Rainbow Pittas etc

[Ronald ORENSTEIN <>]

Hi all, 

I will be lecturing on a Viking cruise ship that stops in Cairns on 26 October, Thursday Island on 28 October and Darwin on 31 October. I have not been to Cairns or Darwin since my grad study days in 1973(!), and I have never been to Thursday Island. 

I would greatly appreciate any birding hints on the best way to spend the days I have there (given the limited opportunities of a cruise stop), particularly in Darwin where the Rainbow Pitta eluded me on my last visit. Thursday Island does not seem to be a prime birding spot based on what I have read, but I would be glad to hear otherwise. 

I would also be glad to hear about the likelihood of interesting seabirds from anyone who has sailed in these areas. Our itinerary involves a straight sea run of twelve days from Honolulu to Cairns, a few days at sea en rout to Darwin, and then on to Bali and Singapore. I am hoping that I might have a chance at some of the gadfly petrels (eg Collared?), or Abbott’s Booby or Christmas Frigatebird en route from Darwin to Bali. 

Thanks to all -

Ron Orenstein
Mississauga, Canada

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