Birdline North Queensland Weekly Update

Birdline North Queensland

Published sightings for the week ending 31 Jul 2011.

Sun 31 Jul	Star Finch and Buff-banded Rail Karumba 12 Star Finches seen at a waterhole near the Karumba dumpsite over an hour between 4.30 and 5.30 pm. Two adults birds (one with four juveniles still being fed) and one single subadult (with red beak and tail but not yet developed spots) and a group of five subadults (various beak colour stages but no spots). Also watering at the same place were Zebra Finches and Double-barred Finches. A Buff-banded Rail came in to drink as well. Star Finches sparse in Queensland and good to see evidence of current breeding success. Peter Valentine
Sat 30 Jul	Glossy Ibis, Bush-hen, Yellow Oriole, Crimson Finch Townsville Town Common Conservation Park Glossy Ibis (50) early at small lagoon on right 100m in from gate, other seen later at 1st and 2cnd viewpoints Bush-hen (1) flew across road about 50m before 1st viewpoit Yellow Oriole (1) fig tree between freshwater and jacana hides. Tolerated BFCS but chased Olive-backed from tree everytime it entered Crimson Finch (4) male and 3 females, 1 female carrying grass. Ed Pierce
	Topknot Pigeon Mount Louisa A flock of 10 Topknot Pigeons flew low over our Mount Louisa home. (10:30am Sat 30/07/2011) . They were heading SSW in the direction of Mount Elliott. Chris Ezzy
Tue 26 Jul	Kalkadoon Grasswren Mica Creek site, 10 km south of Mt Isa Two birds seen at 9.30 am, along side of north-south trending gully. At least three other sightings at this location have been made in the past week. This continues to be a reliable location for the species. Peter Valentine
Mon 25 Jul	Azure Kingfisher Currajong Park Townsville Washing in a small puddle near basketball court. Not bothered by a large group magpies gathering near by. Gavyn Williams
Sat 23 Jul	Buff-banded Rail, Baillon's Crake, White-browed Crake, Australian Reed-Warbler Spotswood Park (Private Property 5km ENE Inkerman store) Buff-banded Rail (9) Feeding singularly in open shallows. Baillon's Crake (8) First time recorded here. (see ID Pic) White-browed Crake (25) (conservative estimate). The most we have ever seen here in a 24 hr period. Australian Reed-Warbler (100) Conservative estimate. Len & Chris Ezzy
Fri 22 Jul	Spotless Crake, Red-backed Fairy-wren, Lovely Fairy-wren Cattana Wetland, Smithfield, Cairns Spotless Crake (1) Observed for more than 5 minutes to get an accurate ID Red-backed Fairy-wren (4) Photographed in the Cane south of the eastern pond. Lovely Fairy-wren (2) Photographed along the boardwalk Anthony & Vicki Katon
Thu 21 Jul	Carpentarian Grasswren and Black-tailed Treecreeper Macnamara Road, 70 km NW of Mt Isa Good view of Carpentarian Grasswren on ridge 250 metres south east of the stone cairn (which now has a new notebook for recording sightings). This is about 9 km along the Lady Loretta Project road from the Barkly Highway (at call point 2). During the next three days other sightings were made in the area by myself and other visiting birders including two small parties along the creekline NW of the cairn, and one large party about 500 metres due south of the cairn. Also present were good numbers of Black-tailed Treecreepers (photo attached). Peter Valentine
Mon 18 Jul	Channel-billed Cuckoo Lawn Hill Gorge, Boodjamulla National Park At least two birds heard and one seen flying along the gorge and feeding on figs from a tree along the gorge. This seems very early for arrival of this species, even at this location. (Mod note: a resident population is believed to be in this area) Peter Valentine
Sat 16 Jul	Beach Stone curlew Lucinda A pair sited resting in muddy shore. Stanley TANG
Fri 15 Jul	Crimson Chat Gregory River and Lawn Hill and northeast from Mt Isa Several sightings of Crimson Chats at this location well north on the gulf plains. Subsequently from 22nd July through 30th July this species commonly encountered 70 km NW of Mt Isa and along the Lake Julius Road 100 km northeast from Mt Isa and beyond to Kajabbi. Many flocks in excess of 50 individuals seen, often accompanied by White-winged Trillers. Mostly sighted flushed along roadside. Peter Valentine
Wed 13 Jul	Varied Lorikeet Windmill Creek, south of Musgrave, Cape York Peninsula Several small flocks of this species were seen at this site on his day & again on 15/07 by Andrew Stafford. This is a rare species on this part of the cape - Andrew has reported that there was a great deal of grevillia in flower, so this is what has probably attracted these birds to the area. Andrew Stafford per Martin Cachard
	Australian Pratincole and Budgerigars Julia Creek and all the way to Gregory Flocks of Australian Pratincole were seen along the Wills highway from Julia Creek north to Gregory. Budgerigars are now also abundant from Julia Creek north to Lawn Hill and south to Mt Isa. One stretch from Lawn Hill to 50 km south of Riversleigh had Budgerigars present every kilometre ranging from singles/pairs through small flocks (10 or so) up to large flocks (100-500). Presumably these are the products of the big wet. Sample flock shown. Peter Valentine

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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