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Just back from a short "non-birding" trip to Mount Isa. As we caught the
train out I didn't even have a car, although a few local friends were kind
enough to drive me to several spots.
The train trip out I saw 3 Emus (west of Julia Creek) & 10 Australian
Bustards (mostly between Richmond & Julia Creek). In Mount Isa I was staying
close to the CBD & was able to take several walks along the Leichardt River,
with a suprising variety of birds in the extensive pools remaining.
Unfortunately I always felt a bit on edge here - the chance of being assulted by
the people that hang around in the parks & such is pretty high. I don't mean
to offend anyone but it is a huge problem. The birds down there included
Pink-eared Duck with the odd Grey Teal, Hardhead & some Eurasian Coots.
There were a couple of Pacific Black Ducks around, but they looked as if they
could be hybrids with Grey Teal. Many Australasian Grebes & also one
Hoary-headed Grebe (non-br). Largish flocks of Varied Lorikeets came down to
drink at the waters edge that otherwise occupied Black-winged Stilts, the
odd Common Greenshank, Glossy Ibis, Black-fronted Dotterel. The riverside
vegetation held, among others Chesnut-breasted Mannikin, White-plumed
Honeyeater, Great Bowerbird, Dollarbird, one Red-backed Kingfisher.
I did con some friends into taking me to the sewage plant (I don't think
this was what they had in mind when they offered to show us around) &
Lake Moondarra, although both only for about half an hour & in middle of the
day.
Lake Moondarra - this was the eastern side, not the western that Bob
Forsyth recommends. Species included Black-fronted & Red-kneed Dotterel,
Aust Pratincole, Whiskered Tern, Aust Pelican, Great Cormorant, Black-winged
Stilt
Sewage Plant - 1000s of birds, including:
20+ Black-tailed Native Hens
42 Black Kites in dead trees
many many Pink-eared Ducks
15 Australian Bustards
many Silver Gulls
30 Wood Ducks
also Black Swan, Red-kneed & Black-fronted Dotterel, Glossy Ibis,
Purple Swamphen, Coot, Hardhead, Grey Teal, Aust Grebe
On the way back I was suprised to find a Pied Currawong at Torrens Creek
rail station.
The little I saw of the region was very promising - defiinetely worth a
return visit some day. Furthur details of any sightings available on
request. Thanks to Bob Forsyth, whose directions to local birding spots
were very helpful (see Birds Queensland website)
Tim Dickson
Townsville
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