Sunshine Beach

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Walking on Sunshine Beach,
as promised...

It was a cloudy day
with a tease of rain
that didn't eventuate
but I had arranged
to walk on Sunshine Beach
late afternoon,
so off we go...

we are facing South
looking down the South East coast
of Queensland
toward Coolum
and Maroochydore
and further down - Brisbane
our capital city
120 km away

Looking North
to Lions Head rocks
the very back
of the National Park headland
around which we often walk

If I took you
from the National Park Gates,
where I usually launch out from,
to this point we would be walking
for over an hour


But today
I drove over to the Beach
because we have other plans...

closer to the rocks
is a section of the beach
designating Doggy Beach
where your dog may play
and run unleashed

take a look back
where we have walked from
at the great cloud formations

because now we are walking
up the road
climbing past
shocking pink gum tree flowers

and a very different looking grevillea
that resembles
a plastic coated hair brush

and we enter the Wallum
once again
drawn by the bird song
at this time of day

this is Wedding Bush
Ricinocarpus pinifolius

we are on a loop
of the Wallum track
that is especially good
for bird watching


The spotted Turtle Dove
has a spotted patch
on his hind neck
pink grey head
and grey brown body
He originally comes
from India and Malaysia

I came home to identify
this black and white bird
with yellow wing panels
that become visible when he perches
on top of the grass tree stalks
or a branch like this

small noisy nectar eater
he calls
chip chip choo chippy choo
and is called
a White Cheeked Honey eater

Homoranthus virgatus

is the name
of this teensy little flower

It reminds me
of those tiny silk rosebuds
you use in craft
so I think I'll create
a common name for it -
Silk Rose Bud

and when it has done flowering
a little green heart
appears




I will take you back
to Sunshine beach
on a nice sunny day
for a more
comprehensive walk
and exploration
of this beautiful coastal stretch...





'til then
Happy days...







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