pulled up for a cuppa brought out by aggy! had it and was about to climb back up to the glass castle when I noticed movement underneath, ah snake I thought, had a look when a quail flew out, it was then I noticed all these other little fellers under there with tiny wings out and puffing like buggery
I started scooping them up and putting them in the shade of an old tree, I got 15 of the stripy little buggers, I had them running all over the joint, funnily enough they stayed under the tree, I seen mummy quail return about half an hour later and wander over to them, funny little things
not sure of the survival rate, not real good when they fly straight into the comb, I guess given a survival rate of 2% then big broods are called for, they are little buggers to try and catch though, like trying to hold onto quicksand, never mind it gave Aggie a laugh!
I was shifting the header around 5ish this morning and I glanced down to the little creek I spied mummy duck with about 6 youngsters, I pulled up and had my morning cuppa and a sanger next to the creek, I spent half an hour just sitting there listening to the kookaburras and chucking bread in to the ducks, ended up with three black's and a whistler, not all that frightened, and the little balls of fluff were a delight to watch, a lovely spot under a gum tree in the shade
didnt want to shift but the header was taking up all the road and time was marching! hard spot to leave!
in the beautifull Beetaloo valley Chris, the gum tree lined creek is fed by several "springs" and is also the overflow from the beetaloo reservoir, absolutely magnificent area, a minimum of 5-10 degs cooler than anywhere else, we often come out to the beetaloo valley picnic area, but it is shut at this time of year because of the fire danger
I was in a little world of my own at that spot at that time of morning, the silence, and animals, stillness only shattered by the call of the kookaburras and magpies and the ducks, I watched the rosellas mucking about in the trees above me, a couple of roos in the morning light and the little ducks buggerised around no more than 20 feet away, just magnificent
there are several smallish billabongs of about 30 x maybe 15 feet x maybe 2-3 foot deep spread along different areas, each containing different species, I seen yabbies and more roos around one up a bit further, each one a magical place, but then I guess I'm easily pleased
give me a river or stream, a big old gum tree and a swag and I'll stay for months, happy as a clam
anyway just got a phone call to knock off so it must be hot in adelaide, so I'll empty and park the header and go and give my kids a hug! for the rest of the day! back out again tonight!
Got it,name change for you cobber.keep on with your word pictures and i think that maybe Banjo Dave would fit.Thanks Dave for your lovely post.Cheers.Ibbo.
