Martin grew up in Melbourne Australia playing cricket and Australian Rules football. While growing up, to his parents’ dismay, Martin brought home and kept a menagerie of wildlife including frogs, lizards, turtles and even poisonous snakes!
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The decision to remain in Vanuatu proved inspired as we experienced two marvelous days in Espiritu Santo. This morning as we finally made our way across to the Solomon Islands, the seas were kind. Gentle swells and light winds made for an exceptionally pleasant crossing and much better conditions for wildlife spotting. In the morning we saw tropic birds and petrels amongst the regular flutter of flying fish, drawn out by the splashing of the bow through the swell. Most of the ship enjoyed a slow, lazy morning to recover from some busy expedition days, and the hotel and galley team laid out a beautiful brunch on the back deck later in the morning. After lunch we had talks from Undersea Specialist Mike Greenfelder and Cultural Specialist and Navigator Tua Pitman before a special afternoon tea – pancakes! During our evening recap Expedition Leader Alex Searle explained our plans for the following morning in the Solomon Islands, and National Geographic Orion made way with spectacular views of the sunset.
The sound of the crunching leaves underfoot, the nagging, rattling call of the endemic Vanuatu kingfisher, the tickle of the sweat dripping down your knee, the glimpse from the corner of your eye of the shadow of a forest bird flying away, the yellow glow of the belly of the Vanuatu white-eye, the taste of the spongy coconut and the juicy pomelo at the end of our morning birding adventure. This morning, we explored the Loru Conservation Area in Espiritu Santo. The protected, 220-hectacre lowland forest is host to at least six Vanuatu endemics and many other songbird species. We were excited, sweaty, hot, curious, alert, occasionally frustrated, and ultimately rewarded. We were never bored. Birding in this kind of intact habitat is truly a special treat. In the afternoon, we took a beautiful canoe ride up to the Riri Blue Hole, where we went for a lovely swim. Vanuatu is a wonder to behold. What a time to be alive!
