole area. Fashions on the Field is keenly contested, and ensures that the day is colourful.  This year saw the amazing young ladies from Mollymook strut their stuff in the fashion stakes.

Not to be outdone, check our Mollymook male contestants. If nothing else it was a great opportunity to enjoy this Australian tradition, and experience the essence of the rural lifestyle and environment. And as per their daily routine, they had a morning swim in the river.

Click on pics to enlarge.

 

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Ocean Swimming, Lan ha Bay, Vietnam

 

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Ocean Swimming, Lan ha Bay, Vietnam.  

 

Kate Wardner shares this report on her Ocean Swimming holiday at ‘Lan ha Bay, Vietnam. “We are doing around 2.5kms per swim so far it appears. The visibility is poor due to the limestone karsts (the pointy rock islands) that dissolve in to the water, but the views about water level are amazing as you can see!!

The water is around 25-27 – not too hot but occasionally you think a cold patch would be nice! It’s also incredibly salty which is nice after a season in a wetsuit!!

We are in 3 teams and refreshingly I am one of the fastest in the middle group. There are 4 in the top group that swim like everyone else in the 6.45 am Mollymook group!! But at least I know I’m not super slow now – just normal. I’m back on Monday!!”

Click on pics to enlarge.

 

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Charlotte Plains Birdlife

 

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Charlotte Plains, outback Queensland

 

Charlotte Plains, Outback Queensland Birdlife.  

Charlotte Plains is an approx. 283 square kms in overall area, half the size of Singapore. Charlotte Plains Station was established in in the 1860s. By 1914 there were more than 67,000 head of sheep on the property. It is still a working sheep and cattle station situated 50 kms from Cunnamulla. Due to its artesian bore water, they welcome for a fee, bird enthusiasts and tourist. The latter come and sit for lengthy periods in the hot flowing bore water bathing tubs which also run down narrow drains/streams for many kms providing water to the cattle, sheep, birdlife, wild animals etc.

It is a massive area, I drove the 20 kms advertised on rough dirt roads to reach our primitive camp site near the very old but still operative, shearing shed. (But I think it was closer to 30kms)

The property is home to over 130 species of birdlife. Sunrise and sunset provide optimal viewing times when the birdlife visit the watering holes.

I took over 10,000 images (overall) on this visit to the Queensland Outback, the following are a few chosen of the different species taken at Charlotte Plains.

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Click on pics to enlarge.

 

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Charlotte Plains, camping

 

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Holiday Destination, Bowra, Outback Queensland

 

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Bowra Station, outback Queensland

 

Bowra Station, Outback Queensland.  

Bowra Sanctuary is a 140 square kilometre nature reserve and former cattle station about 16 kms west of Cunnamulla in the Queensland outback and is managed by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy. It is a well known and important birdlife hotspot in Australia. Well over 200 bird species have been seen in the area, a number are endemic to Australia.

Below are just a selected few of the many bird pics I took at Bowra. The first day was spent exploring the ‘Cottage Dam’ area, followed by the ‘Lagoon Walk’, I then drove to the ‘North Gumholes” area for the remainder of the day. Day 2 was spent at the ‘Saw Pits’ area including the ‘Mulga Walk’. On Day 3 a fire appeared on a neighbouring station and with wind gust reaching 90 kms/hr., everyone was removed from Bowra station as a safety precaution.

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Click on pics to enlarge.

 

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Brolga in flight

Brolgas are one of Australia’s largest flying birds – they stand a metre tall and have a wing span up to 2.4 metres.  Saw Brolga’s every day during our 5 days in the Queensland outback compared to last year when I only saw one.

 

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Holiday Birdlife Destination: Paddabilla Bore

 

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Paddabilla Bore, Eulo entrance signage.

 

Paddabilla Bore Eulo, Outback Queensland.  

Our first ‘Birdlife Holiday Destination’ on this trip was Paddabilla Bore which is 16km east of Eulo on ‘Adventure Way’ and is world renowned for birdwatching. Once a droving stopover on the east-west stock route, Eulo is still a popular stopping spot for visitors with a population of about 40 people!

I was fortunate to be able to accompany birding expert, Charles Dove on this epic ‘Birdlife’ venture out into the Queensland outback.

Click on pics to enlarge.

 

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Brolga’s Dancing

Brolgas are one of Australia’s largest flying birds – they stand a metre tall and have a wing span up to 2.4 metres. They are best known for their intricate and ritualised dance. Partners begin by picking up grass, tossing it into the air and catching it again in their beaks. The birds then jump up to a metre in the air with their wings outstretched, before performing an elaborate display of head-bobbing, wing-beating, strutting and bowing. Occasionally they stop to trumpet loudly – a spectacular sound!

 

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Kalbarri to Yanchep National Parks

 

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Sunset where the Murchison River enters the ocean at Kalbarri, W.A.

 

Kalbarri to Yanchep National Parks and amazing wildflowers.  

The Murchison River runs 80km through Kalbarri National Park and has cut through the sandstone rocks to form dramatic gorges. This river is the second longest in WA, at just under 1,000 km long, and has a catchment area of 82,000 km². It starts in the outback gold mining town in central W.A. Meekatharra. The Murchison River travels across dry plains, hills, salt lakes, and gorges before reaching the ocean at the coastal town of Kalbarri.

Click on pics to enlarge.

 

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This pic was taken from the ‘Kalbarri Skywalk’, above the Murchison River.

 

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Exmouth W.A.

 

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Exmouth, Sunrise pic from the lighthouse

 

Exmouth, where the outback meets the ocean.  

What an amazing week.

Why Exmouth? Chez choose to come here last year to celebrate her 50th birthday. Thanks to Chez, Louise, Pat, John and Tracy for their feedback plus Craig Dougherty, Sue Welsh, Kate Thomson and Greg Young who also provided so much information plus my friend Lee Harris out at Bathurst in regard to the wild flowers at this time of the year which we hope to see during this coming week.

WHAT AN EYE OPENER! So much recent history behind the building of Exmouth. (You will have to look up Google, too much info for me to include)

Speaking to locals, they love the place and would never consider anywhere else to live. These locals include couples who have moved here from the Sunshine Coast Qld., Melbourne and Perth. However one business man I spoke to spends March to October here running his extensive boat tour business then moves to Freemantle for the summer months. Plus the huge number of seasonal workers who arrive every March and stay till October when they then move on to their premier summer work location with plans to return to Exmouth next March. Its so different, houses built from steel frames with  corrugated iron cladding, designed to withstand the cyclones.

Click on pics to enlarge.

 

Exmouth,WA,Birdlife,Birds,holidays,Mollymook Ocean Swimmers

Humpback Whale, Ningaloo Reef

Sunday’s excursion was a ‘Whaling experience’ at the Ningaloo Reef. It was a full day’s activity, we had hoped to swim with a ‘Whale Shark’ however the ‘Whale Shark’ season concluded in July and there were next to none being sighted during the latter part of August. June and I dived in with the rest of the group on this trip, did some snorkeling, some actually were in the water with the ‘Humpback Whales’. I was happy to get some pics.

 

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Yardie Creek, Outback W.A.

 

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Yardie Creek, gorge W.A.

 

Yardie Creek Boat Tour.  

 

Yardie Creek is located in the spectacular Yardie Creek Gorge, 1-hour drive from Exmouth. The ancient gorge has deep blue water, red limestone cliff faces and a wonderful array of birds and wildlife including the rare black-footed wallaby and red kangaroos. From the top, the views into the creek and out to the Ningaloo Reef are purely spectacular.

You have the option to do the 1.5 kilometre walking trail which slowly climbs up the red rock cliffs over a flat path which then becomes harder as it narrows and requires navigation of rocks and small creek line gullies. Alternatively, you can do the boat cruise (as did we) which takes you up through the spectacular gorge.

Either way you will see a variety of birds and yellow footed rock wallabies that inhabit the rock walls, there is even a batt colony.

Click on pics to enlarge.

 

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Eastern Osprey

There were a number of Osprey nests along the cliff faces. The Osprey are a medium-sized fish-eating raptor (bird of prey). It has dark brown upperparts contrasting with pale underparts. The Osprey is known to use the same nest year after year. The nest is made from sticks and driftwood and is used repeatedly for many years. It is usually placed on a cliff, a dead tree or even a radio mast. Both birds (male and female) bring sticks, but the female usually places the sticks in the nest. The nest is lined with grass, seaweed or bark. The female does most of the incubation, while the male brings food to the nest.

 

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Rottnest Island Excursion

 

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Rottnest Island Express

 

Rottnest Island, here we come.  

 

The view of Rottnest Island as we left the main land was something small and distant, way out on the horizon. Once in the ocean proper on our approx. 20 km journey, the chop in the water rose to about 30cm to 40cm. I thought of Laura Wallace who completed this mammoth Cottesloe to Rottnest annual Ocean swim back in 2018. How did she ever do it? I would never attempt it! Then there is Greg Young who completed this swim on numerous occasions when he lived in W.A. Amazing!

Click on pics to enlarge.

 

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Rottnest Island

 

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North Stradbroke Island Holiday

 

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North Stradbroke Island

 

Kath provides an update on her trip to North Stradbroke Island.  

 

Hope you are all well, here are a few photos from North Stradbroke Island where we are staying in Geoff’s caravan. This is a stunning island with so much to explore and do. The whales are a treat to watch, so many of them. Water temperature was 21 yesterday .

Click on pics to enlarge.