We met Tim Morris in Botswana on Christmas Eve in 2001 when he asked to join us and the friends with whom we were travelling, on a scenic boat trip we were taking on the Kavango River. He was a young Australian geologist and was back packing through Africa. We were impressed with his knowledge of the birds and he explained that he had been interested in wildlife and nature since childhood because back in Australia his father was a game ranger.  He was alone and we invited him to join us for Christmas Dinner, which was a very simple affair in the middle of the African bush. Tim also caught up with us in Cape Town when his journey brought him there. When his parents visited some time later we made contact with them too.  So of course now that we ourselves are visiting Australia we got in touch with Anne and Alan and arranged to meet.   Tim is in Port Macquarie and we won’t get to see him this trip. He is now a married man with three young sons!

Colette kindly lent us her car and we drove to Bateau Bay near The Entrance to spend the day with Anne and Alan. Their garden is a bird magnet and from their balcony we got to see the king parrot, lorikeets and other small birds.   After tea Alan took us to various wetland venues and shorelines and was the most amazing bird guide ever.   We saw t lunchtime we returned and Anne presented us with a delicious prawn salad and a dessert which was to die for.

After lunch we went to various places where Alan found interesting birds for us to view.  The highlight was a female tawny frogmouth that had a nest in a tree in a nearby park.   By the time our ornithological tour was over it was 6 o’clock and we were thrilled with all we had seen both as far as birds and scenery was concerned.

Our bird list today included Grey Butcherbird, Eurasian Coot, Australasian Darter, Eastern Great Egret, Intermediatet, Intermediate Egret, Freckled duck, Australian Wood-duck, Superb Fairywren, Grey Fantail, Red-browed Finch, Tawny Frogmouth, Australasian Grebe, Hardhead, White-faced heron, White-necked heron, Swamp Harrier, New Holland Honeyeater, Australian White Ibis, Crested Tern, Caspian Tern, Wild Turkey, Red Wattlebird, Woodswallow

Royal Spoonbill

Stilts

Intermediate Egret

Red-kneed dotterel

Tawny Frogmouth

Brush Turkey

Red Wattle Bird

Sharp-tailed Sandpipers

The Entrance

Bateau Bay Beach

Lunch with Anne and Alan