Author: Admin2

Little Shrike-Thrush

Two species of shrike-thrush are commonly seen at Paluma — the Little Shrike-Thrush (Colluricincla megarhyncha) and Bowers Shrike-Thrush (Colluricincla boweri). They are not easy to disambiguate even with a clear picture and a few bird books, as colour and distinguishing features vary quite a lot by gender and age for both species. The name doesn’t help as the Bowers Shrike-Thrush is smaller than the Little Shrike-Thrush. 

This specimen posed for the camera on one of Jan Cooke’s tomato plants in April. Jan thinks this is probably a Little Shrike-Thrush.

Text & Photo by Peter Cooke

Rufous Songlark

The Paluma area bird list (compiled by Andree Griffin and Roy Mackay) lists the Rufous Songlark (Magalurus mathewsi) as an occasional visitor to Paluma, although its range covers most of Australia. This bird was one of a pair seen near the Community Hall in April. The Australian Bird Guide says the Rufous Songlark breeds in South Australia in spring and summer but migrates inland, or to north Australia in autumn and winter. The distinguishing ‘rufous rump’ is mostly hidden by wing feathers, but can be seen in photo 3 below.

Text & Photos by Peter Cooke

Red-Backed Button Quail

The Red-Backed Button Quail (Turnix maculosis) is a regular resident  in the Paluma Village but is secretive, and most commonly observed exploding from cover and flying rapidly away. 

This female was with a juvenile in tow across the road from the Community Hall in March, but scurried off down the back of Cooke’s place. She next appeared walking away by herself. It seems she planted the youngster under a bush and stayed in plain sight walking away to lead interest away from the bub. 

Text & Photo by Peter Cooke

Calling on Paluma’s Cooks…..

There is a proposal to run a Cake Stall at the next upcoming Paluma Community Market on Sunday 26 June (after the Bush Dance on 25 June).

We are calling on all of Paluma’s amazing cooks to contribute to the cake stall by donating a batch of your favourite baked goods – buns, muffins, slices or other delights that we can sort into small batches for sale at the stall.

The proceeds from the stall to go to the PDCA.

Lynn and Michele are coordinating this initiative so if you would like to volunteer and cook a batch of your favourite recipe for the stall please register your interest with us in the near future.

Michele at: mbird09@bigpond.com

Lynn at: lhyland@optusnet.com.au

Colwyn’s Watercolours & Wine Workshop

In normal Paluma fashion Colwyn’s Watercolours & Wine Workshop scheduled for 16.00hrs on Saturday May 14th got underway at 16.30 hrs.  There were no less than 18 participants and although it was a quiet start, as time went by there were whispered conversations and not-so-whispered conversations. It was remarked that the barman was a trifle noisy.

Everyone was engrossed in putting brush to paper and to the untutored eye some wonderful shapes seemed to appear with  minimal tutoring.  Around 17.30 hrs there was a break while people had quite plentiful snacks which had been spread out in the meeting room and there was  a mini rush to replenish wine glasses at the bar. 

But then it was back to work and brushes were being wielded until around 19.00 hrs. The event was obviously a resounding success and the enthusiasm of the painters was extremely evident.  Many thanks to Colwyn for the effort in providing such an interesting afternoon. The happy artists are looking forward to a second workshop later in the year.  

Text & Photos by Leslie Hyland

BOM Rain Gauge Update

The total rainfall recorded in May (to date) in the BOM gauge at the Village Green is impressive.

Paluma Village (at the BOM gauge) has had a total of 343.2 mm of rain as of today (Friday 13th May). Some 296 mm of that total was recorded this week alone.

The word (from a very reliable source) is that Paluma Dam is at about 80% capacity and about 1 m below the spillway and still rising.

Thanks to Barry for passing on these rainfall figures today.

A Skinny Serpent

This rather skinny python was spotted recently by Lynda Radbone on the back verandah of a residence at the western end of Paluma Village. The poor python was a bit lethargic and quite reluctant to move from the deck. It certainly looks like this snake could do with a good feed of scrub turkey or perhaps a rainforest rodent. We hope it has made its way back into the forest and has found something nourishing to eat.

If anyone knows a wildlife carer who might be able to assist with regard to the welfare of this poor python, please contact Lynda for the location of the recent sighting of this snake. It retreated under the house so perhaps it is still there and in need of care. It’s times like this that we miss our resident wildlife expert and herpetologist Roy Mackay who would have known exactly what to do!

Photos courtesy of Lynda Radbone.

Paluma Push – Call for Volunteers

Outer Limits is now calling for volunteers for the 21st Edition of the Mike Carney Toyota Paluma Push to be held on Saturday 16 July 2022.

If you would like to volunteer for the event, please register at:- http://www.palumapush.com.au/volunteers/
You can also call Sam on 0421 484 211  – or bail him up in the village.

A reminder that everyone in the community is invited to the ‘after party’ on Saturday night at Hidden Valley with a live band and PDCA running the bar.

Reminder: Watercolours & Wine Workshop this Saturday 14 May

A reminder that local artist Colwyn Campbell will host her Watercolours & Wine Workshop this coming Saturday 14 May. The Workshop will commence at 4 pm at the Paluma Community Hall. The Workshop is FREE.

Colwyn plans to bring along a few objects to set up as subject matter for a still-life.  However, if you have your own trinkets or treasures that you’ve been wanting to paint, please bring them along. Colwyn asks that each person bring along three small items like a jug, bottle, vase or jewellery box, of varying sizes and shapes, that can be suitably arranged into simple compositions for a painting. 

Colwyn has some art supplies, but if you have your own brushes, paints, paper and other supplies, please bring them along. Bringing along your own brushes if you have them (size 7 or 8 or thereabouts) would be most helpful.

The Workshop will be a fun activity and hopefully the participants will have something to take home to show for their efforts!  

The Bar will be open for drinks and please bring along some nibbles to share if you feel so inclined.