Monday April 24, 2006 5:15 am Bagotville NSW 2477

A. Morning Musings

5:15 am The water is on the boil, it is dark outside, and a bit cooler. Yesterday was quite successful, both for progress on Learning about XML and XSL as well as for bird watching. I am optimistic that I can continue to progress with the XML and XSL this morning. Beyond that I have no plans for the moment.

B. Plan

Chores: none

Technology: begin learning about XSL

History: continue reading and making notes for "Medieval Lives "

C. Actual

7:20 am I have been reviewing the documentation for Stylus Studio for the last couple of hours and finally feel that I understand the complete sequence of steps to create an XML data file, then an XSL file that specifies the stylesheet file, and finally the creation of a new HTML file that applies the stylesheet to the data. At this point I finally feel, for the first time, that I understand the overall process and now I need to focus on the two main dimensions of the detail: creating and validating a data file in XML and creating a stylesheet file in XSL. The latter promises to be the most sophisticated activity. It is now time for a second cup and piece of toast.

7:30 PM We took a nice leisurely drive to the Tukean Nature Reserve today. beginning at 11:30 am and ending with a picnic at about 3:00 PM at a picnic shelter not far from where we are staying. We saw numerous birds but most were too small and fast for us to identify. I took a lot of photos and had a close look at them when we returned. Although we both felt that we had seen one, if not many, White-throated Gerygones, it was not until I had a photo of one that we felt justified in adding it too our list. These are quick little fellows. That went down as lifer #150. Some sort of mile-stone. A little later I was looking at another photo of a bird that we noticed on the road. An enlargement indicated that this was a Bar-shouldered Dove (lifer #151). We celebrated with a fine red.

Here are 4 images: two originals and two with digital enhancement. This gives a good indication of the power of digital photography!

Original photo of bird on side of road		Bar-shouldered Dove
Original photo of bird in tree		White-throated Gerygone

There was a dramatic difference in the context for each photo. The dove remained on the side of the road while we stopped the car about 40 yards away and then carefully took the photo, and watched it through our binoculars, before beginning to move forward, at which point it flew away. In the case of the Gerygone, there were a numerous such birds flitting about, but they were very small and very fast, seldom remaining in one spot for more than a few seconds. Focusing on them with binoculars was very difficult and with the camera, virtually impossible. I have no idea how I was lucky enough to obtain this image. Getting the camera on the right spot and then holding it steady long enough for the focus to take effect and then pressing the shutter.... This is great fun!

Unfortunately there are no images of the celebration. Even updating this page is a bit of a challenge.

D. Reflection