Albury and region, Australia, 1 to 5 February 2017

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I’m interrupting the Falklands posts for a couple of more local ones, as they happen.

This is about landscapes, avian wildlife and dolls. I accompanied my partner the 340km from Canberra to Albury where she was setting up an exhibition of fashion dolls at the Albury LibraryMuseum.

While she and LibraryMuseum staff were setting up the exhibition, I drove out and tested some new cameras and lenses in the countryside.

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Lake Hume

The first few images are from the northern end of Lake Hume, a large man-made lake formed by damming the River Murray.

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This is more Murray River than Lake Hume but where that starts and ends depends on water level which can vary considerably.

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A water plant such as water hyacinth on the surface of the river.

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Not algae but perhaps an aquarium plant dumped in the river.

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Baled hay with Lake Hume in the background.

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Wonga Wetlands

The next day, I visited Wonga Wetlands which is on the Murray River only six kilometres from Albury.

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Reflections.

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Ducks.  Perhaps Pacific Black Ducks.

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Sacred Kingfisher.

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The Wonga Wetlands is a series of large interconnected lagoons.

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Little black cormorants on a branch of the tree in the middle of the lagoon.  There is contention for the topmost place on the branch.

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Great Egret.

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Ducks in the algal bloom.

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Abstract art in Nature.

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White-faced heron.

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White-faced heron.

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Australian White Ibis.

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Lake Mulwala, replete with drowned trees.

I drove on to Lake Mulwala, hoping to photograph convoluted sections of the River Murray along the way but the GPS kept redirecting me to Victoria without me realising, so that trip was largely wasted.

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Fashion and Fantasy

This is Julie Manley‘s exhibition of fashion dolls at Albury LibraryMuseum.  The exhibition was previously held at Canberra Museum and Gallery in 2015.  Most of the costumes were sewn and most of the dolls were painted by Julie.

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Blacksmith shop by Lou Matheron.

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Julie’s address at the opening.

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Wonga Wetlands again

After the exhibition was up and running, I visited the wetlands again, this time with Julie.

Aboriginal bark hut in simulated Wiradjuri campsite.

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Reflections on the river.

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Black swan.

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Five black swans.

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Female Australasian Shoveller?

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Great Egrets.

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Great Egret and perhaps a blue-billed duck in the background.

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