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.  The conspicuous bird at the resort was Willy Wagtail, one of whom boldly built a nest on a stick stuck in the mud over the bay in front of the open lobby.  

We had been settled in when the bird tour arrived.  We were new to the group; the other members had been with the guides on a New Guinea and carried on with the New Britain extension.  We were starting with the extension and then joining another more abbreviated New Guinea tour.  They were with the program.  The guides had to shape us up to join the company.  Breakfast 5 a.m., departure at 5:30, return to lodge for supper circa 7:30 p.m., night birding to follow.  Bird, bird, bird.  

We adjusted well.  Poor guides were flustered when one afternoon Laurie informed them that she was taking the afternoon off.  Shocked they told her, “You will miss birds!”   Ah yes, but there other things in life besides birds.