Great work finding a few Buff-breasted Button-quail Peter. I suspect
they may have just arrived there. I spent a fair amount of time in that
area over a couple of weeks prior to that (mostly following Cicadabirds)
but did not see anything which could have been a BBBQ. I would think
they will remain there until the wet season starts and when the grass
becomes dense, they will probably vacate.
Just a few words of advice for those who are going to try for BBBQ
concerning the land and access on which the birds have recently been
seen. This land is actually part of Southedge Station owned by George
Quaid and company. (These people have been involved in controversies
over the years right up through Cape York e.g Starke Station, Daintree
land etc. Lake Mitchell on the other side of the road from the
inspection pad was built without permission and is actually an illegal
body of water!). Nearly all of Southedge Station is to the west of the
road - just a small narrow unfenced proportion (almost right back to Mt
Molloy) on the east side of the road, which they don't use. Quaid and
his people have always flatly refused permission for anyone to enter
their properties, even to local people whom they know well.
Consequently, it has always been pointless asking for permission.
However, they have always turned a blind eye to people entering the land
to the east of the road where the BBBQ are (note the "Keep Out" signs to
the west of the road). Best idea for anyone wanting to follow the
button-quail up is to park at the wide truck inspection pad (with the
overhead lights) just south of Big Mitchell Creek and work from there. I
have been working from there for many years without incident. There is a
small chance that you may be challenged if parking along the road
further north - i.e. back towards Mount Molloy.
I certainly don't want to deter anyone from an attempt to find the
button-quail but as the saying goes, forewarned is forearmed!
While on the subject of access, there is a large area of public land
nearby (an old watering reserve for cattle being brought down from Cape
York in years gone by) and well worth a visit while in the area. It is
unfenced on three sides and lies just to the north of the inspection
pad (no BBBQ on this but it is an excellent waterbird area. Grey Wagtail
has been seen twice over the years). This takes in the area around the
bridge over Big Mitchell Creek (White-browed Robin site) and north
beyond the wooden gate (about 500 metres towards Mt Molloy from the
bridge, on left heading towards MM). The reserve extends west, down
across the lake to as far as a white steel gate (locked) at the end of
the causeway beyond which is Quaid land. It runs south from Big Mitchell
Creek almost to the truck inspection pad. When we realized that this was
a public reserve some years ago, Quaid's men tried desperately to stop
people entering but eventually realised they had no right to do so and
had to remove locks from the wooden gate etc. Anyone can legally enter
through the wooden gate and drive down the causeway across the lake to
as far as the white gate. (It is tempting to walk around the white gate
and along the road to the bush beyond but one would be tresspassing and
could be challenged). Cattle and horses are run in the lake paddock so
it is very important to shut the wooden gate after entering and when
leaving. If challenged make the point that it is public land right to
the white gate and you can legally be there (it is officially Big
Mitchell Creek Reserve).
Lloyd Nielsen,
Mt Molloy, Nth Qld
===============================
To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
send the message:
unsubscribe
(in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
to:
http://birding-aus.org
===============================
|
