A Sandy Beach Almanac

Farewell, Sandy Beach

Published on 2006-09-07 00:16:00

Sunset, Sandy Beach, originally uploaded by Pip_Wilson. I'm moving over the next few days to Emerald Beach, which is two beaches south of here. It's a lovely spot, but my son and I will not be living right on the beach, so I won't be doing an Emerald Beach Almanac. Time will preclude it too, because I have begun a few rather large projects recently.Thank you for you support of this website. I have had great fun doing it and it's been a privilege to bring to readers worldwide some of the interest

First day of Spring

Published on 2006-08-31 22:39:00

Wildflowers over Back Sandy 2, originally uploaded by Pip_Wilson. Australians call September 1 the first day of Spring, just as March 1 is the first of Autumn, December 1 is the first of Summer and June 1 is the beginning of Winter. The custom dates back to early colonial times and has to do with the dates on which uniforms were issued to the British guards of the convict colony.Looking south towards Emerald Beach from Bare Bluff (the south headland of Sandy Beach). Click for more Sandy Beach p

Evidence of gold mining long ago

Published on 2006-08-25 17:06:00

Evidence of gold mining long ago, originally uploaded by Pip_Wilson. A close look at this shot shows two bolts in the rocks. These, I am told, were placed there for a flying fox in a gold-mining operation. At the top of this headland you can still see mullock heaps from diggings. This point is between Back Sandy Beach and Emerald Beach.

Aboriginal midden

Published on 2006-08-21 17:10:00

Aboriginal midden, originally uploaded by Pip_Wilson. This Aboriginal midden, or place for domestic waste disposal, is on the south headland of Back Sandy, which is the beach immediately south of Sandy Beach. The biew is looking north towards Sandy Beach, which is beyond the headland. The midden is composed of shells discarded over long periods of time.

Sand ripples at dawn

Published on 2006-08-16 16:31:00

Sand ripples at dawn, originally uploaded by Pip_Wilson. The sand that disappeared from the south end this week showed up at the north end, changing the nature of the rocks there. Because of all the sand, where a week ago there were rick pools, it's easier to walk around the large rock which I call 'Cormorant Rock' and I've heard referred to as 'Submarine Rock', because of its shape.

This morning's sunrise

Published on 2006-08-12 20:56:00

This morning's sunrise, originally uploaded by Pip_Wilson. It was especially beautiful on the beach at dawn today.

Sandy Beach eroded

Published on 2006-08-11 17:39:00

Sandy Beach eroded, originally uploaded by Pip_Wilson. High winds, high seas and possibly high tides have stripped Sandy Beach of thousands of tonnes of sand this week. This is what remains of the south end. I suppose that in a year or two things will return to normal.

Out for an "early"

Published on 2006-08-01 23:23:00

Out for an "early", originally uploaded by Pip_Wilson. Two surfers out for an "early", at dawn this morning.

Spring is sprung?

Published on 2006-07-31 23:41:00

Spring is sprung?, originally uploaded by Pip_Wilson. It's only August 1, but in this neck of the woods the jasmine is bursting with Spring beauty and fragrance. In Sydney the jasmine -- harbinger of Spring -- usually starts blossoming on about August 25, but here, up north, we get our first signs of Spring a little earlier. Today has been a perfect Spring day in the middle of Winter, but not quite as warm as both days of the weekend just gone, when it was T-shirt and even swimming weather.

Birds at dawn

Published on 2006-07-16 17:04:00

Birds at dawn, originally uploaded by Pip_Wilson. Best viewed at the largest size, these birds were flying very fast and I couldn't identify them (looked to me like pigeons -- maybe topknot pigeons but I've never before seen that species fly over the ocean). They flew along at breakneck speed just offshore, then proceeded inland.

The wheel turns

Published on 2006-07-13 17:08:00

The day is overcast and cool. A fairly typical and not terribly exciting Winter's day.But we have had some wonderful warm days with scarcely a cloud in the sky, and temperatures of 20 degrees Celsius. And we are well past the Solstice soon it will be Spring, but as the days lengthen, of course, the cold strengthens, and the next month is Sandy Beach's coldest period. By the time late August and September come, we'll be back in our T-shirst, by day anyway. The wheel of the year turns so beautiful

Moonstruck

Published on 2006-07-11 04:05:00

Moonstruck, originally uploaded by Pip_Wilson.

Fly me to the Moon

Published on 2006-07-10 04:03:00

Fly me to the Moon, originally uploaded by Pip_Wilson. I shot this from my front gate at sunset this evening.

Today's rainbow

Published on 2006-07-04 01:18:00

Today's rainbow, originally uploaded by Pip from Oz. Today's been a rainbow day. The first one I saw was this one at 9:20 at the Raj Mahal on the Pacific Highway. Since then there have been plenty, like an unexpected appearance of a lot of old friends. Bravo Ma Nature! The one shown here capped off a good rainbow day.

No dolphins, just a cloud

Published on 2006-07-02 22:15:00

Clouds yesterday,originally uploaded by Pip Wilson from Australia. I went to the beach just before lunch today and the first thing I noticed was a pod of dolphins swimming from the middle of the beach southward, just behind the line of breakers.Near the back of the beach (I mean where the vegetation begins) I stood on a sandhill a bit more than a metre high, to get the best vantage point I could in this relatively flat environment.Just then about eight dolphins surfed a wave. Behind them, the is

Help keep four-wheel drives off beaches

Published on 2006-07-02 04:35:00

An email today from a reader. You, too, can take action to help keep cars off Sandy Beach.Hi Mr WilsonI just typed in sandy beach and got onto your web site. just wanted to let you know, I cant believe nothing has been done about vehicle access to the beach so I took your advice and emailed the following to your local newspapers, radio and council. hope it helps because we wish to move up to the area after christmas.CheersG.Whilst holidaying in coffs harbour we discovered sandy beach, The kids m

Tucker time

Published on 2006-07-01 04:44:00

Tucker time, originally uploaded by Pip Wilson from Australia. Today at the Chili Festival at Sawtell, about 40 minutes south of Sandy Beach. More Chili Fest pix here.I'm a member of the Rainbow Region flickr group for North-eastern New South Wales.

Where is Moby Dick?

Published on 2006-07-01 04:42:00

Whale watching at Sawtell today, originally uploaded by Pip Wilson from Australia. The whales were passing in their annual northward Winter migration, but a long way from shore. Today at Sawtell, NSW, Australia.What I missed last week was a white humpback whale -- an albino like Moby Dick -- which was seen locally heading north. This week's copy of the local The Independent newspaper has a photo.

Another midwinter sunrise shot

Published on 2006-06-29 06:43:00

Midwinter sunrise, originally uploaded by wilsonsalmanac. The sun is far north as it's midwinter, but rising further to the south a little each morning. A good time to be thinking about making a spotdial on the ceiling.

Midwinter sunrise

Published on 2006-06-29 06:32:00

Midwinter sunrise 1, originally uploaded by wilsonsalmanac. The nights are now quite chilly, and it was cool on the beach at dawn, but not cold. This fisherman seemed to be enjoying it as much as I.The last few days have been warm, mostly sunny, and beautiful at Sandy Beach.

Lizzie

Published on 2006-06-26 23:53:00

Lizzie, originally uploaded by wilsonsalmanac. While Johnny's renovating the nesting box in anticipation of the pitter patter of little wings, Lizzie is taking it pretty easy.

Pregnant Gouldian

Published on 2006-06-26 23:49:00

Pregnant Gouldian, originally uploaded by wilsonsalmanac. Poor Lizzie can hardly fly at present and no doubt is 'great with egg'. Usually no Gouldian would let you pick them up, but she can hardly move. I even nearly trod on her on the floor.Meanwhile, Johnny Gould is busy renovating last season's nest in the nesting box. What a man!(If you also live with uncaged birds indoors, there's a flickr group called Uncaged! Birds in our homes just for you.)

New flickr group for North Coast photos

Published on 2006-06-26 20:42:00

If you or your friends take photos anywhere between Bellingen and the Queensland border, you're invited to join the new flickr group, Rainbow Region: Bellingen-Coffs-Lismore-Tweed and share pics. Amateurs and professionals welcome. Depending on how this one goes, I'm thinking of starting a Sandy Beach group.Tagged: flickr, photos, photography, australia

Spangled drongo eating grasshopper

Published on 2006-06-26 19:46:00

Spangled drongo eating grasshopper,originally uploaded by wilsonsalmanac. In this picture, the Spangled drongo seems to have a long beak, but in fact it's swallowing a big grasshopper.Tagged: australia, birds, nature, photos, photography, flickr

Spangled drongo

Published on 2006-06-26 19:45:00

Spangled drongo,originally uploaded by wilsonsalmanac. The Spangled drongo (Dicrurus bracteatus) is, one hopes, not as stupid as its name suggests. (In Australia, 'drongo' means 'idiot'.) You can easily tell the species by the distinctive fishtail.This one is fairly young, as the spots haven't fully formed on his body, and he was crying out, presumably for his mother.Tagged: australia, birds, nature, photos, photography, flickr