So after the Hudwit Twitch blog entry, I will go back to finish the story of the South East Queensland trip. I awoke that Saturday morning, 11 November, tired and aching (knees particularly). Then Robert and I realized that we were only a little over 3 hours from O’Reilly’s and Lamington National Park. A magical land was just around the corner so-to-speak and off we went.
I first visited O’Reilly’s in January 2011. I was still a fairly new birder and I was dazzled, stunned, enthralled. It was one the places where I fell utterly in love with Australia. It will always be a place to return to for me. We spent two nights camped there. Here are a lot of photos of this wondrous place…
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| The obligatory O'Reilly's King Parrot selfie |
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| The road up to O'Reilly's is legendarily winding. |
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| Short-eared Brush-tailed Possum that was in the tree just over Robert's campsite. |
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| O'Reilly's symbol... the male Regent Bowerbird |
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| Ms Regent Bowerbird |
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| Australian Logrunner in the early morning |
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| Wonderful Wonga Pigeons in first light... |
I needed to return to the Tiny House by the end of the week, so after two glorious days, I began heading back. Robert and I drove in tandem for a bit of the journey, stopping at Cunninghams Gap for a lovely bit of tea cake. It is a gorgeous spot where Satin Bowerbirds climb around on the picnic tables trying to grab a bite.
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| The two Troopies |
The last stay of the trip, I went to Glenrowan Caravan Park because I had heard Turquoise Parrots were consistently seen there. I rocked up at about 2:30pm and was watching a beautiful male parrot grazing in the grass within a half hour. I highly recommend this place as a caravan park and birding spot. It poured rain later that evening, but I was snug and dry in my Troopi. The next morning it was still sprinkling, but between showers I got beautiful views of four of the Parrots. I will return there soon (it is only three hours from Lara).
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| And White-browed Babblers were bouncing around the caravan park as well. |
So, so, so I need to get working on the ‘first and a half’ rewrite on the book about the year of traveling and birding the entire continent of Australia. It is tentatively called, “The Year.” Clever, yes? I do have a way with words.
Stay tuned… Sending love from the Tiny House.
PS, I "think" that you can sign up for emails regarding new blog posts. There should be a thing on the right side of the page for that now.
