The
blog is running slightly later this week due to computer problems –
failure to load Windows XP and changing operating system over to Windows 7 which is
very time consuming. On top of all this our network decided it did not
like the new router and would not log onto the guest network for more
than 10 seconds! Even a local IT specialist could not get what is
normally a simple set up (even we've done them in the past) so at the
moment we do not have Wi-Fi for guests, only the guest computer in
the library. Also we are going away for a holiday! Just over two
weeks in Victoria, birding and family history. Our friends Kath &
Dave from Cooktown will be looking after the Lodge which is something
they have done before. So no regular blog for a few weeks. Anyway
onto this weeks happenings.
36mm
of rain fell during the week 0.5 fell at the beginning of the week
and 35.5mm fell on the last two days, in between it was dry, overcast
and sunny. The minimum temperature was down to 21.4ºc and the
maximum up at 30.4ºc. The humidity varied between 70% and 96%.
Bird
species were hiding this week with only 85 seen and 11 heard. 18
mammal and reptile species were seen and three frog species heard.
The weeks bird list is on the EremaeaBirds website and morning walk lists can also be found at this
link on Eremaea
Birds
Highlights:
The
return of Bridled Honeyeater from higher ground up on the mountains
with around 40 foraging in flowering eucalypts along McDougall Road, also along here was White-checked Honeyeater, another species we have not seen for several months.
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| Bridled Honeyeater |
Another returnee in the same location was a Northern Fantail. Rufous
Fantail was again seen in the orchard for a second week and maybe the
first of the returning bird who also come down off the mountains
along with a few southern migrants.
Other
sightings:
Pied
Imperial and Topknot Pigeon are still around with up to 50 Topknots.
Cattle Egret numbers are building up with many flying over the Lodge
on their way to shepherd the local cattle. Four raptors around over
the week, Black-shouldered Kite, pair of White-bellied Sea-Eagle,
Whistling and Black Kite. Red-necked Crake have quietened down and
were only seen once moving through the rainforest, did not see the
juveniles. Scaly-breasted Lorikeet returned in good numbers as more
trees have started to flower and Double-eyed Fig-Parrot have been
flying over. Eastern Koel have become vocal and Channel-billed Cuckoo
have been flying over but only still one or two. We have not seen the
larger groups gathering, as in past years, before they head north.
(Lesser) Sooty Owl was heard calling in the Lodge grounds twice
during the night but no opportunities to track it down at a
reasonable time. Eastern Barn Owl however were again around Geraghty
Park but only one pair not the usual two pairs we normally see.
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| Eastern Barn Owl |
Azure
Kingfisher has been zipping up and down Bushy Creek and through the
rainforest. Noisy Pitta was only heard but more snail shells were
found near it's “anvil”, a flat stone used the smash the shells
against. Spotted Catbird have also gone quiet but have been feeding
on berries from a vine behind the units which is better than stealing
baby birds. 13 honeyeater species which is the best for a while;
plenty of flowering trees. Interestingly a Macleay's Honeyeater was
seen on the edge of the orchard rainforest and cane field with a band
on its leg. We used to have one around the feeder for several years
which was banded but this one disappeared about 18 months ago and was
the only one that had been banded in the vicinity of the Lodge, maybe
this was the same one as nobody has been banding around here for at
least 7-8 years. Cicadabird
are still around and calling as are Grey Whistler who have
intensified their calling but they are keeping out of sight.
Black-faced Monarch are still around and both Pied Monarch and
Yellow-breasted Boatbill have been showing.
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| Yellow-breasted Boatbill |
Lemon-bellied Flycatcher have been hanging around the eucalypts on the edge of the Lodge grounds and coming down quite low.
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| Lemon-bellied Flycatcher |
Metallic Starling numbers
are still declining and Mistletoebird was seen in the orchard with a
recently fledged juvenile.
Further
Afield:-
A
quick look at the Brady Road lagoon north of Mareeba turned up plenty
of Magpie Goose, 50+ Plumed Whistling-Duck, a couple of Pacific Black
Duck, one Australasian Grebe, one Little Black Cormorant, two Little
Egret and Australian Hobby who was busy putting up the Magpie Goose
and two Black-fronted Dotterel. There was also a crakey thing in the
grass but not sure which one it was.
Reptiles
and Mammals:-
Striped
Possum were seen several times and heard growling and Fawn-footed
Melomys, Yellow-footed Antichinus plus Northern Brown Bandicoot were
at the seed feeder.
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| Yellow-footed Antichinus |
Frogs were not very active, White-lipped Tree
Frog decided to camp in our downstairs toilet block and Dainty Green
Tree Frog fired up one night all calling in unison. A Brown Tree
Snake decided to investigate our neighbour upstairs front room of
their house but was persuaded to leave by a big stick!
Other
Wildlife:-
This
female Hercules Moth was found on the ground in the orchard and
rescued. It was put in a place out of the way where all the guests
could look at it. This moth is one of the largest moths in the world with a wing area of up to 14,000 square mm
and are mainly found in the rainforest during the wet season. They
fly like clumsy bats as we found out one night so time ago when we
spotlighted one thinking it was a bat until it landed at our feet.
They are not often seen with only one or two sightings in a year.
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| Hercules Moth - female |
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