Today, our morning was full of confusion and our attempt to drive south down the Captain Cook Highway towards Cairns was interrupted by my forgetfulness because I left my phone in our motel room. I only discovered this about ten kilometres down the road when we stopped to see a bird of prey that had nested on top of a power pole. My friend Kate described the location when we had lunch yesterday and it was very easy to find from her description.
We returned to our motel but by this time Jill was hanging out for a coffee and wanted a newspaper with crosswords keep her occupied while I went off to take photos. Therefore we were back in Port Douglas doing some shopping in the supermarket and buying coffee. By 100, we were finaly able to head back to the birds nest again and continue with our day.
I suspect that these birds are Ospreys but I am open to correction and advice. They were nesting on the very top of a power pole which is a consistent sign of this bird species.
Ospreys are graceful and powerful birds. They are a distinctive raptor found along Australia’s coastal fringes. With a sharp eye for fish and a unique aerial hunting style, this coastal bird of prey is an integral part of marine ecosystems across northern and eastern Australia. They hunt for fish, soaring or hovering over coastal waters, estuaries, and inland lakes before diving feet-first to snatch fish from just below the water’s surface. They typically carry their catch with the head forward for aerodynamic flight back to a perch or nest. They are monogamous and tend to use the same nest sites year after year. Nests are large, bulky structures made from sticks, lined with softer materials, and usually located in high, open locations, such as dead trees, cliff ledges, or artificial platforms.
We couldn’t spend any time at the beaches along the road as we drove north to Port Douglas because of extensive roadworks and the fact that they were on the other side of the busy road. Today, we decided to amble back south along the road and visit the many stopping places and do some photography.
The Captain Cook Highway travels along a scenic route through tropical rainforests and past stunning coral-studded waterways from Cairns, past Port Dopuglas and through to Mossman.. With its winding roads, the drive is a very enjoyable experience. It’s a critical link between the two tourist destinations, as well as being a scenic roadway that runs beside the coast.
Here are some views of beaches at which we stopped:
It was just another day in Paradise!
