Dawn flight

October opens with a graceful flight of egrets winging 

their way south. The camera is lying about their colour,

in reality they were snowy white, much more vivid.

(I told you not to spoil that dog!)

                                             

How to put some foam ...

in your beer.

I don't usually have one before the sun goes down

(maybe I shouldn't be so tough on myself),

but with huge seas on the reef last evening this shot 

was asking to be taken.

Sunset catches the breakers in this close up.

A human comparison shows the size of the waves. 

Don't worry, after my beer I called the rescue services.

Green, Green & Green

Nightly rain squalls 

have given the fields a vivid new life 

after a long summer drought.

Nearly every shade of green 

can be found in the fields and foliage.  

The sugar cane fronds in particular are an 

exquisite shade of green, almost luminous.  

Rare visitors

An unusual congregation of Eurasian Curlews 

on the beach this morning (seven in the photo,

more hiding behind the rock).

Only an occasional one has visited previously. 

With typhoons No. 19 and 20 straddling the area 

to the north and south perhaps they're using us 

as a temporary sanctuary.

Big breakers from the storms can be seen on the reef.

Cane Lane

Riding a moped down these lanes needs a 

suit of armor - a slash of one of these stalks

can mean a nasty cut.

Two weeks of powerful winds have been

playing havoc with the overgrown cane.

Still four months to harvesting.

Eye in the Sky

Ever get the feeling that some clown's watching you?

28 Lost at Sea!

Anyone looking for a 28?

It was washed up on our beach in the mighty waves 

of the latest typhoon, now passing on its way to Tokyo. 

An extensive search turned up no sight of 27 or 29.

Any claimants must submit proof of ownership.

Perfect fit.

Geriatic Gypsy fits snugly inside her new bed.

Great Balls of Fire!

Opened a new pack of charcoal last night.

Made in Indonesia.  

As usual, put a few blocks on the brazier to start

the BBQ and boom! kerpow!  Fireworks!

The stuff was almost explosive. 

Sent sparks shooting high and wide.

Cinders as big as cornflakes. 

Black burn marks everywhere - 

on hat on patio on acrylic undies. 

If Duke had been around 

he'd have been turned into a Dalmatian.

Dangerous stuff. Beware.

What a lark!

This faithful little fella has started singing

to us again in the evenings.  

The larks disappeared for a couple of years, probably 

forewarned about last year's horrendous typhoons. 

Now they're back, spending a lot of time rock hopping 

and either arguing or bursting into song.

The male, the singer, has a russet chest and dark blue 

back feathers. Isohiodori (beach sound bird) is the local name.

His mate is very much like a British thrush, brown with a 

light speckled chest.

Their renewed presence could be telling us there are no major

typhoons in the offing for the rest of the season.

Or they could be just having a lark with us.

The birth of September