Daintree Village
Walking around the streets of Daintree Village can be very productive, with the river (parts with revegetated banks), open farmland, gardens and some large rainforest trees present. There is a resident family of Blue-winged Kookaburras at the more open end of town, a magnificent Metallic Starling nest tree, a family of Osprey nesting on the Telecom tower, and the daily parade of Straw-necked Ibis through the schoolyard. Mannikins, Pipits and Red-backed Fairywren enjoy the grassland and Forest and Sacred Kingfishers use the power lines as vantage points for hunting. The range of Honeyeaters- Dusky, Macleays, Yellow-spotted, Brown-backed, Yellow, Graceful, plus the Frairbirds and other nectar feeders enjoy all the flowering garden plants. In the evenings it can be quite comical, watching the White-breasted Woodswallows jockeying for positions on the power line outside Red Mill House. At night, the Blue-winged Kookaburras feed under the street lights and occasionally Papuan Frogmouth can be seen on the fringes of town. Most nights the Bush Stone-Curlew can be found around town - certainly heard, if not seen.
It is a valuable exercise to wander around town early in the morning, or even late afternoon. There are viewing points over the river and farmland, and depending on the time of year and how much water is lying around in the paddocks, often water birds such as Black-necked Stork, Black Bittern (in season), Egrets (all sorts), Darters, Cormorants (all sorts), Pacific Black Duck, Dusky Moorhen, Royal Spoonbill and others can be seen from these spots. Azure Kingfisher, and sometimes Little Kingfisher plus Shining Flycatcher can be seen from the banks of the river. Not to forget the Crocodiles of course!
The pond at Red Mill House (to which people are welcome to visit) is well known for regular sightings of both Little Kingfisher and Azure Kingfisher and the garden, with it's varied plantings, is home to many other species. Well worth a visit.
Stewart Creek Road
Stewart Creek Rd is a favourite walking track for birdwatchers in Daintree, departing the Village and following the Daintree River for a while until the road forks and either crosses Stewart Creek or continues along the side of the creek. To walk to the bridge is approx 1km. Most of that is through regrowth forest following the river and because of the slope, there is an opportunity to look down into the canopy as well as up into the side of the hill. After passing through a little pastureland (with some very friendly cows) and being able to view some old Barramundi ponds in the distance, the one-lane bridge over Stewart Creek usually finishes the walk. This gives wonderful opportunities for birdwatching in varied habitats and often 50 species can be seen on the walk. Species include a variety of raptors patrolling the fields or river, the full range of Honeyeaters and other nectar feeders, all the Fruit-Doves, a large range of Flycatchers and Monarchs and other insect eaters, often Spotted Catbird and Victoria's Riflebird, plus Kingfishers and in season, the Black Bittern. At night this stretch of road offers the best opportunities to spot Papuan Frogmouth and Lesser Sooty Owl.
Upper Daintree Road
Continuing on from Stewart Creek bridge, upper Daintree Rd travels for 10km or so until it meets the Daintree River at Baird's Crossing. Following the river for a way and then passing through farmland and rainforest there are varied habitats for birding. Some of the lower lying country has waterholes and wetlands in all but the driest years, with water birds feeding in and around them. Black-neck Stork can often be seen in the paddocks and the open country birds like some of the Kingfishers, Rainbow Bee-eaters, Cuckoo-Shrikes and Dollarbirds are easiest to see in this sort of country. Lovely Fairy-wren, Flycatchers and Monarchs, Grey Whistler, Honeyeater etc feed along the edge of the road in the forested areas. At night Bush Stone-Curlews, Southern Boobook Owl, Papuan Frogmouth can often be seen. Sightings of Lesser Sooty Owl and Southern Cassowary have been made up here at the end of the Daintree Valley.
Daintree River
The Daintree River has been well-known as a birdwatching locale for many years, and deservedly so. Combining this with the other local walks and drives, it makes for 2-3 good days of Daintree Birdwatching. There are many options of birding cruises on the Daintree River and we are fortunate enough to have three specialist early morning river operators, each visiting different areas of the river system, from the Village to the mouth of the river. Target species include Great-billed Heron, Little Kingfisher and Black Bittern. Often five different Kingfishers can be seen in a morning, Papuan Frogmouths on their nests can be found, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Brahminy Kite and other raptors are common, Striated and Nankeen Night Heron are regulars, a range of Cuckoos including Gould's Bronze and Channel-Billed Cuckoo can be seen and so it goes on. 40-50 species in a morning trip is not uncommon. Toward the mouth of the river in the summer months is excellent for the waders.
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