Peter James Fullagar: December 2006

'Purple' the softly spoken Tortoise

For James' benefit here are two pictures of the Long-necked [or Snake-necked] Tortoise Chelonia longicollis that lives in the garden ponds at Chifley. As James will certainly tell you, 'Purple' and 'Turtle' are hushed words; only to be spoken in the softest voice. From pictures taken in early September 2006.

Guthega 2006

Views of Mt Twynam from our chalet at Guthega

Plaque in the Mountains for Walter Hine

The annual gathering at Guthega organized by Robyn and Russ Middleton took place from Friday 15th December to Monday 18th December at the Alpine Ski Club, Guthega .

This year the group comprised the following:
Robyn and Russ Middleton; Jill Wilkes, Carolyn Morrison; Thiona Moss and Rob, Caela, Darcy, Rebecca and Mardi Welsh; Anthony and Penny Harrison and Michael Porter; Linda and Ian Denman; Brooke, Jim, Jasper and Ella McIntosh; Sandra and Trevor Farley; Chris and Peter Wilkins; Gillian and John Wilde; Rob, Zoe and Madeline Bearlin; Tini Spooner and Eddie Ellem; Jennie and David Holbrook; Rachel and Paul Middleton and baby Jake, Hugh Dakin and myself.

We arrived on Friday to find the valley cool and filled by a dense fog - in fact we were immersed in low cloud. We settled in to a pasta night and prepared for a walk the next day. A pasta night.

Guthega Alpine Ski Lodge

Saturday 16th started with foggy conditions persisting in the valley but soon it cleared giving us a cool but bright day. The walk today started at the roadhead above Charlotte's Pass heading out and back to Club lake. It was a Curry night following the unforgettable Anthony Harrison's Highballs!

Assembling at the top of Charlotte's Pass

Club Lake

Heading back across the alpine herbfield

Crossing the Snowy River below Charlotte's Pass

Sunday 17th was again bright a clear all day with a trace of early morning fog over Guthega pondage. Two walks were organized. One intrepid group, led by John and Gillian Wilde, headed up to Mt Twynam - a six hour round trip. The rest of us walked the Porcupine track. To start a 'new tradition' we had Pisco Sour before the barbecue tonight. Well received!

Mt Twynam on the day of the walk

Snow Gum forest three years after the wildfire of 2003

Views along the way up to Porcupine ridge

[l-r: Linda, David, Penny, Mardi, Eddie, Tini, Jill, Robyn, Russ and Chris]

[l-r: Chris, Robyn, Zoe, Madeline, David, Mardi, Tini, Anthony, Eddie and Jill]

[l-r: Rob W, Zoe, Madeline, Jenny and Russ]

[l-r: Tini, Eddie, Penny and Mardi]

[l-r; Eddie, David, Linda, Chris, Jenny, Thiona, Rob W and Russ]
At the top and having lunch nearby

Russ

Views from Porcupine ridge

View along the trail down to Perisher

Sky scenes today

Monday 18th Again with fine and clear weather. A few of us managed a short walk in the morning up the ridge to the south of the lodge. After the final clean up at the lodge we headed out at midday and returned to Canberra.

Views from Guthega across to Mt Twynam

Views in an unburnt part of the sub-alpine woodlands above Guthega

A 'flat' gnarled but burnt gum

Russ

Scaly Buttons Leptorhynchos squamatus

Over the weekend I saw few birds. At this time of year it is very quiet in these mountains. Most noticeable was Little Raven, a species seen just about everywhere but never in large numbers. Next most conspicuous was Australian Pipit particularly in open areas on the walks to Club Lake and Porcupine ridge. Otherwise few other birds were either seen or heard. Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Striated Pardalote, Grey Shrike-thrush, Flame Robin, Yellow-faced Honeyeater and Pacific Black Duck, roughly in that order of abundance, were the only other species that I noted. Gillian Wilde saw an Olive Whistler on the return walk from Mt Twynam and the Twynam party also came across a large Echida high on the mountain.

Snow gum blossom alongside our Guthega chalet

Ski lift at Guthega

Canopy Tower Semaphore Hill

Naturetrek
Canopy Tower Special in PANAMA

15th November to 27th November 2006

Here is a preview of some of the birding highlights of this trip. I will post a full report later but to get things started I thought it would be good to set up a link to a Picasa web album with a first selection of images from our experiences.

On the Canopy Tower platform and the view

Several of the digiscoped pictures taken by Carlos Bethancourt, our guide, came out very well despite the generally appalling conditions for picture making. Many of my own pictures had to be taken at an ISO setting of 1600 just to get the shutter speed up to a reasonable figure even with my image stabilizing lenses on the Canon EOS 400D and IXUS 800IS cameras. The latter was used, hand held, by Carlos with his Leica Apo -Televid 77 scope.

Now for the link: http://picasaweb.google.com/peter.fullagar/NaturetrekInPanama2006