CURRUMBIN ECO VILLAGE - COASTAL MANGROVE SWAMP
After a late night last night I got up at 7am and went for a
walk around the village and down to the lake. I looked first at the fig tree
where a flock of Topknot Pigeons were joined by Figbirds, Noisy Friarbirds,
Lewin’s Honeyeater and a few Crested Pigeons. Lots of Kangaroos loafed around on
the grass verges in the village they have become unafraid of humans allowing
close approach before they hop off.
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| another photo of those very large Australian Rabbits - amazing |
Down at the lake I concentrated on the grassy margin at the
west end where I found small groups of Superb Fairy-Wrens, Red-backed Fairy-Wrens and also Golden-headed Cisticola and Tawny Grassbird. A pair of Brahminy Kites flew over
and a hawk, which looked very much like our Eurasian Sparrowhawk, circled the hillside but as I never
had my scope so I couldn’t ID it.
After another lovely, leisurely breakfast on the deck Guy
and I set off for a canoeing adventure, we took one of Guy’s two-man canoes
down to the creek and jumped in, our plan was to canoe down the creek looking
for the Azure Kingfisher. It was a marvellous trip, what a way to watch
wildlife, a lot of species allowed close
approach and within 10 minutes we found a pair of Azure Kingfishers, another
lifer for my list. I was using Dawn’s new camera and whilst I was photographing
the Azure Kingfisher her battery ran out and the spare wasn’t charged, how
annoying, so no more pictures.
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| great guiding by Guy, he led us straight to this species - Azure Kingfisher |
Over the next kilometer or so we found 3 pairs of Sacred
Kingfishers and another great sighting for me, a Dollarbird flew around us
showing off its wonderful greenish/blue plumage and its circular white wing
patches (the dollars), it landed right above is, wonderful and although it
wasn’t a lifer it was my first good viewing of this species. Our luck continued
when the very next bird was a Masked Woodswallow, a great sighting and another
lifer, this bird also posed well for us.
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| Straw-necked Ibis |
We rowed for about 4 kilometers before pulling over for a
bite to eat and a drink before heading back. Sightings came thick and fast
throughout the journey, Striated Herons, White-faced Herons, Darters, Little,
Intermediate and Great Egrets, Pelicans, Cormorants, ducks and lots more
kingfishers, we added Forest Kingfisher a little later on the trip. Large
flocks of Little Corellas fed on the banks of mangrove swamp and Rainbow
Lorikeets regularly flew over.
The whole experience was wonderful and I really enjoyed it,
thank you Guy. After lunch Dawn and I had to pack because ae were due to go
back to the coast at ‘Concrete’ Beach to finish our holiday there. It was only
15 kilometers away from the tranquil setting of the Eco Village.
My ‘scope’ had been deposited at our apt and I was eager to
collect it. Guy and Annette decided to join us and after I collected my scope
we all went for a walk along the boardwalk at Tugan. It was late afternoon by
now so we didn’t have much time. The Mangrove Honeyeater was our target, which
failed to appear. However we did find a superb Osprey perched in the mangroves,
we also saw Mangrove Gerygone very well, also Lewin’s Honeyeater.
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| The majestic Osprey - spotted by Annette |
Very soon the
light faded and mosquitos came out so we called it a day. We said goodbye to
Guy and Annette, they had been wonderful hosts and great friends we really
enjoyed our time with them, it was sad parting ways.
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| Annette and Guy our good friends, wonderful hosts and bird-watchers extraordinaire |
After a quick stop at the supermarket we went to our apt on
the ‘Miami’ Beachfront, it was a stark contrast to the peaceful setting of the
Eco-village, but all was not lost because as from tomorrow we are staying for
two nights at Binna Burra Lodge in Lamington National Park.
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