-----Original Message-----
From:
Trevor Hampel <>
To:
Birding-Aus <>
Date:
Wednesday, 1 September 1999 23:31
Subject: birding-aus Hazards
of birdwatching
Last Sunday was a very pleasant day here in
Murray Bridge - around 21degrees with a gentle breeze. I went for an
atlassing walk through a patch of mallee close to Murray Bridge, an
area known as the Narrinyeri Hills just west of the town.
Now I don't mind them in the middle of summer, say, in
January and February - cos then I'm lookin' out fer 'em. But no snake has
the right to come out a-sunnin' itself in the last few days of WINTER. Can't
they read the calendar??
Despite the great fright it gave me - and I it - the
birdwatching was quite good. Close up views of Variegated Wrens,
Mistletoebirds and Varied Sitella. Lots of honeyeaters. Little evidence of
breeding (that I noticed).
Incidentally - the snake went
rapidly down a rabbit hole - I went rapidly down the hill!
This was the second hazardous incident in the same area in
less than a week. A few days earlier I had loitered too long right in the
middle of a black ants' nest.
Happy birding, and remember to keep one eye on where you
are walking or standing.
Trevor Hampel
Murray Bridge
South
Australia
