Long-ass Road : West Australia

Dryandra Woodland

You should know before you come to Australia that per the Code of Federal Regulations here, specifically Section 321.24(a)(1), when you see any kangaroo hopping through the landscape you are required by law to say the words "Boing, Boing, Boing".

Boing, boing, boing

We finally got some great looks at the Australian national symbol in an area a couple hours outside of Perth called the Dryandra Woodland. Well, technically, we got some really, really close up looks in Alice Springs since Fred ordered kangaroo for dinner, but we won't go there.

It's springtime here and there were fields of lavender everlast flowers

The more excited this lizard got the more he curled his tailed and the wider he opened his mouth

This echidna is hiding by burying his nose and eyes. Got to pet this guy and guess what, he isn't very cuddly

"I say old man, are you going to eat that whole sandwich and all the chips"

Kangaroo Paw

Banksias here, there and everywhere

Even the fires in Australia leave behind weird, burned flora/artwork

What you cannot see in this photo are the staggering amount of flies that descend upon you on any walk through the bush. They will crawl up your nose, drink from your eyes, buzz in your ears, crawl across your glasses and you will drive yourself to the point of madness by constantly waving your hand around your face, all to no effect.

Eucalyptus Flower

Mating or fighting, hard to say with lizards

1080 Poison is derived from a native pea plant that native mammals are immune to but the same can't be said for cute, little introduced kitty cats and foxes

Lerp

See that white, cottony stuff on this bush, that's lerp. It's the preferred food of the honeyeater birds here. It's sweet, a bit like the cheap, waxy icing on store-bought box cakes. Sounds kinda tasty doesn't it? I guess this is where I should tell you it is actually the excreta of a little insect called a psyllid. It's aphid poop. Yep, I slurped lerp, don't judge me.

An ant mound presented without further comment

Albany Area

On our way to Albany and the always impressive Australian coast we saw an equally impressive site.

The Great Ram of Wagin

Never underestimate what a bored Aussie can accomplish with some chicken wire, plaster and a desire to put his town on the map.

The Sterling Range

Scented Sun Orchid

You know what's interesting about the Dog Rock Hotel? Nothing, but across the street is the hotel's namesake.

The weirdest duck on the planet, Musk duck. It inflates that balloon sac under it's neck, throws it's tail feathers over it's back and makes a sound life a popping champagne cork

There are 700 species of eucalyptus in Australia, this is one of them

Superb Fairy Wren checking out his blue eye shadow

The previously unknown to me trigger flower with its trigger loaded seed which shoots out if you touch it with your finger. I triggered a few hundred of them.

Western emu wren

I'm a bit obsessed with the flora in this part of the world.

Hello, my name is Sonia and it's been about 2 hours since I collected my last seedpod

The water here looks like someone's overzealous photoshop project, but no it's really those incredible shades of blue

That's our friend Peggy who I have to thank for Fred's new overpriced lens

Did I mention Fred got a new lifer

Occasionally I lose interest in birdwatching and practice interpretive dance instead

Torndirrup National Park and Cheynes Beach

Torndirrup National Park is rugged and windy with cold, stormy seas.

And zombies

80 steps down to see a blow hole that wasn't blowing, then 80 steps back up

Beautiful yes, icy water, also yes

There were two terrific botanists on this trip with us and when they get around to identifying all these plants I'll update this post, or I won't, no guarantees.