Martin, you would get so much joy from the birds here! I just read this in Australian Geographic about
what the fossil record shows about bushfires.
Jan, I've been checking the map to see if you're safe. So glad you are, so far. Yes, I look around, and it's like we're all standing in a heap of kindling. At least it's cool here in the southernmost shire! I've been wearing a jumper for the last few days.
I saw an extraordinary image of strange fire behaviour sent by a friend -- fighting fire in the Blue Mountains. She filmed it with her phone. The fire looked like a pool of mercury spreading along the ground. Have you ever seen such a thing??