7th June: Craig drove Jill and me to the Courthouse markets- not terribly inspiring really or perhaps we already have more than enough stuff!

The road into the Bird Observatory remains closed, so the only way in there is via a booked tour. Jill booked us all on a Bush and Plains tour. Jaime picked us up at 2 pm and we picked up 2 other guests from the Mangrove Hotel. The road to the Observatory from the highway had both water crossings and red mud. Jaime’s husband Sebastian took the 4 of us in one land cruiser and 2 assistant guides took the other 2 guests in a smaller land cruiser. We had the most marvellous time seeing so many birds, with the help of 2 “spotting scopes”. We set off along the mudflats of Roebuck Bay bordered by Mangroves. We saw 2 types of mudskipper, a whimbrel and several Brahmini Kites and a striated heron .We then headed inland to the bush and the plains.

We saw a wedge-tailed eagle, black necked stork, black-shouldered kite, lettering kite, black kite, whistling kite, spotted harrier, little eagle, diamond dove, peaceful dove, royal spoonbills, many pied stilts, great bower bird, a cluster of white- breasted wood swallows, tree martins, great egret, friar birds, australasian pippets on the road, Willie wagtail, many rainbow bee-eaters, golden headed cisticola with an almost red head in the late afternoon light and finally 4 dancing brolgas to cap off a wonderful day!

Jill and I are going on the early morning shorebirds tour on Monday, with Sebastian.

We had fish and chips and pizza at the Cable Beach House, with beer and Matso's ginger beer.

No bird photos I’m afraid- all were taken with my big camera.






















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