N Qld Trip Report (late) part 3

[Frank Hemmings <>]

11/1-15/1 cont'd...

Mt Molloy School

Although other birds were around, I went here to see the GREAT BOWERBIRD,
and was not disappointed as several passed through the grounds right near
where I had parked the ground as I got out from the car.  A bower
was in the front yard of a nearby house.

Mt Molloy Pub

Having bought food for most meals and cooked it myself in my unit, I
ended up having dinner at the pub at Mt Molloy towards the end of the
trip.  On the last day, sitting on the verandah at sunset and
enjoying a nice cool drink, I was able to watch the world and the birds
pass by.  Squatter Pigeon, Bar-shouldered Dove, Figbird,
Yellow-breasted Sunbird, what looked like a Fairy Gerygone, and
Blue-winged Kookaburra were all present, and a lone Magpie Goose passed
overhead.  Defintely the easiest birding I did on the whole
trip.

Lake Mitchell

A bit disappointing, because the water level was much lower than
expected, and birds which would otherwise have been close to the causeway
were otherwise up to a couple of km away.  I visited here twice, and
the second time, I borrowed a scope from the lodge to see the distant
birds easier, but it seemed that the waters' edge had receded further
over a few days (probably my imagination).  Anyway,  it did
produce my first BROLGA,  so I was happy with that. 
Comb-crested Jacanas and Masked Lapwings were close to the causeway edge,
as were a few Little Black and Little Pied Cormorants and a lone Little
Egret.  Lots of Coots were further out, as were a group of Caspian
Terns (15+), what looked like Intermediate Egrets, and a few Black-necked
Storks.  Black Swans were further out still, as were a large number
of unidentifiable ducks.  On my second visit I managed to add
Darter, Pelican and Royal Spoonbill to the waterbirds.  Both
White-bellied Sea-Eagle and Osprey were patrolling the area.

There is a small area of woodland near the main road, and this proved to
be good for drier woodland birds, many of which were present at other
sites.  These included Pale-headed Rosella, Red-winged Parrot,
Little Friarbird, Yellow Honeyeater, Grey-crowned Babbler, Double-barred
Finch, Leaden Flycatcher, Willy Wagtail and Pied Butcherbird.  I saw
Apostlebirds from the car near to the roadside near here on two
occasions.

Big Mitchell Creek

This site was a little further south along the Mareeba Rd, and was the
place recommended for WHITE-BROWED ROBIN,  and I saw a pair within
five minutes of walking along the creekbed, in the denser fringing
vegetation.  A few Fairy Gerygones were feeding in the canopy of
some bloodwoods overhanging the creek.  Buff-breasted Buttonquail
had been seen nearby here at two different sites but I failed to see
anything remotely like them, and neither did I see the Black-throated
Finch, which I would have more happily seen than the Buttonquail. 
Just to prove that these things are hit and miss, someone else staying at
Kingfisher Park later in the week saw both the button-quail and a large
flock of the finches, but such was not my luck. I heard a Grey
Butcherbird here, which is apparently not common in the area.  I
also had a bad view of a Friarbird which looked like a Silver-crowned
Friarbird, but I cannot say that with certainty.

Quade Rd

A site a little further north than the Lake Mitchell causeway site and
just off from the Hwy, this area had a couple of small ground tanks in
surrounding woodland with Ironbark (Euclayptus crebra) in addition
to the many bloodwoods still present and scattered Cypress Pine
(Callitris intratropica).  This was recommended also as a
Black-throated Finch site and I am ashamed to say that in my quest to see
this species I visited here on three occasions (two on my way to and from
the Atherton area).  Once (or thrice) again I dipped on this
bird.

This was an interesting site, and had a number of species in common with
many other drier sites, especially the woodland near the edge of Lake
Mitchell.  Of particular interest was a lone LEMON-BREASTED
FLYCATCHER, the only one seen on the trip.  Also present were
Pacific Baza, Red-backed Fairy Wren, Striated Pardalote and
Weebill.  Although Leaden Flycathers were also around, two
flycatchers which were at times together in low branches overhanging the
dam in the early morning appeared similar to female leaden but were much
glossier on the head and rich coloured in the throat and I was unsure as
to whether these were two Satin Flycatchers (female) although probably
wrong time of year, or perhaps Broad-billed Flycatchers, even though the
habitat was wrong.  Yet another sighting to be uncertain
about.

Mt Hypipanee National Park (The Crater)

A small book which Ron had lent to me suggested that this place was great
for most of the high altitude rainforest species, and most could be seen
close to the carpark or near the toilets.  It also suggested that
this spot was popular so go really early in the morning or really late in
the afternoon.  Although I arrived in the early afternoon, the
carpark appeared to have one campervan of people who had camped there and
only one other car.  Terrific.  As soon as I got out from the
car I saw GREY-HEADED ROBINS,  as suggested in the book.  These
turned out to be the most common of birds at the site.Yes the book was
right, as it was about the people.  Carload after carload arrived
and hung around in the carpark area long enough so that as soon as one
group left to walk, another arrived back, or another car load arrived.
All seemed to want to use the toilet  (the toilet block area was
recommended in the book) at the beginning AND end of the walk, so I
didn't spend a lot of time hanging around in the vegetation near there,
and quite a few groups consisted of people who seemed to think that the
best way to enjoy the rainforest was to scream/cry/talk extremely
loudly.

Having said all this, I managed to get a quick visit to near the toilet
block and was rewarded with views of an immature GOLDEN BOWERBIRD, BOWERS
SHRIKE-THRUSH and ATHERTON SCRUBWREN.  On the basis that most people
would be walking on the track, I walked back up the access road instead,
and also saw BRIDLED HONEYEATER in the canopy of trees overhanging the
road, more Atherton Scrubwren, Large-billed Scrubwren, Brown Gerygone, a
Grey Fantail and a White-throated Tree-creeper.  I also walked along
the track and added Rufous Fantail and Lewins Honeyeater.  I hear
what sounded like it should be Mountian Thornbill but failed to see
any.  I did walk to The Crater, and it was spectacular.

More sites visited 11/1-15/1 in part 4...

Frank Hemmings
Curator
John T. Waterhouse Herbarium
School of Biological, Environmental and Earth Sciences
University of New South Wales
UNSW SYDNEY 2052
AUSTRALIA

Tel +61 2 9385 3274
Fax +61 2 9385 1558

CRICOS Provider Code: 00098G