AUSTRALIA - HOLIDAY/RECCE TOUR - DAY 43 - NOV 8TH - BRISBANE TO SINGAPORE

We were up nice and early (5am) in preparation for the drive to Brisbane Airport, so after loading up the car we were on our way by 6am for the 90 minute drive to the airport.

Would you believe it, I got a lifer along the way, there were many birds shooting across the roads in front of us as we tootled along, but there was no mistaking one very distinctive shape, the large bulbous head and huge size of the bird, yes a Red-tailed Cockatoo finally made it onto my list, only just.

FAREWELL BLUE SKY, SUNSHINE AND WARMTH!

Other birds flitted by, I had yet another small accipitor fly over, again it looked like  Eurasian Sparrowhawk, probably a Collared Sparrowhawk but I can't be sure.

We landed at 4pm local time after a very enjoyable 8hr flight, we had a super smooth landing in Singapore, but it was dull and overcast and it looked wet. I was full of anticipation, at the ready to start listing the new birds. What a let down, do you know that of all the airports I have driven from into a city this is the first time that  I never saw a single species, and yes it was during daylight hours, incredible not even a feral pigeon during a 30 minute taxi ride.

The sky opened up and it poured with rain, it got dark at 5:30pm, the rain stopped so we went out for dinner. The city was buzzing, what a fantastic place, I love it here. An incredible skyline with Manhattan style skyscrapers mixed with parks, old temples and lovely alleyways. We ate out for £7, I am really gonna like it here!! The place has a lovely warm, friendly buzz to it, the people are so friendly and helpful

The city lit up at night is supposed to be out-of-this-world but not for us tonight, a terrific thunderstorm came over just as we got back to the hotel.

281. RED-TAILED COCKATOO