Today we were up early & walked round the corner to King’s Park – despite being bowled over by the orchids in Singapore yesterday, this was even more exciting. So many unfamiliar beautiful trees and flowers bursting with Spring growth. We were welcomed by rainbow lorikeets and over-excited red wattle birds flying low in close formation courtship displays.
We found a 750 year old Baobab tree that had been moved to Perth all the way from the Northern Kimberly region on a truck to save it when they put in a new highway.
Also strutting around were various Corvus- the Australian ‘magpie’ – very fine & other black ones – all very vocal & being mobbed by much smaller birds. We met our first Willy Wagtail – a very charming chap.
After we had seen everything and I got a photo of every flower in Australia we walked into Perth to Elizabeth quay – over the curvy footbridge. On the way we found the statue commemorating the first sighting of the European ships by the indigenous Australians. They thought they looked like huge white birds bringing the spirits of their ancestors. Sadly for them that’s not exactly what they got.
We had a very nice lunch at Amano (Italian restaurant) right on the dock where I identified 4 different types of cormorant, maybe a shag & were entertained by a pair of dolphins swimming right next to us!
Although beginning to flag we walked to the shops to get me a hat & found a very weird mock Tudor street (!)
We also found mosquito repellent (for later) in the most glamorous Woolworths I’ve ever seen.
Exhausted we rested at the hotel before a sushi dinner in the town.
We had an amazing day & it is pleasantly warm & sunny.
Lovely to hear you were as enchanted as we were by Kings Park with its amazing flora and fauna and that you met the rainbow parakeets. Love M
Thank you for the lovely photos – I will enjoy following you around. C xxxx