Friday, May 11, 2012

A week in Caloundra

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My week in Caloundra began with the Woodford Planting weekend.  I was involved in planting Pararistolochia praevenosa, the host plant for the Richmond Birdwing butterfly and also Zigzag vines Melodorum leichhardtii, the host plant for the Four-bar Swordtail butterfly Protographium leosthenes.  It was great fun.

I also went to visit “my” Bunya pine, now three years in its new home, and now about half a metre taller than me.

 

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The weather was perfect with stunning views across to Mt Beerwah and Mt Coonowrin.

 

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As I drove into Caloundra, there in front of me, against a pastel pink and blue sky, was an enormous orange full moon.  Unfortunately, by the time I was able to park, I had lost the pink and blue sky, and also the deep orange of the moon, but I did score a nice reflection in the sea.

Later, I discovered that the day before had been “supermoon” day, with the moon its closest to the earth - and brightest – for the year. 

 

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Surfer

 

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Leg.

Surfer parts company from his board.

 

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Beach reflections.

 

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The yellow board.

 

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Part of going to Caloundra is to photograph the osprey.  Unfortunately, when I had a chance to take some osprey close-ups, I didn’t have the card in the camera!

 

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Sunset from Happy Valley.

 

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Mt Coonowrin and Mt Beerwah at sunset.

 

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Near the four umbrellas at the Caloundra Pool is the sculpture of three seagulls.  On the tallest, you can see an osprey feeding on some fish which has been put there for him.

 

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An osprey flies towards us.

 

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Dicky Beach, to the north of Caloundra, claims to be the only recreational beach in the world to be named after a shipwreck. 

The iron steamboat SS Dicky ran aground during heavy seas in 1893.  It was refloated, but again heavy seas turned the ship about and back onto the sand where it remains to this day.

 

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FIsherman at dusk.

Caloundra has this exquisite pink-and-blue dusk which I have photographed many times…..

 

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Rowers at dusk.

 

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Pink-and-blue dusk.

 

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Fisherman at pink-and-blue dusk.

 

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Mt Coonowrin and Mt Beerwah on another night at sunset.

 

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Two osprey at nest.

 

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Setting sun shining on the breaking waves.

 

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Ship.

 

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Blue tiger butterfly Tirumala hamata.

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Casting a net.

 

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Ship and swimmer.

 

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Refloating damaged boat 1.

 

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Refloating damaged boat 2.

 

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Refloating damaged boat 3.

 

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Refloating damaged boat 4.

 

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Refloating damaged boat 5.

Not much of it above the water line here.

 

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Refloating damaged boat 6.

A bit more of it has popped up here.  Thankfully, it was insured.

 

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Rainbow lorikeet.

 

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Chasing seagulls.

 

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Off go the rowers again.