Thanks Chris. I have a feeling that Shining
Flycatchers aren't quite as rare as we think, rather that you have to
go to the right places. Certainly they are very hard to find, but they
hug the banks of very quiet and narrow
tidal creeklines. They are easier to find from the
water, not from land. I have known for many years that a good time to
find them is at low tide in the mangrove roots, which is exactly the
situation I was in this morning. However, in all my years of haunting
the Pumicestone Passage, I have mostly been following the high tide as
it moved slowly along the passage. And my focus has been on the
shorebird roosts, not the quiet creeks.
Don Cameron, who was a ranger with QNPWS, told me years ago that he had
fixes on eight pairs in the Pumicestone Passage, and I don't doubt
that. Now that I am armed with a paddle, I plan to find out where they
are. I just didn't expect to have one in my face on my first morning of
paddling alone.
I should correct the location of this morning. When I wrote, I thought
I had been in Coochin Creek, but when I looked at the aerial pic over
breakfast, I realised I had been right in the main passage a little
north of The Skids, close to Roy's Orchard. I was on the western side
of The Skids, not in the navigation channel. But I happen to know that
a pair was sometimes seen at the confluence of Mellum and Coochin
Creeks, and another is seen from time to time in Bell's Creek about 1km
upstream from the mouth. I, myself, have seen one in Westaway's Creek.
So they are out there. I'd better take the GPS unit along and take
fixes on them in the future.
Cheers,
Jill
Chris Sanderson wrote:
For those who aren't sure, Shining Flycatcher is a very
rare bird in the Brisbane area, but has been recorded from Boondall
Wetlands before. I've not heard of one at Coochin Creek so well done
Jill!
Regards,
Chris
On Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 8:54 AM, Jill Dening
< m("bigpond.com","jdening");">>
wrote:
Aiy,
what joy! I started the day at dawn on Coochin Creek, Pumicestone
Passage in my new kayak with a Shining Flycatcher. Water like a
millpond, sun rising over beautiful mangroves, and a Shining Flycatcher
to boot. The kik-kik-kiks of the Collared Kingfishers. My little heart
was singing with joy. Thanks, Dorothy, for introducing me to kayaking.
IOU.
Cheers,
Jill
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Jill Dening
Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
26° 51' 41"S 152° 56' 00"E
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Jill Dening
Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
26° 51' 41"S 152° 56' 00"E
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