Pics: Eden Valley Farm Stay,
view of the Stirlings, Short-billed Black Cockatoo
After all the rum and beer and wine consumed last night, none of us was able to get up at the 5:30 alarm. We gradually assembled at seven and I put together a “health” breakfast of yogurt, bananas, juice and sweet rolls…not appreciated by the others at all!!
We had arranged to go for a hike on the property with Barbara at 8, but she arrived at 7:30 with the news that her 102-year old mother-in-law had fallen and an ambulance was on the way, and that she would have to go in with them to the hospital. The boys went off to check out another wildflower area for birds and I took a break from birding and did a little cleaning and bed stripping as poor Barbara is expecting a man and his children from Singapore to arrive at 2 pm. Barbara’s daughter told me that the MIL was being flown to Perth as her hip had been injured.
Bob and Mark arrived back at 10 having photographed a wonderful orchid they had found. We packed up the car and left as there was no way to find out now what was happening to Barbara and Mrs. Harris. Wonderful stay at a lovely farm!
We drove south on back roads, checking out some salty lakes, but not finding much in the way of birdlife. We drove through the town of Lake Grace which appeared to be completely deserted, but after inquiring at a gas station, we were told that the entire town had gone to a soccer game! The gas station sold pretty good chicken burgers so the famished boys were satisfied.
After miles more of Eucalyptus woodland and wheat fields we finally saw mountains on the horizon. A real thrill after all this flatness! We pulled into the Stirling Range Retreat, a combo trailer, tent, dorm and cabin facility that caters to bird and flower watchers. Mark got a dorm room for the night and we checked into a “rammed earth cottage” which turned out to be a concrete one-room cottage with queen and bunk beds with a tiny stove and frig and bathroom. Tiny but well-designed. The only internet access is a computer in the main office, so we shall see if we can blog or not.
We walked around until dark and saw wonderful gatherings of Short-billed Black Cockatoos flirtatiously preening and feeding each other.
Good dinner at tiny Bluff Knoll Café across the street.
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