I spent Sunday afternoon birding from a small boat on the Murray River, north
of Cardwell, Nth Qld. As we arrived at the boat ramp a young Cassowary ran
across the clearing into the bush.
The riverine vegetation varied from mangroves, palms, rainforest to drier
country with melaleucas and eucalypts further upstream. Yellow Orioles, Grey
Whistlers and Figbirds called incessantly, Large-billed Gerygones were busy
nesting and both Graceful and Yellow-spotted Honeyeaters were abundant.
Striated and White-faced Herons flew off as we passed then a Great-billed
Heron took off from its perch and flew up river into dense foliage. While
searching for it I noticed a male Papuan Frogmouth on a nest with the female
perched nearby. We saw Little, Forest and Sacred Kingfishers along the river
and a Wompoo and a flock of Pied Imperial Pigeons. Several pairs of Shining
Flycatchers foraged along the banks and a Spotted Catbird was seen when we
stopped for lunch. Other interesting sightings were Black Butcherbirds,
Orange-footed Scrubfowl, a second Great-billed Heron, and a flock of 12 Barred
Cuckoo-shrikes feeding in a fruiting fig tree. Its a great spot and an area
not very much frequented. We saw only one other boat the whole afternoon.
On a previous trip downstream on the river I'd also seen Mangrove Robins,
nesting White-bellied Sea-eagles, a pair of Beach Stone-curlews and Ospreys.
If anyone is travelling up this way with a canoe or small boat it is well
worth exploring the Murray River. The very primitive muddy boat ramp, usable
only at high tide, is 7 km along Bluff Road, about 31 km north of Cardwell.
I'm told the fishing is good there too.
Jo Wieneke
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