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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Vectis Birder" data-source="post: 1468507" data-attributes="member: 43690">Thanks I'll bear that one in mind. I think the sort of folks who usually go to backpackers prefer the bright lights of places such as Melbourne and Sydney etc. Actually after going to bed at 4pm yesterday and not waking up until 5am this morning the picture is a lot rosier. There were three crazy Irishmen in here yesterday, the first real prats I've encountered on my trip so far, making more noise than a Lansdowne Road rugby crowd and really annoying the receptionist. In fact she was on the verge of chucking them out of the place. Unfortunately they were on the same floor as me, but fortunately on the far side of the building. God help their neighbours! <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" />As I was unable to check in until 2pm yesterday afternoon I did what only a birder can do - I went birding. I only went to the Botanic Gardens which is a 20 minute walk from here, down by the Brisbane River. I wasn’t able to add much to the trip list, unfortunately, only Welcome Swallow (very like Barn Swallow, only without the black band across the chest), and Laughing Kookaburra (sounds like a demented chimpanzee). Got what should be - I hope! - a decent photo of the kookaburra, it posed beautifully on a palm tree frond.Fitness fanatic count: high!I am on something like 55 or 58 lifers now. The trip list altogether is around 61 species which is a tad meagre but I am hoping to add much more to it up in Cairns and the north.When we left Sydney on Wednesday(? Losing track of the days) we went over the famous Harbour Bridge - I didn’t realise this actually carried a main road! - and got a good, if quick view of the Opera House. The Opera House did not look as pristine as it does on telly or on the tourist postcards, more a grubby rice-pudding off white.Setting off for Cairns later this morning. Forgot to reconfirm bus again, but Greyhound Australia told me the other day it’s only really necessary when you get on at a request stop rather than a main bus station. 29 hours on the road coming up, but with only one night and one and a half days of daylight travel it shouldn’t be as bad as the trip up from Melbourne which took two nights and one day.</blockquote>

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