Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road















Great weekend trip! Royal National Park just south of Sydney is the second oldest national park in the world (next to the great Yellowstone NP). It has amazing vistas of the coast and a really rugged coastline.. but I just want to see the birds! Over 280 species have been spotted there. I'll have to believe them. But I did see two very exciting species, the famous lyrebird and the satin bowerbird (and his bower).
The lyrebird is famous for mimicking pretty much any sound. Other birds are their favorite subject, but people have observed them copying trains, chainsaws and even camera shutters. The one we saw/heard was apparently a star wars fan. Lyrebirds don't fly (tail feathers are like peakcocks), instead they are quite quick on their feet and managed to elude my camera at every turn.
Australia - we've been here since November 2005. I'd say time flies but it really seems like a lifetime since we arrived. These photos represent most of what we've been doing - hiking and exploring. I'd show you photos of Sydney, but 27 photos of the Opera house doesn't do Australia justice.
Birds??
A few months ago I'd have laughed if you had asked me to name one. But Australia is different from home (Colorado). The birds are the main players in the environment. Sure I've seen other wildlife - sharks, snakes, crocs and kangaroos. But the birds are everywhere, all the time. Go to work, eat lunch, sit on your porch and they will be there.
I have yet to go on a hike where I haven't discovered some new and amazing new species. In three months I've photographed over 70 species! Most shots are of a bird in a tree and quite boring. But these stand out as real keepers and I hope you agree!
These next four photos are "cheating" because they were taken at a zoo. Never the less they are some of the most exciting shots I've taken. The Taronga zoo is a favorite of mine (next to the San Diego zoo) and has the most amazing 'bird show' that I've seen once or twice, or four. The following birds are native Aussies that I'd hope to someday see in the wild.