Snow on Mount Buffalo (2019), part 2

Our next snowy visit to Mount Buffalo was mid-August 2019. When a snowstorm brought a decent amount of snow, we rented some snowshoes and some chains for the weekend, packed ourselves some muffins and some biscuits, the portable stove to heat water for coffee, and off we went.

It is pretty unreal to see eucalyptus boughs heavy with snow and of course it was magical to be walking in a quiet, snowy forest after such a long time. Since we went up first thing in the morning, the tracks we walked were pretty quiet (we only saw a group of cross country skiers on the track around Lake Catani) and it felt like we had the forest all to ourselves.

As it happens we had a bit of snow here last weekend, but unfortunately due to COVID-19 restrictions the park is closed. This year we had to make do with looking up at the snowy mountain (when it would come out behind the cloud) and remember our snowy winter experience from last year.

Snow on Mount Buffalo (2019), part 1

Only a week after we moved here last year, we drove up to Mount Buffalo for a bit of sightseeing—not only because it was an easy activity (a relatively quick jaunt up the road) but also because the days of constant rain brought snow at higher elevations, and it had been five years since we had seen any snow more than the light dustings we had experienced in the New England.

Given its name from some early British-Australian explorers to its resemblance to a reclining buffalo, Mount Buffalo is a granite plateau within the Australian Alps mountain range. The park was established in 1898, which makes it one of the oldest established National Parks in Australia and is often heard referred to as the “Family Mountain” due to its long-standing accessibility and popularity. We are conveniently located about five minutes from the park entrance, however the winding road up to the plateau is approximately a 45 minute drive, more or less depending on conditions and the number of cyclists on the road (it is a very popular cycling route.)

The granite outcrop.

The view from the top looking north east. On clear days you can see Mount Kosciusko (NSW), Australia’s highest peak, 134km away.

Looking down into the Buffalo Valley below toward Porepunkah.

Paraglider launch pad.

Pepperberry plants under snow.

The sparsely snow-covered plateau at Cresta Valley.

Looking toward The Horn, the highest point of Mount Buffalo.

Australian alpine winter colours.

Australian King Parrots

 

Photos from August 2019, not long after the move.

We see king parrots often, although it is less common for them to so close to the house -- all of these photos were taken standing on the verandah. Usually they're a bit further from the house and stay in or under the hedge which separates us from our neighbours.

There was also that one time in early September when I looked out the window and saw a small flock of king parrots perched on the jazz...

Eastern Spinebill (Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris)

I was quite chuffed to get a couple in-focus snaps of the eastern spinebill honeyeater on the flowering quince. This is the time of year for us to see them from the house, with the quince and daphne in full bloom. They are small, quick-moving birds, and in the thick of the branches and blossoms this was the first time I was able to get a couple good photos. If you're wondering why the quince flowers look a little worse for wear, it's not because we've had particularly rough rainy or windy weather, but rather because the satin bowerbirds pick at the petals and eat them. And just as a bonus - one shot of a superb fairywren at the end, taken only moments after these other photos.