TasMania

Tasmania for 2 weeks! Tara was there for a conference and I was there for the birds and surfing. Guess who had more fun?

Devil

Of course I have to start with the symbol of Tasmania. I watched as this guy (from a zoo) snarled and barked and then spun around to form a small tornado. They are actually in big trouble from a facial tumor disease that has ravaged their population.

Tara's Rock

I was trying to take a photo of these fascinating orange rocks when Tara jumped into the frame. Of note here is the orange color.. of the rocks.

Queenstown

After camping we headed into town to see the hustle bustle of city life. This crazy town had an energy and a pop that sizzled all night. We knew we'd found the glitz and glamour that is Queenstown.

Queenstown Resident

This little man was waving us down to tell us where the party was. It wasn't in Queenstown. In fact, it isn't in Tasmania. But that's okay. Tassie is about nature and not night life.

Cradle Mountain National Park

This place was outstanding. Definitely competing with New Zealand in natural beauty and conservation. This is the start to the famous 85km overland track. I wish I'd been able to do it, but I had some surfing to get to.

Tara's Cradle Mountain

Tara got a new pair of sun glasses so she thinks she is all that. I've not purchased a pair of sunnies over $10 bucks. So I guess I can't compete. That's Cradle Mountain in the background (supposedly you can make out a baby somewhere).

Early Morning Camping

If I were to get up this early every day I'd have more photos than I'd know what to do with. Thank god I never get up early.

Mass Murderer!

A road side slasher was victimizing drivers on the east coast. This horrible person is so persistent that the county has erected this permanent sign to warn travelers. I had my trusty multi-tool on the ready just in case.

It's Gaytime!

I couldn't resist having a Gaytime! After eating two of them I hadn't had a gay time yet. But lucky for me, there are 4 chances to have a gay time! And lo and behold, on the 3rd try I had a hell of a gay time.

Where's Tara

This was an outstanding day on the east coast of Tassie. Tara is down on the rocks looking the place over giving an approving nod. Most of the beaches we visited were deserted. mmm.. dessert.

Pirate Booty

Argh Matey. You'd have to expect to see pirate booty on an island with so many ship wrecks. If you look just underneath the skull you'll find ole davy jones locker for sure.

Bruny Island

I spent two glorious days alone on Bruny Island just south of Hobart. I found lonely surf beaches and amazing bird life in a short period of time. This is looking south beyond Australia's second oldest lighthouse. It's like looking back in time. You can imagine Abel Tasman's ship sailing past in 1643.

Ray Surfs Huge Wave

This wave formed up behind me into a 15 foot monster. Tara was so shocked and concerned that she dropped the camera and didn't get any photos of it. Oh well.. next time.

Hippie Paradise

Wow man. Like whoa check out the gnarly paint job on this party van. I could like live at this spot forever. Just me, my Grateful dead tapes and an herb garden.

Chocolate wave

I surfed this nestle quick wave and it was gross. Named Cloudy bay because of the water (it's filled with red algae). It got in my ears and I couldn't hear for most of the time in the water. Oh.. and the water was 15C (59F). Damn cold!

Unknown Birdie: Tasmanian Scrubwren

Tassie Scrubwren - my friend at Inala on Bruny Island identified this one for me.

Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoo

Scarlet Robin

Musk Lorikeet

Oops. This is a Musk Lorikeet, not a Little Lorikeet. The Musk has the red face mask. The Little has red under his beak.

Forty Spotted Pardolote

I saved the best for last. This is considered to be one of the rarest birds in Australia. Only a few groups are left in south eastern Tasmania. One group in particular is being kept going by a private landowner on Bruny Island. It is profoundly sad to sit and watch an animal that may go extinct within my lifetime.

Gone where? Where next?

Merry New Years, Happy Xmas, etc., etc.

Happy New Years! Fireworks, surfing, islands and animals. Tara and I have been all over the place in the past few weeks. Heaps of photos to catch up with so lets get started!

Whitsundays Xmas

Our journey begins at the Whitsundays Island group in Queensland where we did a scuba dive on the great barrier reef and a variety of bird/animal hikes. We spent Xmas on an island which was strange. The water was bathtub warm and filled with life relieving jellyfish. So swimming was at your own risk. Then Santa Claus showed up with the Easter Bunny and handed out lollies. This is not the Xmas I grew up with..

Crikey a Croc!

We went on a river trip to find crocs and we found plenty. In this murky brackish river you can bet the crocs rule. Every few years some moron gets taken by a croc. He is usually found in the belly of the croc with a can of VB still in hand. It's a place where a "no swimming" sign couldn't be any more redundant.

Wedge Tailed Eagle

On the same river trip we saw a few bird of prey! These birds are no joke and rule the area from above. I was running around the boat pointing my camera up while everyone else was looking down in the water for crocs.

Osprey

The eyes of this guy tells the story. He was probably looking a mile down river for a mouse or something. I've got another photo of this same bird being 'attacked' by a tiny Willie Wagtail. All other birds hate these guys because they eat whatever meat they can find..

Long Island

The islands here are truly amazing. White sandy beaches named by Captain Cook because he came through on Easter Sunday. Crazy story - I came across an old friend here by chance. He was waiting for a bus and we walked by him. Amazing coincidence. He lives in California and is on holiday in Oz for a month. The chances of us meeting up are astronomical.

Bush Stone Curlew

The town at Arlie beach has a huge lagoon/swimming pool for the tourists to keep them from swimming with jellies. So late one night Tara and I are swimming and up flies this guy not 10 feet from us. Huge bird wading in the water with us. Pretty cool and quite unusual to hang out with a night bird (check out how big his eyes are).

New Years Eve Sydney (1/3)

Hate to state the obvious, but these are fireworks over the Sydney Opera House. 12 hours of waiting and traveling for 10 minutes of fireworks. Really impressive, wouldn't do it again. 45 minute wait to use the toilet.

New Years Eve Sydney (2/3)

New Years Eve Sydney (3/3)

Jervis Bay

My good mate Zack was kind enough to let me hang out with his family at Jervis Bay for a week. Basically.. wake up, eat, surf, lunch, surf again, dinner, sleep, repeat. It was great and I learned more surfing that week than I've learned in 6 months.

Danny Boy

My bud Danny pulling a floater off the top of the wave as it closes. I really covered his ass on this shot (inside joke). Since I'm the one manning the camera I don't have shots of myself. So I can't show you the shot of me doing an aerial.

Pacific Heron

This show off was hanging out with horses near the bay. I had to hop a barbed wire fence and the horses came after me once I got this shot. Needless to say I didn't hang around to see what was going to happen.

Joey

A family of Kangaroos hang out at the beach where we surfed all week (Cave beach). This little guy didn't mind all the people streaming by with their surf boards or me up in his face with my camera either!

Wallaby

This was taken in Ku-ring-gai National Park this past weekend. So you can clearly see the difference between a wallaby and a kangaroo.. right?

Tawny Frogmouth

This is a HUGE find for me. Well.. an old man pointed him out to me. Frogmouths are nocturnal and utterly impossible to find if you don't know where to look. They are masters of disguise and can perfectly match their surroundings. I'm certain I've walked by and even looked directly at plenty of these guys without actually seeing them. I've been staring up in the trees for months trying to find one. Now I can give my neck a rest.

Pelican

I've decided that Pelicans are my favorite bird and subject. Who else makes these crazy faces? They are easy to photograph and never fail to charm.

Birds, Horses, Babies, Cars

Sydney View from Balcony

This is our view from our 10th story balcony. What is missing? The sounds of the trains below and the smell of Kimchee from the neighbors.

White Faced Heron

What?? You've seen enough birds already? Ha!

Eastern Spinebill

This was taken at a friend's engagement party (congrats Zack and Amanda!). Amanda's family live on an awesome spread in Hilltop with birds a plenty. I figure this is one of my favorite shots.

French Baby

Congratulations Marion and Damien! Baby Erwan (here at 6 weeks) was a very camera friendly subject. He never once tried to fly away or hide behind tree leaves.

Rosehill Racetrack

This past weekend was RFI's Xmas party. So in true Aussie style there was plenty of gambling and drinking. Everyone at the racetrack is well dressed and somewhat well behaved. It is a bit strange to go to a 'sporting' event in slacks and a collared shirt.

Sydney Olympic Park

My favorite place to go after work. We are truly lucky to have the site of the 2000 Olympics at our doorstep. The Aussies totally gutted what used to be a toxic dump and turned it into a nature reserve. For 6 bucks we get to swim the same lanes that the great "Thorpedo" set records in. Cheapest thing you can do with (most) of your clothes off.

Cisticola

Olympic Park Resident. Probably been here about 100,000 years longer than any of the nearby apartment building's residents. I give this area about 10 years before it is turned into a shopping center.

My Phat Ride

Look closely and you can see my sweet rims still spinning. The distortions in the shot are from the hydraulics, 1000W stereo and nitrous oxide. The ladies swoon at the sight of my pimp mobile.

Willie Wagtail Wife

At my favorite lunchtime wildlife spot (Lake Parramatta outside work) Willie and his wife were busy with their nest. The nest is made of sticks and spider webs (note the web on her forehead). Sadly I don't things worked out, there weren't any eggs (I think she was practicing) and later the nest fell apart. Willie played the part and danced around to try and lead me away from his nest. Nature is very cool.

Kingfisher's Nest

A pair of Kingfishers (again at my lunchtime spot) are busy feeding their young here. I'm hoping to get a glimpse of them, but I don't see myself climbing a tree to do so.

Aussie Animals (No Zoos!)

Crikey Mate! She's a ripper! These are my aussie animal all stars to date. I'll append this message as new ones arrive. No zoos needed in Australia, just step out into your backyard!

I wrote up a flowchart to simplify animal identification in the bush. I've broken it down into a run/don't run structure that I believe will greatly decrease potentially dangerous encounters. I recommend memorizing this for future reference.

Hot Goanna Love

Location: Lake Parramatta, near workCover your eyes kids. These two were so concerned with their business that they didn't budge when I stepped over them on the path. Normally Goanna will head up the nearest tree. Compare the size of the leaves to them - these aren't little lizards.

Echidna

Location: Royal National Park
This is a rare encounter during the day. Only cloudy days will do as they usually move around at night. They have poor eyesight and only reacted to me when I was moving. He was adorable because every time I moved he would bury his head in the ground to "hide" from me. It was like playing peek-a-boo.

Red Bellied Black Snake

Location: Lake Parramatta, near work
I find all kinds of cool things near work. As I sat down on a rock I noticed him not 5 feet from me! Poisonous? Very.

Eastern Water Dragon

Location: Blue Mountains, Jenolan Caves
Reminds Tara and I of our beloved pet "Colonel Mustard." This guy jumped off into the water and swam across the lake! I thought dragons feared water as it would expel the pilot light in their throats. I guess I was wrong.

Kangaroo mom and Joey

Location: Blue Mountains, Campsite near Jenolan Caves
4am, thump thump thump. All around our tent I heard this and thought "what manner of beast is this?" Around 20 kangaroo (this will increase every time I tell the story) were around our tent. Every time I stuck my head out they'd stop and I couldn't see them (pitch dark). I had to snap these photos in the dark, review the camera, then re-shoot- predicting where they were. A lot of work for a mediocre shot.

Green Tree Snake

Location: Near Manly beach
OOOh! The famous Angry Green Spitting Snake! He'll jump off his perch to take small children. They are more feared than drop bears.. (actually they are harmless)

Angry Lizards

Location: Blue Mountains, Six Foot TrackThese two warriors were fighting over (you guessed it) a woman. The 'lady' waited to see what would happen then ran off when they were done head bobbing and hissing. The winner got to chase her home. Sounds like what happens at bars in Sydney.

Shark

Location: Mona ValeGo surfing, pack up surf board, walk up the beach.. Shark. Good thing he was already dead. I would have opened a can of whoop ass on him.

Copperhead Snake

Location: Blue Mountains, campsitehehehehe.. This guy was near our first campsite. So I told Tara that I didn't like the site because of the 'neighbors'. We left and later I showed her the photos. Copperheads are friendly enough though.. right?