A Long Weekend

There is nothing like a long weekend (for those of us who have the whole weekend off work, of course).  In my case, a long weekend means a short intensive week churning out the 5 day's work in 4 so the anticipation is slightly ruined by frantic phone calls at 3pm on Thursday saying things are missing, unavailable or incomplete.  These are then followed up early Friday morning over coffee and hot cross buns and then again, 3 hours later, just as I hit the 110km/h zone outside Lithgow.  However, by the Mudgee turn-off, all is sorted and the long weekend can begin in earnest.

We were lucky enough to have company again this weekend.  A 10 year old can sometimes be above such things as spending time in the great outdoors with aunts, but not this one.  However, I suspect some of her enthusiasm is more due to escaping the presence of her 4 year old brother.

First things first though and, being Good Friday, a cup of tea and a hot x bun was in order as soon as we unpacked.  The cabin is really beginning to take shape and now the mattresses are in place, no more sleeping on the floor!

The next thing was to sort out was the fire-pit, something we have been talking about but not quite got around too.  Previous evenings had not been too bad but the time had come for some heating so out came the mattock and voila! a perfect fire-pit.  Rocks for the edges and firewood was never going to be an issue, though each piece was carefully inspected for residents first.

Unfortunately someone forgot the marshmallows and experiments with mandarin proved disappointing but we will be ready to go next time.  Recipes for open fire cooking gratefully accepted, unless they are for s'mores! 

It would appear that bush food is not going to be a problem.  We had already been told that Sifton or Biddy Bush can be used to make tea though I can find nothing to support that so we will have to wait for some unwary visitors to experiment on.

Sifton Bush as far as the eye can see

Yabbi

A big walk on Saturday did reveal lots of other food options including Kangaroo Apples, a type of bush tomato, and a yabbi.  

Unripe Kangaroo Apple

OK, food might be a problem if you are really hungry or there are more than two of you, but it does go to show what is there if you look carefully.  And of course there is alway funghi, in such a variety of shapes and sizes though what they are and if they are edible will have to wait another day.  And another group of unsuspecting visitors!

As always there were plenty of birds to see and we ticked off all 6 threatened species pretty easily for a change.  I managed my best sighting ever of a Diamond Firetail, and after half an hour was wondering what had made them so hard to see on previous occasions!  Perhaps this pair were slightly distracted by whatever goings on were going on.

Eastern Spinebill (renamed Easter Spinebill!) seemed to be the bird of the weekend as they made the most of the Styphelia which was just coming into flower.  They had a bit of competition for the sugary nectar when more visitors arrived on Sunday, though I am sure there was enough for them and the 4 year old.  The Scarlet Robin was calling incessantly from near the road and even the elusive Brown Treecreeper put in an appearance.  

There were regular sightings of Wedge-tailed Eagles overhead and the discovery of an eerie (at the top of a tree in a gully so the nest was almost eye level) had to be one of the highlights of the weekend.  Roll on spring and baby eagles!

Spot the Chestnut-rumped Heathwren

The chestnut-rumped Heathwren was its usual elusive self though I am pretty sure I caught it lurking in the woodpile.  Apparently it is a bit of a mimic so what sounded like a seriously cheesed of Scrubbie in the Sifton Bush might just as easily been a CRHW having a laugh.  If only birds had one call and would stick to it, I really might stand a chance but with so many mimics around (the Mistletoe Bird was practicing its repertoire as well) I was just confused.

                                                                              There was also some birdbath action over the weekend, though the freezing nights meant a review of where it sits so that the ice will melt much quicker in the mornings.  This rustic birdbath, made from bits of leftover cabin, is perfectly serviceable and just goes to show you don't need to go mad.  It does seem to be the domain of the Willie Wagtails though.  In fact, the whole cabin seems to be their playground with sliding down the roof being their favourite game.

Greenhood orchids were plentiful, when you noticed them, making clambering through the woods a dangerous business indeed.  Looking up trees for birds and funghi while avoiding eye level twigs and branches and looking where you put your feet to avoid stumbling and/or orchids doesn't sound at all relaxing.  But there is no rush and so always plenty of time to look all around and avoid (most) of the beautiful plants that grow close to the ground.

Diamond Firetail

One last walk on Monday morning, before breaking camp and heading into the Easter traffic, produced the biggest sighting of the weekend, and more bushtucker!  This Sambar deer was as surprised to see me as I was to see it and after giving me the once over it turned tail and trotted down into a gully and away from the noisy intruders.  A direct competitor for food with the native roos and wallabies, it really doesn't belong on Little Bunda but it was still hard not to stop and admire it in the morning lig

Bambi for lunch anyone?

Knicker Drift

The downside to a weekender is the division of property between the two homes, leading to what I recently heard described as "knicker drift". All the visits up until now have been full of important deliveries: paint, furniture, bedding, crockery, but now finally, the end is in sight.  What will make the next trip quite momentous is that it will be the last of these big delivery trips as I squeeze two single mattresses, 3 pairs of curtains and their accompanying poles into the car.  From then on, all I will have to worry about is knicker drift.