To share some local knowledge with this Chat site; as Russ pointed out, the
Dec 2009 edition of "The Sunbird" contains an article about recent discoveries
of Capricorn Yellow Chat occurrence in coastal Central Queensland.
The Chats are locally nomadic within a few sub-sites from St Lawrence to
12-Mile Ck, near Marmor. There are 3 main sub-populations, Fitzroy Delta, Broad
Sound and Curtis Island, (possibly a Fitzroy Delta sub-population). Curtis
Island has had a series of very poor wet seasons, and no Yellow Chats have been
seen there for about two years.
The only publicly accessible sites are at Port Alma road near the saltworks,
and Twelve Mile creek, south of Marmor. Both these sites are only used
seasonally after good rain, and are breeding sites. Chats are usually at these
sites from about New Year to March, and opportunistically at other times after
rain. We haven't been there since the heavy rain after Christmas, but they are
likely to be at both sites now.
Port Alma Road is by far the easier site, often with a few pairs nesting in the
steal pits right beside the road, just west of the saltworks. The verge is
narrow, and there is only just enough room to park to avoid the hurtling
container trucks from the port.
Finding Chats at Twelve Mile Creek can involve a walk of 2km downstream across
the saltflats, and wading across the muddy channels, or like the Moorheads you
can occasionally find them right near the carpark. It is a very hot walk at
this time of year, so best done early or late, Zitting Cisticolas are often
seen displaying over the grasslands in summer (Golden-headeds are also
present). There is a huge Sea Eagle nest in a forest Red gum near the car park.
Good Birding, Bob Black
CQU Rockhampton, QLD
==============================www.birding-aus.org
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