Hi all,
Working in Mackay, central Queensland last week I took the opportunity to
visit the magical Eungella National Park. Two 4.00am starts (5.00am Sydney
time) paid off with some great birding including the Eungella Honeyeater.
I also had some unconfirmed sightings (due mainly to darkness) that I mention
below so advice from Queensland birders appreciated. They appear to be rather
unlikely sightings.
I visited the park on the mornings of 22nd and 23rd November.
First stop on the 22nd at 5.15am was the platform at Broken River. I was
excited to see 3-4 Platypus and several tortoises (name?). It was time to get
to business.
Thanks to the map provided by Chris Sanderson recently I headed firstly to
Diggings Road in search of the endemic honeyeater, not much seen apart from
Brush Turkey and Wompoo Pigeon (NB: I only went about a kilometre up as it was
too misty).
I then headed along Dalrymple Road, driving at first past the end! up a hill.
Returning I parked my car at a split in the road and walked the length seeing
some great birds (that I list below) but not the Eungella Honeyeater on this
morning.
I could have done with a sleep in but the opportunity was too great (not sure
the next time I would head to Mackay) so I repeated the same process the
following day (23rd).
Arriving slightly earlier (4.45am). I didn?t see any platypus and left Broken
River to go back to the end of Dalrymple Road. Arriving at around 6.20am I
parked at the road split and had success at 7.05am at the end of Dalrymple Road
(surrounded on both sides by rainforest).
Two birds feeding high (30-40 metres) in over hanging canopy. A great
feeling, lying on the road, looking up, I watched them for several minutes as
they fed and groomed themselves.
Other birds seen on Dalrymple road or nearby over the two days (of 4 hours
birding) included:
Grey Fantail
Eastern Yellow-Robin
Eastern Whipbird
Eastern Spinebill
Masked Lapwing
Wompoo Fruit-Dove
Brown Cuckoo-Dove
Emerald Dove
Topknot Pigeon
Bar Shouldered Dove
Crimson Rosella
Common Koel
Dollar Bird
Noisy Pitta (almost ran over it on Eungella Dam Road)
Black-faced Monarch
Australian King Parrot
Spangled Drongo
On Thursday 23rd November I had brief glimpses (4-5 seconds) of two species
that looked like Fernwren and Spotted Quail-Thrush (for 4-5 seconds) towards
the end of Dalrymple Road (at the second section with rainforest on both sides).
From reading I understand it is unlikely that I saw either of these species
but would appreciate confirmation.
I saw what I though where two Fernwrens firstly in leaves the side of the
road, they then flew in front of me. They where dark and had a distinctive
stripe above the eye and white throat. I have not seen this bird previously.
Not far from this location I saw what I thought was Spotted Quail-Thrush
again on the side of the road. This location is as you walk past the cleared
land on your left and then there is small amount of forest that starts again
(to make forest on both sides of the road). There where distinct spots on
belly, flanks. It wasn?t a dark bird and it was definitely the size of a
Spotted Quail-Thrush.
I have seen Spotted Quail-Thrush in Reisdale (which is near Monga National
Park) in southern NSW, on a couple of occasions.
Any help with what these birds could have been would be appreciated.
Anyway, a great opportunity to see the Eungella Honeyeater came to fruition.
Thanks to the recent reports (and maps) from some of you that made it possible.
Thanks also to Mackay Tourism who sent maps of the area so I could plan ahead
which was crucial given my extremely limited time.
Seeing the Eungella Honeyeater was a great birding moment for me.
Regards,
Charles Hunter
Paddington, Sydney
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