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Bingi Babbler
Binginwarri Landcare Group Newsletter No. 16 Thursday 25th April 2013
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Have your say, share your experience or topic of interest in the next Bingi Babbler - Submit Here
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Co Chair: Kevin Heggen 5185 1322 [email protected]
Co Chair: John McClumpha 5185 1455 j[email protected]
Minutes : Jenny Wolswinkel 5186 1340 [email protected]
Newsletter: Kaye Proudley 5185 1398 [email protected]
Social Secretary: Margaret Ferguson 5185 1358 [email protected] ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Co Chair: Kevin Heggen 5185 1322 [email protected]
Co Chair: John McClumpha 5185 1455 j[email protected]
Minutes : Jenny Wolswinkel 5186 1340 [email protected]
Newsletter: Kaye Proudley 5185 1398 [email protected]
Social Secretary: Margaret Ferguson 5185 1358 [email protected] ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Have a Laugh
A tour bus driver was driving a busload of Yarram seniors for a day out in Melbourne when a little old lady tapped him on the shoulder. She offered him a handful of peanuts, which he gratefully accepted and munched on as they travelled. About 15 minutes later, she taps him on the shoulder again and she hands him another handful of peanuts. She repeats this gesture about five more times. When she is about to hand him another batch he asks the little old lady, " Why don't you eat the peanuts yourself?" "We can't chew them because we have no teeth", she replied. The puzzled driver asks, "Why on earth do you buy them then?" The old lady replied, "We just love to suck the chocolate off around them!" From John McClumpha Binginwarri Landcare Group Bird Watchers Report No 4 Mann’s Beach and McLoughlin’s Beach by Dallas Wyatt On a warm summers morning in January a small group of keen birdwatchers meet in Yarram. After car-pooling into one car they headed to the coast to investigate what shorebirds might be present along the local coast. First port of call was Mann’s Beach where we encountered a high tide. The seawater was pushing up into the mangroves and all the shore birds had found somewhere to roost to sit out the tide height. We spent about 1.5 hours surveying the mangroves and salt marshes as well as the area near the car park and recorded 31 bird species. Sighting two brown coloured herons (good spotting Dallas, not easily seen!) roosting on top of some mangroves created some debate before it was decided they were immature Nankeen Night Herons. Also a Little Egret was spotted roosting on top of the mangroves. Little Pied, Great and Little Black Cormorants were sitting on old posts sticking up from the water out in front of the boat ramp. With the aid of telescopes we could see Royal Spoonbill, Grey Teal, Chestnut Teal, Caspian Tern, Great Egret and Pied Oystercatcher roosting on a distant salt marsh area with Black Swan and Masked Lapwing also present along with Silver and Pacific Gull and Crested Tern. Next stop was McLoughlin’s Beach where the tide was beginning to recede and we were able to gain some excellent views across the exposed mudflats of some smaller waders that migrate to southern Australia each year from the Northern Hemisphere. We had good views of Common Greenshank, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Bar-tailed Godwit, Eastern Curlew, and the Pacific Golden Plover. Other birds seen included Pelicans, Silver and Pacific Gulls, Caspian and Crested Terns as well as Black Swan, White Ibis, White-faced Heron and all the local Cormorants. We saw a total of 27 bird species in the area. The Nooramunga coast is a significant site and is part of the Ramsar listing of Wetlands of International Importance for migratory waders as well as resident shorebirds and it was an interesting and enjoyable outing. Thank you to John for driving. Thanks also to Kaye for organizing this outing. And another offering from a member on Hedley Range Road………… The boys and I just wanted to share with you our lyrebirds’ sightings to add to the biodiversity study or to share with the others. Every morning we have been seeing two lyrebirds (we suspect they are chicks as they are always together) on our way to the bus. This morning we stopped for the two to cross the road, only to watch 6 more follow, one by one. 8 chicks! They seem to hang around between 395 and 370 Hedley range Rd (we drive past around 7.45 am). We stopped on the way home and there is a large area next to road on the north side with lots of scratch marks. It was brilliant and the boys were thrilled, they commented, "some people have never seen a lyrebird and we just saw 8!!" I just wished I'd got a photo. We will keep the camera ready next time. Well - just wanted to share, Shellie Cashmore 19.4.13 Comedy Corner: A FEW GARDENING TRUTHS: 1. Annuals mean disappointment once a year. 2. Your lawn is always slightly bigger than your desire to mow it. 3. Whichever garden tool you want is at the back of the garden shed. 4. The only way to ensure rain is to give the garden a good soaking. 5. Weeds grow at precisely the rate you pull them out. 
Roadkill
There is an attachment to the email (refer link) covering this newsletter called Roadkill, for the consideration of you all. I am totally aware that some/many (?) farmers find wombats as totally offensive - a creature that creates a lot of damage - but would still urge you to read the article attached for its intrinsic worth and deeper message. Last items on the list are a few more recipes for – THE BINGI COOK’S CORNER GREEN TOMATO PICKLE: From Kaye Proudley …… These are timely! 4 lbs Green tomatoes ) Sorry folks – I still work in old-fashioned lb’s and oz’s!! 2 lbs White Onions ) I Bottle Cider Vinegar (I use a small bottle of 750 ml) 1 Tablespoon Salt 2 lbs Sugar ½ Cup Plain Flour 1 Tablespoon Mustard Powder 1 Tablespoon Turmeric Powder Cut up tomatoes and onions, sprinkle with the salt and stand overnight in a ceramic or glass bowl. Next morning train off liquid and place fruit into large boiler and almost cover with vinegar. Put on stove, add sugar and stir well and often till boiling, then boil for twenty minutes, stirring occasionally. Make a paste with flour, mustard and turmeric, slowly adding running water, mixing like mad with a knife (it’s easier) till smooth then add to boiling pan slowly, once again stirring like crazy. Boil a further 5 to 10 minutes. Bottle. MAKES 9 – 10 jars, depending on size. Couscous with Chickpeas, Dried Apricots, Pistachios and Marinated Feta 1 1/2 cups (300g) couscous 350ml chicken or vegetable stock 1/2 tsp saffron threads, crumbled 150g dried apricots, roughly chopped 25g unsalted butter 400g can chickpeas, rinsed, drained 200g drained marinated feta, crumbled handful of flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped, plus extra sprigs to serve 1 preserved lemon quarter*, flesh and white pith removed, rind finely chopped 2/3 cup (100g) pistachio kernels Place the couscous in a large heatproof bowl and set aside. Place stock, saffron and a pinch of salt in a saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to the boil. Add apricot and simmer for 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in butter. Pour hot stock over couscous, cover with plastic wrap and stand for 10 minutes or until liquid has been absorbed. Remove the plastic wrap and fluff couscous with a fork. Add chickpeas, feta, chopped parsley, preserved lemon rind and pistachios to the couscous, season with sea salt and freshly ground pepper and toss to combine. Garnish with parsley sprigs and serve. *Preserved lemon quarters are from gourmet food shops and deli’s. (Or you can make your own preserved lemons - so easy!) There you have it, another edition pulled together and out there for you to enjoy. Don’t forget to check your Activity Calendars for Bingi’s Group activities and give us a call. Have you checked our website yet? Kaye Proudley, Editor. |
