Cape Bruny and Lighthouse Bay

We both loved Cape Bruny and as Pam missed the Tawny-crowned Honeyeater found there, it seemed like a good plan to spend the morning looking for one. Away by 9.30 after paying the remainder of our money at the Office on the way out. At least it was dry even though overcast still with very little wind.
On arrival at the small car park with its two cottages, below the lighthouse, I left Pam to scan the heath and walked back to the entrance gate where I sat on a roadside log. Happily looking at the sea rolling in to the sandy bay below, I became aware of a song behind me. I eventually turned to locate it and there was a Tawny-crowned Honeyeater on top of a small bush. I walked back as quickly as possible, whistling loudly but, Pam didn't hear. When I was in view, she noticed, too late - the bird had gone, never to be seen again. What a disappointment.
We needed to be back at Nairana by 1.00 to check in online for to-morrow's flight. Pausing at the entrance for another look, a passing car stopped and its occupants started photographing. We were just in time to see an Echidna disappear into the scrub. Great.
Just past the shop at Lunnawannah, I was able to photo an adult Tasmanian Native-hen at last.





After successfully checking in online and having lunch, we left for Cape Bruny again, 22 ks from the estate. As we were leaving the property, the large white bird we'd seen earlier and dismissed as a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, became a Grey Goshawk. The Bruny birds are snow white. A good one to see.
At last the sky was blue and the temperature a comfortable 20C, good to see the island at its best at last. I was able to rush off one photograph of a Male Superb Fairy-wren. It just is.....superb. The female is lovely too. Cheeky little sprites.


We added BrownThornbill to the trip list and then Silverbill near the lighthouse cottages. Pam went off in search of THE bird whilst I sat in the car. After a few minutes, I wondered why I wasn't walking about, locked up and started walking to the entrance area. A woman appeared from one of the cottages asking what bird I was looking for. Oh yes, plenty she said, lovely bird, I get them in my garden !!
Once more I sat and looked at this view whilst waiting for Pam to return.

An elated Pam had re-found the adult Echidna and had been busy photographing it. This is one of them.

We then walked up the steep cliffside towards the lighthouse; I was hoping to find a White-fronted Chat. No luck with the bird but lovely views.


Especially of a Wedge-tailed Eagle which spiralled effortlessly overhead before drifting away.

The Tasman bird is a sub species, fingers crossed for a split.
Emerged from the loo to find my woman hot-footing it towards us. It was 10 minutes past gate-shutting time at 4.30! We weren't quite the last but made our apologies and left.
It was too lovely an evening to retire so we decided to go to Cloudy Bay again - about 8Ks beyond our estate. It too looked superb to-day, not cloudy at all. Scoping the beach, we found six Hooded Plovers scuttling about, reminiscent of Sanderling.A world tick as were the two White-fronted Chats on the freshwater creek edge. What a good decision to come here. The icing was 14 Yellow-tailed Cockatoos feeding in the beachside scrub. My camera and its long lens had difficulty coping with the lovely golden evening light, the shutter speed too low for handheld. I still tried......

Home, very content after a good day's birding to prepare a last meal of 'what's left', sort the kitchen, pack and struggle with the Google uploader. It's crashed on me twice to-night. Will now try to upload pics again - after saving this writing . We hope to catch the 8.25 ferry in the morning so we must be away from here by 7 at the latest.