Rain sets Rufous-throateds back

Boxing Day flood of about one metre washed through wetlands and apart from spreading problem weeds did little damage. But the teeming rain washed some nests from the trees.

Rufous-throated Honeyeater (Conopophila rufogularis) among those starting again today.

Here's a sunnier effort taken from the hide a wee while ago.

And a fluffier look, also taken from the hide.
Click pix to enlarge

Town's under water? No worries!

When your town is under water, what matters most?

No disasters reported in Ingham. But many will have suffered mental distress, physical discomfort and worse, and severe material losses. Their collective suffering makes the news. All sympathy to them.

But a blogger mostly confined to a caravan best stick to the personal, recognising that solipsism rules.

Housing first. A matter of centimetres. Waters reached to 2cm below caravan door last night. Rose slightly, fell slightly. All this, as the rain belted down (perhaps 300mm in 12 hours). But the total flood area is now so great a 30cm fall - in a narrow band - is swallowed and levels just creep up. So, housing dry, no worries. Food? Enough. No worries.

Car? Parked in crowded, swamped driveway outside park owners' residence. Not floating, no leaks. No worries.  Personal gear? Anything of value, high and dry. No worries. Other stuff will survive soaking. No worries.  No insurance (because live in caravan). No worries.

Let's get to the worries.

What say I get Alzheimer's because there's no Times cryptic crosswords to stop my brain tangles knotting even further. 

If I don't cycle daily the right leg will lose muscle tone and the bung knee will have an orthopaedic surgeon hovering above it like a vulture.

What about watching 10's liar-spotter nonsense drama last night because ABC transmission pixilated? Such guilt stress can cause all sorts of illness.

Could cabin fever lead me to do an Oates and tell the cockroaches as I go: 'I may be a while'? (recent TV skit: Scott made up comment after cannibalism).

As you see, there's a lot to worry about! This post starts in serious vein and ends tapped into an artery of flippancy and black humour. Reverting to type.

What matters? 'To thine own self be true'? No matter, truth will ever out!

Unrelated closer: not often I come across a gag in my pictures. I offer this Straw-necked Ibis for nonprize caption competition.    

SS Tyto Tony at anchor updated

Looks as if I'm witness to a part of the biggest flood recorded in Ingham. Herbert River peaked at 12.6m+ at Gairloch, east of the town. Low tide at 5am should have helped but water still slowly rising at the caravan park, 3km south of town, at 9.45am. And (revised post) at 4.30pm. Now at the door.

But power's still on, and there's a way to go before van floor goes under. Nowhere to go anyway. Van's anchored as normal cyclone precaution, so it can't float away. And the rain eased off hours ago (then came again); just a smattering of light showers still coming through. Latest word is for gradually drop in waters tonight. Below, site 13 - but any site was unlucky today!

Forest Kingfisher was active as insects were flushed out earlier, but it's mainly the Willie Wagtails benefiting now. Huge flush also of toads and frogs. I expect more cockroaches will sneak aboard the good ship Tyto Tony (seems I was wrong).

I'll leave a Figbird image from sunnier days for last. Here's to blue skies, dry feet and fruitful birding.