**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.

Tawny Frogmouth (podarfus strigoides)

eBird Lists

https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S106838219

https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S106823722

https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S106760606

https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S106758129

https://ebird.org/checklist/S33613507

**Updated Granite Gorge Nature Park

Check my birding map for specific location.

2023 Update

The caravan park at Granite Gorge remains one of my favourite places to stay, even after visiting many around Australia. In 2023 it still didn't disappoint, even if the resident bowerbird has moved its bower out of the park making it more difficult to find. Here are some of the 2023 highlights.

Brush Cuckoo (Cacomantis variolosus)

Pacific Baza (Aviceda subcristata)

Mareeba Rock Wallaby (Petrogale mareeba)

Scaly-breasted Lorikeet (Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus)

Adult Male Scarlet Honeyeater (Myzomela sanguinolenta)

Juvenile Male Scarlet Honeyeater (Myzomela sanguinolenta)

Granite Gorge is 20km west of Mareeba and it is a unique place for visitors to the area as it is the first place you can go to and find a completely different eco-system and range of bird species. I have been visiting for 10 years and still love it (although I don't go rock hopping across the giant boulders any more).

The first think I look for as I enter the drive are the Squatter Pigeons. Although they are quite comical looking as they wander around, they are impossibly cute with their soft pigeon call. My favourite sightings of these interesting birds was when 3 of them were lined up together. They looked content until one of the outside birds would shuffle into the middle. This process was repeated over and over. It was the most gentle jostling for position I have ever seen.

       

Squatter Pigeon (Geophaps scripta)

The Australian Figbirds move around the park in big noisy groups and very often there will be a koel following them. These cuckoos will stick around to ensure their offspring is being cared for appropriately which I find very amusing. 

Female Australasian Figbird (Sphecotheres vieilloti)

Female Pacific Koel (Eudynamys orientalis)

Another noisy resident of the park are the babblers. Usually in smaller groups, they move from tree to tree chatting away to each other as they look for grubs in the bark.

Grey-crowned Babbler (Pomatostomus temporalis)

There is often a kookaburra hanging around the outskirts of the caravan park. I learned the hard way about their hunting habits when one stole a chicken wing from me. I really liked this photo of a kookaburra looking around for food.

Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae)

Along the roads to the park there are often other birds to be found. I sometimes see bustards in the fields, cisticola in the grass or honeyeaters in the trees. I love seeing friarbirds in particular as they have such unusual calls.

Noisy Friarbird (Philemon corniculatus)

The park is also famous for the Rock Wallabies who should be nocturnal but can be found around the area at all times. They are fairly small and approachable. My favourite time of day is dusk when they come into the caravan park and sneak about. They are extra special as they are a sub-species only found in the Mareeba area.

Rock Wallaby (Petrogale mareeba)

eBird Lists

https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S106652663

https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S105173370

https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S104514229

**Updated Hasties Swamp

Check my birding map for specific location.

2023 Update

I revisited Hasties Swamp early on my return to FNQ and it was quiet. A few weeks later, there were large numbers of Magpie Geese and Whistling Ducks. A little after that, in July, the place was throbbing with birds. On the top deck of the hide, I got over 40 species with no more than 10 from on the water. You can often forget that Hasties is not only great for waterbirds but also bush birds in the surrounding vegetation. Here are my highlights from winter 2023.

Brown Cuckoo-Dove (Macropygia phasianella)

Golden Whistler (Pachycephala pectoralis)

Lewin's Honeyeater (Meliphaga lewinii)

Nankeen Night Heron (Nycticorax caledonicus)

Pale Yellow Robin (Tregellasia capito)

Yellow- breasted Boatbill (Machaerirhynchus flaviventer)

I have visited Hasties Swamp, just south of Atherton for many years and have always found it to be hit and miss. Generally, it is better in the winter (well I think so anyway) but in 2022 I first went in March and it was very quiet. A few ducks and Willie Wagtail. I was very disappointed. By the time I was getting ready to leave Queensland in June, it was bouncing. On my last visit, I arrived very early to at least 500 Sulphur-crested Cockatoo circling and screaming. Seeking sanctuary in the bird hide, I was hit by at least 500 Plumed Whistling Ducks - all whistling. It was a cacophony of the best kind!

Also on or around the water were Pacific Black Ducks, Hardhead, Australian Grebes, various egrets, raptors and Comb-crested Jacana. I spent a lot of time trying to distinguish species from the whistling ducks. 

Plumed Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna eytoni)

Hardhead (Aythya australis)

The bush around the hide and down the little lane are often productive as well. Eastern Yellow Robin can usually be found outside the hide with gerygone darting about as well. I loved seeing the Brown Gerygone moving in a big group around the hide. 

Brown Gerygone (Gerygone mouki)

On one of my early visits to Hasties in the springtime I was lucky enough to see a Latham's Snipe moving around the grasses. That remains a highlight of my birding on the Tablelands.  

Latham's Snipe (Gallinago hardwickii)

eBird Lists

https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S104772383

https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S104578040

https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S30312894

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