Hi all,
Spent a couple of days in Cairns last week (adding a couple of
holiday days in around work).
Did a bit of birding around Cairns itself and one day looping up
through Mareeba, Mt Lewis etc.
A trip total of 107 species (plus 2 heard only).
We basically birded along the road from Mareeba to Kingfisher Park.
A great little spot was just out of Mareeba not far before the turn -
off to Mareeba WETLANDS. Basically saw a small dam/wetland on the LHS
near a house and pulled off into a track along the electricity poles.
Good number of Plumed Whistling Ducks caught my eye which is why we
went back. When we pulled up we saw a Squatter Pigeon fly into the
tree in front of us and eventually found it and its mate sitting
quietly in the tree. Other interesting birds were Forest Kingfishers,
White-throated HE, Whistling Kite diving at Black-fronted Dotterel,
Helmeted Friarbird, Drongo, White-rumped Swiftlets, Black Kite.
Next stop was the Mareeba Wetlands access road. We just drove along
stopping when necessary. Great views of Hobby and Brown Falcon
perched in a dead trees. Lots of Chestnut-breasted Mannikins and a
Blue-winged Kookaburra.
One unexpected sighting was a Bustard between two rows of a cane
paddock. We then got out of the car near Biboohrah B&B not far along
the road. Highlights were Pale-headed Rosella, Red-winged Parrot,
Black-throated Finch (feeding on the road with a double-bar).
Didn't go into Mareeba Wetlands although Keith Fisher now tells me
that they don't charge you for just going into the visitors centre
which is good news.
Managed one new bird - White-browed Robin which i hadn't caught up
with since the split. Beautiful bird! Found it easily at the "usual"
spot at Big Mitchell Creek north of Mareeba. Heading north there is a
small bridge over a dry creek signposted as "Big Mitchell Creek".
There is a dirt track heading east (RHS rd as you are heading towards
Mt Molloy) alongside the creek. We basically dropped down into the
creek as soon as we could (steep sides plus a black snake made it
fun) and he was sitting in the branches of an overhanging tree
calling his heart out back towards the bridge. Really happy with the
shots. He was very obliging.
Lake Mitchell produced a Jacana and Little Pied Cormorant and that
was it! Too much water in there at the moment.
Abbatoir Swamp was good for honeyeaters in the carpark and an
obliging Northern fantail. White-cheeked, Dusky, White-throated,
Scarlet HE.
Kingfisher Park - really just stopped long enough to say g'day to
Keith and Lindsay and see Yellow-Spotted, Graceful, Macleays and
Lewin's HE plus Emerald Dove at their feeder.
Mt Lewis - again another quick visit as it was getting later in the
afternoon and the wind was up. Only birds seen were Chowchilla,
Yellow-throated Scrubwren, Atherton Scrubwren, Yellow-spotted HE,
Spotted Catbird, Mountain Thornbill, Pale-headed Robin, Grey-headed
Robin. Heard Brown Cuckoo-Dove and Bower's Shrike Thrush.
On other days around Cairns:
Centenary Lakes: Forest KF, Bush Stone-curlew, Wandering Whistling
Duck, Magpie Goose, Drongo, Yellow Oriole, Sunbird. No sign of Little
Kingfisher or White-browed Crake this time.
Esplanade: Little, Int, Great Egrets, Whimbrel and greenshank coming
into breeding plumage, Gull-billed and Crested Tern, Osprey, White-
bellied Cuckoo-Shrike (common everywhere), Varied HE. Got absolutely
eaten alive by sandflies at the far northern end trying for Mangrove
Robin (no luck) - even though i had liberal amounts of insect
repellant on!
Crystal Creek Cascades: Not a great birding spot but pretty to visit.
Watched an eel chasing yabbies while red and blue dragonflies flitted
around us. Great stuff. Birds: Emerald Dove, Yellow-spotted HE,
Little Shrike-Thrush, Yellow-breasted Boatbill, Spectacled Monarch
Other highlights of the trip: Brahminy Kite (roosting in trees on the
road near the airport),
Nutmeg Mannikin, Bee-eaters, Scaly-breasted Lorikeets, Yellow HE,
Metallic Starling (all near my friends house where i was staying near
an oval).
A great couple of days!
Cheers
David Stowe
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www.birding-aus.org
birding-aus.blogspot.com
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