Hobart from Knocklofty – photo set
I’m in Hobart for a holiday, and I’m having a wonderful time.
I arrived quite late on Tuesday evening. I was supposed to arrive early Tuesday, but unfortunately Jetstar’s website let me book an illegal connection, and I missed it. That left me with a day to kill in Melbourne, so I dumped my luggage at Southern Cross and spent the day wandering around. Had afternoon tea with my friends Danni and Steph, walked a lot, and went to the State Library. It all worked out in the end.
The landing in Hobart was a bit exciting, I thought we were coming in fast and then very strong braking, aeroplane stopping right on the far runway threshold. Apparently not that uncommon as it’s a short runway.
I slept in yesterday, then went to the Tasmanian Art Gallery and Museum. Unfortunately quite a lot of it is closed for refurbishment, but there was lots of wonderful art. I particularly liked the works by Akira Akira and Emma White, I must look them up when I get home.
Wandered around the docks and Salamanca, then marched up to Knocklofty. Quite a climb! West Hobart is beautiful, it has amazing views and quite a lot of old, lovely houses. Knocklofty is a park that was created after the second world war, and it’s beautiful. I’ve identified fifteen species of bird that I definitely saw:
- Starling
- Tasmanian Thornbill
- Silvereye
- Pallid Cuckoo
- Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike
- Grey Shrike-Thrush
- Green Rosella
- Kelp Gull
- Yellow-throated Honeyeater
- New Holland Honeyeater
- Noisy Miner
- Spotted Pardalote
- Laughing Kookaburra
- Forest Raven
- Yellow Wattlebird
In addition there was at least one small bird of prey that was too high for me to ID, and a some wrens and other small birds that left when I approached, or stayed too high to see properly. The sound of the birds at dusk was amazing, so I recorded it on my phone (MP3, 2MB).
A funny little incident; a black-faced cuckoo shrike landed within a metre of me, we were looking at each other and then suddenly it was swooped upon by a Green Rosella. I don’t think the cuckoo shrike knew what hit it. Would have been a brilliant photograph if I wasn’t so surprised that I missed it!
Today a very kind wonk I know from twitter met me and drove me up to the top of Mount Wellington. I think all cities should come with a nearby decent sized mountain. As we went up the trees changed, until only small white eucalypts remained. On the mountain top there was a lot of scrub, almost similar to the coastal plants you see in Perth.
Tomorrow I am off on a boat tour of Bruny Island. Apparently it can get a bit rough (we’ll be going into the Southern Ocean), I remain hopeful that I won’t turn green and decorate the place. Whatever happens I’m sure it’ll be fun!
