Daintree Birdwatchers go inland 08 June 08

 

An early start from Daintree, arriving at Abattoir Swamp for our first stop, in reasonable light.  Some great Honeyeaters in the car park, as always.

Dusky Honeyeater, Bridled Honeyeater, White-cheeked Honeyeater, Striated Pardalote at the car park, and then Blue-winged Kookaburra ( family group of 5), White-faced Heron, Pacific Baza at the wetland. White-browed Crake heard, but not seen.

 

On to Luster Creek on the way to Mt Carbine, for breakfast and some new birds.

Pulling into the creek area, which is part of Brooklyn station, there were eucalypts in full bloom, so we saw Scarlet Honeyeater, Lewin’s Honeyeater, Blue-faced Honeyeater, dozens of Scaly-breasted and Rainbow Lorikeets, Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike, Australian Magpie and more Bridled and Blue-faced Honeyeaters.

 

Next stop was East Mary Farms Rd, which is well known as a regular spot for Australian Bustard.  Several juveniles were about, but there didn’t appear to be any adults.  Wedge-tailed Eagle seen soaring along the edge of the Hahn Tableland.

 

On to the caravan park at Mt Carbine, which is a haven providing water and food for a large range of dry country birds.  The owner was very helpful and showed us two Tawny Frogmouth who have called the park home.

Pied Butcherbird, masses of Apostlebird, several Great Bowerbird (and an old bower), Pale-headed Rosella, Galah, Little Friarbird, and all the usual honeyeaters.

 

Next stop, the tailings dam at the old Wolframite Dam at Mount Carbine.  A group of birders from Townsville were just finishing up as we arrived.  They had seen Babblers, which we missed out on, but we got a large range of new birds for the day.

Highlight was three Brolga’s flying around in formation. Also seen over on the second body of water – White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Darter, Little Pied Cormorant, Pacific Black Duck, Hard Head, Great Egret and Grey Teal.  In the bush at the back of the dam wall was Forest Kingfisher, Sacred Kingfisher, Lemon-bellied Flycatcher, White-bellied Cuckoo-Shrike, Restless Flycatcher, Willie Wagtail, White-throated Honeyeater, Spangled Drongo, Noisy Friarbird, plus large numbers of Blue-faced Honeyeater and Little Friarbird.

 

Business beckons, so we needed to move along.  Other birds seen on the drive to and from Daintree included Laughing Kookaburra, Nankeen Kestrel, Straw-necked Ibis, White-breasted Woodswallow, Black-shouldered Kite, Black Kite, Whistling Kite, buckets of Cattle Egret, Magpie Lark, Masked Lapwing, Black-winged Stilt, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Bar-shouldered Dove and of course the ubiquitous Common Myna.

 

Home by 2 pm, and all very pleased with our day.

 

Trish and Andrew Forsyth, Ellen Terrell, Bruce Greenfield, Rosemary Barker and

Michael Haworth.

Birdlist 8/06/08  Daintree - Mt Carbine

 

Little Pied Cormorant                                Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike

Darter                                                      White-belled Cuckoo-Shrike

Brolga                                                      Lemon-bellied Flycatcher

Great Egret                                               Restless Flycatcher

Cattle Egret                                               Grey Fantail

White-faced Heron                                    Willy Wagtail

Straw-necked Ibis                                      Little Friarbird

Hardhead                                                  Noisy Friarbird

Australian Grey Teal                                  Blue-faced Honeyeater

Pacific Baza                                              White-throated Honeyeater

Black Kite                                                Lewin’s Honeyeater

Whistling Kite                                           Bridled Honeyeater

Black-shouldered Kite                                Yellow Honeyeater

White-bellied Sea-Eagle                             White-cheeked Honeyeater

Wedge-tailed Eagle                                    Scarlet Honeyeater

Nankeen Kestrel                                        Brown Honeyeater

Australian Bustard                                     Dusky Honeyeater

Masked Lapwing                                       Striated Pardalote

Black-winged Stilt                                     Common Myna

Bar-shouldered Dove                                 Spangled Drongo

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo                          Magpie-Lark

Galah                                                       Apostlebird

Rainbow Lorikeet                                      White-breasted Woodswallow

Scaly-breasted Lorikeet                              Pied Butcherbird

Pale-headed Rosella                                   Australian Magpie

Blue-winged Kookaburra                           Great Bowerbird

Laughing Kookaburra                                Torresian Crow

Sacred kingfisher

Forest Kingfisher

Rainbow Bea-Eater

Tawny Frogmouth