Published sightings for the week ending 15 Jun 2014.
| Sat 14 Jun
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Little Woodswallow
Bamaga Road - Sanamere Creek crossing (3 km past Jardine River ferry)
8 birds. Sitting in dead trees between hawking flights over the extensive wetlands area next to the road for the whole time of the session (2 hours). Calling from before sunrise. Only 1 previous record north of Iron Range at Pajinka Wildnerness Lodge in 1995.
Rob Reed
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Brown Treecreeper
Bamaga Rd - Sanamere Creek Crossing (approx 3km beyond Jardine River ferry)
Party of 5. Surprising find. Party came into a grevillea where a White-streaked Honeyeater was foraging about 10 minutes after sunrise in sunny conditions. Similar size. Sat high in tree and I observed from about 8 metres for approx. 45 seconds. Striking, broad off-white supercilium. Dark marking/smudge through eye. Cap and upper parts dark brown/black. Throat grey, breast streaked and under-tail barred dark and light. Dark beak, eye and legs. One individual reached into flower and retrieved an ant. Once consumed called 3 times in quick succession "plink!" Last 3 proximal recorded sightings were in similar habitat also on the west coast of Cape York between 60 and 80km due south to SSW of this site in 2001 and 2009. The area has many upright dead and fallen trees but is less prone to indiscriminate burning than areas closer to the community - certainly not annually. Note that the one commercial birding tour operator to the Cape York Tip does not take clients to this type of habitat. Probably represents a small cluster holding on here (and overlooked as not regularly surveyed and/or bird thought absent) rather than a range extension.
Rob Reed
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| Wed 11 Jun
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Flock Bronzewing, Spinifex Pigeon, Little Woodswallow, Grey-headed Honeyeater
Bladensburg National Park
Dry conditions here
Greg Roberts
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Bush Stone Curlew
Palm Cove (Cairns), Thais St
17 Bush Stone Curlews milling around in Thais Street, Palm Cove in the early morning hours. Great number given the scarcity in other States. Reminded me of old folk hanging around in a Mediterranean town plaza.
G. Santos
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Olive-backed Oriole
Bamaga: Back track to airport military encampments 10 55S 142 26E 1' Cell, Queensland, AU
12. A new call for me for the area; many others heard calling from treetops. All birds were immatures. Only 6 records of this bird previously on Eremaea or e-bird north of the Jardine River. Winter migration overshoot?
Rob Reed
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| Tue 10 Jun
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Plum-headed Finch, Australian Bustard
Blackall
In artesian bore drainages at wool scour tourist attraction = 100+ Plum-headed Finch.
Greg Roberts
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| Mon 9 Jun
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Banded Honeyeater
Bamaga: Back track to airport military encampments 10 55S 142 26E 1' Cell, Queensland, AU
Estimated 300. This area of tall eucalypt is usually the domain of White-throated Honeyeater but Banded predominated today. I have seen Banded Honeyeater sporadically here in the general area in the past but only in singles to small numbers.
Rob Reed
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| Sun 25 May
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Brolga
North of Clermont (about 100km)
500+ around farm dam/ground tank, a further 1-200 soaring overhead. Ripening sorghum crops in area.
Bob Moffatt
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| Sun 18 May
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Long-biled Corella
Ross River Dam Borrow Pits Kelso
Single bird with a flock of about 200 Little Corella, several of the Little Corella had very pink plumage suggesting maybe x Galah.
Ed Pierce
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