Kutini Payamu NP Day 4

We got up early and took off for Portlands Roads and were in the bay in the tinny by 8am. A local guy said we would catch Coral Trout but no luck other than one that was too small. So we did some trolling and eventually after catching 2 barracuda and one too small trevally I got a very big fish hooked up. I reeled in but it continued to swim away against the drag on my reel. This went on for some time and I rested a bit with the rod and line against the boat. Russ quickly told me this could snap the line. I asked Russ if he would reel it in because I was struggling but he kindly said that I should do it – just as well because I eventually got the fish up to the boat and Russ quickly gaffed it. After losing Rob's queenfish at this stage, he was very keen to get it  into the boat first time. It was a 30lb queenfish – WOW!! My biggest ever fish and the biggest queenfish Russ has ever seen. We continued trolling for a while then went in to avoid getting caught with the tide out (this would mean we’d have to use the winch to get the boat over the rocks). We had a nice lunch looking out on the beautiful Portland Roads in beautiful sunshine, trying to avoid getting bitten by green ants.

After we got back to Cooks Hut, we prepared the fish for dinner and for the freezer – 10 yummy fish meals!! Then we set up to try to see the elusive Magnificent Riflebird on the track leading off Gordon Creek Campsite (info from John Griffiths). We quickly spotted him on the vine, as predicted and took hundreds of photos and video, using the newly found programme where the camera takes 3 photos each time you press the trigger. We also saw the white faced robin again, the varied triller and the dusky honeyeater on what was a wonderful wander through this amazing rainforest. Apparently there are about 2000 plant species here and the number of bird calls we hear here is astounding, especially compared to most rainforests where you barely hear any birds. Kutini Payamu NP is the largest tract of lowland tropical rainforest in Australia and incredibly biodiverse and therefore a great birding site.

Portlands Roads

I love this view

The dusky honeyeater about to land

The Magnificent Riflebird lives up to its name!

This area was a big gold mining area. It also had 7000 soldiers living in the rainforest during WW2.

Spectacled Monarch

Varied Triller

White Raced Robin

Is this the cutest bird ever?

Little shrike thrush