Arrived before the birding tour and dove for two days.  Small boats took us to fringe reefs at the endge of Kimbe Bay.  Equipment was well used but adequate.  Reefs were lovely but showing stress.  The anemones, basket stars, and small reef fish were spectacular.  Adjusted to the warmth surprisingly easily and woke to the cries of the friarbirds that began their hoarse gurgling at dawn.  We more often heard than saw these large bare-faced birds that haunt the trees of New Britain.

Wonder why there have been no posts during this exciting phase of our touring?  Well, posting requires a means of communication, and we have had little over the past days, and while there has been occasional Internet, it has been very, very slow.  It is slow here, but should work for this message.  A second reason for the silence is that bird touring can be very intense, and our was a serious tour in one of the most difficult places in the world to bird.  And so, when we were not birding or eating, we were resting.

Drove to Vosne Romanee after breakfast at home

Drove to Vosne-Romanee after leisurely breakfast at Airbnb