Kuranda area sightings

[Phil Gregory <>]

A good day out on Sept 4, beginning with the female Cassowary at
Cassowary House, Kuranda, far north Queensland, then followed by Red-necked
Crake, male Victoria's Riflebird in display, Wompoo Pigeon,
a Pacific Baza sailing over a nest area nearby, Pied Monarch
and an immaculate male Yellow-breasted Boatbill.
A wetland area by the main road near Biboohra just north of Mareeba
gave 14 Sarus Cranes, with 8 Australian Bustards in weedy
field by the turning to Mareeba wetlands.
Mt. Lewis gave Tooth-billed and Golden Bowerbirds, Fernwren,
Chowchilla with a tiny rusty crowned juvenile, Bridled 
and White-cheeked Honeyeater, Mountain Thornbill, Atherton
Scrubwren and lots of Grey-headed Robin.
Lunch at the Mt. Lewis Road Tavern gave a very close and obliging Graceful
Honeyeater, usually much more skittish and unapproachable than Yellow-spotted
in this area (and quite unlike what is called Graceful Honeyeater in New
Guinea), and a quick foray into the ever hospitable Kingfisher Park gave
us great views of two Papuan Frogmouth, amazingly well camouflaged
along a branch.
Rifle Creek hosted a group of 8 Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo, and
feeding by the road in Mt. Molloy were about 18 Red-winged Parrot and
lone immaculate Cockatiel, presumably a wanderer from the drier
country.
The Red-necked Crakes at Cassowary House have gone into breeding
mode, with m noisy nocturnal calling, something that is normally in October-November
hereabouts, though this year they were late and had young in February,
later than normal. The male Cassowary is away incubating eggs we
believe, and should we hope reapear with chicks later this month.
Phil Gregory
Cassowary House Kuranda
ww.cassowary-house.com.au