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8 World of Birds • 2023 www.birdguides.com GREAT DESTINATIONS TASMANIA and azure seas lapping either side. Black Swans swim in the shallows, Pied and Sooty Oystercatchers parade along the sandy shore and – with luck – a Hooded Plover or two should make an appearance. During my November visit, a dusk excursion here revealed Short-tailed Shearwaters wheeling around and – even better – several Little Penguins, which could be enjoyed from a safe distance as they came ashore to their burrows after dark. Bruny has a pleasantly relaxed atmosphere and it’s recommended that you take your time when travelling around, for the roads are often occupied by various mammals. Red-necked Wallabies and Tasmanian Pademelons are particularly abundant, but look out for the peculiar Short-beaked Echidna as well, which can be surprisingly easy to come across. The extensive forests of South Bruny are very reliable for catching up with many of Tasmania’s endemic birds, and the picturesque Mavista Nature Walk near Adventure Bay is one location that provides great opportunities to see several of these. Tasmanian Scrubwren, Scrubtit and Tasmanian Thornbill can all be encountered in the understorey, while looking up should produce decent views of Black Currawong and Black- headed, Strong-billed or Yellow- throated Honeyeaters. Although not an endemic, it was one of the easiest places to come across the stunning Pink Robin, which has to be seen to be believed. At Adventure Bay itself I had some memorable encounters with Hooded Plovers and Pacific Gulls on the beach, with the endemic Green Rosellas screeching overhead. Listen out for the extraordinary calls of Yellow Wattlebirds – Australia’s largest honeyeater and another Tasmanian speciality. The area is also good for the rapidly declining Swift Parrot, one of two parrot species that breed on Tasmania and migrate to mainland Australia for the winter. It was tough to drag myself away from Bruny, but I had plenty more left to see. Following a tip-o , a stop in the village of Geeveston soon had me eyeballing my first-ever Platypus. I’d seen some remarkable wildlife on my Australian trip so far, but this took things to another level. Staying quiet and still, I was able to watch this bizarre creature for almost half an hour as it fed along a small stream – a truly unforgettable experience. Nearby, a couple of flightless Tasmanian Nativehens ambling around a grassy park represented another endemic ticked o . One species that was giving me Two Critically Endangered migratory parrot species may be seen on Tasmania. A trip to Melaleuca, in the south-west of the island, will produce views of Orange-bellied Parrot (right), while the rapidly declining Swift Parrot can also be found in the island’s eucalyptus forests. It’s not just the birds which make Tasmania so special. The unique, egg-laying Platypus may be encountered in the island’s waterways, where with patience it may give surprisingly close views (left). Meanwhile, a host of other unusual mammals are surprisingly conspicuous, including Short-beaked Echidna (right) and numerous marsupials, such as Red-necked Wallaby and Tasmanian Pademelon.