Finally, the last instalment of the trip of Robert, the vogel-meister. After leaving Heath and Robert on the Sunshine Coast, I drove back home and several weeks later, flew to Cairns to retrieve my vehicle and drive it back home.
Heath had already departed for his new job tour-guiding folk from Broome to Darwin. Robert picked me up at the airport, we chatted and slept at the YHA and arose early for a last blast of birding before his departure at noon. We checked out the Centenary Lakes, the Botanic Gardens, the cafe in the CBG for a most excellent breakfast - it can't be all work and no play - and an area to the north of the Esplanade on the foreshore.
At Centenary Lakes species included ...
Radjah Shelduck, Magpie Geese, Yellow Honeyeater, Brushturkey and Scrub-fowl, Olive-backed Sunbird, Baza, Black Butcherbird, Little Kingfisher, Bush Stone-curlew and Papuan Frogmouth.
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| Black Butcherbird Cracticus quoyi |
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Bush Stone-curlew
Burhinus grallarius |
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| Little Kingfisher Ceyx pusilla |
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| Radjah Shelduck Tadorna radjah |
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| Papuan Frogmouth Podgarus papuensis |
There is always something to see on the Esplanade. Our highlights included Grey-tailed Tattler, Bar-tailed Godwits colouring up, Great Knots, Varied Honeyeater, White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike and Chestnut-breasted Mannikin.. We dipped on the Mangrove Robin.
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| Bar-tailed Godwit Mimosa lapponica |
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| Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris |
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| Varied Honeyeater Lichenostomus versicolor |
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| White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike Coracina papuensis |
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Chestnut-breasted Mannikin
Lonchura castaneothorax |
So, a successful birding trip for both Robert and myself. The exact figure for Robert is over 400 species seen! A pretty good effort. He IS a good birder. Next trip will be the west coast! Will just have to wait.
Magic. f8 and be there.
