Eaglehawk Neck Pelagic Trip

I am sitting on my single bed (there are four in the room) here at a motel in Eaglehawk Neck, Tasmania. We’re in a “fisherman’s room” which means it is not posh, but it is comfortable and on the ground floor- easy in and easy out. Our original room was tiny and on the 2nd floor inside the motel, so we switched. We were on the Eaglehawk Neck pelagic yesterday and stayed another night rather than driving up to Hobart after the long boat trip.

As with most pelagics, it was a long day. We got some great birds, but it was rather slow birding for here. We only had three species of Albatross (no Wandering). I was a little disappointed, but grateful in general. The patches did their job for both Lynn and me and there was no seasickness for us. It did get bumpy in the afternoon as the temperature dropped and the wind increased. As locals are quick to remind us, this is summer in Tasmania. I am grateful for layers.
    

As we headed out of the calm harbour

I did not take as many photos as I have on other pelagic trips. There was more spray and a bit of rain at times. I left the camera in the cabin part of the time. But I did not really miss anything. The White-faced Petrel was a life bird that we saw, but it was pretty far off for trying to get a photo. The Lifers for me were: Southern Royal Albatross, Southern Giant Petrel, White-faced Storm Petrel, White-chinned Petrel and White-headed Petrel. Two birds that begin with “southern” and three that begin with “white,” there is a joke in there somewhere, but I am not looking for it right now. I am grateful.

           

Oceanic Bottlenose Dolphin in the Tasman Sea 

Fur Seal on the Hippolytes

Black-faced Cormorants on the Hippolytes. 

More seals. 

Southern Royal Albatross

Southern Giant-petrel

Southern Royal Albatross 

Northern Giant-petrel 

Black-browed Albatross 

Shy Albatross looking very serious (as they do). 

Northern Giant-petrel

White-chinned Petrel that actually has white on its chin.

We are fixin’ to pack it in here and head up to our friend’s house in Hobart. I will see if I can get this posted. Sending y’all much love from Tassie.


Birds. Peace. Love. Earth. Sea. Laughter. Music.

The Tassie Twelve

All Australian birders know that Tasmania has twelve endemics. They can all be found in a day, or even in a matter of hours if you know where to go and you are lucky. We had the best “guides” possible, our friends, the Collins. So Lynn and I nailed eleven of the twelve in a day of birding with them Tuesday. They said that if we hadn’t stopped for a short afternoon nap we probably could have found the Strong-billed Honeyeater as well. As it was, I was very grateful for eleven and we got the Strong-billed the next day on Bruny Island (where I am writing this blog). We saw three in the trees by the road less than 100 meters from our little cottage. I am, of course grateful!

As I have written repeatedly, this is not a photographic safari. The birding comes first and the photo comes second if possible. I have managed to get shots of the twelve endemics and I will post them for you. As is often the case, some are merely recording shots, but there are a few that I do quite like. I am grateful. I hope you enjoy them.

Black-headed Honeyeater

Black Currawong (I just like this shot).

Green Rosella eating with its right foot. They are normally left footed I believe.

Tasmanian Native-hen

A couple of the Tasmanian Scrubwren

Tasmanian Thornbill going away and showing his trademark "white undies" that help to identify them from the very similar Brown Thornbill.  

Scrubtit. Some would say the most difficult of the endemics. Our friend Graham spotted this one.

Dusky Robin 

Strong-billed Honeyeater 

Three shots of one of Australia's rarest birds, the Forty-spotted Pardalote. We saw one at The Peter Murrell Reserve, but these photos were taken on Bruny Island today where we saw at least five.

Yellow-throated Honeyeater

Yellow Wattlebird recording shot. Anne and Graham have these in their yard, but I didn't get around to taking any photos, so this one will do for now. And there you have the Tassie Twelve!

We’ve been in this sweet little cottage that Anne found us on airBNB.
             

The little "round" cottage. It's cozy and wonderful.

The view from the cottage... the owners have 200 acres out there. Amazing.

The view inside the cottage. Yes, I could live here (there is an ensuite as well).

There are other photos that need posting and things that need writing about, and I will get to them as I can. I love having y’all along… just sometimes you are going to be a little behind. Sending love and best wishes from South Bruny Island. I am grateful.

Birds. Peace. Love. Earth. Laughter. Music.

Arriving In The Land Down Under, The Land Down Under

Tasmania. I could live here. I love this place! That is also how I felt about FNQ and Cape York too. Travel is best for me as I have too many places that I would like to live. I am grateful for all of these places and for the ones I have yet to see!

We had a truly easy ride across the Bass Strait and we arrived at 6am Monday morning in Tassie. After finally getting off the ferry (last group off) we headed down and then over to Scamander on the east coast to have a look for a Sanderling.

With the "Big Smoke" way in the background we head for Tassie on the Spirit of Tasmania.

Tassie. It's 5:25am and why do I know? Because you can't get coffee until 5:30!

Coming into Devonport.

There had been one or two Sanderlings reported there a week or so ago. We had excellent directions to the sand spit area and were soon out in the wind searching amongst the scores of Red-necked Stints for a larger, greyer one. After about an hour up and down around the beach (with the wind almost blowing the scope over and our eyes watering), I said, “Just keep looking for one that looks different… like that one there!” And sure enough, the third “stint” in from the end was a Sanderling. There were actually two. I was, and am very grateful!

One of these is not like the others (it was now the 5th from the end).

The pair of Sanderlings, one was banded. I reported it.

The lagoon area at Scamander, TAS. The Sanderling were around further on the right on a large sand spit. Lynn is looking at terns. There were both Fairy and Little there.   

We continued down the east coast of Tasmania toward our friend’s home by Hobart. The views along the coast are legend and rightfully so. We had gorgeous weather and stopped often to drink in the gorgeousness. Lynn took quite a few photos and posted them to facebook. I am grateful. I only took a couple.
   

Does not do it justice... incredible beauty.

A young couple insisted on taking our photo rather than us doing a selfie.

We spent a lovely evening with the Collins in their home in Hobart and spent the next day birding with them. But that will be the next blog. So much to share, so little time… I am grateful!


Birds. Peace. Love. Earth. Laughter. Music.

Genuine Granddaddy

I never knew my grandfathers, but I had two grandmothers who loved me. One was in Wisconsin and I did not see her very often at all, yet even as a little child, I knew that she loved me. My other grandmother lived next door to us and was the true source of nurturing in my younger years. I was certainly not mistreated by my parents, but I was often ignored. “Emotionally neglected” would not be far off the mark, but I had it great compared to many. And I did have my Nana and I am very grateful.

Nana. Pure love. She was way into her 90's here. She was born 1 January 1890. She was 13 years old when the Wright Brothers invented the airplane, then she saw men walk on the moon. Incredible.

I never really knew what my heart was capable of until I was a granddaddy. At this point in time, I reckon I am closest to my fourth grandchild. Many of you already know her as Angel Face. I have known her since she was just over a year old. I have always tried to be the granddaddy that I would have liked to have had. She seems ok with how I am doing. We have a lot of fun and I enjoy her company more than that of many adults. I am truly grateful.

Taken yesterday at her school

I have six grandchildren here. That is a lot and they are spread out amongst three families. They are all precious to me, but I cannot be with them as often as I would like. It is logistically impossible. So of course I see some more than others and that will ebb and flow as they age, and our travels continue. I am grateful for every one of them.
 

My youngest grandchild... they are toy binoculars, but a granddaddy can dream, can't he?

My next to youngest grandchild drawing with her granddaddy (I was an art major).

I am mostly grateful that I can be with them at all. I am grateful that I can show them by example, what I consider to be a genuine life. I place myself on NO pedestal, far, far, far from that. But I have chosen and, with some success, walked a path different than most. Particularly as I have grown older and wiser (it happens) I have learned the true value of living genuinely. If I can live that for my grandchildren, and let them see what that looks like, I will have been as good a granddaddy as I aspire to be. And for that I will be more grateful than I am capable of putting into words.

I wish you all joy with your loved ones. Blood does not make a family any more than brick and mortar make a home. Family is love. May yours flow openly and genuinely between you and those you love.

Birds. Peace. Love. Friends. Family.

More Portland Victoria ~ Olive Whistler

I saw my first Olive Whistler in Toolangi, Victoria on 4 April 2012. It was a positive i.d., but no photo nor much of a look. I heard it, and I saw it and I ticked it. I was grateful. Lynn had never seen one at all, so when Rob Farnes mentioned there was a good chance of seeing an Olive on the road to the Gannet Colony, we gave it a go the next morning. We had only gone along the path maybe 50 or so meters before Lynn (my hearing ear person) heard it. Then I heard it too and then we saw it. It hopped up into some bare branches and gave us lovely looks and did some whistling as well. I am very grateful! What a sweet bird. It is currently my favorite whistler.
         

Olive Whistler in the act of whistling 

Our buddy, Robert Shore (who had been with us viewing the Cape Gannet) had seen Rufous Bristlebirds by the lighthouse the day before, so with the Olive Whistler ticked for Lynn and the year list, we headed over to that windswept point. Eventually, in spite of the howling winds, we managed to see one of the Rufous Bristlebirds that were calling amongst the scrub by the lighthouse. It is now on the year list (oddly, we had dipped on them at Pt. Addis earlier in the year). I am grateful. The view of the ocean by the lightstation was simply stunning. Once again the birds lead us into awesome. I am so grateful!

One of the more beautiful windswept ocean views that I have seen. The bristlebirds were behind me amongst the scrub hiding from the wind I reckon.

And… on our way to Portland we passed through Dunkeld on the edge of the absolutely beautimous Grampian Ranges. I took Lynn’s photo in front of the world famous Royal Mail Hotel. We were too late for brekkie and too early for lunch (and we did not even get a look at the prices). We picked up a nibble from the local bakery though, and headed on to our date with a Cape Gannet. I am indeed grateful for this wondrous journey.

       

My bird girl in front of the Royal Mail Hotel, Dunkeld, Victoria.

Birds. Peace. Love. Getting Out Amongst It.