Roger drove me up to Canberra, where I was to launch my new book at the National Library. We stopped at Rutherglen (where there was an infestation of White-browed Woodswallows) and visited Chiltern (where we saw and heard a pair of Leaden Flycatchers). The next day we stopped at Wonga Wetlands in Albury (where there were lots of Sacred Kingfishers, but I could only find one Azure Kingfisher, and no Red-backed at all).
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| Wonga Wetlands |
From Albury, we drove to Cootamundra and spent a happy couple of days birding in the vicinity. We enjoyed Jindalee National Park and had good birding at Stockinbingal, notably a noisy flock of Grey-crowned Babblers at Felix Fallon Bridge. I did the Migurra Walk near Cootamundra a couple of times, but was not rewarded with the usual special sightings. One foolish Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike had constructed its nest very high in a dead tree. It had no shelter at all and the temperature was uncomfortably high. The poor bird must have almost cooked. On the way to Canberra, we stopped at Bowning and admired beautiful Superb Parrots and one lone Dollarbird. Then came my big day.
Here I am, at the bookshop in the National Library, holding my new book, "John Gould's Extinct and Endangered Birds of Australia." (The photo was taken by my girlfriend, Helen.) I was honoured to have Joe Forshaw officially launch my book. The National Library has done a stunning job of it, so of course everyone said nice things about it. Now comes all the media attention, and inevitable fame and fortune.
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