Postcards from Australasia #2

We've now visited more of the recommended birding locations around Brisbane, enjoying the wall-to-wall sunshine to boot.

The highlight for both of us was Mount Glorious where in one magic hour we saw an abundance of birds including a number of regional specialists like this Regents Bowerbird:

Our first Bird of Paradise species, the Paradise Riflebird:

The views are outstanding too:

On the way down the mountain we stopped at a cafe for coffee and enjoyed seeing the local parrots including this magnficently plumaged Rainbow Lorikeet:

Having visited Boondall Wetlands we also stopped at Dowse Lagoon enjoying this flock of Little Corellas:

One of Helen's target species was this Spotted Pardalote seen at Sandy Camp Parklands:

Another favourite location and indeed bird was this Red-back Fairy-Wren at Oxley Common Creek:

We've really enjoyed our first few days of this mega-trip and are sad to be leaving Brisbane, we are however on our way to Fiji...

Australasia - Brisbane

We're thoroughly enjoying Brisbane, first day a wander at the Daisy Hill Conservation Park while trying to keep our eyes open, seeing Laughing Kookaburra:

Variegated Fairy-Wren:

and in the reserve centre some recovering Koalas (they are in a lot of trouble as a species apparently:)

The next day we visited the City Botanic Garden and Mount Coot-Tha Botanic Garden, with Cath and Norbert, friends made on a previous trip to Antarctica, seeing Little Pied Cormorant amongst many others:

and Tawny Frogmouths: 

From there we also visited Oxley Creek Common before rain stopped play.   We'd really enjoyed our day together.

On Saturday with rain forecast from mid-morning we headed first to Minnippi Parklands and then on to Wynnum Boardwalk for the mangroves and coastal birds, seeing Royal Spoonbill, again amongst many others:

It's clear the Australian couple we met in Scotland last month were right when they said 'where are your birds?  There's so many more birds in Australia', from what we've seen so far they are spot on, there really are lots more birds around, everywhere!