We were up early to go on the shorebirds tour at the BBO (Broome Bird Observatory) which started at 7am.
Ben, the current volunteer there took his 5 charges along with 3 spotting scopes along the track to 3 different spots. At each spot he stopped and jumped out to check if the rest of us should and each time decided “yes” but shepherded us quietly up the track so as not to frighten the edgy birds. A number of times they took off as they were scared by a kite, but each time the hundreds of birds settled again and we were able to continue our lessons.
We heard about the amazing migration watch that they do here-recording each day which groups of birds take off. Apparently they stop feeding and line up facing north in groups. Sometimes they do some wing stretches or circles before they form up and fly north. Apparently the calls of the eastern curlew are the signal to start the migration watch. Some of these birds fly 6000 km without stopping till they get to the China Sea (where their essential mudflats for feeding are being built over with concrete). They then go the next 4000km or so to where the bugs are just breeding gangbusters to breed. Apparently the baby chicks don’t get fed by their parents but just have to open their mouths for the bugs to fly in (the bugs are that thick!!)
The BBO also runs intensive shorebird courses in March and April and also more general ones on the birds around Broome in September and October. They sound full on and amazing.
We also saw the track of a hermit crab in the sand. Very cute!
After the tour we enjoyed cuppa and anzacs together and filled in a bird log.
At risk of boring most, here is the bird list for our tour
- Red necked stint
- Gray Plover
- Whimbrel ( with curved down bill)
- Bar tailed godwits
- Lesser crested tern(yellow bill and black cap)
- AUstralian gull billed tern ( black bill and black smudge on head)
- torresian crow ( it is hard to miss them)
- Pelicans
- Red capped plover
- Red necked stint
- Lesser sandpiper
- Pied butcherbird
- Great knot
- Grey tailed tattler
- black tailed Godwit
- Ruddy Turnstone
- Asian Dowitcher ( a very rare find)
- Pied oyster catchers
- Curlew sandpipers
- Osprey ( scaring the others)
- Brahminy Kite
- White breasted wood swallow
- Pied stilts
- Red necked avocet ( beautiful)
- Whistling kite
- Little friarbird
We might have picked half a dozen if we were lucky without our guide and the spotting scopes which were 20x magnification compared to 8x on our binoculars.
The red sand of Roebuck Bay and blue sky and water contrasted beautifully giving us some spectacular views.
We packed up and drove into Broome, where we drove to the far end of Cable beach and walked a while more on the grassy area above the beach. The surf club sure has a fine position up there overlooking such a long beach with beautiful white sand and clear blue water. It’s hard to believe that there might be nasty snapping teeth hiding out there in the water (scary kind).
We had an early lunch at Zanders overlooking the beach (fantastic prawn and crab salad) and walked a little more before making tracks to our Airbnb for the next few days. It is basically a lined shed with a bathroom/ laundry built into one corner and lounge/ bedroom/ kitchen taking up the rest of it. Would be a 6 car sized garage if used for that purpose. We have a full kitchen, bbq out the back with our own outdoor space, use of the pool and washing machine. Big TV. (Not sure what to do with that) the bed is comfy, even if smaller than we are used to.
We spent the afternoon settling in and catching up on washing and decided to cook the last of our vacuum packed meat from Kununurra on the bbq and eat the last of the salad from Fitzroy Crossing.
I went for a bit of a walk to the local mini IGA where there was very little choice, and narrowly missed being involved in a tousle between the shop manager, a young girl and the local cops. It shook me up a bit to see the proof of the Social issues simmering below the surface of this busy tourist town so clearly.
After tea we walked around a few streets and visited Craig and Ev for a while at their little Airbnb spot. Al and Zita came over too and we cooked up a few plans for the next few days.
Tomorrow we will visit the local tourist info office and maybe see some of the sights of Broome. Until then we will curl up together in our double bed. Wish us luck xx
Luvapuzzle 