The Great Birding Adventure 2012 - Part 6: Julatten, Mount Lewis and the Great Barrier Reef

Instead of being sensible and having a well-earned rest once we had reached Kingfisher Park, we instead raced down to the Cairns foreshore early the next morning to jump on a cruise ship to head out to the Great Barrier Reef! Dave came dressed in his birding gear while Steve and I went in board-shorts and T-shirts. Someone amongst has taken his birding far too seriously! We had a very pleasant trip out to Michael Cay where we were unloaded on to the beach and immediately spotted Sooty Terns (Number 35) and Common Noddy (Number 36). We also spotted Brown Boobies (not on the boat - everyone was well behaved), and Little and Black-naped Terns. We spent the rest of our time snorkelling around the reef - absolutely stunning. I've done this a few times now but the Reef never ceases to take my breath away. Dozens of different species of fish of all sizes cruised around with us. Brilliant! bird-watching on this day, and getting two new species, was a bonus. A great day!

Brown Booby

Sooty Tern

Common Noddy

The next day we met up with Del Richards, a birding expert of all the birds on Mount Lewis, and away we went again! Mount Lewis is a beautiful place covered in forest and an outstanding birding area. We had all been there before, but we were keen to add to our "life list" with Del's intimate knowledge of the area and the birdlife. 

We were in to almost immediately as we stopped at the base of the mountain to watch a flock of Barred Cuckoo-Shrikes (Number 37) swoop down from the high canopy into a fruit-tree. A great start! As we headed up the track, Del would pull over periodically and listen for particular species - many are confined to certain altitudes on the mountain which is important to know as you can spend fruitless hours hunting for something that can only be found lower or higher on the mountain. in this way, we picked up the Fernwren (Number 38), Bower's Shrike-thrush (Number 39) and Pied Monarch (Number 40). We also had great views of Chowchillas (new for David), Grey Goshawk, Tooth-billed Bowerbird, Lewin's and Bridled Honeyeaters, Atherton and Yellow-throated Scrub-wrens, Mountain Thornbill and Victoria's Riflebird. We also came across a very pretty little tree snake. Who seemed quite happy to sit up and pose for us. Snakes can be quite obliging sometimes!

Grey Goshawk

Pied Monarch

So, replete in the knowledge that I had now picked up 50 new species (including the ten in WA) over the past three weeks, I went to bed that night pretty darn happy with myself - all was well with the world!! We dipped on the Golden Bowerbird and Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo but all in all, a great day. 

I shall only describe the next day as "The Day of the Squatter Pigeon and the Ridiculously Large Burger".  We were up early again, searching with great gusto to find the Blue-faced Parrot Finch and the Squatter Pigeon. Hours later - nothing. We retired to Mount Molloy to lick our wounds and have lunch. Steve decided to order the mega-burger, unaware of just how enormous it was going to be. It came in a wheelbarrow. It had a whole container of eggs plus a side of beef and a pig in it. They gave him a shovel to eat it with. Somehow, he managed to eat the whole thing, but this consigned him to about two days permanently attached to the toilet - we set up a "Toxic Waste - No Admittance" sign outside the ablution block in the interests of public safety. however, undeterred at the time, we headed out again to continue searching for these elusive birds. 

We took a detour and decided to try for the Australian Bustard, a bird that Steve had never seen, and which was regularly sited north-west of Julatten. Following Lindsay's directions, we found "the road" and drive slowly down it. A bustard obligingly appeared and stayed around long enough for some good photos. 

Buoyed by this success we went back to all of the sites that might yield a Parrot Finch or Pigeon. All Parrot-Finch sites - nothing. Every Squatter Pigeon site - nix. This included stalking a local school and wandering around a cemetery. Sometimes I seriously wonder what non-birders think about us, and whether it is possibly true. So we decided on one last possible spot described to us by Lindsay, and headed off in the last part of the day trying to find the Pigeon (and got done for speeding - joy!). 

Steve and I were having an earnest conversation about something very important that we missed the turn-off to the site. Recriminations abounded as to whose fault it was while Mike did a quick u-turn and then took a slightly huffy, and definitely too fast left onto the correct road. A brotherly spat broke out but was rudely interrupted by Kowalick bellowing hoarsely from the back seat, "On the Road! On the Road!" and then attempted to fling himself from the car, binoculars in hand. Confusion reigned, until we realised that a party of Squatter Pigeons were quietly crossing the road in front of us and were about to be run over! Almost rolled the car trying to bring it to a stop without killing the birds and then we all threw ourselves out to chase them down. Reading this back makes me realise that everything that non-birders think about us is probably true! However, we got GREAT views and we were all deliriously happy. The brotherly spat was forgotten and there were hugs all round! Number 41! 

Squatter Pigeons! 

Wandered aimlessly but happily home, and decided to go for a stroll down to the dam just before dinner. To complete the day, a Little Kingfisher (Number 42) came out to play and I was a happy boy! A responsible but sufficient amount of wine was consumed that night! And after a great sleep, and a casual morning bird-watch up Mount Lewis, I dropped the lads back at the airport and headed for the foreshore. I am incredibly grateful for the company they provided for eleven days and we had an absolute blast!! Lots of memories that will stay with me forever. Thanks lads!!! However, this didn't mean that the birding was done! Back at the Cairns foreshore I went in search of the Nutmeg Mannikin and finally found a lovely flock of them on the grass. Number 43! I also had a chance to get a decent picture of Pied Imperial Pigeons which was rather nice! I retired to a local B&B and then caught a flight early the next morning for the last part of my trip - four days on the Sunshine Coast!