Frog Weather

The monsoon is visiting again.........or maybe it is best to consider it has been here since just after Christmas.

Only been a few days it has not rained since January 1, and many have been very very wet.  Several weekends have received more than 200mm over the 2 day weekend period........makes it difficult to get things done.

Our zoysia lawn has not been mown since a few dry days in mid-January, although the nature strip had a mow when the neighbour did their nature strip area last weekend - really just a light topping.......weather has been poor for grass growing, with rain and overcast conditions.

This morning the forecast was for continuing monsoonal conditions for a few days at least with the possibility of the conditions extending past the weekend.  At least it is not so hot and with cloud cover also reducing the baking from bright sunshine.

It is easily described as ideal frog weather.

Unfortunately, there has been a rise in cane toad numbers / sightings in our street, and we managed to somehow miss eliminating two of the blighters in the front yard over the past few weeks.  First ones actually seen in our front yard  since a year or so back.  Disappeared into the shrubbery and under the house.....out of reach of the weapons of mass destruction.

Vigilance has increased.

But of course the more pleasant green tree frog continues to vocalise in the neighbourhood.

Also had a small [ very small really] yellow tree snake noted in a palm over the past weekend.

Is it just frog weather?

Frog Weather

Yes, frog weather has arrived in the north over the past week.

With close to 600mm in the rain gauge since the week prior to Christmas, including one big day with close to 200mm [ many other places with much more than this, and on multiple days] the monsoon arrived in serious mode.  Ground developed a serious squelch - absolutely saturated!

Unfortunately these conditions also accentuate conditions for the nasty soil borne disease meliodosis - often fatal.  Our neighbour was infected and although now on the mend, had a nasty,awful,  horrible time and seems to have suffered quite badly with pain.  He is recovering, thankfully.  At least locally in Darwin, if you present at emergency at the hospital, they are sufficiently aware of the issue to start treatment quickly - a major step to prevent death.  I noted when at the doctor myself a few days ago - there was a poster about the disease on the wall - a needed warning!  

The rain was however, a pleasant relief, given the dry, yet humid weather of the past two months of so.

Now - New Years Eve - it is drier, with no rain for a couple of days, although humid with rain around - just not in the rain gauge!

The expected cyclone fizzled into a tropical low as it moved SE across the NT- mainly because it failed to move over water and pick up intensity, yet it was an important and major event, as it moved SE to South bringing RAIN .

It brought good drought breaking rain to the parched areas of western and south western Queensland, Barkly Tablelands, the SE of the Northern Territory and is continuing to move south with more rains forecast at least for today in those regions.

Western Queensland was in serious drought - and had been for some years.  I bet there are some glimmers of smiles on property owners faces now.  BUT........it will be a long and difficult time back to recovery, as most places have got rid of stock and no doubt prices for new stock will rise as demand escalates over the next few weeks or more.  

They do need more rain- not necessarily huge quantities just a more normal rainy season the help rebuild pastures, vegetation and soil cover.  Lets hope they really have a decent rainy season.

For Darwin, a few days without rain are welcome - gets the solar HWS charged up, and allows a few activities outside.  The cloud cover is still around which keeps pool water temperatures a bit lower, and the monsoon wind flow is still strong at around 20 - 35km/hr from the west, also creating a few miserable choppy waves at local beaches.

Still plenty of green tree frogs around at night though, enjoying the change in weather!  AND - so far seen no cane toads this past week or two. Even a healthy and fat Torres Strait Pigeon or two around.

Torres Strait pigeon on African Mahogany tree

Christmas Monsoon for Frogs

The season of giving and receiving.

Monsoons that is........with a strong NE monsoon in peninsula Malaysia and Singapore, as well as in East Malaysia there is some trepidation about heavy rain and possible floods in some areas.

In Singapore it has made for great weather with a strong breeze and overcast conditions - really great for walking around, with just a few decent showers and storms.

Malaysia is expecting more rain and floods on the east coast, and there has been some flooding in parts of Sarawak.

North Australia did not miss out either, with  a monsoonal burst across the north including a severe to major category 3 cyclone which crossed the coast of WA near Wickham, and is now moving S and SE bringing wind and more rain.  Not too much damage though.  Plenty of images on line.

While the heavy rain is a bit unpleasant, it is the lifeblood of the country, especially across north Australia, refilling creeks and waterholes and sustaining life. 

I am sure many welcome it.  The frogs sure do!!!

That Time of Year - Troppo Season

There are signs, apart from the hot days and hot nights, as well as the high humidity.

These include:

ripe mangoes increasing in abundance

flowering rain trees in profligate colour and then leaving their flowers on the ground

madly flowering yellow Tabeuia argentea trees along Trower Road from Casuarina to the end

tempers shortening, more cross words

increasing use of air conditioners

increasing or even re-instated use of swimming pools and spas [ usually usage abandoned in the dry season as it is too cold for locals]

increased use of liquid refreshments - of all types

lawns growing

tourists leaving town

AND...............last but not least - green tree frogs noisely croaking in any damp place, or at any sign of rain! 


All are now occurring....................must be close to the troppo season in Darwin.

green tree frog

!

A REAL Monsoon at Last

What a wonderful weekend................a monsoon at last!!!!

Cool cloudy days, some periodic sunny overcast skies, and monsoonal showers.  Not a lot of rain, around 40mm at our place in the gauge this morning [most from a decent burst early this morning] and maybe 10mm today.  But at last some relief from the horrible crappy hot weather.

More monsoonal showers tomorrow, but alas.........maybe drier after that.

Just nice while it is happening.

And the frogs are just loving it.

Cute Animals

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder they say.

One group has recently compiled a list of the cutest 500 animals.

What is your view?

Could not see the good old green tree frog.......it is always cute.

Must be some generous benefactor spending money on the project!!

There are some predictable entries, near the top [ think domestic pets], and a few wierd ones too.

Check it out here: http://www.livescience.com/13524-500-cutest-animals-list.html

Losing a Friend

Well.........sort of, although not as most people will suppose.

A tree is being given the first part of a significant makoeover today. A very large african mahogany. It is a great tree, with excellent timber too.



It is a friend........the only tree still standing on our house block of land, when we purchased the lot after Cyclone Tracy. Not only did it survive Cyclone Tracy, there have been a few more cyclones since then, although not as fierce. All were handled with aplomb and ease. Lost leaves, the odd branch........but still it stands there, magnificent, large and VERY shady. It has grown into a very significant tree providing shade for all of the cul de sac in which we live, a very shady street. So with some reluctance it had to be addressed.

We have been awaiting the completion of undergrounding powerlines, which is now close to finalisation, and remaining overhead lines are de-energised. Time to wave au revoir to our friend, although it is NOT being totally removed. NO!!

But it does need a serious pruning, with many large limbs now over the house, the solar hot water system is shaded and much less efficient, birds are dropping seeds and bird droppings into the spa pool and all over the roof , and there is a danger from some branches falling and maybe causing damage / problems as they weaken and fall.

It has been a bit of a problem........a few weeks ago there was to be a start, but after the monstrous crane arrived, it was deemed "too hard". Anyway, after further deliberations, today is to be the day. A second attempt.

Things went ok for awhile...........limbs were cut, limbs were lifted, limbs were run through the shredder. BUT................a watermain burst, under one of the outrigger placement arms of the monster crane. Oh hell!!!

That required instant repair, as it is the main water supply to all residences in the street.
So work stopped again.

Some limbs are gone............but still more to go.

Until next time...............au revoir..................again!

UPDATE - it has not been all good above on the roof either. A broken glass panel on the solar hot water system, and a very serious whack on the side of the hot water tank - it is not leaking, but has seriously damaged the outside galvanised tank, and may mean the insulation will get wet.

Holy toledo........more tree created issues!

FOUND - A New Tropical Frog

Frogs are supposed to be the barometer of the environment. If that is true, then the NT is doing ok............a new frog has been found!!

Rumour also hath it that there may be more.......

After all, the region is relatively unexplored for both flora and fauna, so one could expect these sorts of events, I guess.

But.......it is a new frog, and is as yet unnamed.

More about it here http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/20/3016622.htm including a photo. There are more on the ABC web site too.

And not to be outdone, a new plant was also found recently, near Emerald Springs [ see more here - http://oldfartz-on-tour.blogspot.com/2010/09/emerald-springs-revisited.html ] south of Darwin. This plant however, does have a name - Alysicarpus suffruticosa - a close relative of buffalo clover.

The Dry Season Is Here and Frogs Are on the Move

Sounds like a conundrum.........but it seems to be true.

Trouble is, the move has been to come inside the house.......into the toilet bowl, and other damper places.

Anyone who has lived in the tropics will know that frogs in strange places are inevitable. BUT.....that is usually when the weather is wet, and frogs are common. At the present time although we have been away for 8 days, we have found frogs inside the closed house on returning.

I know we had cracker night [fireworks] and some dogs and cats get frightened..........could that have caused the frogs to hide inside too? Or have they just sought out a nice quiet dark place, not quite as dry as outside, where the humidity is very low [not so good for frog skin]?

Whatever.............too many frogs in the loo, too many on the tiled floors inside the house, not to mention the few also jumping around on the outside tiled terrace area. Those on the floor definitely a bit on the dry side, although the toilet bowl dwellers were having a great time!

Clammy frog fingers are not a pleasant experience when visiting the loo, however! Had to go...... all of them!

Frog Night

Last night was Frog Night. It rained, about 25mm, the best fall so far this Wet Season and the first decent fall for a month. It rained steadily over about 45 minutes, then eased to a sprinkle.

And the green tree frogs started to bark, and bark.........so loud it was hard to hear inside the house.

Many do not believe how loud they can be and how many there are around, especially in our area. Most local gardens have good surface mulch and they seem to enjoy living in that, but last night they were out singing in their numbers.

Only the males make a loud bark........looking for a mate. That is one way I guess, you need to let them know you are around.

Tonight the noise is not so loud, but there are still quite a few lurking around in the garden.

The green tree frogs seem to have not suffered major reductions in numbers due to the arrival of the horrible Cane Toads, at least so far in urban areas.

While they are very loud after rain it is nice to know they are around. But ladies, take care when going to the toilet; at least turn on the light...........green tree frogs in the loo are common and the hands are clammy. [so I am told!] Definitely better than a redback spider on the toilet seat though.

The Monsoon is HERE

If you have never lived in a monsoonal climate, it may not gel but if you have you will know what I mean. Weeks, and months of dry weather, lately a few storms and very hot and humid with quite trying still conditions.......and then........the wind starts blowing from the opposite direction.


We have had a light but insistent NW to W breeze over the past 2 days, and since Sunday, high cloud and overcast conditions with a little rain. From about lunchtime yesterday, the rain started. Around 70mm [ 3 inches] since then overnight.


And it is still raining gently, but VERY insistently. I was going to do some serious flying today in a light aircraft, but only got as far as a flight around the airport before the weather closed in, earlier today. And it was very wet below.


The monsoon is HERE.


Overcast, cool [25C] - compared to the past few weeks of 33 - 36C, and a welcome change. Rain brings life and didn't the green frogs have a great time last night and today as well, singing very loudly about how great the rain is.


Current weather map :

The dense cloud across northern Australia is the monsoonal front.

photo off the national radar image from www.bom.gov.au at 1200 local time Darwin.

Battle of the Sounds - Frog Style

With due acknowledgment to the cartoonist.............except that it has been sooooooo quiet lately around our house. There is little rian this month so far, and the frogs are quiet!

The First Storm - Wet Season 2008

Had to do a job at Batchelor yesterday, and the sky was developing an ominous appearance late in the day. Storm clouds developing both to the south and north, and a sudden wind shift by about 120 degrees around 1800hrs as we were leaving.


Could there be some rain at last.


Batchelor did get some in the early evening, around 10mm. But that was minor.


By the time we had returned to Darwin [100kms north] the sky was developing that bright flashing amid the thunderheads......maybe, maybe a storm at last.


Around 2230hrs it started to blow.......the harbinger of a decent storm. Wind speeds around 50-60km/hr, a few broken tree limbs, and plenty of stuff blown around on the terrace and then it really rained. Exactly 40mm at home, in about 30 minutes. A great start to the rainy season.


And today, everything is bright.....dust washed off plants, roofs and just about everything else, streets clean, the light is bright and sharp and no doubt it will be hot and steamy as the day goes on.


A great storm, but not too much lightning. And our great guardian of the fortress.......snuck inside. Not a great lover of thunder is our fearsome warrior dog. Very happy to sit on the mat in the laundry though under storm conditions.


The green tree frogs were singing big time, so loud that it was hard to hear much else. I wonder what else they were getting up too??

Di-Hydrogen MonOxide - DHMO - the quiet killer

Monsoon frogs, in fact all frogs, do rely on access to that recognised environmental toxicant, DHMO , or dihydrogen monoxide.

It is very common in most tropical regions although less common for a significant part of the year in the monsoonal and mediterrean regions.

Many environmnetal groups rail against the material, citing it as a serious concern, especially when mixed with common pollutants such as sewerage.

More detail is available on the website www.dhmo.org where a lot of detail is available to enhance your understanding of this substance.

Bloody Monsoon

The monsoon comes in bursts to northern Australia, usually about 7-10 days at a time followed by intermonsoonal drier periods of 30 -45 days. I WILL not explain the intricacies of this process but it is all related to the MJO, atmospheric pressure waves, push and pull monsoons, high pressure periods in Beijing and other seemingly unrelated issues - all available on www.bom.gov.au for you sticky beaks.




BUT it is now over two weeks since this monsoonal burst and it is getting wetter. Have had about 450mm of rain over the past 10 days, and the ground is saturated. And the monsoon is expected to last at least another week or more. Yes....it brings life, but we need a break.........soon.

Clothes cannot be easily dried, especially those larger items such as bed sheets. The mould on all surfaces is chronic, crutch rash is endemic, the lawn grows and grows and grows, green tree frogs are getting sore throats from all the singing and it still RAINS.

We need a dash of sunshine and a vitamin D fix to improve the mood, and I need to repair a small roof crack, but it is not dry enough for long enough to even do that.

And guess what, today it is raining.

The Monsoon is Back

It's raining.........occasionally, light, slow, drizzle, the odd sharp shower, a bit of sun, more light rain, some westerly wind........yes! The monsoon is BACK to north Australia.

Lots more rain thought to be coming, and flood warnings are out.

But the monson is life to the northern tropics. It fills the creeks and rivers, billabongs and back billabongs, provides mud islands for the crocodile nests and well........renews life in the north.

The past week has been really crappy weather. Hot, humid and STILL....you sweat [ not perspire] just standing still in the shade! At least there is a light breeze blowing now and while humid, at still around 30C, at least it feels better.



AND.......last night, the green tree frogs were singing big time. Even had to recover one from the upstairs bathroom, just a modest sized one, enjoying the weather. The photo though was in the back yard.

The Monsoon Frog will be back soon

It is coming back........soon! The pundits are saying the monsoon will be back next week.

And with it the hordes of green tree frogs that live in our tropical garden, nestled in the mulch. Once it rains, the chorus starts, and then continues almost every night.

So much for the advance of the dreaded Cane Toad. Yes, they are coming, but are not into much of suburban Darwin....YET. One or two found nearby in the past year, and promptly dispatched to the freezer, and into the mulch bin once frozen. And nary one seen at night while walking the dog. If they are dense, you should see cane toads under the street lights or path lights catching insects, but they are just not there.

Of more concern is the supposed sighting of a crocodile in the nearby Water Gardens parklands at Jingili. Now dogs are banned while the crocodile is found! How many readers have a crocodile in the local park?? Or maybe just a big lizard or water monitor.

And there is concern too about the extinction of a pygmy crocodile population due to the advance across the Northern Territory of the diabolical cane toad. And yes, saving them by relocation is an excellent concept. Read the story here:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/05/2155091.htm?site=darwin