Day: June 27, 2024

The doors (of Warialda)

Published on by bushboy20 Comments

Dans Thursday Doors

A recent road trip over the mountains west of my place and then head north. Most of the towns I was allowed to have a drive around and photo spot. My driver was good at doing spotting using his whatsit ion his car to find something else that could be OK or something on the road out.

One place he had never been to, a small town, Warialda, was a drive about town.
Agriculture is the industry that sustains Warialda and wider area to this day. The rich alluvial Gwydir River flats to the west and the black soil plains to the northern region produce some of the countries finest grains. Sheep, wool and cattle production add high quality and significant value to the agricultural industry.
REF: https://www.gwydir.nsw.gov.au/Visitors/History-of-our-Towns-and-Villages

First stop St Patrick’s Church. So far my St Patrick’s church count is that there is one in every town I have visited
*St Patrick’s Roman Catholic church was built in 1904

The side door with the standard door hinges of the day

Warialda Court House
*Located on the corner of Hope and Stephen Streets, the red-brick courthouse dates from 1883 and was built by S. Senior at a cost of £2,650. Look carefully and you will notice fine attention to detail on the veranda pillars and the bricks around the three front windows.

*REF: https://www.aussietowns.com.au/town/warialda-nsw

Black by name (not by colour)

Published on by bushboy19 Comments

Bird of the Week #LXX

This week is the turn of the Pacific Black Duck, Anas superciliosa, as I go through the duck species from around here.
Ironically this duck is not black, but mottled brown, with fawn edges to the feathers. The only black comes in the form of bold dark bands running from the base of its dark grey bill, across the cream coloured face and the crown of its head.

A common duck found almost everywhere in Australia. The Pacific Black Duck is one of the most versatile of the Australian ducks. It frequents all types of water, from isolated forest pools to tidal mudflats, and is found in all but the most arid regions of Australia.

The species eats mostly plant material, however it also includes molluscs, crayfish, aquatic insects and larvae as part of its diet.

Food is obtained by ‘dabbling’, where the bird plunges its head and neck underwater and upends, raising its rear end vertically out of the water.

This is what the pacific Black Duck call sounds like

REF: https://animalia.bio/index.php/pacific-black-duck?custom_list=798

Three Pacific Black Ducks on my dam

The upper wing colour is the same as the back, with a bright glossy green patch in the secondary flight feathers.

In the wild, birds are often very wary of humans and seldom allow close approach.The white underwing is conspicuous in flight.

REF: https://australian.museum/learn/animals/birds/pacific-black-duck/
REF: https://www.birdsinbackyards.net/species/Anas-superciliosa
REF: https://www.centennialparklands.com.au/visit/environment/birds/pacific-black-duck