Another part of the Great Dividing Range

A slightly cooler day today I thought but clearer. Kylie was pleased there was no smoke haze which we had had most mornings. This was caused by controlled bush fires to prevent more serious fires later in the summer. (Oops Kylie just corrected me, some of these fires were not controlled!) We packed up some necessary barbecue provisions and headed off towards a different part of the range.

As we pulled off the main road I was aware of seriously irrigated farmland on both sides with huge watering facilities. Some of the fields were lush green which was special grass planted for the dairy cattle. We passed through acres of land grazed by horses, not just one or two horses but hundreds, and many with new foals.

As we passed yet another work of art for a mail box at the driveway to someone’s “ranch”, I commented to Kylie on this point of interest and decided that I would in future photograph these Australian mailboxes to make a collection in the same way as I photographed the “Doors of Prague”.

A Brown Snake slithered across the road at this point – the second deadliest, I’m told! The Inland Taipan is the number one most potent snake in the World and is found in this region but rarely seen as it remains in unpopulated areas – thank goodness!

We climbed higher and higher into the rainforests which form part of the Goomburra Main Range and finally pulled in at a beautiful creek, where I was intrigued by hollow tapping sounds that echoed from each side of the water like hollow bamboo being struck against eachother. We could not see the source of this haunting sound anywhere. Instead though we spied a white faced heron

picking its way through the rocks. I took this opportunity of dangling my feet in the cool clear water and suddenly caught sight of a flash of blue, some tiny birds flitting between rocks to bushes. They were tiny Blue Fairy Wrens.

You need to zoom in on this one, the little bird on the rock is quite tiny.

We motored on up through the forest, again seeing many different types of vegetation, mainly the very pretty tree ferns and Blackboys with their distinctive bushy green plumes and dark trunks.

Many giant Stinging trees but fortunately nearby there were also the elephant ears (Cunjevoi), a bit like our Dock Leaves, the antidote for the giant stinger. The Bleeding Heart with its heart-shaped leaves just turning to red (although it is only spring) became quite a common sight on each side of the narrow road.

Towering above us, reaching to the blue skies above the canopy, were Hoop Pines and Ghost Gums. As we wound round the ever ascending forest road, a large grey bird swooped across and alighted on a nearby gumtree.

I jumped out with my binoculars… some kind of bird of prey which was identified later to be a Grey Goshawk. Various birds continued to catch our attention and give us brief breaks as we made our way up to a clearing where we finally left the car and continued on foot up steps created by the natural criss-crossing of tree roots. We climbed through the forest, passing huge trees that had developed enormous flat buttresses for support, like cathedrals.

We kept a constant watch for the leaves of the Giant Stinging Tree as we brushed through the undergrowth. Finally we got to the top which opened out into a wonderful viewpoint where you could see for miles beyond the mountains as far as Brisbane. Unfortunately smoke from the bushfires prevented this today but the view to the next range of mountains with its reddish rocky face was still spectacular as well as the sheer drop down covered by a canopy of rainforest.

We returned to the car and made our way back to Kurrajong beside a creek which was to be our picnic spot.

This was to be not only a picnic but a barbecue! Ashling busily built the fire, while Kylie laid out all the food. Me? I selfishly wandered down to the waters’ edge exploring the feast of sights and sounds emanating from the creek and its surrounds. The bird sounds were just coming from all directions, including that hollow bamboo sound I’d heard earlier. Athough we never actually saw them, we all agreed they must be frogs. We tucked into our salad and barbied sausages and, to our delight a number of birds alighted on the trees nearby, obviously have great interest in any food that might be on offer. Amongst these was the beautiful Bower Bird, the male with his striking glossy blue-black plumage, was much bolder than the female (he had several on tow).

I had seen this bird on one of the David Attenborough nature programmes at home. The Bower bird builds the nest with a roof of twigs held up by supports and takes on some serious interior design to attract its mate, filling it neatly with brightly coloured feathers, berries and blossom and then laying out a lawn of moss in front.

As we threw a few crumbs out to entice the male to photograph, the females became less shy and came forward tentatively with the heads constantly on one side, just checking. In the trees they looked a dull brownish colour but as they came forward into the sunshine, their plumage was even more beautiful than the male’s. They were predominantly a bluish green with a speckled chest and chestnut coloured wings… just stunning! Other birds competing for any spoils from our picnic, and also a delight to watch, were Pied Currawongs and Australian Magpies.

By now the light was beginning to go and we departed.

The drive back was dotted with sightings of many birds, including Kookaburras, Rosellas and Lorikeets.

We also stopped to watch a large flock of Wood Ducks cross the road.

By now the sun had turned its usual deep crimson for the evening and was dropping behind the curtain of trees that lined the top of the mountains. As we returned home we sang the Australian version of Jingle Bells, I picked up the chorus at least, as Kylie and Ash sang:

Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
Christmas in Australia on a scorching summers day, Hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut !,
Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute

Dashing through the bush, in a rusty Holden Ute,
Kicking up the dust, esky in the boot,
Kelpie by my side, singing Christmas songs,
It’s Summer time and I am in my singlet, shorts and thongs

A beautiful end to another wonderful day!