Earlier this month, I drove up to Airlie Beach in the Whitsunday Region to celebrate the 40th birthday of my close friend, Kat. Photo by Luke Martin. Our time there overlapped for one weekend, in which we enjoyed swims, drinks, hearty dinners and a sailing adventure around the islands. The celebrations and wonderful catch-ups flew by quickly, but when Kat and her husband Luke flew back down south on Sunday, I still had a week's worth of time at my disposal to explore the nature of Queensland's coast. I started with a journey into the forests of Conway National Park, just a ten minute drive east of Airlie Beach. I spent a sunny, humid morning walking up to the peak of Mount Rooper, through vine scrub and eucalypt forest. It was exhilarating! I immediately saw a new species of bird for me in the carpark there, a female olive-backed sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis). After so much rain earlier in the week, the forest floor was also teeming with amazing fungi! After lunch back in town,
such a neat creature!!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely - like it was designed by committee! :)
DeleteIt all looks and sounds rather special Christian.The Duck-billed Platypus is a living monument to how ancient and special such places are. 400 million years is certainly something for us all to ponder - pity we don't do so.
ReplyDeleteApparently, once upon a time there were several Platypus species according to the fossil records, some much bigger! I think this guy is the perfect size and yes, very special!
DeleteWhat an amazing river!! I have to agree with you that the Pine River is a local speciality too. There is a particular spot along the North Pine River that is a popular waterhole, with great birds not to far from Lake Samsonvale.
ReplyDeleteYou'll have to feature that spot in your blog sometime, Ben!
DeleteI grew up in Bracken Ridge, so I have many great memories of the Pine Rivers area as a young naturalist :)
fabulous to be able to find platypus pretty reliable in that location; you got a great photo Christian. I have walked to that reserve at Murrumba Downs many years back now when friends built there...another nice post from you. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteGreat that you've been to John Oxley, Carole! It's been a popular birding spot lately because a White-throated Nightjar has taken to roosting a very visible, clear, trackside tree along the boardwalk there.
DeleteWhat amazing animals they are. I'd love to see one. I always think it's like stepping back in time, even watching them on TV!
ReplyDeleteI under-estimated just how special it would feel to see one in the wild. It was SUCH an enchanting creature!
DeleteSeeing a Platypus in the wild must have been quite a wonderful sight!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your comment on my blog post regarding the current dry spell. I have a friend who has family out west around Dalby & Tara. Many of the farmers haven't even planted crops this year due to the drought.
It was one of my all-time wildlife highlights!
DeleteYes I've heard it's been very bad out in the western parts of the state this year. Let's hope the forecasts are wrong!
Wow Christian great work mate!! Your love of the natural world really comes through in your writing, a pleasure as always to read... And very informative, will definitely be coming back some time to reread those tips ;) thanks!!
ReplyDeleteI don't know why it posted here it was meant for your latest blog!
DeleteThanks Noah, glad you enjoyed it and found it useful. And thank you for inspiring it! :)
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