The King's Highway - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

To say it's a long way from Perth to Port Hedland could be construed as something of an understatement, but that is the plan. In the absence of my friend Hugh Dampney the idea of doing the drive to Darwin has simply been postponed until Hugh gets freed-up on the farm and can accompany me. As the Bikers Grave shows there are some who don't make it.

Apart from this 45Km stretch of bush fire there are a multitude of tidy sea-side villages

on the northbound leg of the journey,

with an intent to visit as many of these as is possible in the time allowed. The return journey will be in stark contrast, but we'll get to that later!

First I had to overcome a road-hazard of my own as a pair of

AUSTRALIAN SHELDUCK decided to scrub round using the Pelican Crossing (surely that's racist?).

 CRESTED TERN

By-passing Lancelin, as the road is a dead-end and would necessitate a lengthy drive back, the first port of call if you like Jurien Bay where it was hostel style accommodation.

However, the beach and the small jetty was alive with Crested (I like to call them GREAT Crested) Terns

and on closer inspection the odd CASPIAN TERN.

another CRESTED

The surf beach had its share of SILVER GULLS which I never did discover what food they were finding on the Kelp swamped sands.

 

CASPIAN TERN

SILVER GULL along with PIED OYSTERCATCHER.

A fortunate decision to back-track a little further inland

afforded me distant views of one of my favourite World Raptors

the delicate but deadly BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE. Via the photographs I have been able to eliminate Letter-winged Kite as this individual had the extended black marking 'behind' the eye.

SALT STICK

The extensive Salt Pans just north of here were devoid of birds today, but thought well worth another look on the way back should time allow.

A last look at the beach before supper and bed found another juvenile PACIFIC GULL,

a PIED CORMORANT

and a road-side CRESTED PIGEON. These are novel little Doves that sound and look every bit like a Partridge when in flight.

As can be seen access has been found again today, while the layout of the Blog page remains totally displeasing. In 'edit mode' everything looks in order, but press that Publish button and everything turns to 'ratshit'. Hope to talk from further NORTH tomorrow.