Mingenew

We had intended going to Riverside Sanctuary - it looked really good on the web and in brochures, but when we got there, looked terrible - barren, very basic facilities, no shade, and back in the arid outback so we decided to go straight to Mingenew, right in wildflower territory.

 

and has Australia's biggest inland grain terminal.

 

A sculpture in the local park.

 

 

Flowers on the way...Dampiera ?

and after we had set up in the caravan park (that was very nice and quiet, with big trees and lots of space), we found there was a rodeo on in town so went to have a look, but it was nearly over.

There was a shower of rain early today, but it soon cleared - the weather has been beautiful but nearly always a very strong wind,.... and the flies are often bad.

 

Apparently all this area had little rain over the winter, so the wildflowers have been disappointing and most of the everlastings are finished.

However when we went to Coalseam Conservation Park, which is a renowned spot, the camp host there told us where we could go to see some native foxgloves

and wreath flowers,

so off we went in search of them...and they were fantastic!

We went for a walk along the road - it is all cropping country, wheat and canola.

but some areas are showing salinity problems

 



On the way back, we saw a carpet of pale blue

 



 

and some Dianellas nearly as tall as Rob!

 



Bird Note: There is still not much in the way of birds, but today it was nice to see Red-tailed Black Cockatoos and Mulga Parrots..definitely one of our favorites. The only other birds of interest were the Western Corella, almost at the northern extent of its range, and the Pied Honeyeater that is at the southern extent of its range.