We returned to work on Monday with Spring looking like it had arrived and the week ahead promised warm and sunny days. We decided that now would be a good time to get the camper out of mothballs and take a run up to the bird sanctuary at Linton and see what was happening there. Keeping an eye on the weather each day things were going well until Fridays forecast suddenly went from fine and sunny to storms and overnight temps of about 4 degrees. Not so sure about this little adventure now!
We left after work on Friday and though the day had been fine the closer we got to Linton the heavier the cloud got too. About 30 mins away the rain started and we arrived soon after to set up in a light drizzle. We managed alright without getting too damp and before long were warm and dry inside our little home for the weekend. Bill did a great job for a wet dark night.
While dinner was cooking I got the bed sorted with about five layers of blankets, a quilt and flannette sheets. While it was becoming very cold outside we were quiet comfy inside. We did discover that our little gas heater did not work and though we managed without it that night we didn't fancy trying a long evening in the cold the next night.
The next morning was a little cold and damp but the clouds cleared and we had a pretty nice day to get out and about. On previous visits we had covered most of the surrounding area so really intended to spend most of our time in the grounds of Clarkesdale this time. We spent an hour or so just under the awning and were visited by some lovely little Yellow Robins, New Holland Honeyeaters, Golden Whistlers and a very cheeky little Rufus Whistler.
Dragging ourselves away we jumped into the car and drove the short distance away to Devils Kitchen to see if we could find the Peregrine Falcon we had seen last year. And as we drove in there it was perched high on a cliff just watching everything below.
We stayed for an hour or more and when it moved it went straight to a cleft in the cliff where it seemed to settle down on what looked like a nest. We left then as it seemed like there would be no more activity for some time and coffee sounded like a good idea.
We found a nice little cafe in the very small main street, enjoyed a pretty good coffee and vanilla slice before walking along a little bit to see the sculptures outside the Golden Plains Shire Offices. The miner and his dog made for a good photo opportunity and the war memorial was very interesting as always in country towns. So many young men sacrificed.
The next thing we had to do was find a camping store and get a new heater. We drove back to the outskirts of Ballarat, bought our heater and then drove through nearby Enfield State Park were we stopped and had our picnic lunch before continuing through the forest. Following the tracks we soon came across one leading up a hill and on the top we found a aircraft navigation beacon. All fenced in but the views from here were quite lovely and the grass was a carpet of little white wildflowers. Very pretty.
Leaving the forest behind we decided to drive home past Devils Kitchen to see how our falcon was doing and again found her off the nest getting some sun at the other end of the valley. She really is a beautiful bird. While we watched she flew back to her nest and settled down again so we went home too.
Our heater kept us warm for the night and not too long after dinner we were climbing under the rugs where we slept like logs until the birds woke us up the next morning. A very chilly morning (1.8 we found out later) gave way to a bright sunny day and once again we just whiled away a couple of hours being entertained by the many different birds who did not seem in the least worried by this camper parked in their midst just like this cheeky little Spotted Pardelote who stayed and played in the sunshine for a good half hour or so.
We drove back to Devils Kitchen to check out the falcon and again we were lucky enough to see her on and off the nest. Back at Clarkesdale we wandered a little further afield before returning for some lunch and soon after it was time to pack up and return home for another week. We had really enjoyed our stay with the birds and will be back again soon. But for now there is washing to do
until next time......
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