140907 Queensland first day Cassowary and Cairns

Queensland, Australia 2014-09-05--09-25
Sunday 140907
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After our guide, Phil, picked us up we went to the hotel for our first stay. Acacia Court Hotel, Cairns.  

Despite our early arrival we were able to get access to our rooms. We now had time to take a very much needed shower before breakfast at 6.30. I had room 608 with a great view of the Esplanade. In the treetop was sitting a beautiful white dove. My first bird in Australia. 

As we arrived early we went to visit Cassowary House today instead of tomorrow. Which turned out to be good.. Our guide lives there and we thought it would be great to start with it. There was a family of 2 adult and 2 chicks of the Cassowary birds. Very hard to get shots though as we were too many people on a small veranda. It was very nice to see them. There was also several other birds to start off the birding list. 

The area was also good for birding the forest edge. We spent an hour birding along the road and in the forest as well. And there we met another family of Cassowary birds. But in the wild people got nervous and we had to retreat. Taking a look in my files I realised there was no shots at all from that meeting. :(  

Then we drove to Cattana Wetlands nature concervation park, a great place for walking and birding. And with great dragonflies and butterflies as well. We had a nice walk around the wetland enjoying ourselves. One thing we learned about the country already this first day is that places are subject to flooding now and then and warning signs stood at tthe parkinglot. After that we really needed to have something to eat. I also found some cool parrots to shoot. :) 

Now we turned back toward Cairns and made a stop at another pond in what seemed like a factory area. We found, among other birds, these two Straw-necked Ibis. The smaller one seemed to be injued and did not move during the time we spent there.

To finish of the day we made two stops at the coast. One just outside Cairns and then we drove to the
Esplanade to see what was there. When we arrived it was low tide and some waders and other shorebirds was there. We also were looking for an owl that was supposed to be there, but we did not find it.

Dinner at 19.30 and going through the birdlist for today. 

Back on my room I checked the window view, uploaded my images to the computer and hit the sack. 

I was sleeping before I hit the pillow. 

At the end of The Esplanade was this place to take a swim. Suitable for all ages from what I could see. I thought it was a very nice place. 

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Labels:    Resor, travel, trip, journey, Sverige, Sweden, sky, photo, photography, Monica Johansson, NatureFootstep, nfphoto, NF_photo, nature, natur, fågelskådning, birding, resa, travel, Australia, Australien, Acacia Court Hotel, Cassowary House, Cattana Wetlands, Kuranda, Cairns, Cassowary, Straw-necked Ibis, Esplanade, strand, Queensland,

130819 Bishop Museum and bugs

Honolulu 130811-130902
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© NF Photos 130819 Monday

130819  Monday

This going to the beach mornings starts to become routine. Same today. Weather was nice and people already in the waves. They were larger today then I´ve seen them before.

After breakfast I was going to take the bus and meet my daughter and grandson at The Bishop Museum on the other side of town. That turned out not to be that easy even though I checked the maps and thought the agreed meeting place was clear. Well, I thought we should meet at the crossing where the bus turned but no one was there.  Then I took the next bus again and found them waiting at the Museum bus stop.

The Museum was about the culture and history of Oahu and Hawaiian islands. And also a science part for the volcanic history and workings as well as plants and animals. It was an interesting visit even if the opportunity for photography was limited or not allowed in most areas. But in the scientific areas I took some shots.

Colorful pathway to the volcano eruption.

When I returned to the hostel the room was a real mess and a man spraying parts of it. Two of the beds was cleared and moved and sprayed. Luckily mine was not touched. When I asked what the fuss was all about they said they had spotted some bugs. Flat, red bloodsucking things, Bedbugs to be exact. Nasty creatures sucking your blood. Don´t sound like fun. I found it best to change my bedding's too.

Then I went down to the beach again to play around a bit in the waves. Then grabbed something to eat and enjoyed the darkening city where sunlight was replaced by streetlight and fire torches. The image below was quite fun to catch and I made some people wondering what I was doing. It was almost a full moon and the heat of the fire, in the torches, kind of melted the moon. The blue thing is light around the trunk of a palm tree.

Travel Photo Thursday 

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