Sarus Cranes & Australian Pratincoles on the Tableland (Far North Queensland)

[Dr Richard Nowotny <>]

A couple of weeks or so ago Alan Gillanders ("Alan's Wildlife
Tours - On the beautiful Atherton Tablelands") posted a short
report under the heading of "Casual birding on the way home,
Atherton Tableland style" in which he described some interesting
birding along Forsythe Rd, some 6 kms from Mareeba.  As I was
heading up to FNQ myself I asked Alan for some directions, which he
generously provided.
Today (3/10), in company with Jim Flynn and Marissa Benevente,
Seattle-based birders freshly arrived from the US (literally their first
day in Australia), I/we followed Alan's instructions, with the following
interesting results (among other less dramatic sightings along the
road):
1.

      

Approximately
450-500 Sarus Cranes in recently ploughed cornfields along Forsythe Rd -
and this literally on the eve of the annual Tablelands Crane Count. 
Quite a large number I think. (Would anyone involved in the Crane Count
like to comment on just how significant this crane flock is?  I'm
not up to speed with the current status of cranes on the Tableland - but
I've not seen anything like this up here before.  Jim & Marissa
likened it to some flocks of migrating Sandhill Cranes in the US.)
2.

      

A fairly tight flock
of approx 35 Australian Pratincoles repeatedly flying in and out of the
spray generated by a very large field sprinkler - almost opposite
the Crane field. Interesting behaviour - and quite a large flock in my
experience.  (ABC News later this evening reported that it was
unseasonably hot on the Tableland today - 37*C at Malanda, only a handful
of kms from Forsythe Rd - although I insisted at the time to Jim and
Marissa that it was just rather warm!)
3.

      

Two sub-adult
Spotted Harriers quartering another nearby field, one of which dropped
into a crop, causing a quail (? Stubble, ? a button-quail) to flush,
somewhat urgently.

Casual birding, Atherton Tableland style?!!
Richard Nowotny

PS  Jim and Marissa will be in Australia for approx 6 weeks (FNQ,
Sydney to Melbourne, Melbourne to Adelaide).  I'm sure other
Birding-Aus members will meet up with them at some stage in their birding
travels.

                
RICHARD NOWOTNY
8 Pier St   Port Melbourne
VIC  AUSTRALIA  3207
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