December in Barron Gorge
4th December 2021
I hurt my foot at work so my outings are limited to finding a spot and sitting…with some very short walks. After work on Saturday I decided to head into Barron Gorge and sit on the high side of the river bank.
The first thing you notice about December in Barron Gorge is that the Metallic Starlings are back in town from Papua New Guinea to nest and breed. They make a lot of noise overhead in the upper foliage as I sit and enjoy the afternoon.
With the start of the wet season in December the vines that create little yellow flowers are covering the rocks again.
Those little flowers provide food for a number of insects and birds that I often sit and watch.
I am usually in the Gorge a lot later in the day. With the sun still high and it very hot I made my way to a cave to get some shade and give my sore foot a break.
I have used this cave as shelter from the rain at times. Today it would be a good base to walk short distances from on my sore foot.
From inside the little cave you can see how far away from the current water level we are. Behind me in the cave gives you some idea of how high the water gets.
Right up against the back wall of the cave is driftwood that was carried there at some stage by a much higher water level.
Not far from the cave is a fig tree that has grown over a rock. With the sun a bit lower and the light less harsh I made the short walk over to take some photos of it.
You can see the remains of the now dead host tree that this fig grew over the top off. Amazing how these things grow.