Tag Archives: Ballina

A tale of two herons

Posted on Sunday, 8 August 2021 by Joy Window

The Pacific reef heron (Egretta sacra) and the white-faced heron (Egretta novaehollandiae) are both commonly seen on Australia’s east coast. This reef heron at Ballina was the dark morph – they also come in white. It was busy searching for … Continue reading →

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Spring low tide at Flat Rock

Posted on Sunday, 2 October 2016 by Joy Window

The rock pools at Flat Rock have been covered in sand for a few months, but gradually the sand is clearing and seaweeds and algae (with associated fauna) are coming back. The lowest tides of the spring give a good … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, The sea, Travels | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

How much wood would a wood duck … er … chuck?

Posted on Saturday, 2 July 2016 by Joy Window

Wood ducks (Chenonetta jubata, aka maned ducks) are common birds that hang around water, eating grasses, herbs and the occasional insect. They are so pretty and charming. Males (with the ‘mane’) and females have slightly different plumage (sexually dimorphic). You … Continue reading →

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The calm before the storm

Posted on Thursday, 9 June 2016 by Joy Window

Doesn’t this look peaceful? Surfers on Lighthouse Beach, Ballina, contemplate the breaks. Even the dolphins were having a good time, catching waves, tail-slapping and cruising around for a snack of baitfish.     But appearances can be deceptive. Take a … Continue reading →

Posted in The sea, Travels | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

One that didn’t make it

Posted on Monday, 5 August 2013 by Joy Window

Spring has arrived somewhat earlier than usual. The resident male bowerbird has been stealing the dried shoots off the water chestnuts for his bower, and rosellas are flying around in pairs looking for suitable nesting sites. The local magpies are … Continue reading →

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When is a contrail not a contrail?

Posted on Monday, 22 July 2013 by Joy Window

When it’s a distrail (dissipation trail) …

Posted in Weather | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Don’t come the raw prawn with me

Posted on Saturday, 20 July 2013 by Joy Window

Ballina is a fishing village, as well as retirement and tourist destination. We used to see a large fleet of prawn trawlers going over the bar every day, but the passage out to the ocean along the river has silted … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Travels | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Ain’t we got fun?

Posted on Saturday, 23 February 2013 by Joy Window

It’s east coast low time again, folks – 3 weeks after the last one (reported here). Ballina, well-known for having the highest rainfalls in the immediate region,  had 151 mL in the last 24 hours – phooey, I say. We … Continue reading →

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Another nice nudibranch

Posted on Thursday, 22 November 2012 by Joy Window

The new moon brought a very low tide, so off to Flat Rock. Fortunately it’s recovered from all that sand over winter, and there were lots of animals, shells and so on in the rock pools. I was especially pleased … Continue reading →

Posted in The sea, Travels | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

What the sea dragged in

Posted on Monday, 12 November 2012 by Joy Window

“Dangerous surf” warnings usually signal a good time to beach-comb. You never know what is going to turn up. This time, it was jellyfish in the wrong place at the wrong time, and unable to avoid being smashed up or … Continue reading →

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