Escape to Samsonvale

Despite torrential rain, necessitating the fastest wiper speed, we were in Samsonvale by 6.20 a.m. The rain continued whilst we sat, eating breakfast, watching the birds which appeared when it eased. I missed photographing the Sea Eagle......but managed the resident Guineafowl.

We thought they'd been eaten by a predator but they turned up to-day - last year there were only two. The theory is that someone has dumped them and kind locals provide them with food. They are countable on the Aus list but I'm not sure about the provenance of these!
The very pretty and easily spooked, Bar-shouldered Doves hang about here too, we don't see them anywhere else.

In a respite, we walked through the cemetery to the water's edge, remembering the web photos of Red-bellied Black and Eastern Brown Snakes entwining in a mating dance on the graves. None to-day. Soggy Figbirds

and the vulterine-looking Noisy Friarbirds

perched distantly, a Varied Whistler showed briefly and at least half a dozen Whistling Kites called constantly. Their call is reminiscent of that of a Buzzard. A pile of soil in the cemetery area held nesting Rainbow Bee-eater, they often nest in holes in the ground.

Three hours went by very quickly before the debate as to what next. Mount Glorious and Maiala got Pam's vote. First time we've ever driven up the mountain from this direction, an even more steeply ascending road with hairpin bends than the usual.
Maiala was rainless and busy with picnicking families and racing children. We had our lunch and departed.
One stop at Jolly's Lookout on the way down to The Gap, more happy families....
The family was still out, we downloaded photos and had a drink before discovering we were out of bread. As we left for a quick Woolworths visit, Sara and co arrived back from Nudgee. As we returned from the shop, Mike left....he needed a special connecting cable for his present from us all.
Josh was out of sorts, having trouble with one of his games, he was booting a ball outside whilst muttering to himself. I joined him in playing footie with some hazards we had to avoid, placed in the goalmouth. What a daft Gran. My legs didn't last long.
Harry was very happily playing on his keyboard and sending me messages via Skype on his laptop. Typical of both boys' favoured activities - but they both want to show me stuff which is lovely.
After a game involving jumping out of a plane , opening a parachute and landing on a target (occasionally), on my laptop with J, Pam bailed me out and played Bowls and Table Tennis on the Wii with him. When she was tired (arm) I played my first game of 100 pin bowling on the Wii and thoroughly enjoyed it. I must photograph them.....
The mangoes here are delicious and not expensive. I prepared one each for the boys and myself as dessert to-night. They love them too.
Time to do to-day's bird list and to keep awake until 10.