In the pink

The main arterial that punctures its way into Melbourne from the west is the Westgate Freeway. It crosses the Yara River by way of the magnificent 2.5km long Westgate Bridge. Beneath the busy roadway is a small recreational area; Westgate Park.

Throughout the world there are a small number of rare lakes. The salinity, algal and bacterial content of these lakes, when the temperature is right, turn the water pink for a while. One such ‘Pink Lake’ occasionally occurs in Westgate Park and in mid March was at its ‘pinkest’ for a long time. Tania and dropped down from the bridge to take a look. I’m not sure what was going through the mind of the the White-headed Stilt I photographed feeding in what appeared to be a vast quantity of Strawberry Nesquik … but it certainly made a pretty picture.

A city aflame

The St Kilda pier on Melbourne’s waterfront is a known stakeout for Rakali; Australia’s largest rodent. Two of these otter-like rats swam around us, but it was the Little Penguins that captured our attention. A couple of them came into roost on the rocks that evening.

The dying sun set the distant Eureka building within the city aflame. There are features of the building which celebrate the historic gold wealth upon which Melbourne is founded. The gold roof reflected a shaft of light down into the city in a dazzling display.

Australia is a wonderful place full of an eclectic mix of wonderful people; and they all seem to get on. Racism takes a back seat here. Would I come back? … at the drop of an Akubra I would.

Batty

They breed ’em big in Victoria. Several thousand Grey headed Flying Foxes were extremely entertaining especially the mothers with young squabbling for ‘tree room’