 If you've made the trip to far North Queensland, you absolutely have to go to Daintree...heck, go there for the Daintree alone! And go on the River with the Daintree Boatman - you'll be glad you did! We booked the morning cruise, departing 7am on a clear and crisp morning... our guide came across as friendly and cheerful (always good) but even better, a real subject matter expert on the ecology of the Daintree River - not just what's there, but how it all fits together. So while birds might be our particular focus, we also loved seeing a whole array of wildlife, as well as hearing about the tides, the salt and freshwater areas in the river, the flood levels, and the currents. But back in the wildlife department, the snake got the first geurnsey...actually, we saw seven of these tree snakes in all. They're pretty tiny, and not venomous, but wonderful to see close-up at eye-level. As we rounded a bend, there was a striated heron going about its business very closeby.  But kingfishers were the real hit - first we saw two sacred kingfishers perching, feasting and flying near the bank. Enjoy this sequence...watch the lower bird chomping and letting go its dragonfly prey. We were pretty thrilled with that interlude, but there was more kingfisher action ahead...but first, we found an unusual visitor to this part of the world, a white-throated nightjar enjoying the morning sunlight - and not too worried about us in our passing boat.  We were fascinated with the gerygones nesting and feeding their chicks - unfortunately too quick for this photographer. We also saw shining and leaden flycatchers, pied cormorants, cuckoo-shrike and a spangled drongo. But then it was time for more kingfishers - two types in fact... What a special experience to see the little kingfisher perch long enough to be photographed.  And not to be left out, the azure kingfisher in all its beauty.  Of course, everyone wants to see a crocodile on the Daintree, and we saw several sunny themselves as the sun grew warmer. Bit like a well-chosen dessert after a sumptuous feast, the finisher was a real zinger... there in its glory was a white-bellied sea-eagle, another lifer for us.  When you're travelling, you take a punt on the local attractions, hoping it's worthwhile...this morning cruise with the Daintree Boatman was one of the best value experiences we've had. Not only did we have a great guide, the boat was flat-bottomed and small, and so not too large a crowd and very easily manoeuvred around the river, sometimes going along very quietly and slowly, at other times going faster to a particular location. Being on the Daintree all by ourselves at the beginning of a new day really felt like a privilege.
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