A Birder's Guide to Australia: February 2024

Atherton Tablelands

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Mark and I have been spending some time in the Atherton Tablelands over the summer of 2023/24 looking for birds, dragons and frogs. On one particular expedition, I had some leads on the possible location of some owls, probably Barn Owls but maybe Grass Owls as well. We visited the area a couple of times and were quite amazed by the number of birds we saw.

Barn Owl

The most common owl we found was the Barn Owl and we must have seen at least 5 individual birds. They were usually sitting on the fence posts surrounding the cattle fields but we also found them on sign posts and on the ground. If we approached them slowly, most times they would just ignore us.

We saw a couple of Barking Owls we think flying past but we did manage to find this juvenile bird sitting on a post.

Barking Owl

The highlight of our trips to the Tablelands was when we found an Australasian Grass Owl. They look very similar to Barn Owls but you know when you have found one as they sit in the grass! Their cap is also darker and it was that which we were looking for. When we found this bird, there was no real doubt as to what it was. And it was a beauty!

Australasian Grass Owl

Just to cap off our very fruitful adventures in the Atherton area, we also found this gorgeous little Boyd's Forest Dragon, fast asleep on a branch.

Boyd's Forest Dragon

eBird List

https://ebird.org/checklist/S159529214

Biloela

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I'd heard of Biloela in the news during my time in Australia and was interested to visit the town. It was much larger than I thought and the local information centre was named the rather grand Queensland Heritage Centre. There was also a rather convenient campground attached to it. The place was very quiet and I was the only one staying there overnight but I guess a cyclone passing through the week before will do that!

I didn't do much birding in Biloela but it did have one incredible feature. Outside the local grain silos at dawn and dusk gathered a flock of thousands of Little Corella.

My only other company during my stay were the local roos who, as usual, viewed me with passive curiosity!

eBird List

https://ebird.org/checklist/S160689027

St Lawrence Wetlands

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Halfway between Mackay and Rockhampton, just off the main highway is St Lawrence. The wetlands are fed by the creek flowing in from the ocean. This gives the area a terrific level of biodiversity. Luckily for me, the township provides a free campground right on the edge of the wetlands and a short walk away is a lookout over the water. It was quite breath-taking.

Male Red-winged Parrot

Female Red-winged Parrot

I parked the van under a tree for shade and was immediately treated to a gaggle of Red-winged Parrots chatting away above me. I love these birds and it was lovely to watch them, especially in such bright plumage.

Channel-billed Cuckoo

You could drive through the wetlands on a causeway, which was alarming at times as it was covered in water. Across the other side were trees lining the road and I spotted a pair of Channel-billed Cuckoo sitting quietly. I love this enormous cuckoo, the hornbills of Australia.

Wetlands causeway

Wallabies and kangaroo were present all through this area, usually gathered in families centred around the female with very young and older juveniles hanging around. The big males were often alone and no wonder. They are so big that they are quite scary!

Male Eastern Grey Kangaroo

At the wetlands themselves, there were plenty of small birds flitting about and I sat for a while trying to keep track of them and possibly get some shots off. It is always lovely when I am travelling as visiting new areas brings new species of birds and this was no exception. The plaintive call of the Little Grassbird was a suitable background for the lovely lilt of the Singing Bushlark.

Little Grassbird

Juvenile Male Red-backed Fairywren

Singing Bushlark

Back at the campsite at dusk, hundreds of Rainbow Lorikeet came in to roost and the doves and pigeons scoured the ground for a last meal. I was really pleased to see the southern species of the Squatter Pigeon that has much less colouring on the face to the more common northern species we have in Far North Queensland.

Squatter Pigeon

eBird Lists

https://ebird.org/checklist/S160652301

https://ebird.org/checklist/S160572961

Lockhart River, Cape York

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It may have been a bit risky but we decided to visit Lockhart River at the end of January, right in the middle of the wet season. The advantages were that it is peak activity time for wildlife but the disadvantage was that it was likely to be monsoon conditions. But the gamble paid off with stunning scenery (see the deserted Chilli Beach above), very few people and perfect weather - if a bit hot and humid.

We stayed at the Greenhoose, a fabulous and isolated resort (term used loosely) just outside Lockhart River. It is right in the rainforest and the accommodation, while basic, was cool and clean with long decks outside where you could just sit and wait for the wildlife when the heat became too much. A step off the deck and the thick rainforest took over.

There are around 20 endemic birds in this area and while we heard most, glimpsed some, photography was very difficult with precious few birds presenting themselves nicely. One of the most interesting aspects of the area was the night-time spotlighting possibilities. The roads were very quiet and safe and there were many tracks surrounding the property.

Papuan Frogmouth

A pair of Papuan Frogmouth were the first find of the stay. They sat in the trees at the front of the site and gently called to each other. They were huge, ghostly and very beautiful.

Female Papuan Eclectus

Close to the rangers station were Papuan Eclectus nesting in a tree hollow. I found the female and watched as every time she stuck her head out, the males sitting above started screaming. This went on all day and we could regularly hear them from the Greenhoose several hundred metres away.

Juvenile Brahminy Kite

We explored some other places close to the Greenhoose after hiring a car for a day. One of the best areas was the local water treatment plant. Luckily, my companion Mark is already used to my desire to always visit the local sewage farms! It was great with some uncommon birds in the area.

Pheasant Coucal

Pied Heron

We also explored the coast to the north of Lockhart River. About 40 along reasonably good roads with only a few bumps and scares was Chilli Beach. It was unbelievably beautiful and made me thankful that the north Queensland coast remains so undeveloped. I never thought I would be grateful for crocs, stingers and sharks! All that was with us on the beach were some shorebirds and despite the very high heat, photography was a little easier.

Pacific Golden Plover

Siberian Sand Plover

Close to Chilli Beach was the settlement of Portland Roads, which despite only being a collection of a few houses, has the reputation of providing the best fish and chips in Cape York at the local cafe. Unfortunately, it wasn't open when we visited. To make up for it were a dozen or so frigatebirds which circled the tiny beach. It was quite mesmerizing.

Great Frigatebird

Also on the beach were some shorebirds who were digging out food from the sand.

Common Sandpiper

Grey-tailed Tattler

Possibly the highlight of the stay at Lockhart River was actually not even a bird. The area is known for being home to the fascinating Green Tree Python and this was a target for us to find. They are quite small, about 1 metre long and they hang from grass stalks or branches with their head only a few centimetres from the ground. They stay motionless, waiting for suitable prey to pass underneath. They are also so bright green that they are almost neon.