Indian Ocean Trip Part One: Cocos/Keeling Islands

So, here I am back at my desk in the study in Lara. I left here on 30 November and I arrived back the afternoon of 16 December. I had two weeks in two of my favourite places. I want to write, so I will write. This will eventually be on my blog site. 

Cocos, West Island coming in for a landing

I will post some photos. My words are coming slowly anymore. I feel more than I have been expressing. I suppose that is normally the way for most people, but that is not me. No, not if it was ever so. I need to express what is going on with me through my words because it can help me to at least try and understand it. Then I share it.

 

On 30 November I flew from Melbourne to Perth, spent the night in my usual accommodation by the airport. They have a free shuttle, but it does not work well anymore and I no longer recommend that motel. More about that later. The motel room itself was very nice, but quite dear for what it was.

The next morning amongst some dear friends and some new to be dear friends, I boarded the flight to Cocos. Robert and Judy Shore were on this trip. That was very special for me. If you have read my books, you know Robert. Also my dear friend Tania was there. She is a wonderful calming presence, dear friend and brilliant birder. Others will be mentioned as the tales continue.

Judy Shore, Robert, Geoff Christy and me

We arrived in the early arvo and were once again met by my good friend Richard Baxter. When it comes to birds (and other things as well) Richard IS those islands. No one else even comes close to his knowledge and connections there. We hopped into our hire cars and went to drop of our luggage at the accommodation. I was staying in the ‘big house’ of the motel and that made me happy.

Then we dashed off to the ‘supermarket’ which was out of most things since the supply ship was very late (I never did learn why). Richard had emailed about this and most of us had brought some food in our bags. I had a lot of little cans of tuna and a few other things. We took what things we did purchase there back to our house and went birding.

I got my first Lifer within an hour of arriving on Cocos. It was a continuing Yellow Bittern that was often seen from ‘Richard’s’ bird hide. So, in shaded comfort I beheld the Yellow Bittern. Over our two weeks out there, it was extremely dry on both islands and that can have quite an impact on the birdlife. I only managed to get three Life birds on the whole trip and all three were on West Island Cocos. 

Yellow Bittern. Not a great shot but happily a Lifer

Lifer selfie in the hide with Richard on the left and Glenn on the right

The next day we saw my second Lifer, a little Asian Brown Flycatcher. The bird had been located by birding legend, Glenn Pacey. I had not seen him since Covid interrupted all our lives and it was so very good to reconnect with my dear friend. 

Asian Brown Flycatcher

Even though the birding was slow, the trip was great. The not so great part was that I visited the Home Island health clinic, the West Island health clinic and finally at the Christmas Island hospital. I had an infection at my pilonidal cyst area. I had surgery for that very thing in June 2022. It is well known that they can re-occur and that’s what happened. I was put on a massive antibiotic for the next two weeks and as I write this, it seems to be fine. 

Selfie at the Home Island clinic

I want to say a heartfelt thank you to my new dear friend, Jan Lile (she is a nurse and keen birder) for her daily care applying a dressing. 

Then next day we would be canoeing over to South Island for first timers to see the Saunders’s Terns. I will save that for the next instalment. Yes, I will write more soon.

Sending love as I do ❤️