"Go South, old codger"

There I was in Cairns with just a trip home on the program but with no time constraints although I had booked a bed at the Australian Wildlife Conservancy property, "Bowra", just out of Cunnamulla, for a week before Easter. Today was 13 March so, what to do. First job was to deliver vehicle to a 4WD place in Cairns for a service. Robert and Heath had put on 12.000kms in 7 weeks. They rang me during the afternoon to tell me they had discovered some important work that needed to be done based on some intel I had given them so it was there for 2 days. I walked over to the Esplanade in Cairns to arrive about 4 o'clock at the Seat of Learning under the Tree of Knowledge where a group of local, retired and very knowledgable and enthusiastic birders meet every day. When I had introduced myself, I was informed that my progress up the coast had been noted via eBird lists I had been submitting. In a good way, that was the best introduction you could have. My bona fides were already established. On that basis, one of the dudes offered me a day of birding up in the hinterland whilst the car was out of action. Guided by a local? You bet.

Starting at 6.30, we had seen 36 species by our return at lunchtime. Two lifers: Grey-headed Robin and Spotted Catbird. Good picture of a Pale-yellow Robin. On the way back we diverted to a block of land in an industrial estate subject to tidal vagaries and saw a family of Beach Stone-curlews.

Metallic Starling Aplornis metallica

Beach Stone-curlew Esacus magnirostris

Pale-yellow Robin Tregellasia capito

Later that day I did the Mangrove Boardwalk near the airport [mozzies were amazing] and had another session with the old dudes/seat/tree on the Esplanade.

Olive-backed Sunbird, male Nectarinia jugularis

Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva

Eastern Curlew Numinous madagasariensis

with dinner

Dutchman flies home

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.

Black Butcherbird Cracticus quoyi

Bush Stone-curlew
Burhinus grallarius

Little Kingfisher Ceyx pusilla

Radjah Shelduck Tadorna radjah

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.

Bar-tailed Godwit Mimosa lapponica

Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris

Varied Honeyeater Lichenostomus versicolor

White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike Coracina papuensis

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.

Dutchman reaches Queensland

Once we had cleared the Capertee Valley, it was heading north with a short stop in Yuragir NP near Maclean where the eagle-eyes of 12yo Ethan spotted Brown Quail in dense bush.

Brown Quail Coturnix ypsilophora

From there we went to Lamington NP. O'Reilly's, specifically, for two nights. The full day was spent bushwalking onto the ridge line collecting leeches and some nice birds but dipping on male Regent's Bowerbird, male Paradise Riflebird and Albert's Lyrebird. So close but yet so far. We did, however, see a Noisy Pitta [no images I'm afraid] on the very last walk on a busy 4WD track in a pretty unlikely place. It came onto the track twice for excellent views.

Before Robert and Heath headed further north to Cairns, we spent the last few days together birding Wynnum, Lake Macdonald and Maleny. Here are some images of birds we saw. Some are quite grainy due to being taken in rainforests -- not a lot of light available.

Green Catbird
Ailuroedus crassirostris

Eastern Whipbird Psophodes olivaceus

Regent Bowerbird female
Sericulus chrysocephalus

Bassian Thrush Zoothera lunulata

Australasian Darter with kids Anhinga novaehollandiae

Magpie Geese Anseranas semipalmata

Leaden Flycatcher female
Myiagra rubecula

Spangled Drongo Dricrurus bracteatus