A Birder's Guide to Australia: **Updated Mount Carbine Caravan Park

Check my birding map for specific location.

2023 Update

The weather was pretty poor as I tried to head east at the end of July so I backtracked and went north to Mount Carbine. I was fairly sure that it would be warmer and drier there. My first visit of the year and I was sad to learn that the resident Tawny Frogmouth pair were no longer present. Nikki at the caravan park said one of the was lost during the wet season but they were hoping the other would return. Another surprise was the huge number of Great Bowerbirds present. I had previously seen 3-4 but this year, they were everywhere. One morning I counted over 20 around the bird bath. Also present in good numbers were the Blue-winged Kookaburra who provided fabulous photography opportunities.

Blue-faced Honeyeater (Entomyzon cyanotis)

Blue-winged Kookaburra (Dacelo leachii)

Great Bowerbird (Chlamydera nuchalis)

Pale-headed Rosella (Platycercus adscitus)

I first visited Mount Carbine 10 years ago because it is the easiest place to go (or so I thought at the time) to see Australian Bustards. Renowned in Cairns for the ease of access and different set of species to the rainforest, it is the place to visit. I loved it the first time I went and it is still lovely to go back. I always base myself at the caravan park as it has lots of birds there. In fact I never really saw much in Mount Carbine itself.

Before I reached the park, however, I stopped off at East and West Mary Roads to see if I could find the bustards. Luck was with me as not even 100m down the first road and there were 4 of them standing in the road. They were wet, bedraggled and looked thoroughly pissed off (as only birds can). I, however, was delighted and took some photos from the van and watched them move on.

Australian Bustard (ardeotis australis)

Close by I also found a wet Pheasant Coucal drying out. It was only on processing my photos that I saw the colours on the wings. I have not touched up this photo at all. The sun was shining through its feathers and it almost glowed. I don't think birds are used to rain here, they couldn't seem to cope.

Pheasant Coucal (centropus phasianinus)

With that done, I continued to the park and stayed there just wandering in circles all day long. I had some species in mind that I really wanted to see and over a couple of days got them all. The photographic opportunities at Mount Carbine Caravan Park are terrific. The birds seem to stay local and there is always something happening. I based myself (ie: lounged in my chair half asleep waiting) by the new chicken coop as there seemed to be a lot of activity there. It wasn't long before the Apostlebirds arrived, in numbers to raid the area. I wanted to get a shot of them all squashed together on a wire but this was the best I got.

Apostlebird (struthidea cinerea)

On the periphery of the coop area was the Eastern Blue-winged Kookaburra and this was my only lengthy sighting on one so I was pleased to get such a clear shot. You can't quite believe this huge bird is a member of the kingfisher family!

Eastern Blue-winged Kookaburra (dacelo leachii)

The Blue-faced Honeyeater were competing with the Apostlebirds for who could make the most noise and I followed them around for a while as they fed in their inimitably acrobatic way.

Blue-faced Honeyeater (entomyzon cyanotis)

An unexpected sighting was of a Restless Flycatcher. Their buzzing call usually gives them away and this was the case here. I tracked it down and, again, walked around in circles (the other residents must have thought me a bit mad) until I could get a clear view. I always think this flycatcher to be very elegant and I'm glad the photo reflects that.

Restless Flycatcher (myiagra inquieta)

The main reason though, to come to the caravan park, is the resident Tawny Frogmouth. I was very lucky as they had been absent for a few days (relocating their juvenile apparently). I was so grateful to the owner Nikki who scoured the place looking for them and found that overnight they had returned having successfully persuaded the juvenile to leave home. I always forget how small they are, especially after seeing the huge Papuan species. They let me get close to them at dusk and it was wonderful to see them.