Greetings,
Yesterday ,11/07/07, on the Atherton Tablelands it was very cold with heavy
frosts in the gullies and widespread lighter ones. Milder today but with
cloud and wind.
There are huge flocks of Sarus Cranes and Brolgas camped at Bromfield Swamp
and many smaller camps of Sarus Cranes on little wetlands and the edge of
Lake Tinaroo. A pair camped on the corner of the road from the Curtain Fig
where it meets the Atherton - Malanda Road. There were 38 at my neighbours'
wetland and some walked up almost to our house fence!
Topknot Pigeons, Yellow-breasted Boatbill, Pied and Spectacled Monarchs at
the Curtain Fig.
A yellow-billed Spoonbill flying low across the road at Upper Barron was an
unusual sighting.
No sign of Golden Bowerbird activity at the famous Longlands Gap site, nor
on the ridges nearby. Last year was the first in 28 when there was not an
adult male in residence there. But while there I had an Atherton Scrubwren
doing what the books describe, staying close to the ground. In fact in
barely left the ground to hop around and came within a metre of my feet.
this contrasted with two at Mt Hypipamee where they were feeding higher than
one of the Large-billed S'w. in a mixed flock. This flock loosely included a
Grey-headed Robin, a White-throated Treecreeper, a Grey fantail, two Pale
Yellow Robins, some Brown Gerrygones and Mountain Thornbills. One of the
thornbills and the treecreeper came to the ground after disturbed prey. The
thornbill then stayed lower than a metre for about a minute and a half
gleaning in the understorey. Not their usual behaviour.
Must be over a thousand Plumed Whistling duck at Hasties Swamp. Magpie Geese
are there in good numbers as well. A red-backed Kingfisher is still using
the power lines and trees on Hasties Road east of the swamp. A pair of
Blue-winged Kookaburra is there too.
The previously reported pair of Red-backed Kingfishers at Lake Eacham were
not seen yesterday despite three passes.
Regards,
Alan Gillanders
Alan's Wildlife Tours
2 Mather Road
Yungaburra 4884
www.alanswildlifetours.com.au
Phone 07 4095 3784
Int. + 61 7 4095 3784
Alan's Wildlife Tours FREE enewsletter
www.alanswildlifetours.com.au/eNews.html
===============================
www.birding-aus.org
birding-aus.blogspot.com
To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
send the message:
unsubscribe
(in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
to:
===============================
|
