IN August and September 2011 I went to Cairns with my Dad (pictured, in the top right-hand side photo) to escape the southern winter and also see some birds, which are his big passion. We stopped on the side of a waterway, which was supposed to be a good place to see finches. Sitting by a little creek, which is actually the mighty Wenlock River. Waiting for the elusive palm cockatoo to come out from the trees for a drink. We had some lunch after that, as Jurassic waterbirds lumbered through the air. watching Driving past the abandoned homestead, with its warning: 'Aboriginal land. Trespassers will be prosecuted' was a surreal experience. As I sat in the back of the 4WD, it felt like I was watching an old western film, in a cinema on wheels, and all the colours were psyched up. There was a water tank behind the remains of the house, where Chook said finches like to gather. Behind that, a huge wetland opened out, dotted with dunking terns, egrets swallowing fish, and pelicans.
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