Tag:birds
The Rainbow Lorikeet is one of seven species of lorikeet and is native to Australia. They can be found all along the east coast of Australia, from northern Queensland through to South Australia. While they are similar in size to the Eastern Rosella, their brightly coloured plumage makes them easily distinguishable.
Habitats
The habitat of the Rainbow Lorikeet is coastal bushland, woodland, mangroves, rainforests and urban areas. They are communal roosters and join up into large, noisy flocks in the evening and early morning. However, they travel mainly in pairs. They are territorial birds, and each pair will aggressively defend its nesting and feeding area against all other birds. This aggression extends to larger birds as well as other Rainbow Lorikeets. They roost in treetops and rarely come to the ground.
Diet
Rainbow Lorikeets are herbivores and feed mainly on fruit, pollen and nectar. Their unique tongue is adapted to their diet and is long and flexible, allowing them to reach the nectar deep inside the flower. The tip of the tongue features a ‘bristle brush’ that helps lap up the nectar. Rainbow Lorikeets are the only birds in the world with this type of tongue. In addition, their muscular gizzard and intestinal tract are shorter than most birds. This makes consuming nectar highly efficient but ineffective at digesting seeds. While nectar forms most of their diet, they will also consume soft fruits such as apples, grapes, pears or figs, grains, insects, or larvae.
Breeding and lifestyle
Rainbow Lorikeets are monogamous and generally mate for life. They nest in tree hollows of eucalypts, paperbarks, honey myrtles and tea trees, choosing deep hollows from three to thirty metres off the ground to provide a safe nest away from predators. The female will lay 1-2 white, oval eggs up to three times a year. While their habitat includes rainforests, they prefer open country for nesting and generally don’t nest in rainforests. In Australia’s South and Eastern parts, they nest from August to January. In all other parts of Australia, nesting occurs year-round except for March. When the chicks hatch, they have no feathers and closed eyes. The fledgelings leave the nest after 54 to 57 days and join the communal roost. The Rainbow Lorikeet lives up to ten years in the wild and twenty-five years as pets.
Lorikeets as Pests
The Rainbow Lorikeet is considered a feral species in Western Australia (WA) after being accidentally released in 1968 from the University of WA campus. It is estimated there are now over 40,000 Rainbow Lorikeets in the wild in WA. The Department of Agriculture in WA has declared the Rainbow Lorikeet a ‘declared pest’ due to its behaviour of damaging fruit crops and bullying native birds out of their nesting sites. Consequently, they are considered a significant threat to declining birds species in WA, such as the Red-capped Parrot, Western Rosella, Australian Ringneck. The Rainbow Lorikeet is also a threat to the endangered Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo, Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoo and Baudin’s Black Cockatoo.
Illegal releases of aviary birds in New Zealand in the 1990s resulted in a feral population of 150 to 200 birds. Subsequently, a live capture initiative from 2000 to 2002 eradicated them from the wild. However, they are also emerging as an invasive threat in Tasmania, where they compete for food and nests with the Musk Lorikeet, Swift Parrot and Green Rosella. Flocks of up to 100 birds have been spotted around the state though exact numbers in Tasmania are unknown. This has prompted authorities to trial a trapping program.
One of my favourite birding hotspots is Serendip Sanctuary. Situated in Lara, not far from Geelong, the sanctuary is home to around 150 species of birdlife, plus kangaroos, wallabies, and emus. Parks Victoria uses Serendip for wildlife research. Additionally, it serves as a holding facility in the captive breeding program for the Eastern Barred Bandicoot. Serendip also focuses on environmental education of the flora and fauna of the wetlands and grassy woodlands.
Serendip Sanctuary features open grassy woodlands and wetlands of the western volcanic plains. Four interconnecting trails meander the sanctuary with predator-proof fencing providing a safe haven. The trails start at the information centre; each path is no longer than 2km.
History
In the 1860s, George Fairbairn Snr, one of Australia’s most successful pastoralists, established Serendip as a premier sheep stud. He named it ‘Woodlands’ before changing it to ‘Windemere’ in 1880. Unfortunately, the grasslands vanished with the land cleared, driving all wildlife from the area. The Victorian Government purchased the property in the early 1900s. However, the Lara Inebriates Institution took over the homestead and 258 hectares. In 1930, James McDonald bought the land when the Inebriates Institution closed. He then turned it into a crop and sheep farm and leased the original homestead to the State Tobacco Company.
Oscar and Edna Mendelsohn bought the property when the Tobacco company folded in 1948. They named the property Serendip and established an almond orchard. In addition, the water reservoir was proclaimed a wildlife sanctuary for birdlife. Finally, in 1959, the Mendelsohns sold the land to the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife. The Department assumed control of the 240 hectares surrounding the wildlife sanctuary.
Wildlife Walk
The wildlife walk is the most popular and allows visitors to experience a close encounter with wildlife. This walk takes you past grazing Eastern Grey Kangaroos, then through a series of bird hides, viewing areas and finally into free-flight aviaries.
Wildlife
Over time, attracted by the wetlands, the number of species breeding there increased from 40 in 1959 to 150 in 2021. Cape barren geese, magpie geese and yellow-billed spoonbills thrive in the shallow freshwater wetland. Additionally, the marshland is home to many ducks and white-faced herons, nankeen night herons, black swans and grebes. Honeyeaters and wattlebirds feed on the nectar and insects in the trees around Lake Serendip while Whistling and Black kites soar and swoop overhead, looking for small prey on the ground.
The Billabong habitat is home to Ducks, swamphens, moorhens, frogs, water rats, and snakes. In contrast, the north arm is a permanent wetland with reliable fish populations providing food for pelicans and cormorants.
Protected Species
Australian Bustards and Bush Stone Curlew are two rare Victorian birds that were once common on the western plains. As the Brolgas and Australian bustards were on the verge of extinction, they were selected for the captive breeding program. The success of the program has since received international recognition.
Australia’s rarest waterfowl, the Freckled Duck, is also on display at Serendip, along with the most secretive of owls, the Masked Owl. Pademelons can be seen at the sanctuary but are now extinct in the wild in Victoria.
Where is it?
100 Windermere Road, Lara
Open 8 am to 4 pm. Closed Christmas Day and Good Friday
Entry is free
The Australian Laughing Kookaburra is a giant kingfisher synonymous with Australia. Their distinctive call sounds like a fiendishly laughing human and establishes their territory. Their call can be heard early morning and late afternoon. While kookaburras belong to the kingfisher group, they are not closely associated with water and rarely eat fish. However, they have been known to take goldfish from garden ponds.
Iconic Status
The Australian Kookaburra is iconic with Australian culture. For example, Olly the Kookaburra was one of the three mascots of the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Furthermore, a famous Australian nursery rhyme by Marion Sinclair immortalised the Kookaburra for generations of children. It is also the brand name of Kookaburra Sport, founded in 1890 and named after the original owner’s pet bird. They still produce equipment for cricket, football and hockey leagues, and the most widely used ball used in one-day internationals and test cricket.
Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree,
Merry merry king of the bush is he.
Laugh, Kookaburra, Laugh, Kookaburra
Gay your life must be
Except of Kookaburra Sits In The Old Gum Tree a nursery rhyme written by Marion Sinclair in 1934
kookaburra species
There are four species of Kookaburra. The Laughing Kookaburra is native to Australia and lives in Eucalyptus woodland and open forests all along the East Coast of Australia. In contrast, the Blue-winged Kookaburra lives in tropical and subtropical woodlands, swamps, watercourses, canefields and farmlands. They are native to Northern Australia and Southern New Guinea. Finally, the Spangled Kookaburra is native to the Aru Islands of Southern New Guinea, and the Rufous-bellied Kookaburra is native to lowland New Guinea.
SIZE AND APPEARANCE
The Laughing Kookaburra is 47cm tall and weighs around 465 grams. Head and chest are off white with dark brown on the back and wings. They have a light blue tinge on the wingtips and a conspicuous eye stripe of dark brown on the face. Their tail is broadly barred with black. They have a brown eye and large beak, dark on top and a pale underside. Their name comes from their iconic laughing call.
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Blue Winged Kookaburra is slightly smaller than the laughing Kookaburra at 42 cm high and weighs around 310 grams. They also lack a large brown eye stripe. Instead, they have a blue tail, with a large amount of bright blue on the wing. Their back is brown, and they have white eyes. Like the laughing Kookaburra, their large beak is dark on top and has a pale underside. However, their call is more similar to maniacal barking.
kOOKABURRA CALL AS SOUND EFFECTS
The iconic call of the Australian Laughing Kookaburra has appeared as a sound effect in many movies. This is regardless of where it’s set, considering kookaburras are only found in Australia and New Guinea. However, filmmakers seem to like including their laughing call to give the impression of an impenetrable jungle. The following are just a few movies that have all used its call.
- Tarzan, set in African Jungle
- The Treasure of Sierra Madre, set in a Mexican forest
- Raiders of the Lost Ark – in the Amazonian rainforest
- Lost World Jurassic Park – on a fictional island supposedly west of Costa Rica
- Swiss Family Robinson – on a deserted tropical island in the East Indies
- Romancing the Stone – a Colombian jungle
- Aquaman – in the hiddlen jungles at the earths core
- Listen to Laughing Kookaburra
- Listen to Blue Wing Kookaburra
Behaviour
Unlike many other kingfishers, they rarely eat fish and are closer to birds of prey. They are almost exclusively carnivorous, eating a diet of mice, snakes, insects, small reptiles and young birds. Kookaburras are social birds, accept handouts, and have been known to steal meat from BBQ. They also rarely drink water as they receive most of their moisture from the blood of their prey. Sitting in silence on a tree branch, they watch their prey before swooping down and catching it in their beak. They drop the snakes from great heights or bash them against a tree trunk or rock to kill and soften their prey before devouring them.
Breeding
Kookaburras live in groups and mate for life. The older offspring help the parents care for the new chicks. The breeding season runs from September to January. They build their nests in hollow tree trunks or excavated termite mounds. Their nests are bare chambers, usually no more than 12 metres from the ground. A female will lay 1-4 round white eggs. Both parents share in the 25-day incubation process. Once hatched, the entire family will help feed and protect the young hatchlings.
The chicks are born blind and featherless. However, they are still highly aggressive. The young chicks are born with a temporary hooked beak, and the first chicks to hatch have the advantage. The chicks use their hooked beak to fight the last chicks to hatch. The first two hatchlings will often peck the remaining chicks to death, thus ensuring more food for themselves. When the chicks mature, they stay with the adults, remaining part of the group and assisting the parents in defending the territory and raising future chicks.
Artificial Introduction Elsewhere
The Kookaburra was introduced to Western Australia in 1897 to control snake numbers. While the introduction was successful, Kookaburra’s now posing a significant threat to native lizard species. They also take up vital nesting hollows used by the endangered black cockatoos, impacting the black cockatoos’ ability to breed successfully.
Australia’s largest flying Bird – The Pelican, is a familiar sight along the Australian coast. It is often seen roosting on sandbanks, rocky breakwaters, swimming in lagoons, bays and rivers, and congregating in large numbers around fishing villages or where fishermen clean their catch. They are large waterbirds with a long pink bill for catching fish and draining the scooped up contents before swallowing.
Appearance
Pelicans species are mainly white except for the brown and Peruvian pelicans. The Australian Pelican is the largest of all eight pelican species. However, it weighs just 7kg because it has the lightest bones of any bird in the world, with air sacs in the bones and a network of air sacs under its skin. Their bill, the largest of all the Pelican species, is 40-50cm long, and they are voracious eaters, consuming up to 9kg of food per day eating fish, shrimps and yabbies.
With a wingspan of 2.3 – 2.6, they can soar to a height of 3000m and fly 1,000 in 24 hours. They are found throughout Australia, Papua New Guinea and western Indonesia, with occasional reports in New Zealand and various western Pacific islands.
Behaviour
Pelicans plunge their bills into the water to catch their prey, using it as a net to scoop up prey. While they may feed alone, they more often work together to drive fish into a concentrated mass before herding the fish into shallow water or ever-decreasing circles. On a trip to Lake Menindee one year, we went out to shoot a sunset at the local weir. We found a flock of pelicans waiting at the wall for dinner on arrival. As fish swept over the top of the weir, they would scoop them up at the bottom. Pelican version of automatic food dispenser 🙂
During food shortages, they have been known to capture and eat seagulls or ducklings, holding them under the water until they drown and then eating them head first. They will also rob other birds of their prey and take handouts from humans.
Mythology
Pelicans also feature in many myths and Christian iconology, including the ‘Book of Beasts”, a Christian compendium of real and imaginary beasts, with the Pelican symbolising selflessness and sacrifice. Colin Theile wrote the beloved Australian book ‘Storm Boy’, the story of a young boy living a lonely life with his reclusive father on the beach in Coorong, an isolated wetland region in South Australia. The boy finds and raises three orphaned Pelican chicks forming a close bond with them. In 1976 the book was adapted into a film, with a sequel in 2019. Mr Percival, the Pelican, died in Adelaide Zoo in 2009, aged 33 years old.
Breeding Site
All Australian pelicans mainly derive from just two breeding sites. On islands in the north of the Coorong, S.A. – Storm Boy country – the rookery produces almost all of Australia’s pelican chicks. The other is on various waterways of the Lake Eyre basin during rare flooding events. This year there was also a large breeding colony on Lake Brewster NSW, a remote inland lake.
In 1990, around 100,000 pelicans (perhaps a third of all the pelicans in Australia) on Lake Eyre produced 80,000 to 90,000 chicks, which later dispersed throughout the continent, including Canberra’s lakes.
About Regional
Breeding
Pelicans are gregarious birds and are monogamous for a single season, breeding in large colonies. While up to four chalky white eggs are laid, the usual number is two. Incubation is for 32 to 35 days. After hatching, the larger chick is fed more, and the smaller one eventually dies of starvation or siblicide by the other chick. The young Pelican can fly at around three months of age but still depend on its parents for food.
Landing and Take Off
Pelicans can remain in the air for 24 hours. However, they cannot sustain flapping flights over long periods. They use thermal currents to swoop and soar and cover great distances to overcome this. The landing appears similar to an amphibious aeroplane landing on a water runway, gliding to a stop using its webbed feet as brakes. Then, they skim across the water on takeoff, building up speed, flapping wings, and lifting into the air.
Pelican Feeding
Where can you see Pelicans being fed? Every day at midday on the foreshore by the pier at San Remo, Vic. The Pelican feeding at The Entrance in NSW has been temporarily halted due to Covid. You can see them fed at Ian Dipple Lagoon on the Gold Coast at 1.30 pm daily. The pelican feeding has been permanently cancelled at Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, SA.
The aggressive, native bird, the noisy miner, is arguably one of the most prolific Australian native birds. They are pale grey, with a yellow beak and yellow patch behind the eye. In recent decades, due to deforestation and habitat modification, their population exploded along the east coast from the outback to suburban backyards and parks. Due to the severe negative impact this has had on our small woodland birds, there are repeated calls to cull the native noisy miners.
Noisy miners are native Australian honeyeaters, and in their natural environment, they feed on nectar, fruit, insects and help pollinate native plants. However, they have huge appetites and will also eat frogs and lizards. They can benefit gardens as they love little bugs and insects that damage your plants.
But are they pests?
The “problem” with noisy miners, apart from the din kicked up when the colony is alerted to intruders, is they are also territorial, aggressive and quite the bully. They unite as a colony to attack predators and defend their habitat against all other species of birds. Unfortunately, more often than not, a habitat that has been stolen from those same birds. This behaviour, along with their size, enables them to chase away a wide range of woodland and forest birds that are listed under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995, such as Swift Parrot, Regent Honeyeater, Little Lorikeet, Hooded Robin, Flame Robin, Brown Treecreeper, Speckled Warbler, Painted Honeyeater, Black-chinned Honeyeater, Turquoise Parrot and Scarlet Robin.
The exclusion of these birds from their habit by Noisy miners impacts their feeding and breeding and further decreases these species. Noisy miners have also been known to harass cats, swooping them in groups if they are in their territory. As native birds, they are protected under the Nature Conservation Act 1992. It is a serious offence to kill or harm noisy miners.
Miner vs Myna
The Indian Myna is an introduced bird, often confused with the Noisy Miner as they are both have the same distinctive yellow at the back of the eyes. Indian Mynas were deliberately introduced into Melbourne’s market gardens in the 1860s to help control insects. However, further releases occurred in Sydney and Queensland, and, like the Cane Toad, with no natural predators, they spread quickly with devastating consequences for native Australian wildlife.
The Indian myna also lives in large, noisy suburban communities and nests in tree hollows and roof cavities. They also push native animals such as possums and birds from their nesting tree hollows and take over the hollow. One breeding pair of Indian mynas can potentially produce 13,000 birds within five years. As a consequence of the problems the Indian mynas cause, there is also a call to trap and cull their population. The Indian Myna is not a protected species.
Breeding
The noisy miner is a communal, family orientated bird with a life span of around 6.7 years for females and 8.7 for males. They breed all year long, laying two to four eggs each time. The female constructs a deep, cup-shaped nest and incubates the eggs alone, but both parents care for and feed the chicks. It’s also common for other male community members to help feed the chicks.
Habitat
Their natural habit is dry eucalypt forests, woodlands and remnant bushland. However, they thrive in human-modified landscapes as they prefer cleared land with tall trees and little to no understory. Planting shrubs and understory plants in your suburban garden, along with spiky type plants (roses, bougainvillea etc.). This cover provides safety to smaller birds.
What you can do
- do not feed noisy miners
- plant an understory of dense vegetation and ground covers to provide cover and protection to small native birds
- do not catch, kill or harm noisy miners
- leave nesting birds undisturbed
- do not remove eggs or nests
Once a year, my sister and I take a week’s holiday together. No hubbies, no kids. Just sister time with our cameras. This year we chose the hinterlands of the Gold Coast, staying at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat for four days before heading down via Springbrook National Park to Surfers Paradise for another four days. Finally, we flew out of Melbourne, arriving in Coolangatta 2 hours later… due to Qld not having daylight savings, the watches had to go back an hour, putting us at the rental desk to collect our hire car only 1.5hrs after leaving Melbourne.
“Four years after the arrival of the O’Reilly family in 1911 Lamington National Park was declared, effectively isolating the O’Reillys from the outside world. While Lamington wasn’t Queensland’s first national park it is the most significant, and was regularly referred to as ‘Queensland’s National Park”
https://oreillys.com.au/lamington-national-park/
A free upgrade saw us heading off in a lovely little Mitsubishi ASX instead of the Toyota Carolla. Not that it helped with luggage storage … we had two large suitcases and two rolling camera suitcases, and the big suitcases held more camera gear! Gone are the days of travelling light.
Canungra
The first stop was O’Reillys Vineyards, Canungra, where we enjoyed a delicious lunch before a wine tasting and bought some wines to take with us. There was apparently platypus breeding in the creek, but with the skies getting darker and a storm predicted and 34 kms of very, very winding road up the mountain ahead of us, we decided to push on. It was good that we did, as while Qld doesn’t believe it needs daylight, saying it would really help! Daylight is around 4.30 am every morning, but it’s dark by 6 pm.
Goat Track of a Road
Road crews were working on the road repairing damage from Cyclone Debbie. This made some sections narrower than they were already, and it was one lane all the way up. Not one lane each way… one lane in total! there were lots of little turnouts to pull over into, but a couple of times, we came around a blind corner with another car coming towards us…. a wine was definitely called for by the time we arrived. (we found out later the road was an old logging track they covered with bitumen!)
O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat is a village-like retreat high up the mountain in Lamington National Park, with a dining room, bar, cafe, discovery centre, church, mini-mart, gift shop, and accommodation options from self-contained through to guesthouse or camping.
Birds Galore
We had decided to stay in the mountain view rooms with a little back deck overlooking the mountains in the distance. It turned out to be an excellent choice as each morning and evening, we had such a myriad of birds in the trees around our room that we quickly bought some rice crackers at the mini-mart to attract them closer.
That night we strolled down to O’Reilly’s dining room… amazing food with massive portions…. not really overpriced for what you got, but geez.. our lamb share platter for two could have fed four; we did our best but still left half…. mind you we still made room for the pavlova even if we had to share that too 🙂
For me, this was the highlight of the trip.. remote, isolated, heritage-listed, and with a landscape, unlike anything I had seen before. Mungo National Park.
Menindee
We left Broken Hill around 7.30 am and headed towards Menindee to get there. Unfortunately, mobile reception became almost nonexistent at 7.32 am (Telstra only, and then even that eventually gave up). Though we knew that wouldn’t last long, we had good bitumen roads to start us on the way. Menindee lakes had been empty for a couple of years but now had water in them again, something we wanted to see. While not the best time of day to see them (sunrise and sunset are superb), the lakes were pretty and worth the stop.
if you ever get a chance to go to the Menindee Lakes – go for a sunrise or sunset. It’s just beautiful. The birds are active. It has a much different feel at sunset, serene. Tranquil.
Pooncarie
We headed out of town from Menindee towards Wentworth, our destination Pooncarie. The only town between Menindee and the Mungo turnoff. About 10kms out, we hit the dirt roads apart from bitumen on the cattle grids; we had dirt roads for about the next 40kms. There was no petrol at Mungo, so we refuelled the cars and headed to Pooncarie’s Telegraph Hotel for lunch. Not the best choice, though. It was the only game in town. Onions on burgers were cold; the burger pattie was burnt outside and raw on the inside. The lady behind the bar just shrugged her shoulders when we complained. Luckily none of us came down with food poisoning. Leaving Pooncarie behind, we headed off again toward Mungo. We stopped for a photo-op at the car on the pole.
We continued until we hit Top Hut Road. From here, it was around 60kms of dirt road to Mungo Lodge just outside the park. All roads leading into Mungo are dirt roads. And they get closed in bad weather. Did I mention it was isolated?
Mungo National Park
Booking in, we met the lovely John, who had been chatting back and forth with me in the preceding weeks organising everything for us. The accommodation was all cabins set in a circle around a central park area. Rooms were fantastic, king beds, lovely clean ensuites, and back porches on each cabin. Touch of luxury in the middle of nowhere! Around 5 pm, we met our guides at reception, and we followed them off into the national park itself. The first stop was the Walls of China lookout.
Walls of China
After a brief stop there, we were back in the cars and heading down onto the walls of china. Access to the great walls is strictly by guide only to ensure the area is protected. The guides carried our packed dinner for us (provided by Mungo Lodge) as we planned to shoot and then eat dinner at sunset.
Aboriginal artifacts and remains dating back 50,000 years had been found here. Making it one of the oldest places occupied by humans since ancient times.. the remains of a 40,000-year-old female found in the dunes of Lake Mungo are believed to be the oldest ritual cremation site in the world. Back then, it was a lush lake area, part of the Willandra Lakes region, teeming with life as the lake dried up. The tribes moved on.
As it got darker, we started shooting the stars. And I ticked off a second bucket list .an orb at Mungo.
Days End
by the time we headed back to the cars, it was pitch black. Bobbing torches in convoy followed the guides back to the vehicles, then the hair-raising drive back to the lodge. In the dark following, clouds of dust from the car in front reduced visibility to about 3 feet. If any roo had jumped out, he would have been on our laps. We’d have no chance of seeing him in time to stop. I had planned to do some more light painting back at the lodge, but after all the walking and driving, everyone just headed for their rooms and crashed out.
In March, I took a trip down to Lake Borrie to hunt birds at the Western Treatment Plant in Werribee. It’s reputed to have ‘tens of thousands of birds attracted to its wetlands and lagoons. While I did see pelicans, ibis, egrets, swans, robins, ducks, etc., on this trip, it was disappointing. Seeing them from a mile away isn’t conducive to photography. But, I guess you would be happy if you are a bird watcher with binoculars. As for the ‘tens of thousands of birds, no, unless you count the seagulls.. and I don’t. The birds are pretty skittish too. I found it a bit odd considering the amount of traffic going through the place you would think they would be more used to it.
We used the long lenses and slowly crept up in the car. But they tended to fly off still when we were still 30 plus feet away, So I put in the ‘must-do’ list a return in spring. Assuming there would be more birds there in the spring months. If anything there was less.
We only saw a couple of whistling kites, welcome swallow, and some swans this time. The permit to enter the WTP is $20 for two years. A gate key is a further $50. So far, I don’t see the value in it. But I will try once more over the summer months.
and on a final note. the Western Treatment Plant is there to process the sewerage from Melbourne
One of my favourite places on earth is Tropical North Qld.
Correction, it’s my most favourite place. It’s warm, usually sunny, the people are beyond anyone’s yardstick for friendly, and the lifestyle is so laid back you don’t need yoga or massages. I visited here in 2012, came back in 2014 and returned in 2016. This trip was impromptu – I usually don’t travel in the high season, but I wasn’t turning up the chance to go again.
Flights
We flew Jetstar, and apart from the struggle with cabin baggage restrictions, it was problem-free. I would guess 7kg as carry-on is acceptable for the regular holiday traveller. However, it is a challenge for someone who travels with a DSLR and several lenses. Fortunately, hubby was travelling with me this time, so I could span my gear across our cabin bags and the clothing was checked in.
A Pillow To Lie My Head On
We stayed in Trinity Beach this time rather than Cairns central, which turned out to be the best decision we could have made. Unlike Cairns, there were no parking problems or wall-to-wall people. Cairns is fabulous. But parking is problematic, and it’s becoming crowded.
Hopefully, it takes a while for people to catch on that Trinity Beach is only 25 mins from Cairns and awesome 🙂 (shhh, you didn’t hear it from me ). Our rooms at the Trinity Beach Club Apartments were fabulous. Comfy, well-appointed, reasonably priced, and only 5 mins walk from the beach. We made good use of the saltwater pool and spa too 🙂
Getting Around
You can use the ‘Sunbus’. I saw many of them around, and it seems an easy way of getting around. Each time I have been to Cairns, we have hired a car. Mainly because of the gear I lug around. And I hate waiting for public transport. As usual, we opted for an economy class car which before has served well. However, there was no cruise control, and the vehicle, a Hyundai Accent, struggled on hills with inferior pickup, Something I will be aware of next time when I book.
What To Do
Hubby is happy to just veg on holiday while I look for photographic locations when we are away. One given, when in Cairns, is we have to go to Hartley’s.
Hartleys Crocodile Adventures
I have been there every trip up North and never tire of it. It’s the best place to get croc pics and see them up close They also have excellent wildlife areas that cover lots of other Australian animals and reptiles Last time, I sat in on the Croc attack show. This time we were there in the morning, so we took in the Croc Feeding OMG, awesome, doesn’t cover it, And Ryan really needs a pay rise No way would I hand feed the beasts!
Cape Tribulation
Apart from Hartley’s, we finally drove to Cape Tribulation. I had wanted to go here for ages but never got there till this visit. The drive up from Cairns is about 2.5 hours, including crossing the Daintree on the car ferry. There is no bridge, so it’s the ferry or swim. And with about 60 crocs in the river, that’s not advisable. The ferry is a reasonable $26 return. It takes about 10 min Peak hour can see quite a lot of cars queued up, but if you avoid 10 am-12 pm or 3 pm-6 pm, it’s good. Once off the ferry, we drove to Cape Tribulation beach. It’s pristine, clean and quiet. Even though there were about ten other people there, it felt like you were the only ones on earth. The rainforest reaches right down to the sand. Idyllic doesn’t begin to cover it.
Kuranda
We took the Skyrail up and back to Kuranda to visit the market on Saturday. Another of my favourite things to do is the Kuranda Market. The heritage markets aren’t large but worth the visit. Loads of other shops, the traditional markets, cafe’s, Birdworld, Butterfly World, and Venom World are all within an easy walk. Being smart and too lazy to walk uphill, we took the courtesy bus up to the markets and then strolled back downhill when we were ready to return to the Skyrail.
Hubby also went out on a morning fishing charter with Paradise Sports Fishing and had a ball. While he was doing that, I chilled at the Esplanade Lagoon with my book.
Eating…..
We just about camped at the Trinity Beach Bar and Grill. Sprawling across the corner opposite the beach, it seemed a favourite of both locals and tourists. The food was great, portions large and reasonably priced. We tried the Trinity Beach Tavern one night, and the seafood was superb. Likewise, for the Blue Moon Bar and Grill. Both provided excellent food and good service. Our biggest disappointment was Chiantti’s Pizzeria. The pizza was ok, pasta less so.
Sunrises
One of the things I always try for and rarely get while on holiday is a decent sunrise. Out of the five days we were there, we went out twice. The best one of the lot was in the middle of our stay. With a huge rising red sun and a deep red, Of course, that day, I was driving into Cairns to take the man to his fishing charter and missed it 😐 On the days I did go out, I shot bracketed shots, combined them into HDR, and came home happy with the two I managed to get.
We have already promised a return in 2018. So if you are looking for heaven on a stick, Tropical North Queensland is the only contender in my book.
Photography on Kangaroo Island had been on my bucket list for some time. Its part of South Australia is 155 km long and lies just off the coast of Adelaide. You either take the Sealink Ferry or fly via Rex Airlines to get there.
The Carry-On Dilemma
Travelling with a friend and fellow photographer, we chose to fly, which turned into quite a challenge with all our camera gear that we didn’t want to check the equipment in. We were allowed 15kg at check-in but only 7kg in cabin baggage. Handbags included. We’re lucky they don’t weigh passengers with the gear we secreted in pockets.
Kingscote
Landing at Kingscote on Kangaroo Island, we collected our hire car from Hertz and were armed with loads of info from the very helpful chap at the counter. So we headed off to our first stop. Karrata via the Playford Highway. We had booked in at Western Kangaroo Island Caravan Park and Wildlife Reserve to use as our base while exploring Flinders Chase National Park. Cabins were roomy, clean, and handy to the national park. The wildlife roaming around ‘our’ park was a bonus.
We visited Hanson Bay Wildlife Reserve, but I feared all the animals were on holiday. Saw a few birds, one koala waaaaay up the top of a tree. The staff assured us that other visitors who had seen several koalas and one chap counted 15. For me, ‘seeing’ a koala is not the same as photographing it. Up the top of a tree, bum nestled in a fork, yep, saw it. It wasn’t a Kodak moment. We did enjoy their scones with jam and cream, though.
With nothing to show for our Hanson Bay trip, we returned to our cabin and decided to take a walk on their wildlife trail. Saw a kangaroo, a few wallabies, and one koala ambling through the bush, changing trees for dinner.
Flinders Chase National Park
Remarkable Rocks
The following day we headed into Flinders Chase and made for Remarkable Rocks. From a distance, they look attractive but not remarkable. Up close, the sheer size of them is, well, remarkable. That you can still walk up to and around them is fantastic. Parks Victoria would have fenced it off by now and have you viewing from a ‘safe’, bland distance.
Cape du Couedic Lighthouse
Leaving Remarkable Rocks, we headed to Cape du Couedic Lighthouse. This would have to be the prettiest lighthouse I have seen. Pristine Sandstone and a white double door entry with a red hat, she’s just gorgeous.
Admirals Arch
From Cape du Couedic, we headed to Admirals Arch. We had been told NZ fur seals lived around the arch’s base and were looking forward to seeing them and the arch. Nature didn’t disappoint. Access to the arch is via a long descending boardwalk which becomes stairs once you reach the arch. Photography at the arch is a challenge. The arch entrance is dark, the sun bright on the other side, and lots of mist drizzling down from the wave sprays. I took two photos, exposing one for the rocks and the other for the ocean and blending in PS. Coming back up was much slower, and I think I availed myself of every rest stop along the way. Lunch was at the Flinders Chase Cafe. Delicious burger and superb coffee.
Vivonne Bay
After lunch, we headed to Vivonne Bay. Vivonne Bay was voted one of Australia’s top beaches by the University of Sydney (because of its clear water, cleanliness, and privacy). And yes, the water is that blue.
Seal Bay
The following day we headed to Bales Beach for a brief stop before going to Seal Bay for a guided tour. Stunning pristine white sand and blue water. Does Kangaroo Island know any other kind?
We had decided on the guided tour at Seal Bay to get closer to them, but because big fat Sea Lion Bulls can still move fast and pack a wallop, we still had to stay 10 metres from them. Lolling and relaxing on the beach were a hundred or so seals, including a few mothers still nursing babies.
Stokes Bay
From Seal Bay, we headed to Stokes Bay. Stokes Bay is known for its ‘secret’ bay (that everyone knows about). You walk across the beach from the carpark towards the enormous boulders and see a small sign on the rocks with an arrow “to the beach”. You enter the gap in the rocks, duck, and weave and come out the other side on another beach. Heading and weaving around boulders in the narrow passage, I felt like Indiana Jones on a voyage of discovery. Thankfully no sword-wielding black warriors awaited me on the other side.
Heading back to our accommodation, we took another walk through the grounds. This time the lagoon rewarded us with Spoonbills, Kangaroos and an Echidna.
Cape Willoughby Lighthouse
The following day we packed up and headed back to Kingscote for the last two nights of our stay. We took in the Dudley Peninsula, Cape Willoughby Lighthouse, Antechamber Bay, American River, and Pennington Bay.
Kingscote Pelican Feeding
That evening we headed down to Kingscote Wharf for the nightly pelican feeding. At $5 per head, it’s a great show.
After the show, we hung around the harbour, and suddenly the sunset took off. We weren’t prepared for it with tripods and such, so we only managed a few shots, but what a sunset it was.
Raptor Domain
The following day we had our Raptor Domain Booking, A private 2-hour session with the keeper, five owls, five eagles, kookaburra, Kestrels, Sea Eagle, Red-Winged Black Cockatoo, and Crimson Rosella. After our private session, we stayed for the flight show before heading off for lunch and Emu Bay.
Flying Home
The following day we packed up again, loaded the bags and ourselves ‘strategically’ to pass Rex’s weight rules and headed for the airport. Fabulous trip and lots of great memories, And way too many images for one post. To see all the photos from the trip, go to Gallery.
Footnote: while most roads were great (a lot are dirt), we only once travelled at dusk. And significantly, very slowly Driving early before 8 am. After 5 pm meant dodging all manner of wildlife Every morning, we saw LOTS of roadkill.. one day alone was 25 in about 100 kms. We had to stop for roos and echidnas crossing the road during the day. When driving on KI, you need to stay alert!
If you are looking for a holiday were you can give the camera a good workout – you can go past Photography on Kangaroo Island
The Grampians (Gariwerd) is a series of rugged sandstone mountain ranges and forests rich in wildlife. One of Victoria’s most popular holiday destinations, the Grampians are the destination of day-trippers and campers. They all come for rock climbing, scenic drives, bushwalks, and nature. The tiny and bustling yet laid-back town of Halls Gap is at the heart of Grampians. Its popularity is evident in many accommodation options, from backpackers to luxurious resorts and its many dining options.
Bushfires
On 15 January 2014, a bushfire which was sparked by a lightning strike started in the Grampians National Park. It was one of 68 fires burning across Victoria during this time.
The fire coincided with a heatwave across Victoria with temperatures reaching over 40 C in the Grampians region from 15 – 20 January. The fire eventually burnt 52,000 hectares including bushland and farms and was declared contained on 21 January 2014. Many residents from Dadswell’s Gap, Wartook, Brimpean, St Helen’s Plain, Roses Gap Pomonal, Bellfield, Lake Fyans, Lake Lonsdale, Heatherlie and Ledcourt were affected by the fires. Halls Gap was threatened by the fire front and ember attack and most of the town evacuated. Relief centres were set up in Horsham, Stawell and Ararat for the hundreds of people who were evacuated from their homes. Farmers lost large numbers of sheep that were either killed by the fire or later culled. At least 7000 sheep in total were lost.
A 12 km wide pyro cumulus cloud column of smoke and fire was created by the fire, generating its own weather pattern including lightning and thunder. This cloud gathered burning embers into the sky, which then scattered for many kilometres beyond the fire front, potentially starting new fires .
Australian Emergency Management
Halls Gap
In January 2015, and stayed in a fabulous little house near town that backed onto the National Park. We had a constant stream of wildlife visitors from when we arrived until we left three days later. Kangaroos, Cockatoos, Finches, Emus, and Crimson Rosellas were always nearby.
Break it up, kids
Boroka Lookout
We saw many of the lookouts had been rebuilt due to the last bushfire. Unfortunately, gone were the old wooden railings lost in the fires. In their place, however, were lovely new stainless steel railings at Boroka Lookout. The lookouts at McKenzie Falls have also been rebuilt, along with new amenities blocks. However, the kiosk that stood there is gone and hasn’t been rebuilt. Just the chimney remains.
