Check my birding map for specific location.
At Normanton I visited the town dam and it did demand closer attention but I had things to do and was already smitten with the Mutton Hole Lagoon. Just north of Normanton on the Karumba road, the water is what is left on the massive floodway which swamps the road in the wet season. You can walk around the lagoon but there is little cover so getting close to any birds was difficult particularly with Pied Stilt and Masked Lapwing and their loud early warning systems! However, it was still great birding and for a change the highlight was a sound. The hoarse calling of the Brolga and Sarus Cranes as they flew past was just wonderful.
Brolga (antigone rubicunda)
In the water itself I was really pleased to see the Pied Heron (a lifer) and Red-kneed Dotterel in amongst the lapwing, ducks and stilt.
Pied Heron (egretta picata)
Juvenile Red-kneed Dotterel (erythrogonys cinctus)
In the bush area around the lagoon were Red-backed Kingfisher, Zebra Finch and a female Pheasant Coucal which I haven't seen since much further east. Overhead woodswallow swooped and soared and I chased them around until this Black-faced Woodswallow settled for me.
Black-faced Woodswallow (artamus cinereus)
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