Ravenshoe

Check my birding map for specific location.

Ravenshoe (Ravens-hoe or Raven-shoe?) is a convenient place to stop on any journey west or south. It is an interesting little place and close to local beauty spots like the Millstream Falls (above). I stayed at the railway caravan park or Archer Creek rest area. Both were very pleasant and had lots of bird life. 

My favourite place to visit was the Ravenshoe Cemetery car park (oh the glamour of a birder's life!).  It was the oddest affair of my 2022 trip so far. I first stopped there as just somewhere to gather myself before I began to explore Ravenshoe. To my surprise there was a lot of birds around and something odd on the ground. Turned out to be rice and very neatly cubed veggies. A tantalising treat for the local birds. I returned several times to the car park and always it was the same, rice and veggies. I wasn't sure how I felt about it but couldn't deny, it was a great photo opportunity.

The birds in the car park were what I call medium good birds - birds I have seen before but will always love to photograph. Also attracted were wallabies and rabbits but they ran as soon as I pulled in. 

The highlight was the number of Satin Bowerbird in the area. Females and juveniles were in the trees around the car park and there was evidence of bowers as well. No sign of the glamourous males but the females are so interesting with their vivid purple eye.

Female Satin Bowerbird (ptilonorhynchus violaceus)

Also around were Crimson and Pale-yellow Rosellas, always a favourite of mine with their spectacular plumage. 

Crimson Rosella (platycercus elegans)

Pale-headed Rosella (platycercus adscitus)

Every now and again a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo arrived for a snack. Loud and gregarious, they are always so entertaining even though they appear to bully everyone else. If you are lucky, they will display their full crest for you.

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

On occasion a Grey Butcherbird could be heard warbling in the trees. Although their predatory habits are rather unpleasant, I love seeing and hearing butcherbirds. This bird sat and preened for me. 

Grey Butcherbird (cracticus torquatus)

Always in the trees and first to the free food was the Crested Pigeon. Quick to disappear when I arrived, they would always return. I really like this photo of one checking me out.

Crested Pigeon (ocyphaps lophotes)

eBird Lists
https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S114201340
https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S112168416
https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S105517052
https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S105409880