Michael Fox

Days 4-5 22-23 Aug 2022 Kerand to Bimblebox Nature Reserve 1,458km covered.

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Bimblebox is a special place which for years has been under threat from Mr Black and Yellow’s (Clive Palmer) Waratah Coal who would like to bulldoze this habitat and dig another big hole in the ground.

Ian and Paola have not simply locked up this habitat for wildlife. Paola considers Bimblebox a community resource which is reflected in the regular Art Camp generously hosted in a genuine bush setting with hot water showers and superb Italian cooking by Paola.

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Ian practices regenerative agriculture with cattle being rotated though different paddocks to control weeds, provide food for Australians and maintain a profitable business: along the lines of Alan Savory’s research.

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Ann and I had fun identifying plants and seeing what was in flower this visit.

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This majestic Ghost Gum Corymbia lanceolata was near the donga where we stayed.

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The Hakea lorea Bulloak was also in flower nearby.

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Dawn our second day really bought the peacefulness of this special place home.

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Sitting on the deck between the dongas we watched Taeniopygia bichenovii Double-barred Finches playing in the water …

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… and a Pomatostomus temporalis Grey-crowned Babbler searching for insects.

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This day we joined Ian on maintenance drive out to put out stock food and check the Art Camp.

It was at the Art Camp that we found plants that were not in flower when we visited in 2021.

Pterocaulon redolens Fruit Salad Bush

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Scaevola ramosissima Purple Fan-flower which was attracting Candalides sp. butterflies.

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Stylidium eglandulosum Wooly-stemmed Trigger Plant

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Calotis cuneata Mountain Burr-daisy

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Austracantha minax Jewel Spider

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Of course with the kilometres of pipe required to provide water for the stock in different paddocks, there is always maintenance. Ian had noticed a damp patch of ground which meant a leak to be patched.

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Heading home Timmy was alternating between riding shotgun with Ann and being a daredevil out Ian’s window.