St Kilda Penguin parade 23rd Nov

On Fri 23rd Nov I went down to St Kilda to go on a guided tour of the little penguin colony at the end of the pier. I had been put in touch with one of Prue's friends Tiana who is doing a PHD on the penguins and has open nights to show people around the colony as the penguins come into shore at dusk. I decided to go down early to have a look around St Kilda before going to the tour. So here is another pictorial tour: First stop off the tram was into a small park which had this plaque.



I wonder if it should have read: 'We knocked down the first building in St Kilda to make way for this plaque'? On through the park past the war memorial (post to follow)



On past the luna fun fair (which was closed) to the beach crowded with sun seekers and swimmers:



Er - well it should have been crowded with sun seekers and swimmers this being effectively late spring/early summer but then I am here so of course it was freezing cold, windy and there was a storm on the way.

Another beach full of babes!

On to the pier to see where I had to meet everyone. By this stage a gale was blowing and it was hard to even walk down the pier. It reminded me of walking along any seafront in Ireland. I felt right at home!



Back past this clock tower



Then I ran out of things to see and went to the esplanade hotel for some beer and food (ok I was cold and hungry and thirsty!)



I had probably the worst meal I have had so far in Australia. I ordered a burger with everything and after 15 mins was given a piece of meat that looked as if it had been zapped by a laser cannon. The bap wasn't much better and was more carbon than bread. Not a good meal at all! The place looks good for live music etc but I wouldn't recommend eating there.

I still had nearly 2 hours to kill so went down to the main street with all its tacky shops (including some sex shops with dubious Santa costumes displayed) looking for a half decent bar. I eventually found one which was good enough and supped on some pots (that's half pints to you and me) while it began pouring down outside. Eventually it was 8pm and I headed back to the pier:

lovely weather for penguins!

I think I seen this scene in Ghostbusters

I got there in good time except that after 15 mins nobody had turned up. I texted Tiana only to get a reply saying they had cancelled due to the weather. Wimps! I told her this was Balmy weather in Ireland! The rain had ceased by this stage and the wind had died down as well so it turned out to be an excellent night to view penguins so I decided to do my own wee tour. There is a section of the breakwater which is not closed off to the public where you could see some of the penguins come to shore.

There is something quite magical about watching animals at night and these penguins with their comical walks and noisy chatter were fantastic to see. There was plenty of light from lamps to see them with the naked eye and you could in some instances get really close to them. My camera was not up to the job due to no flash photography being allowed but I put it on video mode which has slightly better night vision:

This one walked right past me (if you can see it in the bad light)





There is another video here but I have not been able to upload it yet - will do so in Melbourne

Featured animal - Little (or Fairy) Penguins:

Its the smallest penguin in the world and breeds around the coast of Australia and New Zealand. Here is some info from the boards around about the area.



At the start of the pier I also seen a notice about future work being done to enhance the pier and help protect the penguins. The next day I queried the developments with Tiana who replied that she was really excited about the enhancements as it would mean they would be protected from people. Apparently all sorts of dubious people such as druggies and drunks go to the end of the pier to lark about after dark (thanks for the warning Tiana!) Penguins have been disturbed and even in some case deliberately killed by some of these assholes.

That probably explains why these people were also there when I arrived:
police divers

When I asked what they were doing one policeman told me that they were looking for evidence of a crime - a weapon which had been thrown into the water.

As I said earlier - I felt right at home :)

BEERS I HAVE DRANK:
Castlemaine XXXX Gold. Normally I wouldn't go anywhere near this beer but it did say Gold on the tap so I assumed it must have been different from the normal crap. It wasn't.

PEOPLE I HAVE MET/SEEN:
Or rather heard. On the tram down to St Kilda there was a women talking on a mobile phone who was possibly the loudest talker I have ever heard. Shouting would be more like it. The funny thing was that at the end of her (far too long) conversation she said to the person at the other end of phone. 'People say I talk very loud on the phone' Your bloody right ya do dear - my ears are still throbbing!

ANIMALS I HAVE SEEN
Rakali: Water Rat with webbed feet: As well as the penguins I was also lucky enough to catch a glimpse of one at the pier.

GLOSSARY UPDATE:
C:
Cactus: Aussi Expression: Buggered, Dead. eg "this bloody washing machine is cactus"

Lists update 16th Nov

Things I have lost/broke:
I lost another pair of sunglasses while doing the trapping - but they were found again the next day!
I left my mains cord for my new hairclippers back in Sydney but luckily one of my other leads fits it!
I have lost my small torch and compass so I had better not get lost at night in the bush!

Beers I have drunk (I need to update this properly - too many!)

Hunters Wheat beer
Hunters Pale ale
Bock Dark Ale
Old Speckled Hen - Melbourne (Yes I know I have drunk it before but not on these travels!)
Abbot Ale - Melbourne (see old speckled hen!)
Tetley Bitter - Melbourne (see old speckled hen!)
Melbourne Bitter
Cascade (all types - will name them later)
Boags (all types - will name them later)
Coopers (all types - will name them later)
Abbots Invalid Stout (great beer!)

Animals I have seen (I have to have seen them in the wild before I add it to the list - zoos do not count!)

Mammals:
Eastern Grey Kangaroo 9th Nov Grampians
Swamp Wallaby 9th Nov Grampians
Echidna 12th Nov Grampians
Brush Tailed Rock Wallaby (12th Nov being released in the distance!) Grampians
Heath Mouse 9th Nov (in trap) Grampians
Agile Antechinus 9th Nov (in trap) Grampians
Yellow footed Antichinus 12th Nov (in trap) Grampians

Reptiles:
Red bellied Black Snake 9th Nov (in trap) Grampians
Brown Snake 11th Nov at hostel. Grampians

Birds: (thanks to Prue and Robert for some of the identifications)
Emu 10th Nov Grampians
Scrub Wren 11th Nov Grampians
Created Pigeon 12th Nov Grampians
Golden Whistler 11th Nov Grampians
Grey Fantail 11th Nov Grampians
Sulphur Crested Cockatoo 11th Nov Grampians
Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo 11th Nov Grampians
Gang Gang Cockatoo 10th Nov Grampians
Crimson Rosella 10th Nov Grampians
Sacred Kingfisher? 11th Nov Grampians
Welcome Swallow 10th Nov Grampians
Superb Fairy Wren 10th Nov Grampians
New Holland Honeyeater 10th Nov Grampians
Eastern Spinebill 11th Nov Grampians
Indian Myna 29th Oct Sydney
Australian White Ibis 29th Oct Sydney
Straw-necked Ibis 11th Nov Grampians

I have probably missed some which might be added later!

Lists update: 29th Sep

Lists Update: 29th Sep: Mostly for my own benefit

Beers I have drunk:
Mitchells Bosum Bitter: 3.9%
Mitchells Old Wobbly: 11% (YES 11%)
Mitchells 90shillings (can't remember what % after the wobbly!)


Lost / Broken Items:

One tent and carry mat which I donated at Long Street Backpackers. The tent had served its purpose and was really cumbersome so I decided to donate it to help with a local childrens charity. It will probably be sold to get some money for a new school.

Animals:

Cape Fur Seal. 18th Sep Pletteneurg (p)
Loads of them all along Robenberg Peninsula.

Southern Right Whale: 18th Sep Plettenberg
Away out at sea but quite good views.

Rock Dassie (hyrax): 20th Sep Wilderness
They are rabbit sized relatives of the elephant..

Birds:

Back to making my own identifications - which means that the bird list will be reduced!

Kelp Gull 18th Sep Plettenberg

Black Oystercatcher: 18th Sep Plettenberg

White Fronted Plover: 18th Sep Plettenberg (p)

Little Stint: 18th Sep Plettenberg

Speckled Pigeon: 18th Sep Plettenberg

Pied Crow: 19th Sep Wilderness

Malachite Kingfisher 20th Sep Wilderness

Yellow-tufted Malachite Sunbird: 18th Sep Plettenberg (p)

African Penquin: 25th Sep Cape Horn