Our great southern migration

  We usually vacation in this area in August and the humpbacks generally show up a day or two before we leave. Their standard southward migration starts closer to September. This one was enjoying the early morning off Jamieson Point.  We went for an earlier walk this morning trying to capture the elusive pink breasted/red breasted birds and walked out to the point south of Potato Point. A larger pod was moving along the coast, evidenced by the spouts, tail slaps and splashes! Always amazing to see how big they are. When you can see them from the shore.... Whale info The nice thing about the point is the view! Potato Point has several areas from which you can watch a wide expanse of ocen. Two even have benched. Great place to go read  The other often has company But here is a cuter picture -two for the price of one

  The Maersk Biscayne  (Panama flag) holds our container of goods. It is due into New Zealand about Sept 5 and then should make its way to Sydney, with any luck.  We loaded the trucks for the container on July 23 and then mostly moved into Matt's new house. His stuff was moved out the Saturday beforehand. After that it was goodwill runs, care corners drop offs and a dumpster bag! Habitat for Humanity now has our house and is fixing it up. They say it is ideal for a multigenerational family and love the welcoming neighborhood.  It may be a year before it is lived in again but hoping the new family finds it as good a home as we did! For those of you out of the loop, Matt moved to a smaller house a few blocks away. He has a 50s rambler with 3 bed, 1 bath and a large basement. No real dining room but a nice airy living room. Great neighbors and even closer to Culvers.  We helped do some minor fixing up while there. Please admire my kitchen cabinet work! The individ...

  Rainbow lorikeets do not have the best song but definitely look colorful on the wing! These are not birds that Scott bothers to photograph but am still amazed at their plumage. Just amazing to see parrots flying around like robins (not rose robins but American robins). These can be found all over and are attracted to bird feeders set up with nectar. Apparently they have specialized tongues to help them gather pollen and nectar.  They do tend to be found in small flocks and can make quite a racket ["continuous screeching" according to our bird book]. This one was quiet and not willing to shift for my photo shoot!

Whistling kite flying  And a black shouldered kite in a tree (ala Charlie Brown). Note the red eyes! Must also be jet lagged. We do get to see several seabirds flying off the point. The black shouldered one flaps its wings while hovering. It resembles a sideways helicopter fighting to stay still. Pity whatever it sees, however! I don't remember identifying kites on earlier trips so these are a cool addition for me. Sea eagles are pretty common but still majestic. The white belly gives away the name on this one Instead of developing white heads with age, these white bellied sea eagles develop white bellies. See this juvenile below: We did manage a semi successful Wingspan game on steam! Laying eggs was pretty easy. Putting birds in habitats, not so much. If you haven't tried it yet, the board game has cool bird cards and facts. The steam game reads them to you.  On a more personal note, we got drivers licenses! At least we will get them in the mail in a couple of weeks. No writ...

It still amazes me what I see walking around Potato Point. The fellows above are nearby, just off the road to the caravan park. The colorful ones below were waiting for me when I returned to the house. The crimson rosellas have been more evident this trip. Not that I have great pics yet but these are better than those on my phone camera: We have been hunting different red birds (for pictures only). We have a blurry rose robin from last year but have not sighted it again, despite multiple attempts.  Honeyeaters abound (more later) but only one sighting of the scarlet honeyeater so far! Dedication will hopefully pay off.  Today we are off to town for banking and more paperwork. It is raining most of. the day so will leave yellow or black and white birds for another posting!

  This is Potato Point from the view down the beach. There is a path winding up the hill at the far end of the beach. About three houses up the street is 11 Long Point St. Not bad! Whale watching /imagination occurs off the point and on either side of the point. More pics on that later.  Potato Point is somewhat of a weekend retreat. The internet definitely gets more sluggish on weekends with more users! There are now only about 3 vacant lots that I have identified but many houses are quiet during the week. Most have wallabies or kangaroos snoozing in them. There are still a couple of houses for sale if interested; unfortunately the third just got marked "sold".  The house is set up well for a shared home. Kitchen in the middle with two beds and one bathroom on either side. Each side also has a living space. While the living spaces and kitchen are open floor plan, it still feels divided. There is a "fenced" off backyard (no 'roos) with lots of flowers, herbs and...

  view from Long Point St across the park to the inlet We are here! We landed in Moruya on Thursday Aug 14 , after leaving Seattle on Monday Aug 12. It was a 2 hour skip to LAX , a long jaunt to Sydney (crossing the international date line ), another 2 hour skip to Merimbula and then a super short hop to Moruya where Scott's Mum was waiting with the car.  I took the picture from just down the hill from the house where Scott's parents live along with his sister and her partner. Currently it is just the four of us as Kristy and Pete are white water rafting guides and away for now.  Our mailing address (although this would be a silly move) is 11 Long Point St, Potato Point, NSW, 2545, Australia This shire is south of Sydney, and on the coast (note the blue of the inlet above).  Map of Potato Point We had lots happening the past month and I will attempt to fill you in on that later! We left Matt is his new house in Roseville and spent a few days visiting Casey in Seat...