queensland

.... was a Welcome Swallow sitting on one of the bollards as we were docking. Then we had a nice lunch in their cafe before setting off exploring again.

Ann asked if we got closer to the spit with all the birds on, well a little maybe. But goodness... there were far more birds there now! All the same species as I showed you earlier, but I think there's a Crested Tern amongst them, but I can't find it now!

We were making our way back to the dock now and passed these two mangrove plants. The sole remaining specimens in the harbour area and probably for many miles. I think virtually the whole coast had mangroves growing there in the past.

We spent some time observing a mother and calf who had a 'rogue' male with them. Apparently the mother has to spend a lot of time protecting the calf from him, by keeping herself between them at all times. There is a risk that the barnacles on the male could damage the youngster's skin. He was...

Now he's learnt how to do it belly up!! I remember now, it was mostly the youngsters who were leaping out of the water. I wonder how the mothers told them what they had to do, and how they knew when they were ready to leave? And there's the city of Gold Coast as a background!

Going on the size I think this is one of the calves we saw. There were two females with young that we came across. Apparently they spend a while in this bay teaching the young to breach and to get their tails strong enough to make the long crossing to the Antartic waters.

Are these two practising the duck equivalent of hunting for apples in a barrel? Well it was nearing Halloween of course. Never did get them with their heads up.

When I was arranging this trip, one of the things I'd requested, if possible, was a whale watching trip. Hans and Judy duly obliged and organised it!! As we got out into deeper water and we'd had the safety lecture etc, suddenly the call went up and I just managed to catch a tail before it...

After boarding the boat we actually got a little nearer to part of the sandbar, so I managed to get a picture of this preening Pelican.

This Australasian Swamphen was just showing a glimpse of his white undertail... looks like a single feather. This was all I got as he disappeared behind the tree! Originally included in the Purple Swamphen all those were split into 6 species a few years ago.

Underneath where the Darter and Egret was were a few Ibis; just showing you two of them though.

In the water, near the Darter, was this female Hardhead. The males are easy with their white eyes which show up so well, the ladies though have a dark eye.

This very alert looking Darter was over there too... wonder if he was watching a golf match LOL

There was quite an assortment or birds on the golf course side. Here we have a Great White Egret with two Wandering Whistling Ducks at his feet. There was another pair of these ducks in the water, but the only picture I got of them was with their tails in the air LOL (think I'll be holding...

We crossed over the road and explored what I'll now call the Golf Course Lake (there was a golf course on the other side of the water. This seemed to attract many different species like this Dusky Moorhen.

Oh no.... I don't think so, they're rather nice ducks, and rarely absent from any water body that I went to. I've posted this one as I like the green colours reflected in the water.

The Magpie Goose has a couple of unique features, a knob on the forehead (varying in size) and a hooked bill. They also have only partially webbed feet. They are therefore a monotypic species and the only member of it's genus. There were a few around this lake, a couple on this island and some...

By widespread I mean this is a species that is found from northern Europe through Asia, to Australia and New Zealand. Made me feel quite at home really LOL

I'm not sure of this jacana was 'enjoying' the lilies, he seemed to be in such a hurry to go past them.

... for those who were wondering why I called it the Lily Pond. A gorgeous Australasian Grebe and a pretty lily flower.... I was quite pleased with this picture really.

.... ooops wrong country;) Little Black Cormorants were also enjoying this lily pond. I thought there was some black tape wrapped round the post, but looking closely I see it is actually his feet. So he wasn't perched, but clinging.

Rather closer, but down on the muddy water's edge was this female Magpie-Lark. They're rather nice birds these.... always busy flitting around looking for insects.

From Hinterland Park we moved a few kms to Carrara and the Emerald Lakes, first investigating (what I called the Lily Pond) on the other side of the road. What a hot spot for birds this was. On the far side in really lovely light was this Glossy Ibis showing some really lovely iridescence.

A Brown Honeyeater was sitting on the wall, and.... ..... well off he went - quite streamlined like a bullet train. At least it's recognisable, isn't it?

Another species pecking around the picnic area was a handsome Pied Butcherbird. He sussed me trying to get his picture, didn't he.