Bowen to Hervey Bay

Said Hi and Bye to Col at the Ocean View Motel yet one more time, Bowen looking as naturally beautiful, and socially ???, as always... our go-to overnight pitstop on the big drive south/north. Had an odd moment checking out the Bowen wharf just after sunset: what appeared to be a tug (it was dark!) was moored at the western finger wharf (restricted access), and we concluded that its owners were warding off unwanted seabirds by looping at full volume playback of a recording of a medley of raucous bird calls - maybe parrots feeding young? a raptor greeting? It was really weird. We passed on fish and chips at the eastern marina wall, and scuttled back with Red Rooter (no coleslaw available; it's Bowen) to the room, to watch the AFL, read and pass out.

Off at 6.15am. Cool, moist, fine, hence misty morning - we even saw a spectacular wave cloud over a mountain S of Bowen. Like most magical moments, it eluded digital capture, so no pic ;-)

No birding highlights this leg. Detoured down Port Alma Road S of Rocky, on the off chance we might sight a Yellow Chat. Salt piles were shining brilliantly in the sun, ponds looking sparkly, saltbush in reasonable nick, but nada... not even a Red-capped plovers in sight (must have been holidaying at Wunjunga). Just a huge new boat ramp towards the N end of the road, providing easy access to some lovely Myrtle mangroves (Osbornia octodonta) and soul-salving views of my kind of landscape - a muddy, mangrovey, tidal creek 💚🤎💙Read more