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In mid November last year, a group of birders
(Darryl Jones, Dawn Muir, Phil Battley and myself) went to Carnarvon Oasis Lodge
at Carnarvon Gorge, Central Queensland highlands, to plan a birding festival for
them. During 3 days there, we saw two Rainbow Lorikeets feeding on sap
seeping from a large eucalypt (probably Eucalyptus punctata) every day.
The sap was seeping from cuts made by Yellow-bellied Gliders which we saw
feeding there at night. The lorikeets were very agressive in defending
their sap sites from Blue-faced Honeyeaters which were also feeding on sap at
other areas on the same tree. The lorikeets were there whenever we passed
the tree which was several times each day over the three days.
For the record we recorded around 100 birds for the
trip. If anyone wants a list let me know. Probably the highlight was
outside of the NP on a recently harvested wheatfield. There were 15
Australian Bustard, 5 Brolgas and 5 Emus plus babblers, Cockatiels, S-c
Cockatoos etc. Often we had Brolga, Bustard and Emu in the same frame in
our scopes. A couple of the male Bustards were displaying.
Cheers
Roy Sonnenburg
Birding Services Brisbane
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