My A-Z of Australia – Total Solar Eclipse 2012

T is for Total Solar Eclipse over northern Australia

Tens of thousands of scientists, tourists from around the globe, and amateur astronomers watched as the Sun, Moon and Earth aligned and plunged tropical northern Queensland, Australia into darkness during a total solar eclipse on Wednesday, November 14th, 2012.

Photo courtesy Mike Salway Photography

Although  not in it’s direct path, the eclipse still cast an unusual shadow over my own area which is much further south. The light just after dawn that morning was very strange as I sat watching it with my morning coffee outside on the patio. There was a kind of silver effect all over the houses and bush-land across from me, and everything was eerily still. The cows in the field were all lying down under the trees. . . they would normally be grazing at that time of the morning, but not one of them was standing, no bellowing, everything was strangely silent around me. I guess they must have realized something incredulous was happening too!

I was so enthralled and mesmerized by it all, I never even thought of taking any pictures. However, I found the above one courtesy of Mike Salway Photography which says it all much more than I ever could.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/science/slideshow/2012/11/14/rare-solar-eclipse-casts-shadow-over-australia/?intcmp=related#slide=1#ixzz2CGYSphtM

Related articles

• Watch Live: Total Solar Eclipse from Australia (universetoday.com)
• Solar eclipse darkens north Australia (thehindu.com)
• Total solar eclipse delights Australians (telegraph.co.uk)

Not always Sunny in Australia

It’s not always sunny and hot in Australia – now you know!

A cold snap has covered parts of Australia’s east coast with a blanket of snow – in the middle of spring!

Snow on gum trees – an unusual sight!

It does snow in some parts of Australia, but only in limited areas compared to the entire area of the continent, and there are Ski Resorts catering for those who love to ski.

Winter time sees excellent snowfalls for skiing in the Snowy Mountains region of south eastern New South Wales and north eastern Victoria. Several of Australia’s main snow resorts include the Kosciuszko National Park in NSW (Charlotte’s Pass, Thredbo), and Victoria (Mt Bogong, Fall’s Creek, Mt Hotham).

However, what makes this recent event unusual is that this recent snow has reached as far north as Queensland, which is sub-tropical!

The Bureau of Meteorology says snow falls have occurred right along the Great Dividing Range and as far north as Queensland’s Granite Belt. It’s fairly unusual to get snow this time of year around the southern parts of Queensland.

Puzzled kangaroo in snowy Australia – “What’s all this white stuff?

It must have given our native wildlife a bit of a shock!

Click here to watch a video clip from the ABC News and see the kangaroo puzzled by the whole event.

 

F is for Frilled-Neck Lizard

Today in my A-Z of Australia series, I want to share another one of Australia’s unique animals with you – the frilled-neck lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii) – King’s Cloaked Lizard.

The frilled-neck lizard is quite an unusual looking lizard – but I think he is quite pretty in his own way.

He’s quite a looker!

These little guys can be found in tropical rainforests from the Kimberley region in Western Australia across the Northern Territory to Cape York in north eastern Queensland.  They are also found in southern Papua New Guinea.

The “frill” lies folded against the neck and is used in a spectacular display to deter rival males and would-be attackers – but it’s mostly bluff, using it to look bigger and scarier!

Can’t catch me!

He makes a hissing sound with his mouth whilst running upright on his two back legs towards his predator – it’s quite a funny sight to see!

Watch this frilly-neck display

If his scare tactics don’t work, they usually run away, heading for the nearest tree to bolt up, but in spite of their ferocious appearance, they are quite harmless, eating mainly insects and spiders.

They range in colour from olive through greyish brown to almost black and the frill has a variety of colours from yellow to jet back, with bright orange and red scales.

Adults weigh about 500grams (17.6oz), reaching 70-95cm (27-37 inches) overall.

Hatchlings are 5-6cm (just over 2 inches) long.

Mating occurs around September and the female can lay up to three clutches of 8-20 eggs in a season.

The eggs are laid in November, in a hole in the ground and the tiny hatchlings start appearing early February. The temperature at which the eggs are incubated determines the sex of the baby frilled-neck lizard, but it does much more than that – the temperature affects things like the size, shape, behaviour and the running speed of the hatchling.

Once the eggs are buried, maternal instincts run out and the shallow nest is abandoned to incubate for 8-12 weeks. As soon as they hatch, the youngsters fend for themselves immediately.

They have quite a few predators – hawks, eagles and owls; also pythons, large snakes and goannas, dingoes and quolls – and sadly, humans (many being killed on the roads).  However, if they survive into adulthood, their lifespan can be anything from 6 to 20 years.

He is such a unique, interesting little lizard, and quite the character - 

and I’m happy to say that he is not on the endangered list.  

H is for Hervey Bay

Hervey Bay,  (known as “The Bay” by the locals), is a relatively small town of about 53,000 residents, in the South East corner of Queensland, on the Fraser Coast. From the city of Brisbane, it is a 45 minute plane ride or a three and a half hour car ride north, so it is quite easily accessible.

The area boasts an enviable sub-tropical climate with temperatures ranging from 22-30C in summer and 14-23C in winter, with a low
rainfall. Beautiful one day, perfect the next!

Hervey Bay

The waters of Hervey Bay are protected by Fraser Island and offer visitors a safe swimming environment ideal for children. Enjoy a variety of water sports including kayaking, yachting, diving, water and jet skiing, wind surfing and snorkelling, with many other attractions – sailing, fishing, windsurfing, coral viewing, jet-ski, sky-diving, and a famous Shark Show where you can have your photograph taken standing inside the jaws of a shark!
It has about 40 miles of beautiful, safe beaches to enjoy and explore.

It is also the gateway to Fraser Island which is the largest sand island in the world -
a place where you can just relax and unwind.
Lady Elliot Island is within easy reach too – the first coral cay on the Great Barrier Reef.

The Whales

Hervey Bay is often referred to as Queensland’s jewel in the crown, and it has some of the best Whale Watching boat tours in the world; in fact, it is known as the Whale Watching Capital of the World, and is one of the most envied and sought after Whale Watching vacation destinations.  The whales have become so relaxed in the Bay, it is also referred to as their own “playground“!

Every year from late July to early November, the Humpback Whales arrive in the Bay, making their regular stop in the Bay’s calm waters with their new calves, on their annual migration to Antarctica.

They are a sight to behold with their playful antics of spectacular breaching and tail flapping! They are one of the most active and acrobatic of species.

Whale Breaching

They seem to get great pleasure from entertaining tourists who venture out on the numerous boat trips to get a closer look at them, sometimes coming quite close to the boat. Experienced crew provide knowledgeable commentary and some boats have sound systems so passengers can hear the whales sing.

On these trips out into the Bay, other marine life can sometimes be seen, including large turtles, dugongs (manatee), and of course, the playful dolphins performing their own antics and cheekily following the boats!

It’s the experience of a lifetime, and not one to be missed!

http://www.discoverherveybay.com

Cane Toads-Australia’s Pests

C is for Cane Toad

Australia is a beautiful country with white sandy beaches, a clean ocean to enjoy, and unique flora and fauna. Sure, we also have snakes and spiders, some of which are poisonous, BUT . . .  every country has a bad side, right? Australia is no exception.

I can cope with the spiders and snakes because I hardly ever see them, and they are more scared of humans anyway, so they keep out of the way. However, what I don’t like is the Cane Toad. They have a bad name in Queensland and the Northern Territory, and most Queenslanders have a very low tolerance for them because they prey on our native wildlife.

I may be passionate about pets, but I draw the line at the Cane Toad! 

Let me give you a better picture of this ugly fellow, warts an’ all.

Cane Toads (Bufo Marinus) are native to Central and South America, and were introduced into Queensland, Australia in 1935 in an attempt to control the cane beetles on sugar cane plantations – the cane beetles were destroying the crops.
However, the cane toads bred rapidly and now number in the region of 200 million. The thing is, there is no evidence that they have had an impact on the cane beetles they were introduced to predate, and now we don’t know how to get rid of them.

They can reach 15-23cm (4-9 inches) in length, can weigh up to 1.8 kilos (4lbs), and their skin is tough and warty; definitely not nice to look at – downright ugly in fact. 
They have two glands at the back of their head which contain poison, and they will release it when under stress – like when a lizard or large bird tries to attack them. They are a threat to many native species, and so any bird or animal large enough to eat the toad does so at their peril. However, the poison is not harmful to humans unless it gets into the eyes where it will cause a burning sensation. They also spread diseases which affect the local biodiversity.

Toads Hide in Shoes
As much as I try to avoid them, sometimes the inevitable happens; they hide in shoes if you leave them outside overnight, so I always check my gardening shoes before I put them on. Sure enough, one day a cane toad jumped out right onto my hand – I jumped sky high and immediately felt sick . . . seeing them is bad enough, but to actually feel them on your skin – ugh!

Toads in the Back Yard
In the evenings they are all over our back yard, and my dog Poppy has learned to avoid them – she seems to know they are bad. If the poison got into her eyes it would cause a burning sensation and temporary blindness. That’s when the hub reaches for his golf club, or anything else handy. WHACK, over the garden fence!

Woe betide any toads that were slinking around in our backyard when my sons used to mow the lawns – ermm, my boys had good aim! Sorry to any cane toad lovers out there!

Watch out Mr Toad!

It’s true – most Queenslanders hate the damn things – they are just not nice to have around.

Toads on the Roads
Yes, they are all over the roads at night and when I say all over, I mean ALL OVER – hundreds of them. You can hear them POP when the car tyres go over them – yuk! You can’t avoid them (even if you wanted to), there are so many.

I’d rather look at our native Green Tree Frog – he’s cute and does no harm.

Green Tree Frog on my back porch

Until we find a way to control their breeding, it looks like we are stuck with them, and in the meantime they are multiplying and spreading further afield, with reports that they have now crossed the border into New South Wales. They are not happy with us Queenslanders!

Fancy a chuckle at the expense of the Cane Toad?  Click here and find out what might have happened to Baz, the Toad. It’s a hoot, you have to watch it!

You might find this interesting – Toad survives 40 minutes in dog’s stomach

 

Related articles

• Cane toads lose their killer touch in east Australia (newscientist.com)

My A-Z of Australia – A is for Australia

Welcome to my A – Z of Australia

A is for Australia

Australia, (fondly known as the Land Down Under), is a multi-cultural society of people who share a dream of making a better life in this great land of opportunity. I am one of those people. I emigrated to Australia from the UK many years ago, and found sun, sand, beautiful beaches, amazing rainforests, unique flora and fauna – and a life that I had previously only dreamed about!

This country was only settled 223 years ago by the British in 1788, so we are still a very young country.

Aussies are a laid back and friendly lot, they take you as they find you, and that is so refreshing! You can be who you really are without putting on any airs and graces. Heck, most people call their doctor by their first name!
I live in the South East corner of Queensland, which is very casual and laid back because of the hot weather – it’s too hot to rush around and too hot to wear tights and ties! Shorts and T-shirts is the the way to go for normal every day wear – the fewer clothes the better!

Just a few facts ~

Australia has six States:-

• Queensland (Qld) Capital city Brisbane
• New South Wales (NSW) Capital city Sydney
• Victoria (Vic) Capital city Melbourne
• South Australia (SA) Capital city Adelaide
• Western Australia (WA) Capital city Perth
• Tasmania (Tas) Capital city Hobart

And two Mainland Territories:-

• Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Capital city Canberra
• Northern Territory (NT) Capital city is Darwin

Many people think Sydney is the capital of Australia, but it’s actually Canberra in the ACT.

Because of it’s size, Australia experience a variety of climates from stinking hot to freezing cold!  It can be below zero in the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales, to suffocating heat in the north-west. The temperate south has cool, wet winters and dry, warm summers, whereas the tropical north has a warm, dry season and a hot, wet season. Because we are in the Southern Hemisphere, our seasons are in reverse to the Northern Hemisphere like Europe and America, so, for instance, our summers are from December to February, our winters are June to August.

Enough facts for now; I just wanted to familiarize you with a few things so you can get a better picture of my country when you are reading my future posts on Australia.

 ”G’Day Mate”!

Weekly Photo Challenge-Peaceful

This week’s Photo Challenge is

“Peaceful”

A new day dawns in Burum Heads, Queensland, Australia

Peace reigns supreme after a storm,  just as dusk arrives

Dogs Die In Hot Cars-Fact

Yesterday I enjoyed a morning at the beach – but my afternoon was ruined.

The Good

The temperature yesterday was 31 degrees here in Australia (it’s our summer now), so the hub and I decided to have some time out at the beach to try to cool down a little. We went to Woodgate Beach, which is the last open surf beach in the state of Queensland going north, before the Great Barrier Reef starts – there is no surf after that.  It’s a bit off the beaten track, but well worth it, as you can see – this is what awaited us.

There was only one other person on   the beach, right at the other end, so we basically had it to ourselves. The water was crisp, clear and clean – and oh, so cool! There were lots of cuttlefish bones scattered all over the beach that had been washed up, so we collected some for our friend who has a cockatiel. Birds just love the stuff, and it’s good for them.

The Bad

On the way home we stopped off at a shopping centre to pick up few groceries. As we were parking the car, we could hear a dog crying very loudly and as we scanned the parked cars, we saw it at a window of one of the cars. The window was only open a tiny bit so the poor little mite wasn’t getting much air in there, and it was so terribly hot. The dog was extremely distressed, and other people had gathered round the car wondering what to do. Someone said they had reported it to the supermarket who said they would call the owners on loudspeaker to tell them to get to their car quickly.

In a situation like this, every second counts and I couldn’t bear to wait around listening to that poor little dog, so I headed up to the supermarket to report it again; just as I set off, I saw the owner making his way to the car. You can imagine how angry I was, so I went over to tear him to strips for putting his dog in danger like that – but another woman had beaten me to it. She was livid – yelling at him, and really giving him a piece of her mind. That’s what I wanted to do, she stole my thunder – but I could see it was having no effect on this man . . . I think he’d shut off his ears to the colourful language that was coming out of her mouth!

So I waited my turn . . . .

When the woman left, I approached the dog owner calmly, and keeping my voice soft and low, I started talking to him about the dangers of leaving his dog in the car on such a hot day. I wanted to rip his head off but that wouldn’t have got me anywhere, or helped the dog, so I was quite surprised at my tactical approach!

Anyway, it seemed to work, because he calmed down and listened to me, heck, we even had a two-way conversation about it. They say that a touch can calm a person down, so I put my hand gently on his forearm – just for a second – and it worked, because he started to talk to me more. I patted his dog, all the while explaining the danger he had put his dog in, and the tragic consequences.
I explained that it can get unbearably hot inside a car on a sunny day, but even when it’s not that warm, say, 72F/22C outside, the temperature inside a car can soar to 117F/47C in less than an hour. Isn’t it better to leave the dog at home where he can keep cool and has access to his water bowl?

It takes a dog six agonizing minutes to die in a hot car.

I hope and pray that I got through to him.

Our pets are precious – please don’t let them down, they rely on us.

In spite of seeing incidents like this being reported in the news on a regular basis, why do people still take the risk – even leaving children in the car on a hot day?

We are just not learning, and sometimes with tragic consequences.

Related articles

• Dogs Die in Hot Cars (protection4animals.wordpress.com)

Spring has Sprung in Oz!

Today, September 1  is the first day of Spring in Australia!

Yes, winter is officially over, although we can’t really grumble because our winters up here in sub-tropical Queensland are mild to say the least. We have cold nights with a low of 5C, and beautiful warm days up to 26C.
Not so in other states further south where the temperatures get below freezing in winter, and in some places, it even snows!

Our State of Queensland is often described as “Beautiful one day, perfect the next” and it’s so true.
Now we are in Spring, the temperatures start to rise steadily, bringing life and colour back into the garden again.

Sure, we get our share of cyclones and floods in the wet season (December/January), but we take it all in our stride as Queenslanders do and just get on with the clean-up once it’s over – like true Aussie battlers!

Just wanted to let you know.

On September 5, I am flying to the UK where it will be Autumn (fall), and I’ve been warned to bring plenty of winter woolies! I’ll be away for a month, so when I return home, our Spring will be in full swing!

Weekly Photo Challenge-Entrance

The Weekly Photo Challenge this week is “Entrance”.

This Rose Arbor is in a local park but it was winter at the time I took this photo, so it’s not in it’s full splendour!
Wait till summer comes and it will be covered in brilliant blooms!

Rose Arbor Entrance - minus the roses!