Kuranda

Check my birding map for specific location. 

I have been staying at a house sit in the rainforest of Kuranda. A slice of sloping lawn cuts through the middle of dense forest and enables me to sit on the deck and look down onto fruiting trees. It really has been one of the most productive and easy birding experiences I've ever had.

Each morning, I sit on the deck as it gets light. In the early part of my stay, the Spotted Catbird would pop out to feed on the wild raspberries and figs. They are extraordinary birds with a yowling call that sounds like a cat being tortured!

Spotted Catbird

There were a good number of species that were always present in the garden and it was great getting to know them as they came and went. The Australian Figbirds always numbered between 10 and 20 and would either sit in the trees cackling away at each other or in the tree with the most fruits.

Male Australian Figbird

Female Australian Figbird

I heard some great rainforest birds here - the Chowchilla, Eastern Whipbird, Victoria's Riflebird. While I never saw the first 2, I frequently got glimpses of the latter. There were males around in their dark plumage but I didn't manage to photograph them. This is a female below with very different colouring.

Victoria's Riflebird

Also resident in the garden were a pair of Olive-backed Sunbird. These tiny creatures were the most active of all species. Even during heavy rain, they were still buzzing around and if the kookaburra appeared they would go nuts. I just loved watching them.

Male Olive-backed Sunbird

Female Olive-backed Sunbird

There were several species of dove that I would hear all day. They are all shy and tend to stick to the depths of the trees. I would have to track them from the deck or sneak around the garden for them. 

Brown Cuckoo Dove

Wompoo Fruit Dove

Certain species could be relied upon to pass through each day and as I heard them, I would grab my camera and start scanning the trees. My favourites were the Little Bronze Cuckoo and the Varied Triller. It took quite some time for me to get good photos of them both but I think I got there.

                                            

Little Bronze Cuckoo

Varied Triller (male)

And lastly, there were those birds that visited from time to time. After a while I got used to the rhythm of the garden and I could tell straight away when a new bird started calling. It was always a mad dash to get photos of these new species before they disappeared.

Forest Kingfisher (scarab beetle larvae in its mouth)

Topknot Pigeon

White-eared Monarch

Towards the end of my stay I heard the distinctive buzz of fairywren. I chased them up and down the garden and eventually could watch them from the deck. The homeowner hasn't seen them here in the 10 years she has lived here. We are hoping they are looking for a nesting site. The male was very territorial, hammering away at his own reflection in the car window!

Male Lovely Fairywren

Female Lovely Fairywren

eBird Lists (some of them)

https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S144959134

https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S144569376

https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S143694959
https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S142308733

Clem Walton Park

Check my birding map for specific location.

I always research the places that I am going to and Clem Walton Park was no exception. About an hour's drive west of Cloncurry was easy to plan for but then it got messy. I found different information for Lake Corella, Corella Dam the park itself and the river. So when I arrived I didn't know what to expect. They are, of course, all the same thing. Clem Walton Park sits on Lake Corella (or Corella Dam if you prefer). Once I got that there was still a minor problem. The area stank of dead fish. It was really nasty. Investigations were underway to establish what had happened but the only happy creatures at the lake were the ibis who picked off the less rancid fish. 

The camp was still quite busy with some people staying there for weeks and months and as long as you were downwind of the fish, you could see why. It was beautiful and you can climb into the small hills around the lake to get panoramic photos. 

But I was there for the birds.

There was a small ridgeline inbetween 2 arms of water and I found that to be the best birding spot. In particular there was a flowering gum tree that attracted Varied Lorikeets all day long. Next to it was a big dead tree that woodswallows and ibis sat in during the afternoons. All along that ridge I found interesting birds - a family of Purple-backed Fairywren, Brown Quail and the White-plumed Honeyeater (dominant here). Across the path flew Spotted Bowerbird into a bush which contained their bower. You can't really keep it a secret when you hiss and spit every time you fly past!

Spotted Bowerbird (chlamydera maculata)

While it was great to photograph the Varied Lorikeet feeding, in the afternoons they would climb down the trees and strip the bark. In the late sunlight, they looked so comical and gorgeous at the same time.

Varied Lorikeet (psitteuteles versicolor)

The White-plumed Honeyeaters all had juveniles with them and they zoomed about in pairs or threes squawking away. I think this is one still asking a reluctant parent for food.

White-plumed Honeyeater (ptilotula penicillata)

Further along the ridge track there were some taller trees and I spotted a Black-shouldered Kite. These are stunning raptors and while I have seen them on many occasions, I have never photographed them to my satisfaction. Time to get to work. And then another turns up. They were in the same place for the time I was at the park so may be nesting.

Black-shouldered Kite (elanus axillaris)

The last special thing about the park is the dark sky. It is really dark and on a moonless night was just stunning. I wasn't really set up for night photography but I thought I would have a go anyway. So pleased I did!

Click for bigger size.

eBird Lists:

https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S115637803

https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S115765267

https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S115765295

Moondarra and Mount Isa

Check my birding map for specific location.

On travelling through Mount Isa I based myself for a few days at Moondarra, several kilometres north on the main route to the West. But before I reached there I headed to the Pamela St water tanks to look for the endemic Kalkadoon Grasswren. It was quickly apparent that to find it I would need some more thorough planning, better walking shoes and some water (it's a big area!). As I walked between the first 2 water tanks there was lots of bird activity but as I turned the corner and headed towards the scrub land, it all went silent. Nothing. I am a firm believer that if there is bird activity in an area, stay there (comes from many years of hard work birding in NZ). 

Consequently, I wandered between the 2 waters tanks and in that 50 metre stretch I started to see a variety of birds but nothing beat my first ever sighting of the Painted Finch. What a cracker and they sat on the rocks in the early morning sun for me. What a welcome to Mount Isa!

Painted Finch (emblema pictum)

I quickly realised that the caravan park in Moondarra is in a great location for birding. It is situated at the start of the road to Lake Moondarra and all along that road was a walkway. The lake itself was stunning and you can drive for miles around it. There had been reports of some very special birds at the lake but without specific locations or local knowledge I didn't have a hope of finding them. But not to worry, I am always quite happy seeing and photographing whatever is around. However, I did really want to see the endemic sub-species of the Australian Ringneck Parrot, the Cloncurry Parrot. To my absolute delight, I heard a somewhat parroty noise outside my van on my first afternoon and there they were. Feeding on the leaves of the gum tree less than a metre from me. Total magic.

Cloncurry Ringneck (barnardius zonarius macgilivrayi)

On the other side of the road was Tom O'Hara park which is a tiny space next to the Leichhardt River with a toilet block and picnic table. It looks totally unassuming and kind of forgotten. But for anyone who stops to look, it is full of bird life. I found the ringneck and corellas nesting there. In fact there was an almighty squabble over who should get this hole to nest in. The corella won but as soon as they left to feed, the ringneck moved right back in. An argument set to continue I think.

Little Corella (cacatua sanguinea)

Each morning, before it got too hot, I would just wander along the track adjacent to the road towards the lake and look for any birds there. There was a surprising amount of activity but the best find was a Spinifex Pigeon which (with a lot of creeping around - I must look very strange) let me get close enough to photograph it and then it hopped onto an ant mound and posed beautifully. Look at that hair!

Spinifex Pigeon (geophaps plumifera)

Another good place I found was the horse paddocks by the treatment plant to the south east of Moondarra. There was a very thoughtful viewing platform in place by the treatment ponds but I could only see coots and gulls. Adjacent to it, however, was a walk around and through a set of horse paddocks which in itself was lovely, who doesn't love the smell and feel of horses? There were many birds in that area including both Black-fronted and Red-kneed Dotterel which, with more creeping around, were obliging. 

Red-kneed Dotterel (erythrogonys cinctus)

Someone had reported a Pallid Cuckoo here recently but after identifying around 200 Crested Pigeon which look quite similar, I gave up and had a cup of tea. Lovely morning out.

eBird Lists:

https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S115891857

https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S115934589

https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S115989367

https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S115822911

WW2 Airfield Rest Area, Mount Isa

Check my birding map for specific location.

This unassuming rest area about half an hour north-west of Mount Isa, is quite large and most people (me included initially) set up camp on the left hand side of the area. In the middle there is a patch of scrub which is only accessible by bushwhacking. As I wandered around the site I noticed the right hand side was less busy, had more shade and definitely more birds. So after repositioning myself close to the scrub area, in the shade and with a lovely view of the barbed wire fence, I settled down to see what would arrive. 

In the adjacent bush was a family of Purple-backed Fairywren and lots of Weebill. The White-winged Triller was never far away and the Yellow-throated Miners hooned around noisily as is their wont. The Weebill were particularly curious of me and regularly came close to inspect me. It was truly delightful to have one perched less than a metre from me eye to eye and watch it sing. The smallest Australian bird it maybe, but it has a good set of lungs!

Weebill (smicrornis brevirostris)

I didn't photograph the fairywren because I was actually after the grasswren with the Carpentarian and Kalkadoon being seen here very recently. After sussing out site, I realised that you could slip under the fence (very inelegantly and with the occasional swear word) and explore further. As I am travelling on my own safety in the Outback is an obvious priority (promise Mum) so triangulating my position with the view of the caravans, the position of the sun and Google Maps I ventured forth. 

I only really went a couple of hundred metres south and west of the rest area and found different birds in each. To the west there were honeyeaters with the Grey-fronted being the dominant species and with lots of juveniles around they were quite obliging. 

Grey-fronted Honeyeater (ptilotula plumula)

Also in this area were:

Grey Shrike Thrush

Little Friarbird

Red-browed Pardalote

Spotted Bowerbird

Paperbark Flycatcher

To the south of the rest area I heard lots of Spinifexbirds calling and it was another mission to see them for the first time (everyone loves a lifer!). Not due to my excellent birding skills but rather to a somewhat sleepy bird, I stumbled across sitting up on a branch for me (they usually skulk around in the grass).

Spinifexbird (poodytes carteri)

Sometimes you can just snap away and only realise you have something good when you download your images. This happened with the White-winged Triller that I had been chasing around. It finally settled to eat some flower heads and I finally got it. This is one of my favourite shots from this area.

White-winged Triller (lalage tricolor)

Despite 3 days of searching I didn't find the grasswren or any other of the rarities I had seen listed on eBird. I guess my birding prowess failed me on this occasion but I couldn't be disappointed with seeing what I did and getting a decent shot of the Spinifexbird. I shall come back (maybe) another time and have another go.

eBird Lists:

https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S116135298

https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S116187897

https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S116237570

Lakes Francis and Canellan in Camooweal

Check my birding map for specific location.

These 2 lakes are just west of the little township of Camooweal, near the border with the Northern Territory. They run north south generally, as does the track. This allows for some shade in the camping areas from the trees that line the waterways.

The track leading to both the lakes is rough in parts and I certainly wouldn't travel there after heavy rain. The lakes themselves are beautiful and because of their unusual shape and the parallel access road, you can walk comfortably along both of them and get good views across the narrow stretches of water.

One of the best birding opportunities here is to get close to the Brolga. They will not tolerate you walking too close to them but as they are big birds and with a telephoto lens, you can get great photographs of them. The highlight of my stay here was early in the morning as I sat on the step of my campervan and watched them as they grazed along the water's edge right in front of me. They didn't seem to notice me until they were directly opposite. With some 'chucking' at each other, they then decided it was time to go. 

Brolga (antigone rubicunda) in early light

There were numerous egrets working their way along the water's edge with Eastern Great, Intermediate and Pacific all present. My favourite, perhaps because I have seen it the least, was the Pacific or White-Necked Heron which I think has just the most gorgeous plumage. 

White-necked Heron (ardea pacifica)

As I sat having a cup of tea in the afternoon outside my van just watching the comings and goings, a large raptor flew in with a kill. Usually you see lots of Black and Whistling Kites but I could see straight away this was something different with the strong barring under the tail. Turned out to be a young Spotted Harrier and once it had finished eating, it jumped up onto a rock and sat there for some time while I photographed it. Could be a supermodel with those long legs!

Juvenile Spotted Harrier (circus assimilis)

eBird Lists:
https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S116248670
https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S116287437
https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S116250937