Australia: LBJs and Oddities in Jerrabomberra
My first full day in Australia was partly spent seeing the sights in Canberra, but the morning was (of course) dedicated to some time in nature. Nikki and I took a bus out to the Jerrabomberra Wetlands, a nature preserve just a little bit out of town that's supposed to be one of the best birding (and general wildlife) spots in the Australian Capital Territory. Even though we were in the quiet (and cold!) winter months, it proved to be excellent, with an introduction to yet more strange and beautiful Aussie wildlife, including some surprises. Even before we entered the preserve, there were some new birds seen along the entrance road, including a group of Straw-necked Ibises chasing each other around in a field, a Willie Wagtail (Australians have the best bird names) watching us from a fence post, and a Yellow-rumped Thornbill foraging on the ground. Straw-necked Ibis Willie Wagtail- actually a type of fantail. Australians are better at creative names than they are at accu...