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Birdline North Queensland
Published sightings for the week ending 2 Jan 2011.
| Sat 1 Jan
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Blue-faced Parrot-Finch
Mt. Lewis, 10km from Bushy Creek.
At least six birds present. They were paired up and chasing before copulating. One copulation happened when one bird was hanging upside down on a branch whist the other bird presented from the top of the branch, quite a novel way of copulating. This is the 4th visit we have made to this site since the last report was published of adults and immatures at this site on 16th December. There has been no sightings of any immatures only male and female adults, up to 16 present. Other observers have also commented to us that no immatures have been present.
Keith Fisher
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| Thu 30 Dec
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Black-winged Monarch (breeding record)
Mc Ivor River area, 50km north of Cooktown
A pair of Black-winged Monarchs were observed in the final stages of nest building, just to the north-east of the Mc Ivor River causeway. A rough image is attached with the male on the nest - this image may well be one of the very few captured of this species on its nest in Australia. Both birds of this pair were very busy from 28/12 to 31/12 adding the finishing touches to this nest. There was an immature bird also photographed a few hundred metres away, with another nest being built a further 500 mtrs away from this pair. Both nests were 20 mtrs plus above ground. Another young bird was also seen on the causeway along with several adults, with many birds seen in the general area, indicating a significant southern breeding area for this species. It is interesting that some pairs have nested earlier than others. Only one Black-faced Monarch was recorded in the area on this visit & this was a bird in late immature plumage.
Martin Cachard
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| Tue 28 Dec
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Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo
Mc Ivor River causeway, 50km north of Cooktown
Quite a number of birds of this species were heard & seen from 27/12 to 31/12/10 at this site. They were very vocal through the nights & at dawn especially. I have attached an image of a young Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo moulting from its juvenile plumage taken on 28/12. The area was alive with all the expected species with some of the other highlights being Black-winged Monarchs (plus a pair nesting nearby), Tropical Scrubwrens, Aust Brush-turkeys of both races, an extremely tame Azure Kingfisher fishing on the causeway just feet from me, nesting Papuan Frogmouths, nesting Noisy Pittas, myriad nesting Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfishers, White-streaked Honeyeaters, & Pale-vented Bush-hen, to name a few.
Martin Cachard
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| Sun 26 Dec
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Lesser Frigatebird
Townsville, The Strand
Update on Lesser Frigatebirds may be useful for future observations.
One adult and Two Imm observed patrolling the Stand both at mid morning and late afternoon.
Rolf Jensen, John and Carol Maddy.
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Lesser Frigatebird
Townsville, "The Strand"
Two birds seen soring over the Rockpool area at the north western end of the Strand on the Townsville foreshore. There were strong winds and and some heavy rain due to local monsoon conditions. The birds were not there the next day once the wind and rain conditions had subsided. These birds are only rarely seen along the Townsville foreshore and only during adverse weather condition with associated strong onshore winds .
Ian Boyd, Trevor and Annie Quested
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| Sat 25 Dec
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Lesser Frigatebird
Four Mile Beach, Port Douglas
A pair about 50 metres above the beach at about 4pm. Drifted north towards Port Douglas, without a wing beat, getting higher as they went. Last seen at a great height still heading slowly north.
Peter Houston
| Birdline North Queensland is sponsored by Birds Australia North Queensland and Townsville Region Bird Observers Club and co-ordinated and hosted by Eremaea Birds.
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