queensland

Bit of a tale to tell you now. We sat down at the picnic table for cuppie and cake. I lifted the cake off the plate and couldn't believe what happened next..... ... the cake was on it's way to my mouth when a Kookaburra flew over my shoulder grabbed the cake and was off before I could...

We had, by now, made our way back to Hinterland Park in the hopes of finding the Glossy Black Cockatoos, but still they were missing. However wandering around the area I spotted a couple of Sulphur-crested Cockatoos up in the trees. Here's one of them.

... well it is mostly white of course. We were making our way back down the Austinville valley and came to a pond which I'm told is called.... wait for it..... (cover your ears if you're sensitive);) Pisspot!!! I may upload a picture of it at some point. Anyway... there was an Australian...

After breakfast we went (very slowly) up the Austinville Valley Road again. For quite a bit of it Hans walked ahead of the car so he could listen. Anyway we got to the top where Judy and I had a short wander into the forest. Suddenly she spotted a movement high up in a tree and managed to get...

I can't remember seeing another of my pictures showing the back of these beautiful parrots, so here we go. They've another colour there that I wasn't aware of... that pretty blue on the back. BTW well done to those who spotted 5 of them in that tree. The last one was in very very bottom left...

There was a Noisy Miner in the campsite with a very fancy hairdo, with a great bunch of nuchal feathers. I've never seen this happen on any other bird.

When I got to the kitchen block I discovered that someone (who shall be nameless;)) had put out some bread for the birds. This Butcherbird wasn't long in taking advantage, was he!!

They seem to be trying to obey the rules here, don't they. I was on my way to the kitchen block for breakfast when I spotted this flock of King Parrots up in a tree. It would appear to be a family group I think, as there seems to be an adult male, a female and younger ones? Can you see how...

When we got back to the camp there was still a little light left and I spotted this kookaburra sitting on the roof of one of the cabins. He'd obviously been waiting to welcome us home, hadn't he LOL

Driving down the long steep road off the mountain, we were fortunate enough to have a suitable stopping place to have a good look at two Whiptail Wallabies. Cute isn't he. This was another species of wallaby that I'd not been aware of before.

On the way up to O'Reilly's we pulled in at one or two of the view point parking areas, and at one of them I saw a Grey Shrikethrush... I chased it around for ages trying (and failing) to get a picture. As we were leaving O'Reillys and making our way across the car park I saw another, running...

After Judy and I had explored the canopy walk we merged into daylight again and found Hans. Wandering back through the grounds and near where I'd seen the bowerbird, was this lovely juvenile King Parrot with his orange tummy.

I was lagging behind again, trying to get a recording of a Whipbird that was calling from somewhere in the undergrowth, when Hans called to me. He'd spotted a female Paradise Riflebird up in a tree, I managed just this shot and one of her backside! One of the birds of paradise, of course and...

Sorry, lost all track of what day is what just lately. Saturday, isn't it LOL. I got all excited when I spotted this bird with the down-curved bill up in the trees (quite high too). So a picture was necessary to try and identify it! Another for my Stickbird folder;)

There are any number of walking trails at O'Reilly's and we chose the Booyong walk as being the most suitable for us. We'd not been in there very long, but were already well separated as, in my usual fashion, I was looking at everything. Then I spotted this female Golden Whistler up in one of...

Also holding court with Hans and Judy was this stunning Regent Bowerbird. OK I'd seen one before in Hans forest, but they're really beautiful and I would never tire of seeing one.

When I caught up with Hans and Judy it was to find them surrounded by birds (of course!)!! First up I was to be re-acquainted with the gorgeous Crimson Rosella, that I'd first seen the previous day! I sure wasn't complaining about that LOL

After we'd booked in at O'Reilly's I had a quick look around the shop and lost sight of Hans and Judy. I set off to look for them and came across a few Red-browed Finches eating some seeds someone had put out. Pretty wee things, aren't they - you just can't mistake that red brow, can you LOL.

A few yards along from the whipbird but rather higher up, was this beautiful male Eastern Spinebill. I'd briefly seen one about 10 days before at Hans forest waterhole, but didn't get a picture. Made up for it with this one, didn't I. What a beauty he is.... and I think his scientific name...

Finally, after the long steep climb up the mountain we arrived at O'Reilly's car park. Within minutes of getting out of the car, Hans spotted this juvenile Eastern Whipbird in the rockery beside the path. OMG!! I'd been hearing adults calling on an almost daily basis, and had even made...

.... I got a proper look at one of these - time after time one or other of my hosts had said "Straw-necked Ibis".... as it was flying away and disappearing behind trees. Here was one strutting through a paddock as we drove along the road!!

Another very early start the next day - we were off to the famous O'Reilly's!! En route we called in at their Vineyard, for a cuppie and a break before tackling the steep and narrow, hairpin road up to the Rainforest reserve. The Alpaca Farm has now been re-located there apparently. We heard...

Judy called me over to have a look at this big white glob of pine sap.... then I noticed all the insects on it, which she identified for me as Australian Bees.

We then wound our way back into the forest and on another wander along a trail came across this really cute little Pale Yellow Robin. There really are so many places to stop and explore in this Springbrook Reserve with some stunning views too. Sorry, bit delayed today, my laptop collapsed and...

We dropped down out of the forest to rather more agricultural land and paused for a bit at the side of the road as we saw some bird activity. My only decent shot there though was from a Galah that settled on a tree.