One day recently, as we arrived at Moorunde, it started to rain. It didn’t last long, but quite heavy rain fell for a few minutes.

Afterwards the sun came out and there were raindrops with shimmering colours hanging from the trees. Flashes of brilliant blue, emerald green and bright red.

Then the birds became very active, flitting from branch to branch, not making a great deal of noise, except the pardalotes with their distinctive calls.

All the foliage of the trees and bushes were newly washed and looked a brighter green while down on the ground the mosses changed from their sombre brown summer colour to a light tinge of green.

In a place where water is not plentiful, quick advantage has to be taken of a shower of rain.

Berna Clements
Natural History, June 1990