Last week I visited that part of the Barron River
that is usually under water in front of Lavender Hill B&B. www.ig.com.au/lavenderhill
Driving there I passed a dozen
bustards along Forsythe Road where the Sarus Cranes
were feeding in corn stubble and pasture. Nankeen Kestrel,
Whistling Kite, Black Kite, and Black-shouldered Kite
were all seen before dropping down into the river channel.
There among the weeds were at least 12 male
White-winged Trillers and 30 females/juveniles. While a common
enough bird on the coast they are not so often seen up here.
Other raptors to show themselves were Swamp
Harrier, White-bellied Sea-Eagle and Wedgetailed
Eagle.
On the water were White Pigmy-Goose,
Hardhead, Grey Teal, P. Black Duck with Wood Duck
and some ferals on the bank.
In the shallows at the 'mouth' of the river were
A. Pelican, all three Egrets, Little Black Cormorants,
Black-necked Stork and a strange looking wader. With a lot of
black on the back (tertials),white rump, back and tail and very orange
legs, it caused me much excitement. A further visit with scope and 'Shorebirds,'
Hayman et al, sorted it out as a Common Greenshank. I have
never seen them catching fish before or looking so orange in the legs.
Above me flew Swallows, Tree and
Fairy Martins. Double-eyed Fig parrots along
with Rainbow and Scaly-breasted Lorikeets
came screaming along in separate flocks as did some early Metallic
Starlings. Bridled, Dusky and Lewins Honeyeaters
were feeding on insects. Figbirds, Silvereye, Australian Magpie, Indian
Myna, Mud lark, Purple Swamphen, Coot, Darter, Willie Wagtail,
Golden-headed Cisticola, White-bellied Woodswallow and Masked
Lapwing rounded out the list.
Heading back up out of the river, I saw a dark
phase Little Eagle. Most of the birds in this area are light
coloured. Some quail, possibly Stubble, crossed in front of the
car.
A Square-tailed Kite was
cruising the tree line and Brown Falcons were on power
poles above the river. Now where was that Black Falcon I had seen the week
before and had heard reports of; no where to be seen but I suppose you can't
have them all! However I did see a
Spotted Harrier before I got back to the main road. Also seen
on the way out were White-headed Pigeon, Brown Honeyeater, Richards
Pipit and Torrisian Crow.
I may have missed recording some of the birds in
the rainforest across the river but who cares? When you are only spending
an hour and a half and most of that time is taken up with one bird, the wader,
you don't want to spend the whole time writing!!!
Regards,
Alan
