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Tuesday, 5 November, 2013

 

It is a short report today, as it is a travel day.  I was only able to sleep in until 5:45 this morning, so I got up and started the process of packing everything into two checked bags and two carry-ons.  I had my breakfast, made my lunch, and took care of some computer stuff.  I had plenty of time, so I decided to wander around the grounds of Kingfisher Park for a while, to see if I could get lucky with one of a couple of species.  I sat by the creek for about half an hour and saw a few birds.  A Spotted Catbird came in three times for a bath; or, maybe it was three Spotted Catbirds, each coming in for a bath, come to think of it.  Anyway, I took some pictures, despite the very low light level under the trees.

 

 

It’s funny that I chased that bird for a couple of weeks and could never see one, and then in the last two days I’ve had good close looks at them twice.

 

Here is what Bushy Creek looks like, where I sat for half an hour.

 

This is what the orchard area at Kingfisher Park looks like.

 

I can see in that last picture that my lens is a bit dirty; I’ll have to remember to clean it.

 

So, I finally checked out and hit the road about 10:45.  I decided to take the longer route to Cairns, via Mareeba and Kuranda, as it would let me see some different country.  It was lunch time as I approached Kuranda, so I pulled off onto Black Mountain Road and found a place next to the Kuranda National Park to sit in the car and have my humble lunch.  There are cassowaries in the area, and the idea was that I might get lucky and have one come by.  No such luck, but I enjoyed my lunch in the shade.

 

After that it was less than half an hour to Cairns.  I filled the tank with petrol and turned in the rental car, and then checked in for my flight.  Now I’m sitting in the departure lounge typing this.  I’ll send it out when I’m done, but I’ll use my cell phone for an internet connection, as the Cairns Airport only offers wi-fi to people willing to pay for it.  It was 5 bucks for an hour.  I have plenty of time left on my prepaid phone plan, so I will use the phone.

 

One nice thing about flying domestically in Australia – there are no restrictions on carrying liquids through security.  I not only brought my Diet Coke in, I also have a plastic bottle with some Bundy rum and orange-mango juice in it, and I will enjoy that at some point, maybe on the plane, maybe before.  The flight leaves at 4:15 and is scheduled to get to Sydney at 8:15, but Sydney is on Daylight Saving Time and Cairns isn’t, so it is only a three hour flight.  They even serve dinner in economy; these Aussie airlines haven’t fully gotten the message yet, to charge for everything.  One checked bag was free, too.  I have a room booked at a Sydney airport hotel for tonight, and tomorrow morning I head for LA, if all goes according to plan.  I probably won’t send out a report tomorrow, but we will see.

 

That’s it.  The trip is over; all that is left now is the long journey home.