Stake out above Spin Bay, Phillip Island: Waiting for Kermadec Petrels

It’s 8:07 pm, the moon has risen to the north, the wind is steady and and strong from the northeast and the sky is wild with petrels. Black-winged Petrels are winging, whirling and calling in a constant high-pitched cheeping, weep-will-wheeping. The sky darkens and guttural calls of the Kermadec Petrel decline, while the lower pitched […]

Out to Norfolk Island, South Pacific December 31, 2019

While the wildfires raged in Australia, I felt somewhat guilty getting on the train to Sydney Airport, winging to Brisbane in a smoky haze, then heading off to Norfolk Island, a two hour flight east into the Tasman Sea. Somehow, Norfolk Island is considered an international destination, despite being a protectorate of Australia. Perhaps it’s […]

Phillip Island – March 12 to March 30th, 2019

Phillip Island is only 6 km off Norfolk Island in the South Pacific Ocean (latitude 29 degrees S and longitude 168 degrees E). It is 190 hectares and 2 km length and width, with an altitude of 280 m. It supports endemic plants, invertebrates including an giant centipede (Cormocephalus coynei), reptiles (skink and gecko) and […]

Of sounds in the dark and phosphorescent fungi: Phillip Island at night

The wind picks up in the afternoon from breeze to gale. About an hour before sunset, Phillip Island comes alive with sight and sound. Visiting Black-winged Petrels begin to fill the sky with their high-pitched “weh-weh-woo-did- dear” chatter and aerial acrobatics. Often the Black-winged Petrels tip, glide and swing by in pairs, so they are […]

Camping at Kumu Campground and attending the Pacific Seabird Group conference

Since the Pacific Seabird Group conference was being held at the Aqua Palms Hotel and rooms were $279 + taxes per night without the $40 extra person surcharge, we had the bright idea of camping in the van. This gave us transport, a bed and cooking facilities. Kaua’i camper van rental had suggested camping at […]

Norfolk Island – March 8th to , 2019

Getting on a 10am flight from Sydney’s Kingsfort Airport to Norfolk Island took as long as the flight itself. Thank goodness Maria and I started well before 6am. Due to the convoluted configuration of Sydney Harbour there is the Sydney bridge to cross and this and the multitudes of people going to work in this […]

Cycling in Kapa’a in Eastside Kaua’i and Anini Beach

We fired up Janie and left sunny Salt Flats camp to our next destination campground at Anini Beach on the north side. The north and east sides of Kaua’i are known as the wet sides. Indeed we had some clouds and a few showers. After a food truck delicious pizza, Ian and I rented cruiser […]

Lihue, Salt Ponds and Waimea Canyon on Kaua’i

After our 5 hour flight from Vancouver direct to Lihue, the capital of Kaua’i, we were picked up by a most friendly taxi driver and taken somewhat indirectly to our Airbnb/motel the Kaua’i Palms Hotel. Ian and I were directed to a cabin A on the corner (they insisted we book 2 rooms). Since we […]

Getting ready to go. . .

Somehow, getting ready to go on my travel adventures seems a bit more complex than it used to. Maybe I just forgot? I am going for a couple of months. First to Kauai for the Pacific Seabird Group meeting (presently Canadian rep) and travelling with Ian and Liz. Then Ian and Liz are coming home […]