THE CORNER OF SHANGRI LA AND PENROSE ROADS

WHAT'S AT THE END OF GOVERNORS ST...

PERON'S TREE FROG (IN FRONT YARD THE OTHER NIGHT)

TUESDAY THE 8TH (PART 3)

So, thankfully, nothing became volatile in Bundanoon. It seems state-wide there were no deaths. There wasn't a lot of property damage either. Early yesterday evening, I spoke to a neighbour who has been here his whole life. He said he wasn't worried by the 'catastrophic' level. The time a fire really came close to town was in '65. Flames got to between the bottom of Constitution Hill and Morton National Park. Apparently, Wingello was wiped out then. LJ, January 9 2013.

TUESDAY THE 8TH (PART 2)

So far, no fires in Bundanoon. The wind is still mad, gutsy, unpredictable. We're still baking. The Wingecaribee is still declared a 'catastrophic' zone by the RFS. There was a small fire in Exeter earlier, which came under control easily. I think local crews are fighting a blaze near Sylvan Glen at Wingello right now. Four fire engines zipped past mid-afternoon. Waiting for the southerly change to show itself... Let's see what night brings... LJ, 5:30pm.

TUESDAY THE 8TH

The RFS sent me 3 text messages and a home phone message last night reminding me of possible 'catastrophic' conditions today (as the fire boards at Exeter and Bundanoon point out). The message contained the advice, 'not being in a bush fire prone area is the safest option'. This was not an evacuation order. I applaud the RFS for their thoroughness... It's bloody hot now and there are forceful westerly winds (12:30pm)... So many fires are burning in NSW currently. My thoughts are with those affected and the firefighters looking out for them. LJ, January 8 2013.

RFS SAY 'CATASTROPHIC' FIRE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE IN THE WINGECARRIBEE SHIRE TOMORROW

WHITE MORPH GREY GOSHAWK DIVING AFTER LITTLE RAVENS AND A PIED CURRAWONG

An adult white morph Grey Goshawk was patrolling high above paddocks by Penrose Rd this morning at 10:15am. 3 Little Ravens were hassling it briefly, then they settled in the canopy of a coppice of gums bordering the paddocks. The GG dived at the Little Ravens, but didn't pursue them to kill (I doubt they'd eat birds of this size). The GG also pursued a Pied Currawong. The pursued were petrified - they scattered. Following this, the GG perched in an exposed section of a tree and surveyed its domain in peace. After a few minutes it took to the air, spiraling upwards until it became this shining, angelic thing (backlit by strong sunlight) and took away to the north. I've never seen threatening behavior from a GG before. What a privilege. LJ, January 7 2013.

TOMORROW

There are more than 90 bush fires in NSW right now, according to a Sydney Morning Herald report from this afternoon. Tomorrow, a mass of hot air from inland Australia is going to arrive and RFS teams are expecting awful fire conditions across the state. May they be looked after. Let's hope the bush near Bundanoon behaves itself. Good on the NPWS guys for doing the recent controlled burn in Morton NP. We all should be thinking seriously about fire plans right now. I've got mine worked out. LJ, 7 January 2012.

NEW YEAR'S DAY

Home, after NYE in Sydney, to 32 degrees, gusts, no bird calling and a total fire ban. That may be the first total fire ban I've had in the time I've been in Bundy. It was 39 degrees on the Hume Highway at Bargo! LJ, January 1 2013.