Rare Visitors

 Just recently a new species of bird has encroached on our garden and local neighbourhood. The bird is the yellow-tailed black cockatoo and I cannot remember seeing it in our district previously. However, our field guide to the birds of Australia has a map showing that it occurs locally. 

Maybe the recent drought, or the extensive bush-fires at the end of last year, have driven the species to seek out new and safer areas. During their search, they discovered Armidale and its kind residents who have bird-feeders (we have no less than three, each filled daily when we are here.

Until recently, my many long walks often encountered small groups of maybe 6 to 8 such cockatoos, but until this week our garden was deprived of their presence. Yesterday a pair discovered us and this morning we found 4 in the garden. I quickly took some photos, some shown below. They're very large birds compared to our other local species - perhaps 50% larger in size than the other species we keep feeding.

 

Alas, as I tried to capture them on film, they kept far away - almost hidden in the shade. Oh well! They gave Dot and me some fine as we tried to capture their movements.

AS

A Monumental Trip

 With little to do at home today I decided to go on a long drive. My destinations were the villages of Ben Lomond and Llangothlin. I did a quick Google search for the distances to these locations, which would help me work out my exact itinerary. According to Google the total return distance is nearly 33,200 km. That's a long way! I can drive about 800 km OK within one days, so I had to plan for a 41 day journey!

Just joking! Those places are in Australia's New England Region, which has many towns and villages named after UK locations. Armidale was founded by Commissioner McDonald and named after the clan seat of the McDonalds - Armadale - on the Isle of Skye. Northwards on the New England Highway are Llangothlin, Glencoe, Glen Innes and Dundee. Glen Innes bills itself as Australia's Celtic capital. And Ben Lomond village is named after the mountain on the eastern side of Loch Lomond. The original is 974 m high (3196 feet), but ours is higher (1400 m; 4593 feet). This is the 'mountain' adjacent to the village of the same name. 

Alas, however, both settlements are tiny and decaying Ben Lomond settlement is home to just 152 people, most of whom live on adjacent farms or small-holdings. Llangothlin is even more sparsely settled, with just 129 residents, most of whom again  are on rural properties rather than in town. It is slightly lower than Ben Lomond village, with a height of 1289 m (4229 feet - and higher than UK's Ben Nevis.

Here are some views of the two places:

This is the most impressive building in the 'town'. It is a memorial hall to local soldiers killed in the first world war.

As you can see, the main street is almost empty. In fact, I didn't see a single shop or service station!

Here's a little timber house - typical of the district.

The rural fire service has this more modern building, but since there are no fires around right now it is in lock-down.

And here's a view across to Ben Lomond.

Believe it or not, one used to be able to catch a train from her to either Sydney or Brisbane. However, the line closed north of Armidale maybe 30 years ago and this, like others locally is empty. One possible avenue to open it up is the removal of rails - which are still in place - and convert the line to a rail-trail bike track something like 60 km long connecting Ben Lomond to Armidale. I'd ride this great  high altitude scenic route.

This picture show some of the great pastures and views in the high country as I drove eastwards to connect with the New England Highway.

And, after a while I arrived in Wales ... well, not really

This is a view of some of the village's high density housing ... just joking again!

At least this barely surviving place has a service station (petrol) and shop, but the notable shortage of traffic in these COVID-19 days meant that this facility was closed!

Half way between here and Guyra - the main little town in district - one comes across a massive collection of glasshouses. Have a look at these picture, one taken afar and the other closer. You are looking at part of the biggest tomato farm in the southern hemisphere. This and the other nearby location covers no less than 60 hectares (c. 150 acres) and produces tomatoes hydroponically servicing the entire eastern seaboard of Australia. It is owned by a large corporation (Costa Brothers) and will ultimately employ as many as 750 people.

This development is energising the whole district, but alas will unlikely salvage the two settlements dealt with here.

So, my trip only took me about 120 km and lasted about 2.5 hours after I spent some time walking around taking photos.

AS

Solar Powered Cycling

 I went for a long bike ride yesterday and part of it went along Armidale's bike path that runs alongside Dumaresq Creek from the town centre to the University of New England. Imagine my surprise when I saw that our local council had installed solar powered lighting along much of the route. I suppose that some riders use the path at night, although I myself have never ridden after dark. I suspect, however, that I'll now give it a try.

I apologise if you thought this message was about the use of solar power to propel bikes in real-time!

Here are some pictures of the path, its surrounds, and the light-poles with their solar panels. By the way, yesterday, when the pictures were taken, was Wattle day ... the first day of Spring. And the weather played along nicely - not a cloud in the sky and a maximum of 18 C (nearly 65 F).  However, the many deciduous trees have yet to spout their leaves.

AS