We have arrived in Australia! It is amazing and beautiful. We are currently in Cairns area. Alan, if you read this (can't figure out how to reach you individually... sorry everyone, I know this is an international discussion forum, not a personal chat room) we had talked about getting together for drinks or to chat about your beautiful country. We will be in Yungaburra Thursday and Friday if you are still around.

For that matter anyone who wants to get together we love company

I can't believe we are actually here, it is more amazing than I could have hoped... only day 1 and I know I'm not going to want to go back.

how lovely
i hope you have a great trip.
Australia is a great place for a holiday.

Greetings and welcome.

My brother and family are arriving on Thursday so that's not so good but I should be home on Friday by 5 pm and am bound to have a thirst. If you go to the visitor's centre in Yungaburra and ask for contact details for Alan they'll hand you my little yellow and black flyer with a drawing of a tree-kangaroo and cassowary on it. Alternatively just ask at any of the business houses. The place is not that big. There is likely to be someone around the house most of the time but the answer machine will give you my mobile number too.

What the heck! my email is alan AT alanswildlifetours dot com dot au
and my home phone is 4095 3784 Mobile, 04089 53786

I hope we can chat while we drink. Only chatting makes me dry and only drinking ...

Hi Alan,
Sounds great! i wrote down your contact info so if you want to delete it from here so you don't get crazy fan mail/calls, that might be good We will be in touch.


Also, Australia is amazing Loving this trip so far.

Stephanie, enjoy the rest of your trip with your Mum, and make sure you don't miss out on those Bowen mangoes! They're at their best right now.

So jealous Steph! Hope you have/are having a wonderful trip and were able to connect with Alan.

Toucan2 not only did we meet up and her Mum buy me a beer but I dragged them along spotlighting. It was a little slow to start with, the gliders have enough nectar and insects to eat without visiting their sap trees. In the end though we saw 7 species of mammals identified to species level a couple of reptiles and some birds.

Sounds like a great night Alan!

BTW I gave your name to a birder we met this week who will be in Cairns for a conference next year. Unfortunately, I forgot to get his name so I could tell you in case he calls.

We have been birding throughout the Lower Rio Grande Valley in TX since Dec 9.

I was hoping to get to Texas next year but it does not look like it will happen now. I've got a couple of weeks' guiding work with a university. As that is the side of the business I would like to develop most, it takes priority. I also wanted to see my new great, great nephew in Mexico and do a little [a lot] birding too.

Hope you had a great time. All the best for 2012 to you all.