Wednesday was a non-bird day since the company which combines the Great Barrier Reef with an island birding stop was booked weeks in advance. Disappointed, we had booked a day on the Ocean Freedom. Despite being a 100% scuba and snorkeling cruise, I have to say I completely enjoyed myself and was wishing I had bought an underwater camera. A few sharks, Barry the barracuda, colorful coral, and schools of gorgeous fish danced in front of the your eyes unlike the flighty birds I usually chase. I could only think, "next time I will bring a camera". The crew was helpful and very attentive and the food was wonderful and plentiful. Lunch was smoked salmon, prawns, barbecued chicken, bread, coleslaw, and other salads. Cheese, fruit, and dessert trays kept appearing throughout the trip. If you want to snorkel or scuba dive the Great Barrier Reef you cannot go wrong by booking the Ocean Freedom. They are one of the smaller companies, but they try harder.
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| Part of the Great Barrier Reef fleet |
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| The Ocean Freedom |
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| There are a number of countries represented here |
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| When you tire of swimming, a glass bottom boat will take you over the reef |
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| Fish are attracted to the back of the boat |
The next morning we headed south in search of Southern Cassowary, the second largest bird (behind the Emu) found in Australia. Sporting a blue head and a horn-covered bony helmet this bird is unmistakable. I had seen captured species but never photographed any in the wild. The Mission Beach and Wongaling Beach area has a population of these birds with a number being killed by vehicles every year. Indeed, the closer we got to Dunk Island View Caravan Park the more "Cassowary Crossing" and "Slow down for Cassowary" signs we passed. I was getting excited and thinking this would be a sure thing. After registering I began talking up the locals. The park owner said she saw one two days ago, "just this side of the bridge". A permanent resident at the camp told me he sees a couple every day near the dump on his way to work. We hopped in the van, located the areas and then circled until we were getting hungry. No Cassowary.
At the camp there was an annoying din of loud bird noises at the entrance. Upon investigation it turned out to be a Metallic Starling Roost.
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| These very social, glossy, red-eyed birds are noisy and unmistakable. |
Since Metallic Starlings were not what I was after the hunt for Southern Cassowary began in earnest early the next morning at the locations the locals had pointed out. A hike which traveled past the dump where they were seen produced nothing but a sudden shower which drenched us. We spent the next hour circling the area before deciding to broaden our search. The next few hours produced great scenery, many cassowary road signs but no birds. At noon I had nothing to show for our troubles except a few kangaroo pictures. We needed to be at Ingham and hopefully photograph water birds at the Tyto Wetlands in the evening so it was time to admit defeat and head south again.
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