Category: Uncategorised

Perhaps you thought I'd gone home, well not yet. I've been silent because I have been busy catching up on 20 years with Ellen. Ellen (an Australian) and I met working on a Moshav (a cooperative farm) in Israel in 1985/1986. I was 22 and it was an experience we shared and possibly shaped us … Continue reading Australia – Long Lost Ellen

Dad and I visited the wetlands at Boondall reserve on his last day in Australia. On arrival the information centre was shut and building works were in full and very noisy flow. Dad was, limping a bit but very determined that he would rest his foot on the plane tomorrow. We walked along the path … Continue reading Australia – Thoughts and our last day of Birding Australia

I have noticed most place names here are Aborigine although the native people are hardly visible and where they are, seem virtually ignored by the rest of the population. According to the Australian Government website the indigenous people are 2.8 of the entire population and increasing slightly. They are very much on the periphery of … Continue reading Australia – Aborigine Influence

I think I've broken my Dad! Temporarily anyway. He woke this morning having not slept well due to an aching foot and hips. We were up early again and this time we decided to walk again 5k to Python Rock in the hope of seeing a Lyre Bird. It was a very quiet walk and … Continue reading Australia – Ripped Kangaroo!

We left the rain in Daintree and travelled back to Cairns. After a two hour flight to Brisbane and another two hours driving (in a car I call the Tank, it's a decrepit Fiat Punto) we have arrived at O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat in the middle of nowhere (actually the Lamington National Park). It was quite … Continue reading Australia – O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat

One of the most obvious creatures here in the Tropical North are the butterflies and moths. They are everywhere and often very brightly coloured. This morning we saw one variety travelling on mass in one direction high in the sky. This group were being picked off by swiftlets not much bigger than they were.My Dad … Continue reading Australia – Small things

We have entered the jungle or rather the Rainforest proper at Daintree. We are staying at the River View Hotel, it's basic but fabulous views of the crocodile infested river. It's very humid as you would imagine. The day we arrived we went on a little ferry into the region proper and out to the … Continue reading Australia – The Rain Forest

I'm not quite sure how to present today. Dad hired a birding guide Doug Herrington, and it was a fabulous day. I think I'll just give you a few of the highlights and maybe some observations otherwise, your eyes will glaze over. Not only did we see many more birds (most of them called a … Continue reading Australia – Christmas Kisses and other creatures

We headed north today and out of the wet Tropics it seemed. We visited Granite Gorge where my dad knew we would see rock Wallabies even though they would be habitualised, in that I mean used to and interacting with humans. The landscape was drier and a more open woodland of Eucalyptus and tall grasses. … Continue reading Australia – Granite Gorge

Dad and I were both out if sorts today, he forgot his telescope and I lost my sunglasses! Everything seemed such an effort and we were disorganised from the outset. We have both been worrying that we may fall out on this trip as we are very alike. We can easily lock horns and if … Continue reading Australia – Aragog’s children