Yes, we do live in Sydney, but to real Sydney-siders, we must confess that we actually live in Parramatta. It might be like people from Dartmouth saying they live in Halifax, or people from Peterborough claming to be from Toronto. Nevertheless, we love it and it is now home for the next little while. We share this home with a colony of Grey-headed flying foxes, many of which fly over our garden in the dusk.

Unlike many of their smaller cousins who roost in caves, eaves of houses or in your belfry, these flying foxes hang out in the broad daylight. Click on the pictures for a larger view and slide show.

Most, however, are simply trying to sleep and rest up for their night’s activities of grazing for fruit and flowers to eat.

It seems that they get restless as well, perhaps from the noise of the neighbouring park. During our visit, there was a lot of activity and occasional foxes flying around.

The Parramatta Park had a few other residents as well. The Sulphur-crested Cockatoo is a noisy fellow, making a screeching noise that could be the model for pterodactyls.

The park is on the site of one of the first farming efforts in Australia starting in about 1790 under the guidance of Arthur Philip. This house was the first Governor’s house, built in 1788. It now houses a restaurant and small art gallery.

One thing we have found pleasantly surprising is the Aussie BBQ culture. In almost every park we visit, they have free gas BBQs available for general use. This seems to be a great idea.