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Yesterday, 27/12/04 I had the opportunity to travel
120 km west of Mossman (as the crow flies) to Mt. Mulligan which has been
likened to the "Ayer's Rock" of North Queensland. It towers 400 metres above the
surrounding savanah woodland and has many vertical cliff faces well over 300
metres high. The escarpment is eighteen kilometres in length lying north and
south.
To get to the area one travels
west from Mareeba through much irrigated cropland watered from Lake
Tinaroo.
After crossing the Walsh River
10 km north of Dimbulah I observed a lone female Painted Snipe fly across the
road ahead towards the local weir. The contrasting colours showed well in the
morning light. As the bird hadn't geen flushed her shallow wingbeats in
flight were very apparent. After recent storm rains,
conditions in the region indeed are suitable as drainage systems
are holding water.
Other highlights that came our
way through the day were more than 300 Red-tailed Black Cockatoos and perhaps 70
Pale-headed Rosellas, many taking advantage of an over ripe mango
crop.
Season's Greetings,
Del.Richards, Fine Feather Tours, Mossman,
NQ.
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