|
Newstead Bird Camp,
Melbourne Cup Weekend 2014
The camp site was
the Newstead Recreation Reserve next to the racecourse, just across the
Loddon River from Newstead itself. It was an excellent site with very good
amenities, such as town's water, flush toilets and hot showers (a luxury
compared with the facilities of other bird camps). It was held over a
week with generally warm, sunny days and a few cold nights. Fresh air was in
abundance as the winds became quite blustery at times. The area
is famous for gold discoveries and mining - quartz is everywhere and many,
many millions of troy ounces of gold were hard-won during the 1850's to
early 1900's. I think we all had lots of fun trying to add to our
birdlists, though it may have been difficult
at times.
Near the entrance
was this unusual carving made from the
stump of a lopped tree and the substantial area was occupied by many happy
campers in caravans and tents.
The train used to run through town - now the station
is abandoned, and this garage? has
probably seen better days. Nevertheless this church
was well-maintained as was the butter
cooperative, the shoe store and
the mechanic's institute. There were a couple of clear moonlit nights
giving opportunity to do some simple night sky photography, such as this view
looking south and also this lovely lunar
halo. The
final bird species total was 143, whilst my count was 107, including
two "lifers" - owlet nightjar and spotted harrier. Highlight for
me was the pair of powerful owl raising two healthy and well
fed youngsters that were resident in a shady gum on the banks of
the Loddon a short drive from camp. |
-tn.jpg)
