Aussie Finch Forum

Hi all,
It's been a while since the count, but the content of the latest newsletter reminded me that I never posted these!
After the count, I wrote a fairly lengthy trip report (in a few parts) on my birding blog which I run with a friend. I thought I'd post the links in case anyone is interested in a read . Plenty of photos in there too!
It's not just the count, as I was up there for three weeks with Gomer, traveling around and birdwatching.
Di, if you ever need some filler for the newsletter, you're welcome to use these (or any of my other blog posts).

Part one - Darwin to Victoria River
http://worthtwointhebushbirding.blogspo ... ns_19.html

Part two - Victoria River to Lake Argyle
http://worthtwointhebushbirding.blogspo ... -lake.html

Part three - Lake Argyle to Wyndham
http://worthtwointhebushbirding.blogspo ... le-to.html

Part 4 - Wyndham
http://worthtwointhebushbirding.blogspo ... ndham.html

Part 5 - Wyndham #2
http://worthtwointhebushbirding.blogspo ... ham-2.html

Part 6 - Hall's Creek to Purnululu
http://worthtwointhebushbirding.blogspo ... ululu.html

Part 7 - Purnululu to Kununurra to Edith Falls
http://worthtwointhebushbirding.blogspo ... ra-to.html

Part 8 (I didn't realise I wrote this many parts!) - Edith Falls to Kakadu
http://worthtwointhebushbirding.blogspo ... akadu.html

Part 9 - Kakadu to Darwin, and back home!
http://worthtwointhebushbirding.blogspo ... -back.html

Great read mate! You ticked Buff-sided Robin at the same place we did! You go a better pic but lol.
Would kill to head north some time soon. The finch flocks at Kununurra are hard to forget.

Grant

Jayburd, you are a national treasure.

Thanks Grant and Emmo, glad you liked it
Grant, the Buff-sideds must be a regular, you're about the fourth person I've heard of who's had them there!
I know the feeling. I've finally gotten around to sorting the images from that trip this week, and I wish I was back there now.

Jay,
I can only say one thing...."excellent!"

Well done!

Ken.

Thanks Ken

After reading the first two it gave me itchy feet,So i am having a rest from the other stages for a few days

Just been reading through the lot Julian.

You have done a great job. just one thing though, and I quote, I thought I'd post the links in case .........

next time leave my name out of it. well done!

cheers, Case.

Jay,

Have just been salivating reading your posting/report , again!. They bring back many memories when I used to travel up that way barra fishing, the only difference was it was a complete driving trip from Sydney either through the western part of Qld and into NT or down to SA and straight up through the guts to Darwin then out to all points of the compass. I wish now that I was a recorder of my sightings, Simpson and Day handbook was always with me. I am sure I saw Gouldians in the Katherine area 20 or so years ago. I had been out of finch keeping for many years and was not aware of the dire straits the Goulds were in.

One thing I totally agree with is your comment about the Rainbow Pitta, I cannot agree with you more, they are stunning. I had the pleasure of camping at the Mango Farm on the Daly River for 3 days and my swag was 2-3 metres from the brush. I couldn't believe it one morning when I woke that I had a little pleasant visitor no more than a metre away. He was there every day and showed no fear. Made me put the real world in perspective.

On another note, you have a talent for expressing yourself in a fashion which is so easy to read and that to me is a gift that you should nurture, perhaps not as your main target in life as you obviously have other targets in mind.

Once again, thanks for the read. Made a dreary Sydney Sunday arvo good and brought back many memories which I thought I had forgotten. Thank you.

Ken.

Thanks Gomer and Case

Ken, thank you for your lovely comments. I'd would so very much love to do a trip like that one day - it's a vague plan of mine for my post-year-12 celebratory trip, the year after next! It's an amazing area - an amazing country, really.

I am extremely jealous of your pitta story! I'm in love with pittas, and have made it my aim in birdwatching to see all the species - I am aiming for number two (Noisy Pitta) in July, straight after the finch convention when I go to Lamington National Park with Stanley Tang. They are such stout little birds, very endearing!

As far as a main target in life goes... I haven't got one just yet! To be honest, I think the school system requiring you to choose which subjects (and with them which career direction) at 15/16 is a bit harsh. But then, as long as it includes birds, writing, and a bit of photography, I'm happy

Thanks again, really glad you enjoyed it
Julian