Hello to all, but to especially those of you frequently in Qld's Wet tropics.
Yesterday I saw a gorgeously plumaged adult male Sacred Kingfisher here at
Trinity Beach, just north of Cairns. Normally such a sighting, although always
beautiful, wouldn't rate a mention here on Birding-Aus - but I'm not used to
seeing this species in the lowlands anywhere in the region at this time of year.
What's the norm is to see the last of the 'wintering' birds here on the coast
as late as about August and sometimes early September, before they head south
to breed. The earliest record I have in 19+ years of returning post-breeders
'wintering' here is early January.
Up on the Atherton tablelands and further inland up here are resident breeding
populations of Sacred Kingfishers to be seen all year round, in places like
Atherton & Herberton etc, and further out west of course. Also, they are a
common species anywhere in the Wet Tropics lowlands from say January-August
when 'wintering'.
But I'm wondering if this bird yesterday suggests that maybe there is a small
population that breeds here in the lowlands as well.
Does anybody on list have any records Sacred on the lowlands between say very
late October-mid December?
Of course, yesterday's bird may well just be a late departer, or more unlikely,
he has decided not to make the trip south to breed...
cheers,
martin cachard,
trinity beach,
cairns.
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