Around Hobart

I was fortunate enough to be in Hobart, Tasmania, for the 70th meeting of the International Whaling Commission and this  gave me a little time rto look around this old whaling port and the adjacent waters of the Derwent River, which is actually a massive deepwater estuary.

The wharves are home to some replica aquare riggers, a small local fishing fleet, some tour boats and ferries and the massive icebreaker that belongs to the Australian Antartic Research division ( Hobart is after all the nearest city to the Southern Ocean).

There are some views.

Two local ferries.

Local tour boat,

A tri-pot - once used for boiling whale meat and blubber

A local fising boat equipped with large pots.

Black-faced cormorants on a channel marker.

New Zealand seal lion at rest in Australia

The Tasman Bridge over the River Derwent

RSV Nuyina - Australia's giant icebreaker in port

And finally a couple of the bird species from around Hobart that will famously attach any who pass too close to their rearing grounds -

The Australian magpie

The masked lapwing - also known as the plover.

On the Rocks just off Hobart

When in Hobart in Tasmania - as I seem to be - you can head out to sea and pretty quicklu find amazing sea-life. Here are some images of a colony of New Zealand fur seals and also some black-faced cormorants, 

 

Leave water out for the badgers too!

 

Here, in the UK, it has been a record-breaking long hot spell with no rain.

The ground is hard and dry. This means that the badgers' main food larder is locked to them. There are no juicey worms available and thy are having to scavenge increasingly widely.

They, and othet wildlife, will appreciate it if you can please leave some water out for them. Any bowl will do, just keep it topped up.

Badgers and friends Summer 2026

Just some back garden nocturnal wildlife over the last few weeks, including tha latest very hot spell. 

Wild Cranes at Slimbridge

 

Here is a family of wild cranes seen in the margins of the Slimbridge Wetlands Centre today.

This is Britain's tallest native bird  (120com high when adult) and they are part of a successful reintroducton programme.  More about this and them  HERE.

Ok, Bled I give in!

Dear Bled, 

You have been flirting relentlessly with me for the two weeks I have been here, showing me little glimpses of your beauty through cracks in the curtains of the meeting room where I have been sitting for the past two weeks. 

So finally, the meeting ended I have ventured out blinking in the sunlight to view properly just how pretty you are. And from your wonderful turquoise lake complete with its outrageously picturesque island and gothic castle sitting atop a remarkably sheer cliff, you are truly stunning!  

You also provide a launch pad for dozens of walks out into the countryside where steep slopes house verdant forests over which birds of prey wheel, and between the steep forests are areas of flower-meadows filling the flat plains. 

In every direction you look, you see a background of magnificent mountains. some still showing streaks of snow.

The following little snippet of film shows the view from Bled castle looking along the lake from the main town towards the church on the island. Many little wooden boats convey happy groups of tourists to the magical island.

Lake Bled's waters are clear enough to catch sight of some of the life therein

Much of the wildlife here is familiar to those of us from further north like this Eurasian robin which is clearly collecting food for the young back at the nest. 

Piles of timber are characteristic of this heavily forested country. 

The beautiful flat rich meadowlands to the east of Bled.

A multicoloutred bee hive surrounded by a loudly humming cloud of happy bees.

A thrush also enjoying the meadowland. 

Something stirs in the woodland at the base of the cliff below Bled castle. This is next to the busy walking and cycling track that surrounds Lake Bled.

She thinks she is well hidden - certaiinly she is safe as no one could run up the steep and densely wooded slope. 

A very pretty roe deer.

Bled castle.

The view looking down from the castle towards the main town where an accordion festival is in full spate.

Also looking down from the castle - a kestrel on a ledge on the cliff.

Very lucky to be up at the castle when a choir suddenly appeared...

A hooded crow framed against the mountains.

Meanwhile back in Bled the Accordian Festival continues.

And finally .... come the warm night the bats come to feed and drink just above the lake surface.