Aussie GOLD...Australia (24 Oct.)

Well the pressure was on. I had let slip that I might just know a Golden Bowerbird bower, and that we might just look for it (understatement). On arrival at the site with detailed directions from another Tropical Birding guide Nick Leseberg I was feeling confident, and even had a bit of a swagger. I knew this bird would simply blow people away. I had not been there for a year but thought in true Aussie style it would be "too easy". How wrong I was. Going to the "obvious track" described by a friend I found a dead end, and a dead end without a bower. Unperturbed, I tried the next "can't miss" track only to hit another dead end, and come back bowerless, and bowerbirdless. Then panic set in. I called Nick, relayed the instructions again and soon found the indistinct track between the two can't miss ones (and the right track). Again though I just could not find the bower. At my lowest ebb and with an expectant crowd just off the trail I sighed and leaned against a tree. It was only then that I changed my stance (by complete accident), which exposed a rather large (and has to be said, "obvious") bower. The call went out and Susan returned with the group. While I waited for their imminent arrival and scoured the trees closely for any sign of "golden balls". A first cursory sweep revealed nothing so I settled down glanced up at the heavens and landed my bins immediately on a gaudy Golden Bowerbird, one of the classic Queensland specialties! Love it! All too soon everyone else arrived, with absolutely no reaction from this handsome bird who proceeded to continue adorning his large bower with some fancy white lichen, time and again while we stood just feet away. True Aussie Gold!

More from Oz to come soon...