A day birding in Far North Queensland (FNQ) April 13 2001:
A day in quest of the more elusive species with Tony and Carol Pym.
Itinerary:
Friday April 13: Cassowary House to Mt. Lewis via Mareeba and Mt. Molloy
Species list
CH= Cassowary House
Cassowary: Wonderful views of the immature male and then later
the adult male and female in the garden at CH.
Australian Brush-Turkey: CH
Orange-footed Scrubfowl: Heard at CH.
Pacific Black Duck:
Intermediate Egret: Lake Mitchell.
Great White Egret: Lake Mitchell.
Straw-necked Ibis:
Black Kite: A few on the tablelands, max 10.
Nankeen Kestrel: A couple near Mareeba.
Spotted Harrier: One near Mareeba.
Brolga: One at Lake Mitchell.
Red-necked Crake: Heard at CH.
Brown Cuckoo-Dove:
Emerald Dove: Lovely views at CH.
Crested Pigeon: One at Mareeba.
Peaceful Dove
Bar-shouldered Dove: Mt. Molloy and Mareeba.
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo: A distant flock in flight were twinkling
silver and black in the morning sun near Mareeba, a very striking effect.
Rainbow Lorikeet
Australian King-Parrot: A female in the forest at Mt Lewis.
Double-eyed Fig-Parrot. Bullets by CH.
Pale-headed Rosella: Three along the Kennedy Highway and two near Mareeba.
Channel-billed Cuckoo: One flew over the road north of Biboohra, rather
late.
Papuan Frogmouth: Our roosting bird along Black Mountain Road.
White-rumped Swiftlet: Small groups around Kuranda and the tablelands.
Buff-breasted Paradise-Kingfisher: A late adult at Mt Lewis
gave good views.
Laughing Kookaburra
Blue-winged Kookaburra: One near Mt Molloy.
Forest Kingfisher: Several by CH.
Noisy Pitta: One off the track up Mt. Lewis, a brief look only.
Rainbow Bee-eater: Plenty of migrants about.
White-throated Tree-creeper (H):
Red-backed Fairywren: A male and several brown birds gave great views.
Striated Pardalote (H):
Fernwren: Beautiful views of a singing bird, the tail not being
pumped as this one called, unlike a bird last year at Longlands Gap. Another
was nearby.
Yellow-throated Scrubwren:
Atherton Scrubwren: Excellent views of about ten in total on
Mt. Lewis.
Mountain Thornbill: Great views at Mt Lewis.
Helmeted Friarbird: CH
Little Friarbird: Lake Mitchell.
Blue-faced Honeyeater: Mareeba.
Macleay?s Honeyeater: CH
Lewin?s Honeyeater:
Yellow-spotted Honeyeater: CH
Graceful Honeyeater: CH
Bridled Honeyeater: A single on Mt Lewis.
Yellow Honeyeater: Lake Mitchell
White-throated Honeyeater:
Brown Honeyeater:
White-cheeked Honeyeater: A single on Mt. Lewis.
Eastern Spinebill: Two on Mt. Lewis
Dusky Honeyeater: CH.
Scarlet Honeyeater (H): Heard at Mt Molloy.
Pale-yellow Robin:
White-browed Robin: A single at Big Mitchell Creek was my first
this year.
Grey-headed Robin: Great views on Mt. Lewis.
Chowchilla: A male and female gave nice views on Mt Lewis, where
they have a different dialect to the CH birds. Calling loudly at first
light at CH daily.
Eastern Whipbird: One seen on Mt. Lewis.
Golden Whistler: Males at Mt. Lewis.
Little Shrike-thrush: Three at the base of Mt. Lewis.
Bower?s Shrike-thrush: A fine view of a single on Mt. Lewis.
Yellow-breasted Boatbill: Lovely views of three males at Mt. Lewis.
Black-faced Monarch: Tony saw an imm. on Mt. Lewis.
Magpie-lark:
Grey Fantail:
Willie Wagtail
Spangled Drongo: A couple north near Mareeba and one at Mt. Molloy.
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike:
White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike:
Figbird:
White-breasted Wood-swallow
Black-faced Wood-swallow: Two on wires south of Mt. Molloy,
a year tick.
Black Butcherbird: Back at CH once again.
Pied Butcherbird: A few near Mareeba.
Australian Magpie:
Victoria?s Riflebird: Heard
Apostlebird: Six at Lake Mitchell gave splendid views.
Spotted Catbird: Great views at CH and a dead bird on the track half
way up Mt. Lewis.
Golden Bowerbird: Heard on Mt. Lewis.
Australasian (Richard?s) Pipit: Seen at Mt. Molloy cricket pitch.
Double-barred Finch:
Red-browed Firetail: A few small groups on Mt. Lewis, but none with
the Blue-faced Finches.
Black-throated Finch: Great views of four by the Black-faced
Wood-swallows south of Mt. Molloy.
Blue-faced Finch; Great views of two adults feeding in currant
and lantana, about 300m above the World Heritage sign on Mt. Lewis, a new
patch of habitat.
Golden-headed Cisticola: Lake Mitchell.
Silvereye:
Bassian Thrush (Atherton Ground Thrush!): Four birds along the
track up Mt. Lewis, large and long billed with no russet on rump or tail.
Usually a scarce and tricky species, this was easily my best morning local
count of this shy and elusive race. A wet night giving way to a clear morning
obviously helped.
Common Myna:
Furries
Eastern Grey Kangaroo: 30 at Mareeba Golf course.
Red-legged pademelon: One on Mt Lewis and four nearby.
White-tailed Uromys: Two from the veranda at CH.
Scalies
Red-bellied Black Snake: Three along the Mt. Lewis track.
Amethystine Python: A 2m+ adult took up residence beneath CH this morning,
and spent the night hanging from a gate beneath the house.
Leaf-tailed Gecko: A good look at one in heavy rain along the entrance
track to CH, the first I?ve seen here. It raised and lowered the paddle
shaped tail several times as it crossed the path, mooning us!
Phil Gregory, Cassowary House, Kuranda
Visit our web site at www. cassowary-house.com.au
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