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Tasmanian Trip Part 3

To: "birding-aus" <>
Subject: Tasmanian Trip Part 3
From: "Lynn" <>
Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2004 18:34:33 +1000
Final part !
 

Day SIX

 

We departed around 7.30 A.M. from Eaglehawk Neck for a day on the water with John Males. On the way out to the Hippolyte Rocks we came across our first Common Diving-petrels and Fluttering Shearwaters were seen by some.  On  the rock itself were Black-faced Cormorants, Kelp and Silver Gulls and Australasian Gannets . Also Australian Fur Seals including one pup. Not long past the rock we started to see the first of several Albatross for the day, an unidentified immature Giant Petrel and a distant unidentified Prion species. All in all variety was low but the seas were calm and the Albatross eventually came in to feed behind the boat, giving some American visitors there first close looks at Albatross.

 

Species seen

 

Little Penguin (1)

Common Diving-Petrel(10)

Giant-Petrel sp?(2)

Great-winged Petrel(4)

Prion sp? (1)

White-chinned Petrel(4)

Short-tailed Shearwaters (thousands)

Fluttering Shearwater(?)

Wandering Albatross(2)

Black-browed Albatross(1)

Shy Albatross(~30)

Yellow-nosed Albatross(2)

Buller?s Albatross(~20)

White-faced Storm-Petrel(1)

Australasian Gannet(several)

Artic Jaeger(1)

 

Arriving back about 3.30 P.M., we drove back to the Pines Resort near Hobart airport. On the way adding Great Egret to our trip list. Little Wattlebirds were plentiful around our accommodation as were Scarlet Robins. After dinner we had an early night ready for our flight to Melaleuca in the morning.

 

Day SEVEN

 

We arose to a fine morning in Hobart but news of a front with 30 knot winds at Melaleuca dampened our spirits. After birding around The Pines and the Airport for a while we headed over to the terminal and waited for a weather improvement. At around 11 A.M. our pilot came out and said lets go!! Finally with more than a little trepidation we boarded the small aircraft spurred on by the thought of seeing some Orange-bellied Parrots . We initially headed inland but the weather closed in on us and we had to head out to the coast, which was very worthwhile as the scenery around the southern and south-western coastline was absolutely spectacular. After a very smooth flight we landed safely at Melaleuca. It was cool and overcast and occasional rain squalls but we managed to see 8 Orange-bellied Parrots, stunning! We also saw Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, Green Rosella, Striated Fieldwren,Tasmanian Thornbill, Crescent Honeyeater, Dusky Robin, Olive Whistler,Grey Shrike-thrush, Superb Blue Wren and Beautiful Firetail whilst at Melaleuca.

 

The flight back was just as spectacular and we flew over Bruny Island and up the Derwent River to Hobart. Dropping people off at the airport was productive with several Musk Lorikeets and 2 Swift Parrots feeding in Eucalypts at the airport.

 

Another great trip come to an end. Apart from Scrubtit,Forty-spotted Pardalote and the Black Currawongs at Derwent Bridge all the other Tasmanian Endemics were seen regularly through out our trip.

 

 That's all folks !

 

Until next trip

 

Dick Jenkin

DUNGOG NSW

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