When I visited Lake St. Clair back in January, I saw a Crescent Honeyeater right at the beginning of the tracks. Since it was out in the open and in a perfect situation for a photograph but I didn't have my camera with me at the time, I decided to try again this morning to see if the bird in fact lived in the area. Sure enough, I found numerous honeyeaters in the area but despite chasing after them for over an hour, I was unable to get any photos.
Since Ididn't really have any more target birds for this area that I couldn't get in other places, I decided to move on to less popular areas. I am finding myself more and more inclined to seek out locations that tour busses don't frequent. I got on the road and headed west through some gorgeous country before arriving in Strahan. After setting up camp at Macquarie Heads, I headed back towards town. The main attraction for birders in Strahan is the presence of the extremely secretive Ground Parrot in the heathland around the airport.
These birds are very difficult to see as they live in dense heath and very rarely fly. They are most active at dawn and dusk when they can often be heard calling and sometimes flying low over the heath. It is my hope to see these birds over the next few days but I must be perfeclty honest, I don't entertain hopes of photographing them. I found the airport in the late afternoon and returned just before dusk but didn't have any luck. I thought I might have heard a bird in the distance but as I got closer I decided it was only an insect. Oh well, I will just have to try again in the morning.
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