A beautiful photo. Is it perhaps one of Ian's many lovely photos.

That duck looks very lonely in that big pond.

Beautiful picture. It looks so peaceful.

Pat, that duck is a pelican and Anne, you've done it again. The photo was taken at Port Stephens which is just north of Newcastle in NSW. It looks idyllic, doesn't it? How would you like to live there?

Beautiful. Need to make another trip to Australia to see all these lovely places that I missed.

I live in Australia and I haven't seen a lot of the places that Ian has photgraphed. Thanks Ian. A regular travel show.

ooops...pelican it is!!!!

Ian, that looks like a wonderful place to live. I bet it doesn't snow there, either.

Jackie, I too, still have lots of places I would like to see. Unfortunately, we have recently sold our lovely little caravan (received an offer we could'nt refuse) which will limit us in the future.

Sarah Beth snow is unheard of around this area - it is sub-tropical.
However we do get quite decent snowfalls in the mountains of southern New South Wales and northern Victoria - not as good as the snow you get in Colorado, but enough to keep quite a lot of Aussies happy.

Thanks, Ian. Thought the photo was familiar. Reminded me of a time I went swimming with dolphins in this area a few years back. And there were always so many pelicans. What do you do that you have the opportunity to visit so many place in Australia?

Port Stephens is a lovely area, though it is now a bit commercialised for my way of thinking - that's progress, I suppose!

Susan, most of my travelling with a camera happened after I retired. We bought our little digital camera in about 2003 when we were just about to set off on a trip around the world. Before that I was in and out of 'chemical' photography as the mood took me. This has been spread over many years, for example, I have a photo in my collection of Warragamba Dam under construction.

We are to have 2 weeks at Port Stephens in March, and hope to explore the hinterland as well. Maybe even a balloon ride Ian??!!

Bluey, go for it! There are a couple of balloon companies operating in the Hunter. It is well worth it.
Also, I do envy you with your two weeks at PS, it is a lovely part of the world. We unhitched the caravan and turned into tourists for a few days - there is lots to see and do. Enjoy.

Ian, sounds like you are having the type of retirement my husband and I are planning (a few years away yet). We do make the most of his holidays and head off to different parts - last trip was along the Great Ocean Road and into Adelaide. He takes digital photos but I am still a film camera fan. More...

Pretty scenery. Easy puzzle.

Susan, I think that 'chemical' photos are still the better quality, but the digital cameras have so many advantages and their quality is improving every day that it might be time for a change. For example, with a digital you no longer have to print every photo on the roll to see if you have mucked More...

Ian, your photo's make me look forward to the trip around Australia in a caravan that myself & better half have planned, in about 5-6 years time, which is only a guestimate, as we have a little 7yr old Jack Russell X & we will not make the trip while she is still with us. Therefore I am, but I am More...

Lonely pelican! 27th Feb'07

21st Mar'07

11/20/07

One more beautiful spot in Australia, and more of Ian's excellent photography. We have tons of pelicans here on the NC coast, but they are brown pelicans. Not so long ago they were on the endangered list, but now are more than plentiful.
4/11/08 Friday