FNQ trip part II
After leaving Chamber?s on the
18th (with the usual cast, including a Golden Whistler) we went off
to Kingfisher Park to see the famed Buff-Brested Paradise
Kingfisher (more on that below).
This is different territory to Chamber?s, with cane fields about, a
little creek (privately owned but access allowed). There is some remnant forest on the
property as well as an orchard. The
usual Brush Turkeys and Scrub Fowl, Emerald Doves were
thick on the ground as well as Red Browed Finches. Ron Stannard is a good host and quite a
character. He feeds a Red Necked
Crake on cheese! This was a
special bird to see, quite shy but very lovely. A couple of old birding hands (Dave and
Moreen) were staying to help out, and Dave led a 3 hr walk around the property
and surrounding cane fields the next morning from 5.45 (yawn). Birds too numerous to mention, but
highlights were Striated Pardalote, Sunbird, nesting Metallic
Starlings (I loved the communal nesting, and my first citing of the immature
form with the white brest), a nesting Papuan Frogmouth with young, a
brief view of the Buff-Brested Paradise Kingfisher, and on it goes.
Under my own steam (including by
the bird bath) were the Noisy Pitta (a lovely bird), leaden flycatcher
(I think), spectacled monarch, peaceful dove, blue faced honey
eater and buff-banded rail.
Also, a quick drive to Abattoir Swamp was masked lapwing, forest
kingfisher, cattle egret and forest kingfisher. A trip out in the 4WD with Dave and 30
mins peering into the trees finally got me a banded honeyeater. Also a brief citing of a Great
Bowerbird (the bower was in someone?s front yard in Julatten) and female and
male (displaying!!!) Australian Bustard. What a sight!
From the 21st onwards
we were off to Daintree Village and the wonderful Red Mill House with
Trish and Andrew Forsyth. Great
hosts, great breakfasts, so-so birding this time in the gardens, although a
really nice view of a great egret in its breeding plumage. I really wanted a picture of a Yellow
Oriole since my last efforts were so-so, but they were elusive but continued
to call all day! A walk on the
common and along the river yielded a few birds, including cattle egrets
in breeding plumage. Chris
Dahlberg?s river tour also didn?t yield too many stand out birds this time,
various egrets, darter, lapwing, and a nesting Papuan
Frogmouth. Azure
Kingfisher?s flashed past.
Better birding was had with Alan on Dan Irby?s boat. As Chris? engine was playing up we
didn?t get into the creeks. Ian?s
tour was a nice complement, getting into the mangroves. Striated Heron (a first time
bird) as well as (hopefully some) nice pictures (almost a whole roll) on the
Great-billed Heron! There
were also nesting Papuan Frogmouths (nice and close), Shining
Flycatcher, Yellow bellied sunbird.
It was raining in Cairns and we
were only there for an afternoon, so we?ll go to the Esplanade another
time.
All in all, a pretty good
trip. A lot of film went to the
developers on Friday. I can?t
wait.
