tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47572460351986380232024-02-21T04:50:04.238+10:00Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge (old)Keith and Lindsay Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09458044489867275514noreply@blogger.comBlogger264125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4757246035198638023.post-71738918965061508122015-02-01T09:25:00.000+10:002015-03-12T10:58:23.035+10:001st February 2015 Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge<div class="western" style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">THE LAST BLOG</span></b></div>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">Yes it is the last blog from Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge,
number 264, before we hand over the Lodge after 9½ years. The new owners </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">from the 4</span></span></span></span><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">th</span></span></span></span></sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">
February </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">are
Carol and Andrew Iles </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">who have bought the business and property.</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">They have had a long association with the Lodge working as
bird guides in 1999-2003 and again for the last four years working
with us and running their own guiding business as well as helping out
around the Lodge. It is good to know that the Lodge is going into their capable hands to continue on for future guests to enjoy. They will probably be posting interesting sightings
on Facebook so keep an eye out for that. Please note that the Lodge
is closed in February and the camp ground and bunkhouse will also be
closed in March.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Weather
Report</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">The
weather has been extremely unpredictable over the last few weeks, it
has been very hot, showery with thunderstorms and plenty of sunny
days. This is more like the weather we would expect in November as
the “Wet Season” approaches. It has been up to 34ºC and down to
the low-mid 20ºC with humidity going from 35 to 100%. We have
managed to miss most of the storms but we have had a couple of good
downpours of 67mm and 71mm with a total of 223.5mm for the last three
weeks.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Last
Three Weeks Bird Sightings:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">These
can be found on the Eremaea eBird site.</span></span></span></span></span><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S21616789"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><b><span style="background: transparent;">11th- 17th January</span></b></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span></span></span></span>,<a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S21616637"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><b><span style="background: transparent;">18th- 24th January</span></b></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span></span></span></span><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S16945112"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><b><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></b></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">and
</span></span></span></span></span><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S21616987"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><b><span style="background: transparent;">25th- 31st January </span></b></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
The first week had species recorded and the second week .</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><b><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></b></span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Birding
Highlights:-</span></b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><b><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></b></span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">The
last three weeks have been hectic with the transfer of the Lodge to
the new owners so birding has taken a back seat. However we did host
the BirdLife North Queensland's annual Australia Day weekend which
saw three days of intensive birding in and around the Lodge. At
least one Australian Brush-Turkey was trying to scrape up a nesting mound outside the accommodation units. </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">This one was </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">getting away from the wetter
ground</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;"> perching on a vine</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">in the
rainforest .</span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UF80EXC4e-o/VM1DlaA000I/AAAAAAAAFGQ/bObaF6hSZr4/s1600/Australian%2BScrub-turkey-8029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UF80EXC4e-o/VM1DlaA000I/AAAAAAAAFGQ/bObaF6hSZr4/s1600/Australian%2BScrub-turkey-8029.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Australian Brush-Turkey</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">Waterbirds
have been scattered with the onset of the wetter weather with only a
few species seen including a few Wandering Whistling-Duck, Pacific
Black-Duck, Grey Teal and Hardhead. One week saw a few Little Black
and Pied Cormorant visit along with a single Australasian Darter.
Others to appear briefly were Intermediate and Great Egret, a
White-faced Heron, a Glossy Ibis and several Australian White Ibis.
Raptors were also light with only Black and Whistling Kite, White-bellied
Sea-Eagle and a single sighting of a Pacific Baza. Once again the
pair of Red-necked Crake have been putting on a show for most of our
guests both in the evening and morning at the Crake Pool. Pale-vented
Bush-hen have also been showing around the roadsides and cane
paddocks but patience is required to see them. Superb Fruit-Dove have
been calling with good numbers around the Lodge and a pair of
Torresian Imperial Pigeon were found nesting. Lesser Sooty Owl has
been coming around once or twice a week and was seen one night flying around the Lodge hawking for insects. We have been hearing our one
Papuan Frogmouth calling during the night and occasionally seeing it
roosting in our orchard. Buff-breasted Paradise-Kingfisher have been
going in and out of their nests so we presume they are sitting on
eggs. One pair near our cookshed have been performing well for our
guests who have been able to relax in a chair and watch at a distance.
Could not help but put another photo of these special birds into our
last blog! </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GgfG7DF-PoY/VM1DmUaA43I/AAAAAAAAFGY/n4RZc0Wma1I/s1600/BBPKF-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GgfG7DF-PoY/VM1DmUaA43I/AAAAAAAAFGY/n4RZc0Wma1I/s1600/BBPKF-2.jpg" height="640" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Buff-breasted Paradise-Kingfisher</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">Other good birds around include Noisy Pitta,
Yellow-breasted Boatbill, Barred Cuckoo-shrike, Pied Monarch and
nesting Olive-backed Sunbird.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v2irbEeAADc/VM1aUmG3JwI/AAAAAAAAFKs/SJk7MxrHhvE/s1600/Red-necked%2BCrake-0526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v2irbEeAADc/VM1aUmG3JwI/AAAAAAAAFKs/SJk7MxrHhvE/s1600/Red-necked%2BCrake-0526.jpg" height="640" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Yellow-breasted Boatbill - <span style="font-size: x-small;">male</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Further
Afield:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">Mt.
Lewis is still accessible, but there is always the chance of a tree </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">coming </span></span></span></span>down on the road at this time of year. Blue-faced Parrot-Finch are being seen, but they are
still in low numbers and elusive, most of the “Wet Tropic”
endemics have been seen over the last few weeks. One surprise over
the Australia day weekend was a Rose-crowned Fruit Dove calling not
far from Abattoir Swamp, this is usually a bird of the coastal areas
and offshore islands with very few sightings in our region. There has
been large flocks of Pacific Swift (Fork-tailed) in the Julatten - Mt
Molloy area, these have been reported on Eremaea e-Bird. </span></span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Reptiles
and Mammals:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">28
mammals and reptiles were reported for the last three weeks including
Green Ringtail Possum, Platypus, Boyd's Forest Dragon, Lace Monitor
and Carpet Python. Frogs were vocal when the rain was coming down
with nine species recorded.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qjHXgNXJO0A/VM1MjX7-tMI/AAAAAAAAFIs/fV16QoEJ8c8/s1600/Northern%2BSedge%2BFrog-8013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qjHXgNXJO0A/VM1MjX7-tMI/AAAAAAAAFIs/fV16QoEJ8c8/s1600/Northern%2BSedge%2BFrog-8013.jpg" height="412" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Northern Sedge Frog</span></span></span><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3n1_bjSmMls/VM1Djb31O6I/AAAAAAAAFGI/Pje25k-gt3I/s1600/Dainty%2BGreen%2BTree%2BFrog-8017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3n1_bjSmMls/VM1Djb31O6I/AAAAAAAAFGI/Pje25k-gt3I/s1600/Dainty%2BGreen%2BTree%2BFrog-8017.jpg" height="420" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dainty Green Tree Frog</span></span></span><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;"> Had to put in an image of our favourite frog at the Lodge!</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cjoRSpmGNdA/VM1M1XOGRKI/AAAAAAAAFJM/fgZmdmE0U1U/s1600/White-lipped%2BTree%2BFrog-8057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cjoRSpmGNdA/VM1M1XOGRKI/AAAAAAAAFJM/fgZmdmE0U1U/s1600/White-lipped%2BTree%2BFrog-8057.jpg" height="536" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">White-lipped Tree Frog</span></span></span><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Insects:-</span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">The rain also triggered the termites to swarm out of some nests, the flying ones descended on us in their thousands dropping wings everywhere. These ones were not coming out of one of the mounds but a log on the ground.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"> </span><b><span style="background: transparent;"><br /></span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JH8jfulPAR4/VM1Mq3i-u6I/AAAAAAAAFI0/odwF1k0pQ1k/s1600/Termite-8048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JH8jfulPAR4/VM1Mq3i-u6I/AAAAAAAAFI0/odwF1k0pQ1k/s1600/Termite-8048.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Termite sp.</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NSS5hbDiap4/VM1MsYu_3DI/AAAAAAAAFI8/r597KE7TOWY/s1600/Termite-8052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NSS5hbDiap4/VM1MsYu_3DI/AAAAAAAAFI8/r597KE7TOWY/s1600/Termite-8052.jpg" height="600" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Termite sp.</span></span></span></span></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Fungi:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">The
wetter conditions certainly encouraged the fungi to pop up
everywhere, here is a selection of some of them.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zlaDFnh18k0/VM1MAYOfXQI/AAAAAAAAFHE/ULvUGNwaqt8/s1600/Fungi-8054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zlaDFnh18k0/VM1MAYOfXQI/AAAAAAAAFHE/ULvUGNwaqt8/s1600/Fungi-8054.jpg" height="640" width="638" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Unidentified fungus </b><span style="font-size: x-small;">- complete with Wolf Spider</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YFIIYhie7-w/VM1L-Pft9iI/AAAAAAAAFG0/0G9DYroLe0g/s1600/Fungi-8072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YFIIYhie7-w/VM1L-Pft9iI/AAAAAAAAFG0/0G9DYroLe0g/s1600/Fungi-8072.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Unidentified fungus</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kYB7YdXRhLU/VM1L-3qDdNI/AAAAAAAAFG8/tpnj6dpYKNw/s1600/Fungi-8075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kYB7YdXRhLU/VM1L-3qDdNI/AAAAAAAAFG8/tpnj6dpYKNw/s1600/Fungi-8075.jpg" height="464" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Unidentified fungus</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BXlGbWcuTq0/VM1MCW2CiyI/AAAAAAAAFHM/X1qrSWUX3IY/s1600/Fungi-8076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BXlGbWcuTq0/VM1MCW2CiyI/AAAAAAAAFHM/X1qrSWUX3IY/s1600/Fungi-8076.jpg" height="562" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Unidentified fungus</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b-4_fj0kX7w/VM1MEIPYPdI/AAAAAAAAFHU/35uaju6lTMM/s1600/Fungi-8081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b-4_fj0kX7w/VM1MEIPYPdI/AAAAAAAAFHU/35uaju6lTMM/s1600/Fungi-8081.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Unidentified fungus</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GTLnSsYkwX0/VM1MHXAEdwI/AAAAAAAAFHc/CoK4y4_rsxc/s1600/Fungi-8085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GTLnSsYkwX0/VM1MHXAEdwI/AAAAAAAAFHc/CoK4y4_rsxc/s1600/Fungi-8085.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Unidentified fungus</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ITrqlhE_D7k/VM1MKYls7wI/AAAAAAAAFHk/m5AyhPIXjzE/s1600/Fungi-8088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ITrqlhE_D7k/VM1MKYls7wI/AAAAAAAAFHk/m5AyhPIXjzE/s1600/Fungi-8088.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Unidentified fungus</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dIcH_9WDAVY/VM1MNuGwdtI/AAAAAAAAFHs/_l8ApS8KdZI/s1600/Fungi-8089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dIcH_9WDAVY/VM1MNuGwdtI/AAAAAAAAFHs/_l8ApS8KdZI/s1600/Fungi-8089.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Unidentified fungus</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KqCKCuLW05E/VM1MPEVzbeI/AAAAAAAAFH0/x7VA7Qjkoj4/s1600/Fungi-8090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KqCKCuLW05E/VM1MPEVzbeI/AAAAAAAAFH0/x7VA7Qjkoj4/s1600/Fungi-8090.jpg" height="508" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Unidentified fungus</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rfm24fEGuL8/VM1MRW25TqI/AAAAAAAAFH8/UQVHUBQgdO8/s1600/Fungi-8095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rfm24fEGuL8/VM1MRW25TqI/AAAAAAAAFH8/UQVHUBQgdO8/s1600/Fungi-8095.jpg" height="508" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Unidentified fungus</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_5YCWy9Et1I/VM1MVcaI3cI/AAAAAAAAFIE/4Z4c-5JyFZA/s1600/Fungi-8104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_5YCWy9Et1I/VM1MVcaI3cI/AAAAAAAAFIE/4Z4c-5JyFZA/s1600/Fungi-8104.jpg" height="456" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Unidentified fungus</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PJQCvgPcH7E/VM1MYJBRh-I/AAAAAAAAFIM/-_hSZZzpwyA/s1600/Fungi-8107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PJQCvgPcH7E/VM1MYJBRh-I/AAAAAAAAFIM/-_hSZZzpwyA/s1600/Fungi-8107.jpg" height="412" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Unidentified fungus</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EApAwnRhXYM/VM1Mb2fvOII/AAAAAAAAFIU/nVTA1amDdfQ/s1600/Fungi-8110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EApAwnRhXYM/VM1Mb2fvOII/AAAAAAAAFIU/nVTA1amDdfQ/s1600/Fungi-8110.jpg" height="384" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Unidentified fungus</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CGJAPkEKYzY/VM1McrezCRI/AAAAAAAAFIc/IPQz-bDAV_A/s1600/Fungi-8113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CGJAPkEKYzY/VM1McrezCRI/AAAAAAAAFIc/IPQz-bDAV_A/s1600/Fungi-8113.jpg" height="580" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Unidentified fungus</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zdqq7IYpcpY/VM1Mgt39gFI/AAAAAAAAFIk/7TTny-tMhWw/s1600/Fungi-8116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zdqq7IYpcpY/VM1Mgt39gFI/AAAAAAAAFIk/7TTny-tMhWw/s1600/Fungi-8116.jpg" height="380" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Unidentified fungus</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">Finally
we would like to thank all those people who have supported us during
our time at the Lodge and those who followed our blog. We have had over a thousand guests staying each year for the last ten years with many regulars and have met some wonderful people. Thank you to
Carol and Andrew for helping with the weekly sightings and also for
taking on the Lodge to continue to offer a great wildlife experience
for guests. We are retiring to our home in Julatten and look forward to some travel over the next few years.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">Keith & Lindsay. </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">We have had many emails from guests over the years, but this one from a Japanese gentleman remains our favourite.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;"><i>Thank you very much for your full attention shown to me. Three days flew like an arrow as every moment I experienced there was woderful. Thanks to your help, I am very happy to have taken nice photos, specially kingfisher. These photos goes with nightcap before falling into sleep, taking the place of bankbook of no more balance. Thanks again for your kindness.</i> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;"> </span></span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">The
End.</span></span></span></b></span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">All photos © Keith & Lindsay Fisher 2015 Have a good day - last blog post 2015 - follow https://tropicaltails.blogspot.com/ for local information</div>Keith and Lindsay Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09458044489867275514noreply@blogger.com10Julatten QLD 4871, Australia-16.6074211 145.34264210000003-16.7291696 145.18128060000004 -16.4856726 145.50400360000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4757246035198638023.post-17873477026595028382015-01-14T17:07:00.001+10:002015-01-15T07:09:51.169+10:0011th January 2015 Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>11th
January 2015 Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge</b></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Weather
Report</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The last month has seen some good
rains with plenty of sunny days, hot cool and humid with temperatures
in the range from 21.2ºC minimum to a maximum on one day of a hot 35ºC but generally around 28-32ºC for top temperatures.
Rainfall was 81.5mm.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Last Four Weeks Bird Sightings:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">These
can be found on the Eremaea eBird site. </span></span></span></span></span><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S21323955">14th - 20th December 2014</a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">, </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S21324214">21st - 27th December 2014</a>,
</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S21324554">28th December 2014 - 3rd January 2015</a>, and </span></span></span></span></span><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=21324658">4th - 10th January 2015</a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"> Species numbers were down due to a reduced effort over the Christmas/New Year period when we were very busy with guests.</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
</span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Birding
Highlights:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Due
to the rain managing to fill up a few low lying areas there was
plenty of opportunities for waterfowl to spread out to the detriment
of the local lagoons which were very quiet with only a few Magpie
Goose, Pacific Black Duck, Grey Teal, a single Australasian Grebe,
Great and Intermediate Egret, one Little Pied Cormorant, one
Australasian Pelican plus a few Cattle Egret who disappeared before
Christmas back to their breeding grounds. Raptors were also scarce as the local cane harvest wound
down, the hoards of Black Kite left and only the odd one or two were
left, the pair of local Whistling Kite stayed as did a couple of
White-bellied Sea-Eagle. A single Grey Goshawk was seen one week
being chased off by a few Sulphur-crested Cockatoo. Good news is that
our pair of Red-necked Crake continue to be seen around the Lodge
grounds, mainly at the Crake Pool in the orchard. There has been a big
influx of Pale-vented Bush-hen this season with at least 7-8 pairs around the
lodge area. Trying to see them is another matter as they rarely
venture out from the grassy areas along Bushy Creek and the local
roads. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vWiNm7gokSI/VLNhZlkzcqI/AAAAAAAAFEA/szJP9igrQ-o/s1600/Pale-vented%2BBush-hen-7908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vWiNm7gokSI/VLNhZlkzcqI/AAAAAAAAFEA/szJP9igrQ-o/s1600/Pale-vented%2BBush-hen-7908.jpg" height="448" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Pale-vented Bush-hen</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">The odd Buff-banded Rail does make an appearance, usually
alongside the cane fields or Bushy Creek. A White-browed Crake was
seen in one of the McDougall Road Lagoons. The local pair of Bush
Stone-curlew continue to look after their youngster (featured in the
last blog), who is now almost as big as his parents as this updated
photo shows, he is the one on the far right.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3DP56wuhOw/VLNhM_bOi7I/AAAAAAAAFDY/vv8PpzcrCeU/s1600/Bush%2BStone-curlew-7989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3DP56wuhOw/VLNhM_bOi7I/AAAAAAAAFDY/vv8PpzcrCeU/s1600/Bush%2BStone-curlew-7989.jpg" height="482" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Bush Stone-Curlew</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Plenty
of pigeons and doves around with the usual Bar-shouldered Dove,
Peaceful Dove, and Emerald Dove, these being the most common. Wompoo and
Superb Fruit-Dove are around but hard to see and Torresian
Imperial-Pigeon have mainly left with the occasional flock passing
through. Brush Cuckoo have become noisy and displaying as the rain
increases but the Australian Koel have become quiet along with the
Channel-billed Cuckoo. Lesser Sooty Owl have only been heard
occasionally as have Barking Owl, the Barn Owl are regularly around
but not calling much at this time of year. We seem to be down to one
Papuan Frogmouth in the Lodge grounds now that our pair failed with their nest attempt but
another nearby nest, which was successful still have their youngster
with them as this photo shows.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wq5o0xUYZJs/VLNhfJKSY3I/AAAAAAAAFEI/Tqb2AqAIpaU/s1600/Papuan%2BFrogmouth-7893.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wq5o0xUYZJs/VLNhfJKSY3I/AAAAAAAAFEI/Tqb2AqAIpaU/s1600/Papuan%2BFrogmouth-7893.jpg" height="640" width="472" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Papuan Frogmouth - <span style="font-size: x-small;">female with immature</span></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Buff-breasted
Paradise-Kingfisher have dug out their nest in the termite mounds but
don't appear to be sitting yet. One pair was seen mating a few days
ago so it should not be long until they lay, they are about a month
behind their usual breeding period due to the dry weather we have
been having. Yes another Buff-breasted Paradise-Kingfisher photo! You can't help taking photos of them as they are so photogenic.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tKu1tMszbmM/VLNhGxMWicI/AAAAAAAAFDI/ytkh07WnMdk/s1600/Buff-breasted%2BParadise-Kingfisher-7961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tKu1tMszbmM/VLNhGxMWicI/AAAAAAAAFDI/ytkh07WnMdk/s1600/Buff-breasted%2BParadise-Kingfisher-7961.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Buff-breasted Paradise-Kingfisher</span></span></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo were seen flying over at the
end of December which is the normal pattern each year, they are
usually in the area until about the end of February. It looks like we
only have one pair of Noisy Pitta this year instead of the normal two
pairs as only two have been seen at a time. Hopefully they are
nesting now. Yellow-breasted
Boatbill are in full song and Pied Monarch have also started to
call again. A few Barred Cuckoo-shrike and Cicadabird are around and
calling. Australasian Figbird have been nesting as have Willie
Wagtail. This one was in our orchard sitting on its minimalist nest.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hR5PuD4c7hI/VLNhkAOGdbI/AAAAAAAAFEY/5RSo4qn_4Pw/s1600/Willie%2BWagtail-7927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hR5PuD4c7hI/VLNhkAOGdbI/AAAAAAAAFEY/5RSo4qn_4Pw/s1600/Willie%2BWagtail-7927.jpg" height="398" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Willie Wagtail</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Still
no sign of Black-faced Monarch nesting but Spectacled Monarch have
had a few nests around the Lodge. Metallic Starling are still
attending nests and into their second breeding cycle along with
adding more nesting material to the communal nests. A couple of
Double-barred Finch were seen by our neighbours Carol and Andrew Iles
(bird guides), these are uncommon around the Lodge with one or two
sightings a year. They are more common around Mt. Molloy.
Chestnut-breasted Mannikin have been seen carrying nesting material
as well as displaying as this one is doing.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3umBpKCWshg/VLNhMFlcVYI/AAAAAAAAFDQ/pViUHl6hT1A/s1600/Chestnut-breasted%2BMannikin-7949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3umBpKCWshg/VLNhMFlcVYI/AAAAAAAAFDQ/pViUHl6hT1A/s1600/Chestnut-breasted%2BMannikin-7949.jpg" height="640" width="574" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Chestnut-breasted Mannikin</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Further
Afield:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Most
of the sightings from further afield are from Mt. Lewis where all the
13 “Wet Tropic” endemics have been seen over the last month. A
few Lesser Sooty Owl have been seen and a possible Masked Owl was
heard. Male Golden Bowerbird have been seen but are not easy to find.
The other endemics, Fernwren, Atherton Scrubwren, Mountain Thornbill,
Macleay's Honeyeater, Bridled Honeyeater, Grey-headed Robin,
Chowchilla, Bower's Shrike-thrush, Pied Monarch and Tooth-billed
Bowerbird have been reasonably easy to find. Blue-faced Parrot-Finch
have been scarce with up to four birds seen at any one time around
the 10km clearing on Mt. Lewis. Tinaburra Peninsula, near Yungaburra
on the Atherton Tableland has had an influx of Red-rumped Swallow
with up to 38 seen by Alan Gillanders from <a href="http://alanswildlifetours.com.au/">Alan's
Wildlife Tours</a>, Also in the same area at Harper Road, Lake
Tinaroo there was a Ruff.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Reptiles
and Mammals:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Green
Tree Snake have been active with three seen in one week eating
White-lipped Tree Frog. One 3.5m Australian Scrub Python was seen
coiled up on the edge of the orchard, whilst we were on a night walk,
before it moved off into the rainforest. The wetter weather got the
frogs going with Jungguy Frog, White-lipped Tree Frog, Northern Dwarf
Tree Frog, Desert Tree Frog, Dainty Green Tree Frog, and Cogger's
Frog seen plus Green Tree Frog and Roth's (Laughing) Tree Fog heard. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GoGgaTT1FoQ/VLNhTAGDbdI/AAAAAAAAFDw/-CPC6nr-Vs4/s1600/Jungguy%2BFrog%2B-%2Bmale-7968.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GoGgaTT1FoQ/VLNhTAGDbdI/AAAAAAAAFDw/-CPC6nr-Vs4/s1600/Jungguy%2BFrog%2B-%2Bmale-7968.jpg" height="468" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Jungguy Frog - <span style="font-size: x-small;">male in breeding colours</span></span></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sRILtTOOzWU/VLNhOf9e0nI/AAAAAAAAFDg/wthg9vMOpYg/s1600/Cogger%27s%2BFrog-7966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sRILtTOOzWU/VLNhOf9e0nI/AAAAAAAAFDg/wthg9vMOpYg/s1600/Cogger%27s%2BFrog-7966.jpg" height="454" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Cogger's Frog</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">A few Northern Leaf-tailed Gecko were seen but they are difficult to
find at this time of year. Boyd's Forest Dragon and Easter Water
Dragon have been easier to find. Three Platypus were seen in Bushy
Creek, two adults and a juvenile which was great. Also seen in Bushy
Creek was a Water Rat, which have not been seen lately. Both Green
Ringtail and Striped Possum have been seen but again they have been
difficult to find. Fawn-footed Melomys and Yellow-footed Antechinus
have been around, the antechinus coming to take banana from the
reception area feeder. Northern Broad-nosed Bat have been roosting under our neighbours house which is where this one was found.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"><br /></span></span></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SzGB1odvgpw/VLNhYCZPYtI/AAAAAAAAFD4/2jvgIdW__9s/s1600/Northern%2BBroad-nose%2BBat-7929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SzGB1odvgpw/VLNhYCZPYtI/AAAAAAAAFD4/2jvgIdW__9s/s1600/Northern%2BBroad-nose%2BBat-7929.jpg" height="640" width="628" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Northern Broad-nosed Bat</span></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Spiders:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Quite
a few spiders around including many Wolf Spiders which appear to all
be the same species (over 150 species in Australia). These two pictures show the whole spider and a
close up of the head and body showing the eyes in a 4-2-2
configuration (sounds like a soccer match!). </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bqwImwG7dCk/VLRalkYWuoI/AAAAAAAAFFM/_MXDKJROjzI/s1600/Wolf%2BSpider-7973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bqwImwG7dCk/VLRalkYWuoI/AAAAAAAAFFM/_MXDKJROjzI/s1600/Wolf%2BSpider-7973.jpg" height="526" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Wolf Spider</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HGZn6V4U1ZQ/VLRaf5jRkMI/AAAAAAAAFFE/MLLFV6tZnMw/s1600/Wolf%2BSpider%2Bhead-7973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HGZn6V4U1ZQ/VLRaf5jRkMI/AAAAAAAAFFE/MLLFV6tZnMw/s1600/Wolf%2BSpider%2Bhead-7973.jpg" height="388" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Wolf Spider</b></span><b> - <span style="font-size: x-small;">Head and body</span></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This jumping spider was no bigger than a 5c piece and shows the amazing patterning in such a small creature. It is possibly <i>Jacksonoides queenslandicus, </i>thanks to Robert Whyte for the information.</span><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jagLSEfVO7E/VLNhl3QnZYI/AAAAAAAAFEg/7sP-3UbuM9o/s1600/Wolf%2BSpider-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jagLSEfVO7E/VLNhl3QnZYI/AAAAAAAAFEg/7sP-3UbuM9o/s1600/Wolf%2BSpider-2.jpg" height="548" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Jumping Spider</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qnRUo8jZKzk/VLNhnfLH4xI/AAAAAAAAFEo/x4ECnuZkKMA/s1600/Wolf%2BSpider-head-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qnRUo8jZKzk/VLNhnfLH4xI/AAAAAAAAFEo/x4ECnuZkKMA/s1600/Wolf%2BSpider-head-2.jpg" height="640" width="482" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Jumping Spider - <span style="font-size: x-small;">head</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Insects:-</span></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">These two insects were around the lodge buildings. Thanks to David Renz for the Robberfly ID.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"> </span><b><span style="background: transparent;"><br /></span></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NjC9FTaAP_E/VLNhiCbJRUI/AAAAAAAAFEQ/3tGwdyE3GTw/s1600/Parasitic%2BWasp-7999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NjC9FTaAP_E/VLNhiCbJRUI/AAAAAAAAFEQ/3tGwdyE3GTw/s1600/Parasitic%2BWasp-7999.jpg" height="640" width="574" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Robberfly, family Asilidae</span></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d6GxIeufY2I/VLNhR2vevfI/AAAAAAAAFDo/SS9_nC7G4hQ/s1600/Jewel%2BBug-8024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d6GxIeufY2I/VLNhR2vevfI/AAAAAAAAFDo/SS9_nC7G4hQ/s1600/Jewel%2BBug-8024.jpg" height="640" width="606" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Jewel Bug (?)</span></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">All photos © Keith & Lindsay Fisher 2015 Have a good day - last blog post 2015 - follow https://tropicaltails.blogspot.com/ for local information</div>Keith and Lindsay Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09458044489867275514noreply@blogger.com1Julatten QLD 4871, Australia-16.6074211 145.34264210000003-16.7291696 145.18128060000004 -16.4856726 145.50400360000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4757246035198638023.post-37761885570482231782014-12-14T16:23:00.001+10:002020-12-13T11:43:51.371+10:0014th December Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><b>14th
December 2014 Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge</b></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Weather
Report</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">At
last some rain to report, a big storm dumped 61mm on one day plus a
further 16mm on 4 days. A few more storms have been in the area but
seemed to miss us. Humidity was up to 95% with lots of sunshine and
temperatures reached 33ºc on one day but generally lower with the
cloud cover and passing storms. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Last
Two Weeks Bird Sightings:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">These
can be found on the Eremaea eBird site. <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S20897908">30th November - 6th December</a> and <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=20897956">7th- 13th December</a> </span></span></span></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
first week had 107 species recorded and the second week 99.</span></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
</span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Birding
Highlights:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif">A
first for our 1.5km reporting area was a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
reported by Carol Iles our roaming bird guide. Carol saw it in one of
the McDougall Road lagoons. The McDougall Road lagoons are on private
properties and viewed from the road, they have had quite a few good
waterbirds on them over the past two weeks. These were, 38 Magpie
Goose, 8 Wandering Whistling-Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Grey Teal, 2
Australasian Grebe, Little Black and Pied Cormorant, Australasian
Darter, 2 Australian Pelican, Great, Intermediate and Cattle Egret, 1
White-faced Heron, 1 Glossy Ibis, Australian White Ibis, Royal
Spoonbill, 1 White-browed Crake and 1 Comb-crested Jacana. Good
selection of waterbirds. A few more raptors have been around these
past two weeks with Spotted Harrier, Collared Sparrow Hawk, Black and
Whistling Kite plus 2 White-bellied Sea-Eagle. Red-necked Crake are
continuing to appear at the Crake Pool in the afternoon, usually
between 5.30 and 6.30, where It has been bathing. We say it as we
have only seen one at a time. Pale-vented Bush-hen has only been
heard over the last week a few times and that was in the distance
down stream from the Lodge along Bushy Creek. One pair of Bush
Stone-curlew have one off spring and have been keeping quiet over
the last month. </span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fL_LvNdXACQ/VI0UXb-dnHI/AAAAAAAAFCU/3gqbCxVDqWM/s1600/Bush%2BStone-curlew-7799.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fL_LvNdXACQ/VI0UXb-dnHI/AAAAAAAAFCU/3gqbCxVDqWM/s1600/Bush%2BStone-curlew-7799.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Bush Stone-curlew - <span style="font-size: x-small;">adult and juvenile</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif">At
least six Wompoo Fruit-Dove have been around as has a similar number
of Superb Fruit-Dove but they are much more difficult to see than the
wompoo. </span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xMaJsgDEg9Y/VIzubL_ZzbI/AAAAAAAAFCE/39KMc6k5_4o/s1600/Superb%2BFruit-Dove-7840.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="588" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xMaJsgDEg9Y/VIzubL_ZzbI/AAAAAAAAFCE/39KMc6k5_4o/s1600/Superb%2BFruit-Dove-7840.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Superb Fruit-Dove<span style="font-size: x-small;"> - male</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif">Topknot Pigeon have disappeared over the last week and the
numbers of Pied Imperial-Pigeon have also dropped. Brush Cuckoo are
in full song, triggered by the oncoming rain showers and both the
Australian Koel and Pheasant Coucal have been calling. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif">Lesser
Sooty Owl have again been around but not every night but when they
have been here they are calling and showing well. There is a pair
which hopefully will stay around and breed in the area next year.
Also Barn Owl and Barking Owl have been heard and seen. Our pair of
Papuan Frogmouth who have been sitting on a nest since 10<sup>th</sup>
October have abandoned it about a week ago with not sign of any egg
having been hatched. It is the first time that this pair have tried
to nest in the Lodge grounds so maybe inexperienced, certainly
judging by their unconventional nest which had some very large
branches in it. Normally their nests are made of not many small
twigs, similar to a pigeons nest. The good news is that another pair
in the area now have a quite sizable chick. They started sitting on
the 4<sup>th</sup> October, incubation time is 40 days and the time
up to the 14<sup>th</sup> December must make the chick about 25 days
old.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> Buff-breasted
Paradise-Kingfisher have started to dig out their nests in the
termite mounds on the rainforest floor and have been showing well,
perching for the photographers. We have not checked out all the 40+
termite mounds on the property yet but at least 4 mounds have been
dug. Last year we had 8 pairs nesting, hopefully we have at least
this number this year. </span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5ggY4DZrn48/VI0gTt8eHQI/AAAAAAAAFCw/jNcRcHE6Esw/s1600/Buff-breasted%2BParadise-Kingfisher-0689.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="612" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5ggY4DZrn48/VI0gTt8eHQI/AAAAAAAAFCw/jNcRcHE6Esw/s1600/Buff-breasted%2BParadise-Kingfisher-0689.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Buff-breasted Paradise-Kingfisher</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif">Now that the Double-eyed Fig-Parrot have
finished nesting they have become hard to see with only a few
observed flying over. At least one pair of Noisy Pitta are in the
Lodge grounds and are being seen usually early morning. One bird was
seen carrying nesting material. Lovely Fairy-wren visited our
neighbours bird bath one day, lucky them. 13 species of honeyeater
were recorded with a Helmeted Friarbird being the most unusual.
Brown-backed Honeyeater were seen nesting in Geraghty Park.
Yellow-breasted Boatbill and Pied Monarch have been calling and seen
but the monarch has been proving more elusive than the boatbill.
Barred Cuckoo-shrike have been calling and a few have been nest
building. Common Cicadabird have also been vocal and Australasian
Figbird have been sitting in nests. No sightings of Black-faced
Monarch nests yet but they have been calling a lot, probably waiting
for more rain to fall. Pale-yellow Robin are still nesting and posing
for photographs. This one was taken to see how good the Canon EOS 7D MKII is at handling high ISO and was taken at 3200 ISO, not to bad for noise at this size and crop. It is certainly way ahead of the original 7D which showed lots of noise about 800 -1000 ISO.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c9_z69BMvjg/VIzuW3tLKPI/AAAAAAAAFB0/02C7XxHt6zo/s1600/Pale-yellow%2BRobin-7822.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c9_z69BMvjg/VIzuW3tLKPI/AAAAAAAAFB0/02C7XxHt6zo/s1600/Pale-yellow%2BRobin-7822.jpg" width="506" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Pale-yellow Robin</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif">Metallic
Starling are also continuing to add to their colonial nests with more
adults and juvenile birds joining in at their colony. Olive-backed
Sunbird are also nesting, hope this nest is successful after their
last one failed.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Further
Afield:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/null" name="AllReportsList"></a>
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-weight: normal;">A
very strange sighting of an Australian Brush-turkey with a purple
collar was had on Mt. Lewis, the report is on the Eremaea Birds site
with a very fuzzy image.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.eremaea.com/BirdlineRecentSightings.aspx?Birdline=5">http://www.eremaea.com/BirdlineRecentSightings.aspx?Birdline=5</a>
. It is possibly the </span></span>Cape York race 'purpureicollis'
which only occur as far south as Shiptons Flat (just south of
Cooktown). There is some conjecture as to how this bird arrived this
far south, it has been suggested that it was released here or walked
across the mountain ranges as they are not good fliers. I guess we
will never know. <span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Blue-faced
Parrot-Finch is on most guests wants list at this time of year and
usually they are not too much of a problem, however, this year has
been very dry and grass growth has been retarded with no seeding as
yet. Mt. Lewis is the favourite place to look but so far this season
the little finches have been hard to find. Four is the most seen at
any one time but 1-2 has been the normal when they are present. There
has been few sightings over the last month with only one seen
occasionally except on the 13</span></span><sup><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-weight: normal;">th</span></span></sup><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
December when two were seen early in the morning (before 7.00am) at
the 10km clearing on Mt. Lewis. Hopefully the start of some rain will
encourage the grasses to grow and start seeding. Also at the 10km
clearing a pair of Barred Cuckoo-shrike were building a nest. Spotted
Whistling-Duck have been in the news for our region lately with
sightings at Wongaling Beach, near Mission Beach south of Cairns,
Keatings Lagoon near Cooktown, 10 at Cattana Wetlands in Cairns and
at least 6 reported by Murray Hunt, who runs <a href="http://www.daintreerivertours.com.au/">Daintree
Boatman Nature Tours</a>, at a lagoon alongside the Daintree River. </span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-49DksXle3zE/VIzuZZ_uT2I/AAAAAAAAFB8/SiUhRuXjOvU/s1600/Spotted%2BWhistling-Duck-0866.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="442" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-49DksXle3zE/VIzuZZ_uT2I/AAAAAAAAFB8/SiUhRuXjOvU/s1600/Spotted%2BWhistling-Duck-0866.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Spotted Whistling-Duck</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-weight: normal;">A
Wedge-tailed Eagle was seen at Abattoir Swamp, an uncommon visitor.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Reptiles
and Mammals:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif">A
Short-beaked Echidna was seen in the Lodge grounds one night, the
first for about six months. They have not been seen much this year
with only 3-4 sightings. Frogs have been out enjoying the humid
conditions with Jungguy Frog, White-lipped Tree Frog, Northern Dwarf
Tree Frog Roth's (Laughing)Tree Frog, Desert (Red or Naked)Tree Frog,
Dainty Green Tree Frog and Cogger's Frog all seen plus Green Tree
Frog heard. Our Platypus have been performing in Bushy Creek even
when the level rose and it became muddy for a while after the 61mm of
rain we had. An Australian Scrub Python was seen a couple of times
but no other snakes were seen.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><b>Spiders:-</b></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif">Spiders
seem to like the warmer weather with many species out and about.
Plenty of Wolf Spider and Huntsman, including Grey Huntsman and this
unidentified huntsman which was on the ceiling near our kitchen one
night, another one of this species was spotlighted on a log beside Bushy Creek whilst
we were on a night walk.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ILNXhzQOLb8/VIzuUcpTMGI/AAAAAAAAFBs/bqGHSoIFM-c/s1600/Huntsman%2Bsp-%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ILNXhzQOLb8/VIzuUcpTMGI/AAAAAAAAFBs/bqGHSoIFM-c/s1600/Huntsman%2Bsp-%2B%281%2Bof%2B1%29.jpg" width="552" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Huntsman sp.</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SK0iDj5XKM4/VIzuS1dZQHI/AAAAAAAAFBk/7EAK8QsQEKc/s1600/Huntsman%2Bsp-%2B-%2B1%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="610" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SK0iDj5XKM4/VIzuS1dZQHI/AAAAAAAAFBk/7EAK8QsQEKc/s1600/Huntsman%2Bsp-%2B-%2B1%2B%281%2Bof%2B1%29.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Huntsman sp. <span style="font-size: x-small;">- showing two rows of four eyes</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif">Also
seen was a Giant Silverback, one of the trap door spiders which has
previously featured in our blog.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Fish:-</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif">Bushy Creek has many fish species beside the Platypus in it, this Coal Grunter is just one of them.</span><br />
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-psY47XnQln4/VIzuQ4EsIcI/AAAAAAAAFBc/zOmu6hXBfQ0/s1600/Fish%2Bsp.%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-psY47XnQln4/VIzuQ4EsIcI/AAAAAAAAFBc/zOmu6hXBfQ0/s1600/Fish%2Bsp.%2B%281%2Bof%2B1%29.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Coal Grunter</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><b><br /></b></span>
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><b>Abattoir
Swamp update:-</b></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Many
of you would have visited Abattoir Swamp over the last few years and
found the boardwalk to the hide in a state of disrepair. It got to the stage where it was closed off due to safety concerns. We sent a
four page submission to our local council asking them to repair it
but they said they had insufficient funds to do the remedial work. So
we asked our local Julatten and Mt. Molloy Association of Residents and Ratepayers (JAMARR) to look
into it. The outcome was that the council approved JAMARR to repair
the bridge using volunteers. This has now been done and is awaiting
the council engineers to sign off on it and re-open it. Thanks to all
those involved in repairing this important part of the birding
communities infrastructure in our area.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QTwDVDzeSQo/VI0c1QAlHhI/AAAAAAAAFCg/t-LAVbzhO5Q/s1600/Abattoir%2BSwamp%2BHide.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QTwDVDzeSQo/VI0c1QAlHhI/AAAAAAAAFCg/t-LAVbzhO5Q/s1600/Abattoir%2BSwamp%2BHide.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Abattoir Swamp Hide and Boardwalk</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">This will be the last blog for 2014. We would like to wish everyone a great and safe Christmas and New Year. Also thanks to the many wonderful guests we have had over the past year and for all the positive comments about the blog - Keith & Lindsay.</span></span><br />
<h3 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span></h3>
<h3 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></h3>
<h3 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span></h3>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">All photos © Keith & Lindsay Fisher 2015 Have a good day - last blog post 2015 - follow https://tropicaltails.blogspot.com/ for local information</div>Keith and Lindsay Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09458044489867275514noreply@blogger.com0Julatten QLD 4871, Australia-16.6074211 145.34264210000003-16.7291696 145.18128060000004 -16.4856726 145.50400360000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4757246035198638023.post-12110117602636710032014-11-30T15:57:00.002+10:002020-12-13T11:42:58.755+10:0030th November 2014 Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge<pre wrap=""><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Weather Report</span></b></span></span></pre>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Plenty
of threatening clouds but only 1mm of rain managed to find our rain
gauge. Humidity dropped down to 43% and up to 95% with lots of
sunshine and temperatures reaching 31.3ºc but generally lower with
the cloud cover. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Last
Two Weeks Bird Sightings:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">These
can be found on the Eremaea eBird site. </span></span></span></span></span><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S20724344">16th – 22nd November</a><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S16945112"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">and
</span></span></span></span></span><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=20725451">23rd - 29th November</a><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">
</span></span></span></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
first week had 106 species recorded and the second week 107.</span></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
</span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Birding
Highlights:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The main contingent of
Buff-breasted Paradise-Kingfisher arrived overnight on the 20<sup>th</sup>
of November (one had arrived on 31st October) which is two days after
the previous late arrival record. Since then they have been pairing
up and calling a lot as they sort out their territories. Most guests
have been seeing them. A Pale-vented Bush-hen turned up in our
neighbours garden on 23<sup>rd</sup> November, this photo is from earlier this year of an adult feeding one of its six chicks. Hope they breed around here again this season. <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HZfeq6HWr58/VHqlfk_90RI/AAAAAAAAFAc/QbHTFGbImRM/s1600/Pale-vented%2BBush-hen%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="484" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HZfeq6HWr58/VHqlfk_90RI/AAAAAAAAFAc/QbHTFGbImRM/s1600/Pale-vented%2BBush-hen%2B%281%2Bof%2B1%29.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Pale-vented Bush-hen -<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Adult and chick</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
A big surprise was
six Brolga flying from the coast in a westerly direction over the
Lodge grounds on the 26<sup>th</sup> November. Not sure where they
would have come from but this is only the second record we have had
in 9½ years. A Glossy Ibis turned up at one of the McDougall Road
lagoons at the end of the second week, this is a rare bird in our
immediate area. Other waterbirds have been around in small numbers,
Magpie Goose, Wandering Whistling-Duck, Green Pygmy-goose, Grey Teal
were seen and a Black Bittern was heard. An adult Nankeen Night Heron
was along Bushy Creek one morning whilst we were conducting a morning
walk. Raptors have been scarce with only Black, Whistling and
Brahminy Kite plus White-bellied Sea-Eagle seen over the last two
weeks. Red-necked Crake has been appearing at the Crake Pool most
late evenings and once at 8.00am. One spent 45 minutes one evening
foraging around the pool. One of the McDougall Lagoons had a
Comb-crested Jacana swimming around which was quite unusual as they
are mainly seen walking over the water lilies. Pigeons and doves have
once again been showing well with Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Emerald,
Peaceful and Bar-shouldered Dove, Wompoo and Superb Fruit-Dove,
Torresian Imperial-Pigeon and Topknot Pigeon all seen. Little
Bronze-Cuckoo have again been around in a small flock of 6-8 birds.
All have been of the race <i>gouldi</i><span style="font-style: normal;">,
this one was foraging in the orchard.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZWm5L8qz11o/VHpfq_9bMkI/AAAAAAAAE_o/gcN7nh7LSPs/s1600/Little-bronze-Cuckoo%2B-%2Bgould%27s%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZWm5L8qz11o/VHpfq_9bMkI/AAAAAAAAE_o/gcN7nh7LSPs/s1600/Little-bronze-Cuckoo%2B-%2Bgould%27s%2B%281%2Bof%2B1%29.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Little Bronze-Cuckoo - <span style="font-size: x-small;">male</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-style: normal;">Other
cuckoos that have been seen were Australian Koel, Channel-billed
Cuckoo and Pheasant Coucal. Night birds have been a bit elusive with
Lesser Sooty, Barn, and Barking Owl seen plus Australian
Owlet-nightjar heard. Also seen was Papuan Frogmouth who were either
roosting in our orchard or sitting on their nest. This one was
sitting on a recently hatched chick.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c04F_wMOsig/VHpf8mRkVrI/AAAAAAAAFAI/0Xcwjm8fPIQ/s1600/Papuan%2BFrogmouth%2BM%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="448" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c04F_wMOsig/VHpf8mRkVrI/AAAAAAAAFAI/0Xcwjm8fPIQ/s1600/Papuan%2BFrogmouth%2BM%2B%281%2Bof%2B1%29.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Papuan Frogmouth</b></span></span><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"> - male</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-style: normal;">Sulphur-crested
Cockatoo have also been nesting with two large chicks seen peering
out of a nest hollow. Double-eyed Fig-Parrot have also been nesting
and as reported in the last blog feeding young. We thought the young
had fledged but after not seeing the adults at the nest for 1½ weeks
they were back and little voices were heard from inside the nest.
Noisy Pitta have continued to be noisy but have retreated into the
rainforest within the last few days which may mean they are going to
nest. Lovely Fairy-wren were heard on the edge of the orchard but
not seen but Red-backed Fairy-wren were seen on a fence along the
highway near Geraghty Park. 13 honeyeater species were seen and one
heard, 11 of these were seen in one red flowering Callistemon
(Bottlebrush) whilst we were on a morning walk. The most impressive
was a male Scarlet Honeyeater who came down out of the tall trees to
give everyone fantastic views. Blue-faced Honeyeater were seen feeding juveniles, the males blue face is really bright in breeding condition.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FLpZPGrby2c/VHqq-zSLXRI/AAAAAAAAFAw/iMzxL8JC16Y/s1600/Blue-faced%2BHoneyeater%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="604" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FLpZPGrby2c/VHqq-zSLXRI/AAAAAAAAFAw/iMzxL8JC16Y/s1600/Blue-faced%2BHoneyeater%2B%281%2Bof%2B1%29.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Blue-faced Honeyeater</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-style: normal;">Also a Helmeted Friarbird was heard for one day, this species does not usually come to our western side of the Great Dividing Range. Several pairs of Yellow-breasted
Boatbill have been calling and seen. One pair of White-breasted
Woodswallow were seen building a nest and a White-bellied
Cuckoo-shrike was seen sitting in a nest. Both Barred Cuckoo-shrike
and Common Cicadabird have been calling and seen. A female
Australasian Figbird was seen sitting in a nest in a Queensland Blue
Gum tree. Torresian Crow were seen chasing a Channel-billed Cuckoo,
which may have left their nest unattended for the female
channel-billed to lay her eggs in it. A Pale-yellow Robin was another
bird seen sitting on a nest. These nesting birds must think the rain
is coming along with an influx of insects as at the moment insects
are very few and far between. Metallic Starling are also powering
ahead with their nests and their colony is looking a bit better with
at least 80-100 birds present.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Further
Afield:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">A
Baillon’s Crake was seen along the edge of the bund wall at Lake
Mitchell by Ota Yu, one of the local Japanese birdguides. Also at
Lake Mitchell, Carol Iles (our local bird guide) reported six Cotton
Pygmy-goose, which are becoming a difficult species to find in our
area. Several Yellow Wagtail were reported from Tinnaburra waters
boatramp area on Tinaroo Dam, near Yungaburra. </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Mt.
Lewis was a good as ever with most endemics being seen again, also a
Shining Bronze-Cuckoo was reported by several people being fed by a
Mountain Thornbill at the clearing 10km up the road. One Blue-faced Parrot-Finch was seen at the end of the 2nd week. Further north of Mt.
Carbine </span>Black-throated Finch and Squatter Pigeon were along
the Kondaparinga Road to Hurricane Station. Maryfarms between Mt.
Carbine and Mount Molloy had Banded and Rufous-throated Honeyeater
(uncommon) as well as Australian Bustard who are still displaying.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Reptiles
and Mammals:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Two Australian Scrub
Python were seen whilst on a night walk, the first for several weeks.
A Northern Leaf-tailed Gecko was out during the day behind the
cookshed, which is unusual. This one has an original tail.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vJCYF6eUhn0/VHpf7L14DkI/AAAAAAAAFAA/ZzOrcXzjsB8/s1600/Northern%2BLeaf-tail%2BGecko%2B-%2Bf%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vJCYF6eUhn0/VHpf7L14DkI/AAAAAAAAFAA/ZzOrcXzjsB8/s1600/Northern%2BLeaf-tail%2BGecko%2B-%2Bf%2B%281%2Bof%2B1%29.jpg" width="330" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Northern Leaf-tailed Gecko</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
Frogs have been
anticipating rain and calling a lot, those seen were Jungguy Frog,
White-lipped Tree Frog, Northern Dwarf Tree Frog, Dessert Tree Frog,
Dainty Green Tree Frog and Cogger's Frog. Also Cane Toad was seen and
Roth's (Laughing) Tree frog was heard. A Striped Possum was seen on a
night walk high up feeding on the flowers of a Black Bean
(<i>Castanospermum australe</i>) tree, this was a first for nearly
three weeks. Northern Broad-nosed Bat decided to invade our bedroom
with three finding there way past the fly screens. After a midnight
chase we managed to get two out, the third was found in the morning
and removed. Also in the office was our local Yellow-footed
Antechinus who pays regular visits but just has a look around and
leaves. Fawn-footed Melomys (small rodent) was seen foraging in a
Sugar Apple tree in the orchard one night. At least four Red-legged
Pademelon are around the Lodge grounds as well as several Agile
Wallaby.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<pre wrap=""></pre>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Insects:-</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A few Longicorn Beetle
have been appearing, this one was on the wall of the units before
being re-located to the rainforest.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E73qFl4O7Lw/VHpf0fD-MEI/AAAAAAAAE_4/PbVMHbuanb4/s1600/Longicorn%2BBeetle%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E73qFl4O7Lw/VHpf0fD-MEI/AAAAAAAAE_4/PbVMHbuanb4/s1600/Longicorn%2BBeetle%2B%281%2Bof%2B1%29.jpg" width="608" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Longicorn Beetle sp. </b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A few Katydid have also
been seen.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<b>Wader ID:-</b><br />
The mystery wader from the last blog is a Pectoral Sandpiper. This species differs from the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper with it's more upright stance showing a longer neck, slightly downcurved bill which is slightly longer than the head. Its breast pattern is a distinctly demarcated from the whiter lower breast , weaker supercillium, legs are yellowish, and the bill is olive with a darker tip, whiter more distinct eyering and greyer crown. These are some of the distinguishing features.<br />
Photo, Doug Herrington</div>
<h3 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
</h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YZge2URiD7U/VGgE4P9gx5I/AAAAAAAAE_M/B9h5dnr915c/s1600/Unknown%2BWader.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YZge2URiD7U/VGgE4P9gx5I/AAAAAAAAE_M/B9h5dnr915c/s1600/Unknown%2BWader.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Pectoral Sandpiper</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
</h3>
<h3 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span></h3><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">All photos © Keith & Lindsay Fisher 2015 Have a good day - last blog post 2015 - follow https://tropicaltails.blogspot.com/ for local information</div>Keith and Lindsay Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09458044489867275514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4757246035198638023.post-70590390491036579702014-11-16T11:49:00.000+10:002014-11-16T12:00:08.945+10:00<h3 class="western">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">16th November 2014
Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge</span></h3>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Weather
Report</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Rainfall
over the last two weeks was 3mm over four days, still very dry and
the grass has turned brown. Humidity dropped down to 46% with lots of sunshine and
temperatures reaching 31.6ºc which it has been doing for the last
five weeks. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Last
Two Weeks Bird Sightings:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">These
can be found on the Eremaea eBird site. <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S20563334">2nd– 8th November</a></span></span></span></span></span><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S16945112"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">and
<a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=20563358">9th- 15th November</a> </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
first week had 105 species recorded and the second week 111.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
</span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Birding
Highlights:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Magpie
Goose have again been heard flying over at night and seen along
McDougall Road in one of the lagoons, which has also had Wandering
Whistling-Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Grey Teal, Australasian Darter,
two Australian Pelican, Great, Intermediate and Cattle Egret,
White-faced Heron and six Royal Spoonbill. The Cattle Egret are now
acquiring their breeding plumage with their head, neck and backs
turning orange-brown.</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iQqCTux7v7Q/VGbfj4vzGjI/AAAAAAAAE9c/Kxvfe1AhoUo/s1600/Cattle%2BEgret%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iQqCTux7v7Q/VGbfj4vzGjI/AAAAAAAAE9c/Kxvfe1AhoUo/s1600/Cattle%2BEgret%2B%281%2Bof%2B1%29.jpg" height="574" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Cattle Egret - <span style="font-size: x-small;">breeding condition</span></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></h3>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A
Black Bittern appeared at the Crake Pool on the evening of the 6<sup>th</sup>
November as guests were awaiting the Red-necked Crake (which did not
show that evening). We get a few sightings of Black Bittern each year,
but they are few and far between.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> A
few raptors have been around with one sighting of Black-shouldered
Kite and a pair of Pacific Baza. Other raptors around have been Grey
and Brown Goshawk, Black and Whistling Kite plus White-bellied
Sea-Eagle.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></h3>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></h3>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Red-necked
Crake was seen on several occasions at the Crake Pool and once at
Bushy Creek across from the Platypus viewing area. It generally came
at dusk, around 6.15pm but was seen once at 4.15pm. Both Buff-banded
Rail and a White-browed Crake, which is </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">a rarity around here,</span></span> were seen along
Bushy Creek. </span></span>
</h3>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Superb
Fruit-Dove continue to call and feed around the Lodge and have been
seen with much patience, they are difficult to get onto as they hide
high in the rainforest canopy. Wompoo Fruit-Dove have been easier to
see as have Pied Imperial-Pigeon and Topknot Pigeon. Cuckoo have been
making their presence felt with Brush Cuckoo, Little (Gould's)
Bronze-Cuckoo, Australian Koel, Channel-billed Cuckoo and Pheasant
Coucal all being seen and heard. At least six male Little (Gould's)
Bronze-Cuckoo were around the Lodge entrance for three days, chasing
and foraging.</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span>Lesser
Sooty Owl has been calling most nights, but nobody bothered to get up
at 4.00am to go and find them! However, one called early in the evening on the15th and was seen high in a tree before flying over. Barn Owl and Barking Owl have also
been around, this Barn Owl was just getting up and deciding whether
it was worth leaving the daytime roost.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CGDBuVL4adU/VGf_Wo2rPqI/AAAAAAAAE-0/szaP3s86mtQ/s1600/Barn%2BOwl%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CGDBuVL4adU/VGf_Wo2rPqI/AAAAAAAAE-0/szaP3s86mtQ/s1600/Barn%2BOwl%2B%281%2Bof%2B1%29.jpg" height="640" width="602" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Barn Owl</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Australian
Owlet-nightjar was only heard. Azure Kingfisher have been up and down
Bushy Creek perching for good views. Blue-winged Kookaburra have been
quiet for the last week and not seen. The Buff-breasted
Paradise-Kingfisher which arrived on the 30<sup>th</sup> October was
seen high in the rainforest canopy on the 4<sup>th</sup> November, but
not heard or seen since. There have been reports of single birds in
the district, but not of any significant numbers, so hopefully the
main migratory population is not far away. A
pair of Dollarbird have been around Geraghty Park checking out
nesting sites and calling, but have not been seen attending any
suitable tree hollows. Double-eyed Fig-Parrot are now feeding at
least one nestling which will hopefully fledge successfully, both male
and female are busy feeding their offspring. </span></span>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h7xHSa8fYAw/VGbfly8DGDI/AAAAAAAAE9k/Ld_nCMiRh-M/s1600/Double-eyed%2BFig-Parrot%2B%2B-%2B(F)%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h7xHSa8fYAw/VGbfly8DGDI/AAAAAAAAE9k/Ld_nCMiRh-M/s1600/Double-eyed%2BFig-Parrot%2B%2B-%2B%28F%29%2B%281%2Bof%2B1%29.jpg" height="522" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Double-eyed Fig-Parrot - female at nest</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EU-xQZmrCd8/VGbfovU9spI/AAAAAAAAE9s/9wf4UatEp38/s1600/Double-eyed%2BFig-Parrot%2B%2B-%2B(M)%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EU-xQZmrCd8/VGbfovU9spI/AAAAAAAAE9s/9wf4UatEp38/s1600/Double-eyed%2BFig-Parrot%2B%2B-%2B%28M%29%2B%281%2Bof%2B1%29.jpg" height="562" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Double-eyed Fig-Parrot - male at nest</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Two
juvenile Australian King-Parrot were feeding in the Lodge grounds one
morning before flying off and not returning. At least one pair of
Noisy Pitta returned overnight on the 4<sup>th</sup> November when
the male was seen perched 5m up in a tree calling with another pitta
answering. <i> </i>Hopefully they will breed here again this year.
13 species of honeyeater were recorded around the Lodge including an
occasional visitor, Eastern Spinebill. Quite a number of Lewin's
Honeyeater are still around the grounds, numbers did drop, but seem to
have increased in the last few weeks which is very unusual. It is
possible that the prolonged dry spell we are having has forced them
back down from the mountains, such as Mt. Lewis, to seek out some
food. Male Yellow-breasted Boatbill have been calling a lot, mainly
in the morning. Barred Cuckoo-shrike have been around calling and
feeding on fruiting fig tees along with White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike,
Varied Triller and Common Cicadabird. Black-faced Monarch have been
calling, but no sign of nest building yet. They are probably waiting
for a good downpour of rain to get going. Pied Monarch are also
calling and being seen regularly as have Leaden Flycatcher whose
numbers have increased in the last few weeks. </span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-02ZHFjoYCLc/VGb76zlh7nI/AAAAAAAAE-g/18gmdUl2p2o/s1600/Pied%2BMonarch%2B-%2Bmale%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-02ZHFjoYCLc/VGb76zlh7nI/AAAAAAAAE-g/18gmdUl2p2o/s1600/Pied%2BMonarch%2B-%2Bmale%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" height="640" width="598" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Pied Monarch - <span style="font-size: x-small;">male</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
A
female plumaged Victoria's Riflebird was seen down by the Crake Pool
after one was heard the day before and again seen with an immature male bathing in front of the self-contained units, this is very late in the season
to have two around the Lodge. The Lemon-bellied Flycatcher reported
on a nest last blog was seen feeding one nestling, but the outcome of
the nest is unknown as the parents have not been seen at the nest for
at least five days, hopefully the youngster fledged. Pale-yellow
Robin have fledged young, this one was awaiting the parents to return
with some food.</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EH6SQgi0DfE/VGbfvSGTumI/AAAAAAAAE-E/3WYclWW7Cbg/s1600/Pale-yellow%2BRobin%2B-%2Bjuv.%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EH6SQgi0DfE/VGbfvSGTumI/AAAAAAAAE-E/3WYclWW7Cbg/s1600/Pale-yellow%2BRobin%2B-%2Bjuv.%2B%281%2Bof%2B1%29.jpg" height="640" width="486" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Pale-yellow Robin - <span style="font-size: x-small;">juvenile</span></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Grey-headed
Robin are still with us which again is a late stayer which normally
goes back into the mountains at this time of year. Yet another bird
which is normally up in the mountains is the Bassian Thrush, one was
seen along Bushy Creek on the 9<sup>th</sup> November. Mistletoebird
are still very active with some males and females chasing each, but
other pairs are busy breeding or have fledged young.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oAI1mEr-Y14/VGbfrE5y7sI/AAAAAAAAE90/bjOqd18UCsg/s1600/Mistletoebird%2B-%2Bmale.%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oAI1mEr-Y14/VGbfrE5y7sI/AAAAAAAAE90/bjOqd18UCsg/s1600/Mistletoebird%2B-%2Bmale.%2B%281%2Bof%2B1%29.jpg" height="640" width="632" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Mistletoebird - <span style="font-size: x-small;">male</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Further
Afield:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Banded
Honeyeater continue to be in the Maryfarms area between Mt. Carbine
and Mount Molloy. Also in this area are displaying male Australian
Bustard.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aIPc60AFwnc/VGbfeTSfxBI/AAAAAAAAE9E/EB-p2o5v_fE/s1600/Australian%2BBustard%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aIPc60AFwnc/VGbfeTSfxBI/AAAAAAAAE9E/EB-p2o5v_fE/s1600/Australian%2BBustard%2B%281%2Bof%2B1%29.jpg" height="638" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Australian Bustard -<span style="font-size: x-small;"> displaying male</span></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></h3>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Latham's
Snipe were seen twice in Julatten over the last week and four Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo flew over Mt. Molloy. (thanks to Carol Iles for these sighting).
Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo were again seen at the Mowbray National Park
in Julatten along with Lovely Fairy-wren.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> A
Ruff was reported on the Cairns Esplanade and a Barn Swallow at
Yorkey's Knob both these reports were from Dominic Funnell who
operates <a href="http://www.cairnsbirdtours.com/">Cairns Bird Tours</a>
and can organise half, full or multiple day tours. Blue-faced
Parrot-Finch are starting to appear on Mt. Lewis with four seen one
morning.</span></span></h3>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PrlxZ6oFQRY/VGbfg2WKo9I/AAAAAAAAE9U/ie11MlgfVEI/s1600/Blue-faced%2BParrot-Finch%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PrlxZ6oFQRY/VGbfg2WKo9I/AAAAAAAAE9U/ie11MlgfVEI/s1600/Blue-faced%2BParrot-Finch%2B%281%2Bof%2B1%29.jpg" height="432" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Blue-faced Parrot-finch</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Reptiles
and Mammals:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Highlight
over the two weeks was a first sighting of an Australian Wood Frog
<i>Hylarana daemeli </i><span style="font-style: normal;">in the Lodge
grounds. This frog occurs on the Cape York Peninsular and down the
east coast to about Townsville. Surprising we have not recorded it
before as it is reasonably common in our area and is a large frog
(90mm). The promise of rain bought out a few frogs:- Jungguy Frog,
White-lipped Tree Frog, Northern Dwarf Tree Frog, Roth's
(Laughing)Tree Frog, Desert (Red) Tree Frog and a few Cane toad. Yellow-footed Antechinus have been very active with several seen during the day, this one was in the rainforest foraging before it ran to shelter in a log.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y45TuhkoKQA/VGbfxGEFrOI/AAAAAAAAE-M/qDGcueQhjlQ/s1600/Yellow-footed%2BAntechinus%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y45TuhkoKQA/VGbfxGEFrOI/AAAAAAAAE-M/qDGcueQhjlQ/s1600/Yellow-footed%2BAntechinus%2B%281%2Bof%2B1%29.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Yellow-footed Antechinus</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Agile Wallaby have been coming into the orchard in the hope of finding some green grass.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vL_IfPJc4Eg/VGbfbBzdx9I/AAAAAAAAE88/hxK54Sv446w/s1600/Agile%2BWallaby%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vL_IfPJc4Eg/VGbfbBzdx9I/AAAAAAAAE88/hxK54Sv446w/s1600/Agile%2BWallaby%2B%281%2Bof%2B1%29.jpg" height="626" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Agile Wallaby</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">A
Green Ringtail Possum was seen on a night walk, a first for about a
month and a Striped Possum was seen behind the accommodation units
one evening. The pair of Platypus in Bushy Creek have been performing
most evenings and early morning along with several Eastern Water
Dragon. Northern Leaf-tailed Gecko are still being found, but have
become more difficult with many staying up high on trees. Boyd's
Forest Dragon have also been around with at least one male coloured
up in his greenish breeding condition. An interesting snake was seen
on the path to the orchard, it was about a metre long and a uniform
mustard yellow colour. Not quite the same colour as a Green Tree
Snake which is a brighter yellow with a black belly, but it could have
been one to our untrained eye.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Insects:-</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
prolonged dry spell we are experiencing has slowed down the insects,
but a few dragonfly have started to appear such as this Painted
Grasshawk.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DByAv3NR2ns/VGbfsluG9zI/AAAAAAAAE98/TsSt4JgWki8/s1600/Painted%2BGrasshawk%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DByAv3NR2ns/VGbfsluG9zI/AAAAAAAAE98/TsSt4JgWki8/s1600/Painted%2BGrasshawk%2B%281%2Bof%2B1%29.jpg" height="560" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Painted Grasshawk - male</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
<b>Bird ID:- </b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
<h3 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">This wader</span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> has been a bit of a challenge so we a throwing it open to anyone who has an opinion as to which species it might be.</span></span></h3>
<h3 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YZge2URiD7U/VGgE4P9gx5I/AAAAAAAAE_M/B9h5dnr915c/s1600/Unknown%2BWader.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YZge2URiD7U/VGgE4P9gx5I/AAAAAAAAE_M/B9h5dnr915c/s1600/Unknown%2BWader.JPG" height="420" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Unknown Wader</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h3>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal;">
<h3 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Thanks
to Carol and Andrew Iles our roving bird guides for helping with the
bird lists and area sightings. If you need any guiding in our local
area contact us and we can put you in touch with them, contact
through our secure <a href="http://www.birdwatchers.com.au/online_bookings.php">bookings
and enquiries</a> web page. </span></span></h3>
<h3 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span></h3>
<h3 align="CENTER" class="western" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;"><span style="color: red;"><b>Kingfisher
Park Birdwatchers Lodge Business and Property For Sale</b></span><br /><a href="http://www.birdwatchers.com.au/For_Sale.htm">Click
here for more sale details </a></span></span></h3>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">All photos © Keith & Lindsay Fisher 2015 Have a good day - last blog post 2015 - follow https://tropicaltails.blogspot.com/ for local information</div>Keith and Lindsay Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09458044489867275514noreply@blogger.com2Julatten QLD 4871, Australia-16.6074211 145.34264210000003-16.7291696 145.18128060000004 -16.4856726 145.50400360000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4757246035198638023.post-25180471123487829422014-11-02T10:03:00.001+10:002020-12-13T11:46:00.586+10:002nd November 2014 Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Weather
Report</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Rainfall
over the last two weeks was 2mm one day and the next day 1mm, hardly
touched the ground! Humidity dropped down to 44% with lots of
sunshine and temperatures reaching 32ºc which it has been doing for
the last three weeks. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Last
Two Weeks Bird Sightings:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">These
can be found on the Eremaea eBird site. <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S20397052">19th
– 25th October</a></span></span></span></span></span><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S16945112"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">and
<a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=20406247">26thOctober - 1st November</a> </span></span></span></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
first week had 116 species recorded, which was the most for a very
long time and the second week 104.</span></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
</span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Birding
Highlights:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">The
much anticipated return of the Buff-breasted Paradise-Kingfisher from
Papua New Guinea happened on the 31</span></span></span></span><sup><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">st</span></span></span></span></sup><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">
October when one bird was heard and briefly seen high in the
rainforest canopy flying away. One was also heard calling on the
following day. Hopefully the main party of birds will be joining this
one very soon.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0aD2aRo5WlQ/VFVo0IrEctI/AAAAAAAAE8o/1PMBjZ2bh_s/s1600/Buff-breasted%2BParadise-Kingfisher%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0aD2aRo5WlQ/VFVo0IrEctI/AAAAAAAAE8o/1PMBjZ2bh_s/s1600/Buff-breasted%2BParadise-Kingfisher%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" width="508" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Buff-breasted Paradise-Kingfisher</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">The
pair of Lesser Sooty Owl reported last blog were around for about 10
days but have gone quiet over the last week. Whilst they were calling
and flying around they were perching low down for their picture to be
taken and were not in the least bothered by us. The were preening and
calling to each other before they took off to chase each other.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-65RjwrYtRj4/VFTIhECBT0I/AAAAAAAAE7g/lnn44U1SPzY/s1600/Lesser%2BSooty%2BOwl%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-65RjwrYtRj4/VFTIhECBT0I/AAAAAAAAE7g/lnn44U1SPzY/s1600/Lesser%2BSooty%2BOwl%2B%281%2Bof%2B1%29.jpg" width="624" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Lesser Sooty Owl</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Apart
from these great sightings there were a few waterbirds in the nearby
wetlands including six Wandering Whistling-Duck, Australian Wood
Duck, one Hardhead, a female Black-necked Stork, one Australian
Pelican, one White-necked Heron, both Australian White and
Straw-necked Ibis plus three Royal Spoonbill. A flock of Magpie Goose flew over the Lodge one night honking as they went. A lone Comb-crested
Jacana was on the lilies in one of the lagoons along McDougall Road.
A few raptors were around, mainly Black Kite with a few Whistling
Kite but also seen were a pair of Black-shouldered Kite and Pacific
Baza, Brown and Grey Goshawk plus White-bellied Sea-Eagle. Red-necked
Crake was heard and seen several times at the Crake Pool, and along
Bushy Creek. Carol Iles our neighboring bird guide had a Red-backed Button-quail in one of the adjacent cane paddocks, not often seen. Fruiting Blue Quandong trees have been attracting many
fruit pigeons, Wompoo Fruit-Dove, Superb Fruit-Dove, Torresian
Imperial-Pigeon and flocks of Topknot Pigeon, including this one
which had a very enlarged crop, looks more like a displaying Australian Bustard! (excuse the poor cropped image but it
was high in the canopy).</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U5r8VNR0j0E/VFTIsbEbhfI/AAAAAAAAE8A/Irgvpw9HXO8/s1600/Topknot%2BPigeon%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="482" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U5r8VNR0j0E/VFTIsbEbhfI/AAAAAAAAE8A/Irgvpw9HXO8/s1600/Topknot%2BPigeon%2B%281%2Bof%2B1%29.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Topknot Pigeon</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Also around were Brown Cuckoo-Dove and the
regular Emerald, Peaceful and Bar-shouldered Dove. This Brown
Cuckoo-Dove was on the ground with a full crop.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pEw3hEw001Y/VFTIabweYnI/AAAAAAAAE7I/SNab9tvkk1M/s1600/Brown%2BCuckoo-Dove%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="326" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pEw3hEw001Y/VFTIabweYnI/AAAAAAAAE7I/SNab9tvkk1M/s1600/Brown%2BCuckoo-Dove%2B%281%2Bof%2B1%29.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Brown Cuckoo-Dove</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Brush
Cuckoo have returned and are calling along with Little Bronze-Cuckoo,
Australian Koel and Channel-billed Cuckoo. Barn and Barking Owl are
also around as are Australian Owlet-nightjar but these have only been
heard. Papuan Frogmouth are sitting on nests at the moment and not
easy to find. This one was sitting on a nest in the full sun which is
what they do in our area, they incubate for upt o 40 days which is a
very long period to be in the sun. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dZkCK967a-4/VFTIp9NYiNI/AAAAAAAAE74/028qO8E7FGI/s1600/Papuan%2BFrogmouth%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dZkCK967a-4/VFTIp9NYiNI/AAAAAAAAE74/028qO8E7FGI/s1600/Papuan%2BFrogmouth%2B%281%2Bof%2B1%29.jpg" width="484" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Papuan Frogmouth - <span style="font-size: x-small;">male on nest</span></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"> </span></span></span></span> </div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Six
Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo flew over the Lodge grounds one morning
calling, this is only the second time they have been seen in October
for at least nine years. Double-eyed Fig-Parrot continue to feed in a
fruiting Cluster Fig and are attending a nearby nest.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SEjkc_pZmBo/VFTIc6iN55I/AAAAAAAAE7Q/yDOFzqrp2Uw/s1600/Double-eyed%2BFig-Parrot%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="442" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SEjkc_pZmBo/VFTIc6iN55I/AAAAAAAAE7Q/yDOFzqrp2Uw/s1600/Double-eyed%2BFig-Parrot%2B%281%2Bof%2B1%29.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Double-eyed Fig-Parrot - <span style="font-size: x-small;">male</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">This
male Double-eyed Fig-Parrot flew into a car and was rescued, we kept it in a box for a few hours before it had enough strength to
climb onto a branch in the shade for a while. It sat for nearly an
hour before it gave a few chirps to say thank you and flew off to
hopefully survive.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hkwQovE_H2w/VFTIeidlBwI/AAAAAAAAE7Y/DE82uBb5sY4/s1600/Double-eyed%2BFig-Parrot%2B-%2Bmale%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="522" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hkwQovE_H2w/VFTIeidlBwI/AAAAAAAAE7Y/DE82uBb5sY4/s1600/Double-eyed%2BFig-Parrot%2B-%2Bmale%2B%281%2Bof%2B1%29.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Double-eyed Fig-Parrot - <span style="font-size: x-small;">male</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Our
single Noisy Pitta continues to show well in and around the orchard
area, early morning and late afternoon. It has been calling
occasionally but has not been joined by any others yet.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-efKRyouivqQ/VFTIjZHajkI/AAAAAAAAE7o/fAg-gcQie2Q/s1600/Noisy%2BPitta%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-efKRyouivqQ/VFTIjZHajkI/AAAAAAAAE7o/fAg-gcQie2Q/s1600/Noisy%2BPitta%2B%281%2Bof%2B1%29.jpg" width="568" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Noisy Pitta</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">14
species of honeyeater have been seen plus one heard. Bridled and
Lewin's are still in the area when normally at this time of year they
have gone back up into the mountains. The Eastern Whipbird which
arrived a month ago is still going around in circles calling for a
mate. It was seen in the rainforest near the Crake Pool about 5m up a
tree. Barred Cuckoo-shrike and at leas three male Common Cicadabird
have been feeding on fruiting figs. A pair of Leaden Flycatcher were
seen at the entrance to the Lodge whilst on a morning walk, they have
been very scarce this year. The Lemon-bellied Flycatcher shown on its
tiny nest last blog is still on it, not sure if it has a nestling
yet. Pale-yellow Robin seem to have finished nesting duties for the
time being and are being cute posing on branches in the orchard.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tBXm96YA_Mg/VFTIlDxUiLI/AAAAAAAAE7w/gOpMiC85zlU/s1600/Pale-yellow%2BRobin%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="598" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tBXm96YA_Mg/VFTIlDxUiLI/AAAAAAAAE7w/gOpMiC85zlU/s1600/Pale-yellow%2BRobin%2B%281%2Bof%2B1%29.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Pale-yellow Robin</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Metallic
Starling are still busy building nests and have been joined by a few
immature birds, whilst the reported Mistletoebird at its nest appears
to have fledged one young.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Further
Afield:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Oriental
Plover, Australian Pratincole and Banded Honeyeater have been seen in
the Maryfarms area, (between Mt. Molloy and Mt. Carbine on the
Mulligan Highway/ Peninsular Road). Lovely Fairy-wren were found in
Julatten at Mowbray National Park and along Euluma Creek Road.
Large-tailed Nightjar were also heard along Euluma Creek Road and
Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo plus Oriental Cuckoo were seen at the Mowbray National Park.
Freckled Duck have become a fixture at Hasties Swamp near Atherton
over the past two years with numbers fluctuating, up to 30 birds
present this week. Mt. Lewis has been good as usual with all the 13
“Wet Tropic” endemics seen there over the past two weeks, no sign
of Blue-faced Parrot-Finch yet.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Reptiles
and Mammals:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif">Fawn-footed Melomys
have been active around the Lodge, they have been seen at the
reception area feeder eating seed and banana, in the compost bin,
eating an orange and a Sugar Apple in the orchard. Yellow-footed
Antechinus have been chased out of the kitchen and feeding on banana
at the feeder. </span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VtX-Y26cnIw/VFTIu_5hP2I/AAAAAAAAE8I/PhLQlJSRukc/s1600/Yellow-footed%2BAntichinus%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VtX-Y26cnIw/VFTIu_5hP2I/AAAAAAAAE8I/PhLQlJSRukc/s1600/Yellow-footed%2BAntichinus%2B%281%2Bof%2B1%29.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Yellow-footed Antechinus</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif">At least four
Red-legged Pademelon have been in the rainforest and browsing in the
orchard at night along with one Agile Wallaby, lean pickings on the
browning grass. The pair of Platypus in Bushy Creek have again been
performing at the viewing area on most evenings and early mornings. A
few species of frog have started calling at the end of the second
week and must think that some rain is coming, hope they are right!
Those calling were White-lipped Green Tree Frog and Dainty Green Tree
Frog along with Cane Toad. A few Northern Leaf-tailed Gecko have been
seen as have Boyd's Forest Dragon and Eastern Water Dragon. Major
Skink have been active with at least six different ones spotted
around the Lodge grounds. </span><br />
<br />
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Visitors:-</span></b></span></span><br />
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">A couple of well known visitors called by during the week, Sean Dooley and Stephen Moss.</span></span></span><br />
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Sean is well known for his adventures trying to see as many Australian birds in a year as possible. The year of birding is documented in his book "The Big Twitch". Sean is now the editor of the Birdlife Australia magazine and in the past has been a comedy writer for several TV shows. Stephen Moss, who lives in the UK, is well known as an award winning TV producer of Natural History series, an author of many books and birder</span><b><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"> </span></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T8dJC8PIyiU/VFVjy07W8AI/AAAAAAAAE8c/xsHAOAVeEJ8/s1600/Sean%2Band%2BStephen%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T8dJC8PIyiU/VFVjy07W8AI/AAAAAAAAE8c/xsHAOAVeEJ8/s1600/Sean%2Band%2BStephen%2B%281%2Bof%2B1%29.jpg" width="472" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Sean (L) and Stephen (R)</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span face="Arial, sans-serif">Sean and Stephen were up in Far North Queensland as guest speakers at the presentation of the John Hobbs Medal to </span><span class="fsl">Far North Queensland local
Lloyd Nielsen for a life time of outstanding studies by an amateur
ornithologist.</span><span class="fsl"> Congratulations to Lloyd on a much deserved award, it could not have gone to a more dedicated and great bloke. We are lucky having such great talents in our area.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"> </span></span></span></span>
<br />
<h3 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Thanks
to Carol and Andrew Iles our roving bird guides for helping with the
bird lists and area sightings. If you need any guiding in our local
area contact us and we can put you in touch with them, contact
through our secure <a href="http://www.birdwatchers.com.au/online_bookings.php">bookings
and enquiries</a> web page. </span></span></span></h3>
<h3 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span></h3></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">All photos © Keith & Lindsay Fisher 2015 Have a good day - last blog post 2015 - follow https://tropicaltails.blogspot.com/ for local information</div>Keith and Lindsay Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09458044489867275514noreply@blogger.com1Julatten QLD 4871, Australia-16.6074211 145.34264210000003-16.7291696 145.18128060000004 -16.4856726 145.50400360000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4757246035198638023.post-85646671985076065102014-10-19T08:15:00.001+10:002020-12-13T11:44:59.562+10:0019th October 2014 Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Weather
Report</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">One
day we had 6.5mm in a short shower, this was the total rain fall for
the last two weeks. With the humidity dipping down to 34% and lots of
sunshine and temperatures reaching 32ºc which is unheard of for this
time of year, the rain did little to settle the dust.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Last
Two Weeks Bird Sightings:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">These
can be found on the Eremaea eBird site. <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S20268754">5th- 11th October</a></span></span></span></span></span><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S16945112"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">and
<a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=20268904">12th- 18th October</a> </span></span></span></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
first week had 104 species recorded and the second week 110.</span></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
</span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><b><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Morning
and Evening Guided Walks:- </span></b></span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Morning
bird walks produced between 54 and 66 species which was very good for
2½hrs. Highlights were two male Superb Fruit-Dove in a tree beside
Bushy Creek, male Common Koel, male and female Double-eyed Fig-Parrot
feeding in Cluster Fig and nesting nearby.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e520Ggd75LA/VEJUKkWfPVI/AAAAAAAAE5w/NuPTZq-eSx8/s1600/Double-eyed%2BFig-Parrot%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="632" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e520Ggd75LA/VEJUKkWfPVI/AAAAAAAAE5w/NuPTZq-eSx8/s1600/Double-eyed%2BFig-Parrot%2B%281%2Bof%2B1%29.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Double-eyed Fig-Parrot - <span style="font-size: x-small;">female at nest</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">A
Noisy Pitta was seen most mornings and two Great Bowerbird were attending a
very well constructed bower. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"> </span></span></span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1tXiwLowsRQ/VEJUA9rvaRI/AAAAAAAAE5g/peTA2Mu3S_o/s1600/Great%2BBowerbird-bower%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1tXiwLowsRQ/VEJUA9rvaRI/AAAAAAAAE5g/peTA2Mu3S_o/s1600/Great%2BBowerbird-bower%2B%281%2Bof%2B1%29.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Great Bowerbird Bower</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">White-throated
Honeyeater were building a nest and mating plus a Lemon-bellied
Flycatcher was sitting on its tiny nest, the smallest of any bird in Australia. This one is about 10m off the ground.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8tq5PCe1Mrg/VEJURGaA8cI/AAAAAAAAE54/7FCpEYltmjo/s1600/Lemon-bellied%2BFlycatcher-%2Bon%2Bnest%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="508" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8tq5PCe1Mrg/VEJURGaA8cI/AAAAAAAAE54/7FCpEYltmjo/s1600/Lemon-bellied%2BFlycatcher-%2Bon%2Bnest%2B%281%2Bof%2B1%29.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Lemon-bellied Flycatcher - <span style="font-size: x-small;">on nest</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">(The
full morning walk species lists can be found on the Eremaea eBird
site. Click on Explore Data then Hotspots and type in Kingfisher Park
– you will then see the Lodge in the drop down menu. Click this on
and a map will appear with two markers, click these and you can have
access to all our records. It sounds long winded, but it is really
easy. Alternatively you can click this link which will take you
directly to Hotspots http://ebird.org/ebird/hotspots).</span></span></span></span></h3>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">One
highlight on a night walk was the eclipse of the moon, we watched it
as we went spotlighting and ended up in Geraghty Park to have great
views of the event as we listened to two Australian Owlet-nightjar
calling to each other. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YNLw9O8HcJw/VEJUFcGCYHI/AAAAAAAAE5o/D3aalP1khpo/s1600/Eclipse%2Bof%2Bthe%2BMoon%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="522" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YNLw9O8HcJw/VEJUFcGCYHI/AAAAAAAAE5o/D3aalP1khpo/s1600/Eclipse%2Bof%2Bthe%2BMoon%2B%281%2Bof%2B1%29.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Eclipse Of The Moon</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Other good sightings were a very brief glimpse
of a Lesser Sooty Owl as it flew over and away from us, Giant White
Tree Rat, Green Ringtail Possum, Water Rat and three Northern
Leaf-tailed Gecko on one night.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><b><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Other
Birding Highlights:-</span></b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">One
Female Black-necked Stork in a lagoon behind Geraghty Park as well as
two Latham's Snipe along the edge, both species not seen for many
months. One Australian Pelican flew over the Lodge on the 17</span></span></span><sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">th</span></span></span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">
October, probably heading for one of the lagoons along McDougall
Road. A Grey Goshawk was seen to fly into a tree, adjacent to the
Lodge orchard, carrying an Eastern Water Dragon and luckily the
camera was at hand to whiz off a couple of shots before it moved off
clutching its meal.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-trN7dWT6tEg/VEJUUntzr0I/AAAAAAAAE6A/m_RdmYU2dBw/s1600/Grey%2BGoshawk%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-trN7dWT6tEg/VEJUUntzr0I/AAAAAAAAE6A/m_RdmYU2dBw/s1600/Grey%2BGoshawk%2B%281%2Bof%2B1%29.jpg" width="436" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Grey Goshawk with Eastern Water Dragon</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Pacific
Baza have been around but not regularly and a pair of Brown Goshawk
were circling over the Lodge one morning. Red-necked Crake was seen
briefly late one afternoon as it was getting dark at the Crake Pool,
it was also heard on several occasions. Pigeons and doves have been
around to take advantage of fruiting trees and vines; those seen were
Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Wompoo Fruit-Dove, Superb Fruit-Dove, Torresian
Imperial Pigeon and Topknot Pigeon plus the regular Emerald Dove,
Bar-shouldered Dove and Peaceful Dove. Lesser Sooty Owl was seen
about 4.00am perched in a tree near our bunkhouse and heard on
numerous other occasions. Barking Owl have been vocal with one
roosting high up in a eucalypt tree near the bunkhouse one afternoon.
A pair of Papuan Frogmouth have made a nest in a fern on a tree
branch at a nearby private property, they laid on the 10</span></span></span><sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">th</span></span></span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">
October and usually take about 40 days to incubate.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uiGarVr2JcI/VEJUX2ZJgCI/AAAAAAAAE6I/GZglod1C10Q/s1600/Papuan%2BFrogmouth%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="520" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uiGarVr2JcI/VEJUX2ZJgCI/AAAAAAAAE6I/GZglod1C10Q/s1600/Papuan%2BFrogmouth%2B%281%2Bof%2B1%29.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Papuan Frogmouth - <span style="font-size: x-small;">female on nest</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<br />
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Dollarbird
returned on 16</span></span></span><sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">th</span></span></span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">
October along with Brush Cuckoo. Also on this day the Cicadabird
started calling. Lovely Fairy-Wren were seen by our neighbours Carol
and Andrew Iles (our local bird guides) in their garden, they also
saw a Red-necked Crake run under their veranda. Spotted Catbird have
been coming to the feeder to gather fruit and head off with it so
they maybe feeding young. 13 species of honeyeater were seen and
Black-chinned heard. The Eastern Whipbird mentioned in the last blog
is still hanging around the area calling whilst it visits all the
adjoining rainforest habitats as well as the Lodge grounds. Barred
Cuckoo-shrike have been visiting the fruiting trees in and around the
Lodge, mainly Blue Quandong. Groups of Spangled Drongo have been
passing through the area on their southern migration with up to 50+
seen at a time. Black-faced Monarch are around in increasing numbers
and calling and a single female Leaden Flycatcher was heard and seen,
the first for seven weeks. A few Pale-Yellow Robin have been seen
feeding fledged young whilst others are still sitting on nests. A
Bassian Thrush was still around the grounds in the first week but was
not sighted in the second.</span></span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Further
Afield:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Mt.
Lewis is still producing all the 12 “Wet Tropic” endemics but not
all at once! One Blue-faced Parrot-Finch was seen near Abattoir Swamp
but no reports of them up on Mt. Lewis yet. Maryfarms between Mt.
Molloy and Mt. Carbine has displaying Australian Bustard, still at
least eight Australian Pratincole and Carol Iles saw an injured
Oriental Plover with the pratincole. Photo courtesy of Carol Iles.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WuMrDAVsvgU/VELdk7-Yt2I/AAAAAAAAE6c/jI653tUvnKg/s1600/Oriental%2BPlover%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="338" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WuMrDAVsvgU/VELdk7-Yt2I/AAAAAAAAE6c/jI653tUvnKg/s1600/Oriental%2BPlover%2B%281%2Bof%2B1%29.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Oriental Plover- <span style="font-size: x-small;">broken wing</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br />
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Chestnut-breasted
Cuckoo were seen around the Mowbray National Park in Julatten on
several occasions. Abattoir Swamp has been good for honeyeaters and White-browed Crake. Up to 12 Spotted Whistling-Duck have been reported at Keatings Lagoon near Cooktown, 2 hours north from the Lodge.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><b><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Reptiles
and Mammals:-</span></b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">The
Water Rat seen in Bushy Creek whilst on a night walk was the most
exciting mammal over the two weeks followed by the elusive Green
Ringtail Possum seen once. Three Giant White-tail Rat were seen one
night; they have not been seen much lately so must have woken up.
Platypus have been very cooperative appearing in the morning and late
afternoon with up to two. Boyd's Forest Dragon and Major Skink have
also been appearing with the warmer weather. Several snakes have also
woken up with sightings of Australian Scrub Python, </span></span></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Slaty Grey and </span></span></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Green Tree Snake
– one in our downstairs toilet was a surprise. Just having a look around in the first photo before it retreated back inside. It eventually left by the window with a bit of encouragement and headed for the rainforest.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--7_4CswY4KA/VELf2JY2duI/AAAAAAAAE6o/Z0GIxKHddpc/s1600/Green%2BTree%2BSnake%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="387" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--7_4CswY4KA/VELf2JY2duI/AAAAAAAAE6o/Z0GIxKHddpc/s1600/Green%2BTree%2BSnake%2B%281%2Bof%2B1%29.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Green Tree Snake</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-27y2QE-WL4M/VELf5h0Q5II/AAAAAAAAE6w/-PXKu1aO3XI/s1600/Green%2BTree%2BSnake%2B1%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-27y2QE-WL4M/VELf5h0Q5II/AAAAAAAAE6w/-PXKu1aO3XI/s1600/Green%2BTree%2BSnake%2B1%2B%281%2Bof%2B1%29.jpg" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Green Tree Snake</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"> </span></span></span></span>
</div>
<h3 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Thanks
to Carol and Andrew Iles our roving bird guides for helping with the
bird lists and area sightings. If you need any guiding in our local
area contact us and we can put you in touch with them, contact
through our secure <a href="http://www.birdwatchers.com.au/online_bookings.php">bookings
and enquiries</a> web page. </span></span></span></h3>
<h3 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span></h3>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">All photos © Keith & Lindsay Fisher 2015 Have a good day - last blog post 2015 - follow https://tropicaltails.blogspot.com/ for local information</div>Keith and Lindsay Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09458044489867275514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4757246035198638023.post-67801500187755090332014-10-04T20:30:00.000+10:002014-10-06T14:39:50.431+10:00 5th October 2014 Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge <div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><b><span style="background: transparent;"></span></b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This weeks blog features some of the other wildlife we have in the Lodge grounds in addition to the birds. It highlights the amazing diversity to be found in even a small area such as our 5ha's if you are prepared to look closer. </span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Weather
Report</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">After
almost having a dry month a few showers arrived on the 29<sup>th</sup>
giving us 9 mm of rain . Before this event we had more sun,
temperatures slightly warmer than previous weeks, down to 15.5ºC and
up to 28.0ºC, excellent birding weather. Humidity was 70%+.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Last
Two Weeks Bird Sightings:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">These
can be found on the Eremaea eBird site. <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S19983272">21st
- 27th September</a></span></span></span></span></span><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S16945112"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">and
<a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S20022027">28thSeptember - 4th October</a> </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
first week had 108 species recorded and the second week 101.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
</span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Morning
and Evening Guided Walks:- </span></b></span></span>
</div>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Morning walks produced
between 46 (photography morning) and 63 species, some of the
highlights were:- <span style="font-style: normal;">Nankeen
Night-Heron was seen foraging along Bushy Creek carrying a prey item.
Grey Goshawk soaring above, Azure Kingfisher perched, Great Bowerbird at his bower, </span></span></span></h3>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span></span></span></h3>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uxR0jWL7puU/VC3q7YcZb4I/AAAAAAAAE4g/jUdHt0uh8Fc/s1600/Great%2BBowerbird-7165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uxR0jWL7puU/VC3q7YcZb4I/AAAAAAAAE4g/jUdHt0uh8Fc/s1600/Great%2BBowerbird-7165.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Great Bowerbird - <span style="font-size: x-small;">at his bower</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span></span></span></h3>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">also Barred
Cuckoo-shrike feasting on small figs, Bassian Thrush (uncommon) along Bushy Creek and a Platypus performing in
Bushy Creek for great views on several occasions.</span></span></span></h3>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></h3>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">(The full morning walk
species lists can be found on <span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">the
Eremaea</span></span> eBird site. Click on Explore Data then Hotspots
and type in Kingfisher Park – you will then see the Lodge in the
drop down menu. Click this on and a map will appear with two markers,
click these and you can have access to all our records. It sounds
long winded, but it is really easy. Alternatively you can click this
link which will take you directly to Hotspots
http://ebird.org/ebird/hotspots).</span></span></h3>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Evening
walk highlights were Barn Owl, Fawn-footed Melomys eating banana from
a bunch growing near the units, Red-legged Pademelon, Giant White-tailed
Tree Rat, Striped Possum, Platypus, five different frog species,
Northern Leaf-tail Gecko – one on the ground and another on the side of
a tree and Boyd's Forest Dragon. Also this interesting Centipede
which is 150mm (6”) long was seen on the edge of the rainforest.
Centipedes are mainly nocturnal and are predatory feeding on a range
of prey items such as worms, r</span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;">eptiles,
amphibians, small mammals, bats and birds. </span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0JGrco-7vd4/VC3q_yl1DBI/AAAAAAAAE4o/aNLk21TVais/s1600/Centipede-7554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0JGrco-7vd4/VC3q_yl1DBI/AAAAAAAAE4o/aNLk21TVais/s1600/Centipede-7554.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Centipede sp.</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><b><span style="background: transparent;"> </span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Other
Birding Highlights: </span></b></span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Two
Cotton Pygmy-goose have been intermittently showing along McDougall
Road in one of the lagoons (within our 1.5km reporting area). An Osprey was a surprise flying over Mt. Kooyong Road one afternoon - not many records from adjacent to the Lodge. Pacific
Baza have been around infrequently and were seen displaying over the
Lodge one day when they locked feet and spiraled down to
tree top level before breaking off. A Wedge-tailed Eagle was seen over the Lodge on at least two occasions, also </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">around</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">have been </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">both
Grey and Brown Goshawk, often pursued by Blue-faced
Honeyeater. Red-necked Crake have been making more appearances at the
Crake Pool with one or two birds arriving just before it gets dark
around 6.15pm but not every night. This juvenile Emerald Dove has been coming to the reception area feeder for at least the last two months and has been chasing away the adult doves.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xhgjSdMfCWE/VCz92YG5yJI/AAAAAAAAE3U/mzxnZMM6Cas/s1600/Emerald%2BDove%2B-%2Bjuv.-7472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xhgjSdMfCWE/VCz92YG5yJI/AAAAAAAAE3U/mzxnZMM6Cas/s1600/Emerald%2BDove%2B-%2Bjuv.-7472.jpg" height="344" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Emerald Dove</b></span></span><b> - <span style="font-size: x-small;">juvenile</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Wompoo
Fruit-dove are starting to come into fruiting Blue Quandong trees
which are just getting ripe, up to three have been seen so far. Superb
Fruit-dove was heard calling on the 29</span></span></span></span><sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">th</span></span></span></span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
September in the Lodge grounds but not seen, first one heard for 4-5
months.</span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> At least one male and one female Australian Koel have been around the Lodge and our neighbours garden. Lesser Sooty Owl was around for a few nights, first heard calling on 25</span></span></span><sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">th</span></span></span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
September, but not seen. A large Peregrine Falcon (as opposed to the smaller superficially similar looking Australian Hobby, which is fairly regular in our area) was seen twice when it flew over our neighbours garden early one morning before being seen over the Lodge grounds later the same morning. Not many records of Peregrine Falcon in our area. Our
single Noisy Pitta is still around on it's own with no sign of our
usual two adult pairs which normally return in September - November to
breed.</span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Plenty of honeyeaters around 12 seen and one heard. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">This shot is of a Graceful Honeyeater showing an unusually curved bill (they are normally slightly down-curved), slight diffuse yellow stripe on the belly and the blue/grey eye, some of the features to help separate it from Yellow-spotted Honeyeater which has straighter lower mandible and a brown eye. Very distinctive calls between graceful and yellow-spotted honeyeaters which visitors would be well advised to learn before they visit.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G8QTb7cxivg/VDDFofITPnI/AAAAAAAAE5I/5ANapGdK3cE/s1600/Graceful%2BHoneyeater-0226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G8QTb7cxivg/VDDFofITPnI/AAAAAAAAE5I/5ANapGdK3cE/s1600/Graceful%2BHoneyeater-0226.jpg" height="640" width="514" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Graceful Honeyeater</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">An
Eastern Whipbird was heard calling on the 26</span></span><sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">th</span></span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
September from a patch of rainforest between the Lodge and the Rex
Highway. This species rarely comes into our immediate area and in
nine years we have only had one or two birds in the Lodge grounds. Black-faced Monarch were heard calling for the first time this season
on the 29</span></span><sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">th</span></span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
September.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Further
Afield:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A Spotless Crake was seen at Abattoir Swamp by Doug Herrington from <a href="http://mangroverobin.wix.com/birding-port-douglas">Birdwatching Tropical Tours</a>. Up
to seven Australian Pratincole have been reported along West Maryfarm
Road north of Mt. Molloy along with displaying Australian Bustard.
Birds found nesting in and around Julatten include Graceful
Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Fairy Gerygone, Pale-Yellow
Robin, Metallic Starling and Mistletoebird. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s4OHLJZeaPE/VCz-ByBt_KI/AAAAAAAAE3s/07AUQo1Y7f8/s1600/Graceful%2BHoneyeater%2BNest-7446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s4OHLJZeaPE/VCz-ByBt_KI/AAAAAAAAE3s/07AUQo1Y7f8/s1600/Graceful%2BHoneyeater%2BNest-7446.jpg" height="616" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Graceful Honeyeater Nest</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TIWrM1e46DQ/VCz-MMr1fVI/AAAAAAAAE4E/u3AyurP7OZc/s1600/Mistletoebird%2Bnest-7537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TIWrM1e46DQ/VCz-MMr1fVI/AAAAAAAAE4E/u3AyurP7OZc/s1600/Mistletoebird%2Bnest-7537.jpg" height="640" width="556" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Mistletoebird Nest - <span style="font-size: x-small;">female still building</span></b></span></span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Up to three Blue-faced
Parrot-Finch have been found near Abattoir Swamp but they should
start moving off and up into the mountains very soon. Mt. Lewis continues to show most of the 12 "Wet Tropic" endemics including Golden Bowerbird, but roadworks and some rain has made the road only suitable for four wheel drive vehicles at the moment. As this is being written (4th Oct.) there is still a grader working on the road with a water truck. Rufous Owl is still being reported from Cairns Esplanade.</span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Reptiles
and Mammals:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yellow-footed
Antichinus have been seen in various parts of the Lodge grounds
during the day darting around on the ground. Agile Wallaby have
joined the Red-legged Pademelon at night to browse in the orchard
with at least three seen. Striped Possum is not visiting our South
American Sapote tree any more as the flowers have nearly finished, but
one was seen in a nearby tree which has just started to blossom,
another was seen in a tree above the campground cookshed. The
Platypus have been showing well both in the evening and early morning
with up to two swimming up and down Bushy Creek at the viewing area.
Up to six Northern Brown Bandicoot have been visiting the reception
area feeder, good to see increased numbers over the last few weeks.
Frogs got excited when we had a few millimeters of rain with up to
six species seen – Jungguy Frog, White-lipped Green Tree Frog,
Roth's (Laughing) Frog, Desert (Red) Tree Frog, Dainty Green Tree
Frog and a large Cane Toad. Northern Leaf-tail Gecko have re-appeared
as mention in the night walk report as have Major Skink who have been
anticipating warmer weather. The Australian Scrub Python mentioned
last blog left it's tree trunk home at the end of the second week and
has not been relocated. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<br /></div>
<h3 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Thanks
to Carol and Andrew Iles our roving bird guides for helping with the
bird lists and area sightings. If you need any guiding in our local
area contact us and we can put you in touch with them, contact
through our secure <a href="http://www.birdwatchers.com.au/online_bookings.php">bookings
and enquiries</a> web page. </span></span></span>
</h3>
<h3 class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
</h3>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Insects:-</b></span></span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A
clicking sound was heard in the office one morning which was traced
to a Click Beetle. It was relocated outside and continued clicking as
it bounced into the air. This clicking and bouncing into the air is
mainly used to avoid predation, but as this one was doing trying to
right itself after in fell onto its back. The violent "click"
that bounced the beetle into the air is caused by a spine which is
snapped into a corresponding notch on the beetle. A further more
explicit explanation of how this works can be found on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Click_beetle">Wikipedia
site</a>. </span></span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ztnvc_YqfbA/VCz9r9D1DFI/AAAAAAAAE3E/LU5Pb_h3FCI/s1600/Click%2BBeetle-7546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ztnvc_YqfbA/VCz9r9D1DFI/AAAAAAAAE3E/LU5Pb_h3FCI/s1600/Click%2BBeetle-7546.jpg" height="640" width="468" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Click Beetle sp. - <span style="font-size: x-small;">on its back</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-phAIBmOaZkM/VCz90rw-VtI/AAAAAAAAE3M/HTu9VBmhyDE/s1600/Click%2BBeetle-7552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-phAIBmOaZkM/VCz90rw-VtI/AAAAAAAAE3M/HTu9VBmhyDE/s1600/Click%2BBeetle-7552.jpg" height="640" width="474" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Click Beetle sp. - <span style="font-size: x-small;">right side up</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<br />
<br />
A Mango tree which is covered in flowers at the moment is attracting hoards of bees to the pollen. Not sure of the species of bee but have been told previously that we have Italian Honey Bees here. This species of bee was introduced into Brisbane in 1880.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mLybuIPJUwY/VCz-HGUjgPI/AAAAAAAAE38/9ZyWO8nOkYs/s1600/Honeybee%2Bsp.-7452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mLybuIPJUwY/VCz-HGUjgPI/AAAAAAAAE38/9ZyWO8nOkYs/s1600/Honeybee%2Bsp.-7452.jpg" height="514" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Bee sp. (?)</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Butterflies are not easy to photograph as they fold their wings when landing unlike moths which generally hold them open. We have a good variety of butterfly and moth in the Lodge grounds but many of them are confined to the canopy of the rainforest which also makes it difficult to photograph them let alone see them. However this Common Aeroplane (White-banded Plane) <i>Phaedyma shepherdi</i> was very co-operative. A full list of species recorded at the Lodge can be found on our <a href="http://www.birdwatchers.com.au/butterflies_moths_species_list.htm">website</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tE2x7QwnflI/VCz9qoeUsbI/AAAAAAAAE28/U_cGCavjcH4/s1600/Common%2BAeroplane-7517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tE2x7QwnflI/VCz9qoeUsbI/AAAAAAAAE28/U_cGCavjcH4/s1600/Common%2BAeroplane-7517.jpg" height="368" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Common Aeroplane (White-banded Plane)</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Arachnid:-</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
The Giant Silverback spider or <span class="st">Brush-footed trapdoor spider</span><span class="st">(Genus Idiommata, family Barychelidae</span>) has featured in the blog before, at the beginning of 2014. It is only the second one we have found here, this one was smaller than the previous one, but still very impressive. They are not aggressive but can inflict a nasty bite so best to steer clear of them!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TLVht9gCAsM/VCz98OmoXHI/AAAAAAAAE3c/CzWnsxRIO9M/s1600/Giant%2BSilverback-7501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TLVht9gCAsM/VCz98OmoXHI/AAAAAAAAE3c/CzWnsxRIO9M/s1600/Giant%2BSilverback-7501.jpg" height="584" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Giant Silverback spider</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FvUKuqAwSVs/VCz9-AH-UOI/AAAAAAAAE3k/AEjH3ZL0Ap0/s1600/Giant%2BSilverback-7506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FvUKuqAwSVs/VCz9-AH-UOI/AAAAAAAAE3k/AEjH3ZL0Ap0/s1600/Giant%2BSilverback-7506.jpg" height="324" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Giant Silverback spider</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Plant:-</b></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
Northern Pencil Orchid – </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Dockrillia
calamiformis</span></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
was formerly known as </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Dendrobium
calamiforme</span></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
and </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Dendrobium
teretifolium var. fasciculatum </span></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">is
an epiphytic or lithophytic (</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">A
plant that grows on rock and derives its nourishment chiefly from the
atmosphere),</span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
orchid which occurs in rainforest and humid open forest in Cape York
and North eastern Queensland. In our area it is mainly seen hanging
off the trunks or branches of trees, this one was on a Mango fruit
tree. The flowers, which appear in August through to November, are
fragrant and pollinated by small bees.</span></span></span></span></div>
<h1 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span></span></h1>
<h1 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qBJYNQxollw/VCz-POj2UYI/AAAAAAAAE4M/dWWlLdzO0bI/s1600/Northern%2BPencil%2BOrchid-7451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qBJYNQxollw/VCz-POj2UYI/AAAAAAAAE4M/dWWlLdzO0bI/s1600/Northern%2BPencil%2BOrchid-7451.jpg" height="548" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Northern Pencil Orchid</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">All photos © Keith & Lindsay Fisher 2015 Have a good day - last blog post 2015 - follow https://tropicaltails.blogspot.com/ for local information</div>Keith and Lindsay Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09458044489867275514noreply@blogger.com0Julatten QLD 4871, Australia-16.6074211 145.34264210000003-16.7291696 145.18128060000004 -16.4856726 145.50400360000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4757246035198638023.post-69510482112492372872014-09-21T09:17:00.001+10:002020-12-13T11:46:45.861+10:00Kingfisher Birdwatchers Lodge 21st September Report<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">21<sup>st</sup>
September 2014 Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge </span></b></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Weather
Report</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">What
can we say about the weather? Well we have had no rain over the last
two weeks again, just wall to wall sunshine, cool temperatures down
to 11.1ºC and much warmer than previous months, up to 27.3ºC, great
conditions. Temperatures in the morning have been about 4ºC below the average for
this time of year.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Last
Two Weeks Bird Sightings:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">These
can be found on the Eremaea eBird site. <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S19864102">7th
- 13th September</a></span></span></span></span><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S16945112">
</a><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">and
<a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S19881337">14th- 20th September</a> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
first week had 105 species recorded and the second week 103.</span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Morning
and Evening Guided Walks:- </span></b></span></span>
</div>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Morning walks produced
between 44 and 55 species, some of the highlights were Pacific Baza
foraging in the camp ground, two Blue-winged Kookaburra, Double-eyed
Fig-Parrot, Noisy Pitta in the orchard hopping around us for over 10
minutes whilst we were watching a pair of roosting Papuan Frogmouth,
Great Bowerbird performing at its bower, a pair of Yellow-faced
Honeyeater on a nest, a male Fairy Gerygone foraging on the ground
(usually high up in the rainforest) and a pair of Pale Yellow Robin
attending a nest. Also a Platypus was seen twice on one morning walk
at two different locations and once on a night walk. The full species lists can be found on
<span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">the Eremaea</span></span>
eBird site. Click on Explore Data then Hotspots and type in
Kingfisher Park – you will then see the Lodge in the drop down
menu. Click this on and a map will appear with two markers, click
these and you can have access to all our records. It sounds long
winded, but it is really easy. Alternatively you can click this link
which will take you directly to Hotspots
http://ebird.org/ebird/hotspots.</span></span></h3>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Evening
walk highlights were Barn Owl, Papuan Frogmouth, Red-legged
Pademelon, Striped Possum, Platypus, four different frog species, despite the
dry weather, Boyd's Forest Dragon which had re-appeared with the warmer
weather, Northern Leaf-tailed Gecko and two Australian Scrub Python. A surprise one night was a roosting Pacific Baza high up in a rainforest tree, a first for a night walk.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><b><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Other
Birding Highlights:-</span></b></span></span></span></div>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">An immature Orange-footed
Scrubfowl has been around the edge of the orchard foraging in the
rainforest and trying to get out of the way of the adults who harass
it at every opportunity. Here it is intently looking for food as it
scratches away.</span></span></h3>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BvTZMfTTlDQ/VBfe8ZPBL9I/AAAAAAAAE1A/Ha729K4QzNU/s1600/Orange-footed%2BScrubfowl-7418.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="506" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BvTZMfTTlDQ/VBfe8ZPBL9I/AAAAAAAAE1A/Ha729K4QzNU/s1600/Orange-footed%2BScrubfowl-7418.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Orange-footed Scrubfowl</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></h3>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Red-necked Crake have been regularly coming to
the Crake Pool late evenings with one or two seen, one was also seen in the garden in
front of the units. A Comb-crested Jacana was in one of the McDougall
Road lagoons, this was a first for many months. A pair of Wompoo
Fruit-Dove were in the trees around the Crake Pool on the edge of the
orchard and a pair of Torresian Imperial-Pigeon flew over Geraghty
Park. The Torresian Imperial-Pigeon are recent arrivals to our part
of the inland only having been around for the last four years. Small
flocks of Topknot Pigeon are still flying over, nine being the most
at any one time. Channel-billed Cuckoo have been scarce with only one
seen over the last two weeks and several other calling. Papuan Frogmouth have been roosting in the area including these three.</span></span></h3>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Te3PIMFQS0/VB0CRvgPBWI/AAAAAAAAE2U/BIR32-KRnuE/s1600/Papuan%2BFrogmouth-7435.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="558" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Te3PIMFQS0/VB0CRvgPBWI/AAAAAAAAE2U/BIR32-KRnuE/s1600/Papuan%2BFrogmouth-7435.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Papuan Frogmouth</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></h3>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Again Australian Owlet-nightjar has
been heard, but not seen, very frustrating. Rainbow Lorikeet have been
seen nesting as have Double-eyed Fig-Parrot. Bridled Honeyeater have
moved into the area and two uncommon Black-chinned Honeyeater were
seen in Geraghty Park. The Blue-faced Honeyeater which occurs around
the Lodge is in a zone integration between the nominate race <i>Entomyon
cyanotis cyanotis </i><span style="font-style: normal;">from eastern
Australia and </span><i>Entomyon cyanotis griseigularis,</i><span style="font-style: normal;">
the sub-species</span> from Cape York<span style="font-style: normal;">.
The one pictured here is an immature bird foraging on a Grevillea in
a neighbours garden adjacent to Geraghty Park.</span></span></span></h3>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span></span></span>
</h3>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x7ppkFJ9nQs/VBu_NzfpeAI/AAAAAAAAE18/fmD5U8VGVVM/s1600/Blue-faced%2BHoneyeater%2B-%2Bimmature-7431.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="331" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x7ppkFJ9nQs/VBu_NzfpeAI/AAAAAAAAE18/fmD5U8VGVVM/s1600/Blue-faced%2BHoneyeater%2B-%2Bimmature-7431.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Blue-faced Honeyeater - <span style="font-size: x-small;">immature</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Yellow-breasted
Boatbill have been active and calling as well as showing well. A few
Barred Cuckoo-shrike are around the lodge grounds, but proving
difficult to see. Northern Fantail have also returned to the fringes
of the Lodge grounds and have been heard calling well. Pied Monarch
are also around,</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LXCY-GbFQg8/VB0CUN2VpKI/AAAAAAAAE2c/QIeB_6gpUFY/s1600/Pied%2BMonarch-7441.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="560" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LXCY-GbFQg8/VB0CUN2VpKI/AAAAAAAAE2c/QIeB_6gpUFY/s1600/Pied%2BMonarch-7441.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Pied Monarch</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">as is at least one immature male Victoria's
Riflebird. </span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span></span></span>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9LMaoOps6lA/VBfMqFWZsII/AAAAAAAAE0U/lXYri-iKpTc/s1600/Victoria%27s%2BRiflebird%2B-%2Bjuv%2Bmale-.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="584" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9LMaoOps6lA/VBfMqFWZsII/AAAAAAAAE0U/lXYri-iKpTc/s1600/Victoria%27s%2BRiflebird%2B-%2Bjuv%2Bmale-.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Victoria's Riflebird - <span style="font-size: x-small;">immature male</span></span></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span></span></span></h3>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Metallic
Starling are slowly making nests, but quite a few have fallen to the
ground which is not good for their breeding season. Male
Mistletoebird have been calling and showing well, but no sign of
nesting yet.</span></span></span></h3>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Further
Afield:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">An unconfirmed report of vagrant Northern Pintail at Hasties Swamp, only seen once and not relocated again despite several visits to look for them. More information can be found on <a href="http://www.eremaea.com/BirdlineRecentSightings.aspx?Birdline=6">Eremaea Birds</a> website. Mt.
Lewis continues to be the place to see the “Wet Tropic” endemics
with all but the Lesser Sooty Owl seen over the last two weeks, even
a couple of male Golden Bowerbird were found by o<span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">ur
roving bird guides <a href="mailto:carol.iles@hotmail.com.au">Carol
and Andrew Iles</a>, can't beat local knowledge! Carol also reported Spotted Harrier, </span></span></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Dusky Moorhen,</span></span></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"> Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo, Blue-faced Parrot-Finch, </span></span></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">White-eared Monarch </span></span></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">and the first reported Black-faced Monarch for the season
around the Julatten area plus she had up to eight Australian Pratincole along West Maryfarms Road between Mt. Molloy and Mt. Carbine off the Peninsula Road. The first Large-tailed Nightjar for the season was heard calling in Julatten (by us) on the 21st September, at the same time a Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo was calling! Flowering Grass Tree spikes in Julatten
have been attracting many honeyeaters including, Brown, Scarlet and
Dusky. This Dusky was on a flower spike and the Brown Honeyeater was
waiting his turn.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qihKJz_KNOg/VBffHJBcX8I/AAAAAAAAE1I/L7UrEmQHo04/s1600/Dusky%2BHoneyeater-7404.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qihKJz_KNOg/VBffHJBcX8I/AAAAAAAAE1I/L7UrEmQHo04/s1600/Dusky%2BHoneyeater-7404.jpg" width="554" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Dusky Honeyeater</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<br /></div>
<span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OQY-bsirb14/VBferzQt59I/AAAAAAAAE04/4FbUTed17rs/s1600/Brown%2BHoneyeater-7401.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OQY-bsirb14/VBferzQt59I/AAAAAAAAE04/4FbUTed17rs/s1600/Brown%2BHoneyeater-7401.jpg" width="532" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Brown Honeyeater</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Rufous Owl is still being reported</span> along the Cairns Esplanade</span>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><b>Barn
Owl Display, Julatten, Far North Queensland</b></span></div>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Geraghty
Park, Julatten is home to two pairs of Barn Owl which have bred here
every year since at least 1995. The nests of these two pairs and a
third pair across the adjacent Rex Highway are within 300m of each
other. Most years these three pairs have had three young each. In
2014 the two pairs in Geraghty Park had a brood of three and the
third nest had four, all of which left their nests and the area by
the end of August. On the 3</span><sup><span style="font-weight: normal;">rd</span></sup><span style="font-weight: normal;">
September 2014 a visit to one nest site in Geraghty Park was rewarded
by a very unusual display by the adult male towards the adult female
of the pair. The male was first seen with just its head peering out
of a hollow in a Queensland Blue Gum </span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Eucalyptus
tereticornis </span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">which
is its </span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">daytime
roost/nest tree. After about 5 minutes the adult female appeared at a
different tree hollow approximately 2m below the one the male was in,
here it perched. Shortly after this the male moved out of its hollow
onto an adjacent branch where it was seen to adopt a hunched posture
looking down at the female, it then outstretched its wings and began
crouching down and raising itself several times before rocking from side to side (wing waving) with its tail raised. It continued this
display for approximately 1 minute. The female meanwhile was looking
away and taking no notice of the male. The male then folded its wings
but continued in the hunched position looking down for approximately
30 seconds before again outstretching its wings and beginning the
rocking motion again, this time the female looked up and watched the
display. The male continued for another minute, at which time the
female flew to a nearby branch. The male continued to stay in a
hunched position looking down until it flew to join the female after
2 minutes. Both birds were perched next to each other facing
different directions for about three minutes before the male turned
around. Both birds then moved close to each other and started
allopreening for at least two minutes. This behaviour of allopreening
often precedes mating which takes place in the nest (Debus 2009).
During the whole period of the display both birds remained silent. We
then considered that the birds had been disturbed enough by our
presence and we left. It was not know whether the birds did return to
the nest to mate. A short video of part of the display taken by Mr. <a href="http://aaknaturewatch.com/">Ota Yu</a>, Japanese tour guide based in Cairns can be found on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpZtF2g6guY">You Tube</a> . The background noise is excited Japanese taking plenty of photos!</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Stephen Debus says that this behaviour has been recorded in Masked Owl but as far as he is aware not in Barn Owl. Thanks for your input Stephen. </span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The following night we had another look at what the owls were doing but they did not put on a display like they did the previous night. The adult male and female came out of their daytime roost to perch on the branches.</span></span></span></div>
<h3 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EfAZ2FIQlvQ/VBfMgvAZwrI/AAAAAAAAEz8/RVbId-XKSmI/s1600/Barn%2BOwl-7350.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EfAZ2FIQlvQ/VBfMgvAZwrI/AAAAAAAAEz8/RVbId-XKSmI/s1600/Barn%2BOwl-7350.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Barn Owl</b></span> - <b>male on right female on left</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h3>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">After they sat on the branch for a while the male started to outstretch his wings and did a brief wing waving display. The female was not interested as you can see!</span></span></span></div>
<h3 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--7fZ3mo54fw/VBfMiGZSnaI/AAAAAAAAE0E/eCxJMh07uKk/s1600/Barn%2BOwl-7351.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="384" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--7fZ3mo54fw/VBfMiGZSnaI/AAAAAAAAE0E/eCxJMh07uKk/s1600/Barn%2BOwl-7351.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Barn Owl</b></span> - <b>male on right female on left</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></h3>
<h3 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h3>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Both birds flew to different perches and the female started to take notice of the male but he had given up by now and was just perching quietly.</span></span></span></div>
<span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span><br />
<h3 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-exDppNzQZt4/VBfMln6StII/AAAAAAAAE0M/jTA9TZohGsw/s1600/Barn%2BOwl-7353.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-exDppNzQZt4/VBfMln6StII/AAAAAAAAE0M/jTA9TZohGsw/s1600/Barn%2BOwl-7353.jpg" width="576" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Barn Owl</b></span></span></span></span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></h3>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br />
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Reptiles
and Mammals:-</span></b><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">Fawn-footed Melomys and Bush Rat have been coming to the reception area feeder at night along with up to six Northern Brown Bandicoot which is the most we have seen all year. A
Yellow-footed Antichinus was heard scratching in a dead tree before
it came out to run up and down the outside and disappear into the
tree before coming out of a different hole, this activity continued
for well over five minutes. Here it is seen peering out of one of the
holes.</span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<br /></div>
<h3 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WYRf_gxaVXc/VBKFjXJdLdI/AAAAAAAAEzM/FlTLh55U1qM/s1600/Yellow-footed%2BAntichinus-7387.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="488" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WYRf_gxaVXc/VBKFjXJdLdI/AAAAAAAAEzM/FlTLh55U1qM/s1600/Yellow-footed%2BAntichinus-7387.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><h3 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Yellow-footed Antichinus</b></span></span></span></span></h3>
</span></span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h3>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">At least two Platypus have been showing well in Bushy Creek in the late evening and early morning much to the delight of our guests. One of our guests observed an Eastern Water Dragon along Bushy Creek catch a Little Shrike-thrush and eat it; we've seen them raiding nests, but not take an adult bird. The Australian Scrub Python we have living in a large log can often be seen coiled up inside it, this is what you see.</span></span></span></div>
<h3 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MDV0m92Xw4Y/VBfkKqojBUI/AAAAAAAAE1o/pLsZi0Jhlmc/s1600/Amethystine%2BPython-7375.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MDV0m92Xw4Y/VBfkKqojBUI/AAAAAAAAE1o/pLsZi0Jhlmc/s1600/Amethystine%2BPython-7375.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Australian Scrub Python</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">All photos © Keith & Lindsay Fisher 2015 Have a good day - last blog post 2015 - follow https://tropicaltails.blogspot.com/ for local information</div>Keith and Lindsay Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09458044489867275514noreply@blogger.com0Julatten QLD 4871, Australia-16.6074211 145.34264210000003-16.7291696 145.18128060000004 -16.4856726 145.50400360000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4757246035198638023.post-76148853668813848472014-09-07T09:44:00.000+10:002014-09-07T09:44:24.712+10:00<h3 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">7<sup>th</sup>
September 2014 Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge </span>
</h3>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Weather
Report</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">What
can we say about the weather? Well we have had no rain over the last
two weeks, just wall to wall sunshine, cool temperatures down to
10.5ºC (stop laughing you southern Australian people) and up to
23.6ºC, perfect conditions. Temperatures have been about 6ºC below
the average for this time of year.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Last
Two Weeks Bird Sightings:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">These
can be found on the Eremaea eBird site. <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=19744335">24th August - 30th August</a></span></span></span></span><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S16945112">
</a><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">and
<a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=19754158">30th August - 6th September</a> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
first weeks sightings had</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> 99 seen and 4 heard, </span></span></span>the second week 99 seen and 5 heard.</span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Morning
and Evening Guided Walks:- </span></b></span></span>
</div>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Morning walks had
between 44 and 59 species. Some of the birds seen included Pacific
Baza who was flying over Geraghty Park displaying and calling,</span></span></h3>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fy_BdFbK32c/VAqxujzlPRI/AAAAAAAAEyY/UGKeZzMgIME/s1600/Pacific%2BBaza-0963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fy_BdFbK32c/VAqxujzlPRI/AAAAAAAAEyY/UGKeZzMgIME/s1600/Pacific%2BBaza-0963.jpg" height="572" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Pacific Baza</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></h3>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">plus we had Buff-banded Rail, Peaceful Dove building a nest, Wompoo
Fruit-Dove, Topknot Pigeon, Papuan Frogmouth, Double-eyed Fig-Parrot
digging a nest, Blue-winged Kookaburra, Yellow-breasted Boatbill,
Barred Cuckoo-shrike, Pied Monarch, Victoria's Riflebird and Metallic
Starling also nest building. The full species lists can be found on <span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">the </span></span><a href="http://ebird.org/content/australia/">Eremaea eBird</a> site. Click on Explore Data then Hotspots
and type in Kingfisher Park – you will then see the Lodge in the
drop down menu. Click this on and a map will appear with two markers,
click these and you can have access to all our records. It sounds
long winded but it is really easy. Alternatively you can click this
link which will take you directly to Hotspots
http://ebird.org/ebird/hotspots.</span></span></h3>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Night
walks were productive despite it being quite cool and dry which
restricted the number of frogs and reptiles which were out. Despite
this we managed to see Leaf-tailed Gecko, Jungguy Frog, White-lipped
Tree Frog, Red Tree Frog (Desert Tree Frog) and Dainty Green Tree
Frog. Mammals seen were Striped Possum, Long-nosed and Northern Brown
Bandicoot, Fawn-footed Melomys and Bush Rat. Australian
Owlet-nightjar were heard but not seen and a Papuan Frogmouth was
seen in camp ground. A pair of Barking Owl were seen perched in a tree beside Bushy Creek calling softly. As we watched them, they mated and the male flew off.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Other
Birding Highlights:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">With
the change of season from winter to spring there is also a change in
some bird species which are in our area. Grey Fantail have left to go
back south, we had our first Torresian Imperial-Pigeon, Australian
Koel and Channel-billed Cuckoo for the season arrive from the north.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Wetland
birds were scarce with only one or two of most seen which included
Magpie Goose, Green and Cotton Pygmy-goose, Pacific Black Duck,
Hardhead, Grey Teal, Australasian Grebe, Little Pied Cormorant,
Australasian Darter, Australian Pelican, White-necked and White-faced
Heron plus Intermediate, Great and Cattle Egret. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Plenty
of raptors were around to scavenge off the cut cane paddocks, mainly
Black Kite which were around in groups of up to about 100, here are some which were hanging around in the trees.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BYc_HYeKpoU/VAqpibb6TII/AAAAAAAAExE/toByXzx0ZOw/s1600/Black%2BKite-7341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BYc_HYeKpoU/VAqpibb6TII/AAAAAAAAExE/toByXzx0ZOw/s1600/Black%2BKite-7341.jpg" height="514" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Black Kite</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HQubZln5RAA/VAqpkk-zYFI/AAAAAAAAExM/Jd5NN7ngSm8/s1600/Black%2BKite-7342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HQubZln5RAA/VAqpkk-zYFI/AAAAAAAAExM/Jd5NN7ngSm8/s1600/Black%2BKite-7342.jpg" height="456" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Black Kite</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Also here were a few
Whistling Kite, a White-bellied Sea-Eagle shown here perched in a Blue Quandong tree</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-scEMI1ZpxCU/VAqp1mXD4jI/AAAAAAAAEx0/YPxMuZi_5JA/s1600/White-bellied%2BSea-Eagle-7313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-scEMI1ZpxCU/VAqp1mXD4jI/AAAAAAAAEx0/YPxMuZi_5JA/s1600/White-bellied%2BSea-Eagle-7313.jpg" height="640" width="574" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>White-bellied Sea-Eagle</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">and Australian Hobby (not a great image as it is a severe crop,but it gives an idea of what the bird looks like).</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ol4AWQWUUYk/VAqpYcp3-mI/AAAAAAAAEwk/KfuGGZhMBw0/s1600/Australian%2BHobby-7320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ol4AWQWUUYk/VAqpYcp3-mI/AAAAAAAAEwk/KfuGGZhMBw0/s1600/Australian%2BHobby-7320.jpg" height="640" width="470" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Australian Hobby</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Red-necked Crake were again heard but not seen as was a Spotless
Crake along McDougall Road.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Some
very young Emerald Dove have appeared and a pair of Wompoo Fruit-Dove
have come to investigate a few fruit trees which have just started to
have ripe fruit on them. The nesting pairs of Barn Owl
have now chased off their offspring from the area and we have only
been seeing a few adults. Barking Owl have also quietened down but
were seen roosting during the day. Azure Kingfisher have been along
Bushy Creek and there has been a few sightings of Little Kingfisher
in the Crake Pool on the edge of our orchard.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Sulphur-crested
Cockatoo have been seen sitting in their nest hollow in a big
Queensland Blue Gum tree and a few Scaly-breasted Lorikeet are still
around feeding on the few remaining flowering gum trees. Noisy Pitta
has started to call and has been seen in the orchard area, mainly
early morning. Spotted Catbird are still coming to the reception area
feeder to grab mouthfuls of banana. Red-backed Fairy-wren have been
seen perched on the fences along McDougall Road. Twelve species of
honeyeater were seen and one, Black-chinned heard. A few Lewin's
Honeyeater are still around but the majority of them seem to have
left for the higher altitudes of the mountains behind the Lodge.
Macleay's Honeyeater is an ever present “Wet Tropic” endemic
around the Lodge who have been taking advantage of the flowering
grevilleas.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZLufjzZV0I0/VAqpvENCdrI/AAAAAAAAExk/KhfLR0K-v9o/s1600/Macleay%27s%2BHoneyeater-7249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZLufjzZV0I0/VAqpvENCdrI/AAAAAAAAExk/KhfLR0K-v9o/s1600/Macleay%27s%2BHoneyeater-7249.jpg" height="510" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Macleay's Honeyeater</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The
one male Golden Whistler, that has been with us for a few months, is
still around the Lodge grounds and has been joined by a pair of
Rufous Whistler who have been present on the edge of the Lodge
grounds in the tall Queensland Blue Gum trees. They don't normally
hang around for weeks, mainly confining themselves to the nearby
Geraghty Park. Northern Fantail have moved back into the Lodge
grounds in the last week to take the place of the departing Grey
Fantail. A pair of Torresian Crow have also been flying over and
calling after being absent for a few months, getting ready to play
host to Channel-billed Cuckoo no doubt. Lemon-bellied Flycatcher have
joined the Rainbow Bee-eater (who was being blown around in the wind) to perch and forage from the Geraghty
Park oval fence.</span><br />
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PLYcifHujXk/VAqpqEJUP-I/AAAAAAAAExc/EAIIoU9BC_U/s1600/Lemon-bellied%2BFlycatcher-7066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PLYcifHujXk/VAqpqEJUP-I/AAAAAAAAExc/EAIIoU9BC_U/s1600/Lemon-bellied%2BFlycatcher-7066.jpg" height="552" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Lemon-bellied Flycatcher</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mc2u40llr6U/VAqpxWhH7YI/AAAAAAAAExs/xwOFrKM_aOk/s1600/Rainbow%2BBee-eater-7074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mc2u40llr6U/VAqpxWhH7YI/AAAAAAAAExs/xwOFrKM_aOk/s1600/Rainbow%2BBee-eater-7074.jpg" height="572" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Rainbow Bee-eater<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (female - short tail streamer)</span></b></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></b></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></b></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></b></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></b></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></b></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Golden-headed
Cisticola have been calling from the remaining uncut cane but are in
fewer numbers than previous years. This one was hanging on a seed stalk on the cane singing</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YvWC_ElSWuM/VAqpn775TZI/AAAAAAAAExU/_JldntA3B0E/s1600/Golden-headed%2BCisticola-7357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YvWC_ElSWuM/VAqpn775TZI/AAAAAAAAExU/_JldntA3B0E/s1600/Golden-headed%2BCisticola-7357.jpg" height="640" width="570" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Golden-headed Cisticola</b></span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm; text-align: left;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Further
Afield:-</span></span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Blue-faced
Parrot-Finch are still being seen infrequently near Abattoir Swamp
with up to five birds seen. Abattoir Swamp itself has been good for
honeyeaters and has had a Grey Shrike-thrush nesting on the edge of
the car park.Rufous Owl is still being reported along the Cairns Esplanade.</span></span></span></span>
</div>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br />
</h3>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Reptiles
and Mammals:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">In
addition to those seen on night walks we saw Red-legged Pademelon,
Agile Wallaby, a few bats – Eastern Horseshoe Bat, Large-footed
Myotis, Northern Broad-nosed and Little Bent-winged bat, Giant
White-tailed Tree Rat, Green Ringtail Possum, Spectacled Flying-fox
and Eastern Water Dragon. A few snakes were seen, Green Tree Snake,
Brown Tree Snake and the highlight a pair of Australian Scrub Python
mating on the edge of the orchard whilst stretched out on a log.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Thanks to our
roving bird guides <a href="mailto:carol.iles@hotmail.com.au">Carol
and Andrew Iles</a> who helped compile the bird list and are available for any bird guiding in the area. Contact them directly or through the Lodge.</span></span></span></span><br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">All photos © Keith & Lindsay Fisher 2015 Have a good day - last blog post 2015 - follow https://tropicaltails.blogspot.com/ for local information</div>Keith and Lindsay Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09458044489867275514noreply@blogger.com0Julatten QLD 4871, Australia-16.6074211 145.34264210000003-16.7291696 145.18128060000004 -16.4856726 145.50400360000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4757246035198638023.post-69135084471366134962014-08-24T11:07:00.000+10:002014-08-24T11:17:31.285+10:0024th August 2014 Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge <div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Weather
Report</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">The
first week had 32.5mm of rain which fell over six days, the second
week had no rain just sunshine. Temperatures ranged from a cool low
of 13.2ºC up to 23.8ºC which is about average for this time of
year. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Last
Two Weeks Bird Sightings:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">These
can be found on the Eremaea eBird site. </span></span></span></span><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S19553809">10th - 16th August</a><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S16945112">
</a><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">and
</span></span></span></span><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=">17th - 23th August</a><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
first week we had 106 sightings and the second week 112, pretty good numbers!</span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Morning
and Evening Guided Walks:- </span></b></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Morning
walks (2½ hours) produced between 43-55 species, the lower count was due to rain
disrupting the walk. The species lists can be found on <span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">the
Eremaea</span></span></span></span> eBird site. Click on Explore Data
then Hotspots and type in Kingfisher Park – you will then see the Lodge in the drop down menu. Click this on and a map will appear with
two markers, click these and you can have access to all our records.
It sounds long winded but it is really easy. Alternatively you can
click this link which will take you directly to Hotspots
<a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/hotspots">http://ebird.org/ebird/hotspots</a><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/hotspots">http://ebird.org/ebird/hotspots</a>.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Again
we saw up to 11 Barn Owl on night walks and one Barking Owl. Mammal
sightings were good with two Tree Mouse (Prehensile-tailed Rat) on
one night, Fawn-footed Melomys, Eastern Horseshoe Bat and Northern
Blossom Bat, two Striped Possum and both Long-nosed and Northern
Brown Bandicoot. <span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Frogs
seen were Jungguy Frog, White-lipped Tree Frog, Red Tree Frog, Roth's
(Laughing)Tree Frog, Dainty Green Tree Frog, Cogger's Frog and Cane
Toad. Several Northern Leaf-tailed Gecko were also found.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Other
Birding Highlights:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Both Green and Cotton
Pygmy-goose have been along McDougall Road as well as up to three
Australian Pelican and White-necked Heron.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Pacific Black Duck have
been along McDougall including these two who were loafing, thought we would put in an image of these birds as some of the more common birds tend to get overlooked.</span></span></h3>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZLLVDlMeiks/U_goylL2cXI/AAAAAAAAErs/dTgLGiGv6PA/s1600/Black%2BDuck-7283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZLLVDlMeiks/U_goylL2cXI/AAAAAAAAErs/dTgLGiGv6PA/s1600/Black%2BDuck-7283.jpg" height="376" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Pacific Black Duck</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">At least 32 Straw-necked
Ibis were foraging in a cut cane paddock adjacent to the Lodge;
straw-necks are not as common as Australian White Ibis around
Julatten. Black-shouldered Kite have been regulars with one adult and
two juveniles seen. A Pacific Baza was seen one day at the front
entrance to the Lodge but not seen since. Also flying over the Lodge
were a pair of Grey Goshawk being chased by a pack of Blue-faced
Honeyeater. Another blue-face was seen chasing a Whistling Kite over
Geraghty Park, this time it was hanging onto the tail of the kite!
Other raptors seen were Wedge-tailed Eagle, White-bellied Sea-Eagle
and over 50 Black Kite foraging in and around cut cane paddocks
including this immature bird. </span></div>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span>
</h3>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Upon4n9GmUE/U_go4Nbk0LI/AAAAAAAAEr0/yIpB11PSCHU/s1600/Black%2BKite-7289.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Upon4n9GmUE/U_go4Nbk0LI/AAAAAAAAEr0/yIpB11PSCHU/s1600/Black%2BKite-7289.jpg" height="640" width="506" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Black Kite -<span style="font-size: x-small;"> juvenile</span></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Red-necked
Crake have started to call so we know they are around but only one
sighting over the last two weeks. Wompoo Fruit-Dove have also been
calling and being seen as a few more trees start fruit. Topknot
Pigeon are still flying over in small flocks and very occasionally
dropping into the Lodge grounds. An Australian Owlet-nightjar has
been heard calling around the Lodge grounds and also in the vicinity
of a previous daytime roost site but has not been seen. The two
Papuan Frogmouth continue to roost in the Lodge grounds with four
more seen roosting nearby. This is the male with the female hidden by the leaves in one of the Lodge mango trees about 6-7m up which is higher than they normally roost which is more like 4-5m.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uMUbYcyEwEQ/U_g413OoBxI/AAAAAAAAEsI/yE96x9SqUHA/s1600/Papuan%2BFrogmouth-7292.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uMUbYcyEwEQ/U_g413OoBxI/AAAAAAAAEsI/yE96x9SqUHA/s1600/Papuan%2BFrogmouth-7292.jpg" height="640" width="450" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Papuan Frogmouth</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Two Azure Kingfisher have been seen along
Bushy Creek flying along and perching near the Platypus viewing area,
which has a nice new seat after the previous one was washed away in
the flood caused by Cyclone Ita in March. Both Nankeen Kestrel and
Australian Hobby have been seen around the Lodge. Scaly-breasted
Lorikeet numbers have dropped off as the Queensland Blue Gum are finishing flowering but at least one pair are nesting in
these trees and Double-eyed Fig-Parrot have been seen flying over
since they, and the Australasian Figbird, have finished off the
fruiting figs. Barn Owl have juveniles who have been sitting up in their nests dozing during the day like these ones were. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1nA9Yb5ezUo/U_govfckcFI/AAAAAAAAErg/PKmIpQeSdnY/s1600/Barn%2BOwl-7267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1nA9Yb5ezUo/U_govfckcFI/AAAAAAAAErg/PKmIpQeSdnY/s1600/Barn%2BOwl-7267.jpg" height="592" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Barn Owl - juvenile</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a9yfPcoAMBk/U_gor49wtmI/AAAAAAAAErU/3blUAqepocA/s1600/Barn%2BOwl-7276.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a9yfPcoAMBk/U_gor49wtmI/AAAAAAAAErU/3blUAqepocA/s1600/Barn%2BOwl-7276.jpg" height="640" width="554" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Barn Owl - juvenile</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Noisy Pitta have started to call and have been seen
around the Lodge grounds, we still think we only have one bird
present. There has been a couple of sightings of Lovely Fairy-wren in
the grounds, one along Bushy Creek and another at the Crake Pool.
Fourteen species of honeyeater were seen and one heard, which was
only four less than the total recorded at the Lodge. Again Pied
Monarch and Yellow-breasted Boatbill have both been calling well and
being seen. Barred Cuckoo-shrike have made a few appearances but have
not been regular. Golden, Grey and Rufous Whistler have all been seen
in and around the Lodge as have Northern, Rufous and Grey Fantail.
Only a couple of sightings of Leaden Flycatcher over the two weeks
but Lemon-bellied Flycatcher have been around with up to six seen at
a time. Victoria's Riflebird were seen in the first week but not in
the second so they might have left. A Tawny Grassbird was briefly
seen in an adjacent cane paddock where it was calling. Metallic
Starling returned on the 10<sup>th</sup> August from Papua New Guinea
with numbers continuing to increase along with the nesting activity
at their colony in Geraghty Park.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Further
Afield:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Blue-faced Parrot-Finch
are being seen infrequently near Abattoir Swamp with only a couple of
birds seen. Australian Bustard are displaying at Maryfarms between
Mt. Molloy and Mt. Carbine and a single Australian Pratincole is
still present at this location after about 3 weeks. Mt. Lewis is as
good as ever with bird guide Doug Herrington from <a href="http://mangroverobin.wix.com/birding-port-douglas#!page2/cjg9">Birdwatching
Tropical Australia</a> reporting five male Golden Bowerbird seen in
one visit! All other “Wet Tropic” endemics were found here in the
last two weeks, even more reason to stay at <a href="http://www.birdwatchers.com.au/">Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge</a>! Our roving bird guides <a href="mailto:carol.iles@hotmail.com.au">Carol and Andrew Iles</a> reported Tawny Grassbird, White-eared Monarch,
Shining Flycatcher and Red-winged Parrot from Julatten as well as an
Australian Hobby whizzing down Mt. Molloy main street.<b> </b>Freckled Duck are still at Hasties Swamp near Atherton and have been almost continuously for the past two years, they were joined by an estimated 2000 Magpie Goose this week.<b><br /></b></span></span></h3>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></span></h3>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Identification of odd Looking Lewin's Honeyeater:- </b></span></span></h3>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The first two images of a meliphagous honeyeater were photographed at Malanda on the Atherton Tableland at about 900m, the third more typical Lewin's was photographed at the Lodge, they are all ssp. mab, which occurs in Far North Queensland.</span></span></h3>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">After some discussion with a few local and interstate experts it was agreed that this bird is an odd looking Lewin's, it certainly had the Lewin's call. It has an odd shaped ear patch, which is a lot smaller than a normal Lewin's of the ssp mab. The ear patch looks more like a Graceful. The lower mandible is slightly curved like a Graceful and not straight like Lewin's the length of the bill looks slightly longer in these comparison images than Lewin's. The underparts don't have as much streaking as Lewin's and the face is less grey than a Lewin's. It is possible this could be a Lewin's/Graceful hybrid as there altitudinal range does overlap (Graceful usually occur below 600m). Note:- Lewin's Honeyeater ssp. mab does not have the distinct crescent shape to the ear patch of southern birds but a slightly less shaped crescent as shown in the 3rd image.Thanks to the experts for their comments.<b><span style="background: transparent;"> </span></b></span></span></h3>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;"> </span></b></span></span></h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7QYV8phT76Y/U-XOWBhchSI/AAAAAAAAEp8/La-xFCtuMTI/s1600/Lewin%27s%2BHE-7212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7QYV8phT76Y/U-XOWBhchSI/AAAAAAAAEp8/La-xFCtuMTI/s1600/Lewin%27s%2BHE-7212.jpg" height="640" width="462" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Lewin's Honeyeater ssp. mab</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kb5h-ZWNJd8/U_khNZ_tcJI/AAAAAAAAEtE/_HpXrXS0nrc/s1600/Lewin%27s%2BHoneyeater%2B-7203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kb5h-ZWNJd8/U_khNZ_tcJI/AAAAAAAAEtE/_HpXrXS0nrc/s1600/Lewin%27s%2BHoneyeater%2B-7203.jpg" height="588" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Lewin's Honeyeater ssp. mab</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lrMYwrEDbXM/U_kcwF7PhBI/AAAAAAAAEs0/cKL2iULx73U/s1600/Lewin%27s%2BHoneyeater%2B-%2Btypical-1149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lrMYwrEDbXM/U_kcwF7PhBI/AAAAAAAAEs0/cKL2iULx73U/s1600/Lewin%27s%2BHoneyeater%2B-%2Btypical-1149.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Lewin's Honeyeater ssp. mab - typical</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Reptiles
and Mammals</span></b></span></span><br />
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In addition to the
mammals and reptiles mention on night walks we had other interesting
sightings including Red-legged Pademelon, Agile Wallaby, Platypus
with two regularly showing, Water Rat, Green Tree Snake and
Australian Scrub Python. Over the two week we had 17 mammal species
and 12 amphibian/reptiles.</span></span></h3>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Insect:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">This
interesting beetle turned up at the reception area feeder one
evening, it is a Carion Beetle </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Diamesus
osculans. </span></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">In
Australia there are only three species in two genera mainly found in
forested areas within 300km of coastal areas in eastern and northern
Australia. This species is also found in Papua New Guinea and in
Asia. (info. From “</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>A
Guide to the Beetles of Australia” </i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
George Hangay and Paul Zborowski). This is the first one we have seen
in the Lodge grounds.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-77vsv0dfzmc/U_gov2ogBeI/AAAAAAAAErk/KVp7rmD0dBQ/s1600/Beetle%2Bsp.-6880.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-77vsv0dfzmc/U_gov2ogBeI/AAAAAAAAErk/KVp7rmD0dBQ/s1600/Beetle%2Bsp.-6880.jpg" height="640" width="542" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Carion Beetle</span></b></span></span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3 class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Thanks to our bird guide neighbours <a href="mailto:carol.iles@hotmail.com.au">Carol and Andrew Iles</a> for helping to compile the weekly bird lists, don't forget to contact them if you need any bird guiding. </span></h3>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<h3 align="CENTER" class="western" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;"><span style="color: red;"><b>Kingfisher
Park Birdwatchers Lodge Business and Property For Sale</b></span><br /><a href="http://www.birdwatchers.com.au/For_Sale.htm">Click
here for more sale details </a></span></span><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></h3>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">All photos © Keith & Lindsay Fisher 2015 Have a good day - last blog post 2015 - follow https://tropicaltails.blogspot.com/ for local information</div>Keith and Lindsay Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09458044489867275514noreply@blogger.com0Julatten QLD 4871, Australia-16.6074211 145.34264210000003-16.7291696 145.18128060000004 -16.4856726 145.50400360000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4757246035198638023.post-69680309150234430902014-08-10T08:52:00.002+10:002014-08-10T09:51:55.303+10:0010th August 2014 Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge <div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Weather
Report</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">The
first week had 9mm of rain which fell over three days, the second
week had 17mm of rain over six days. Temperatures ranged from a cool
low of 16.1ºC up to 23.6ºC which is about average for this time of
year. Despite the drizzly rain there were plenty of opportunities to
get some good birding in both during the day and night walks.</span></span></span></div>
<h3 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</h3>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Last
Two Weeks Bird Sightings:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">These
can be found on the Eremaea eBird site. <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=19376088">27thJuly - 2nd August</a></span></span></span></span><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S16945112">
</a><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">and
<a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=19376124">3rd- 9th August</a> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
first week had 94 sightings and the second week 97 . </span></span></span>
</div>
<h3 class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</h3>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Morning
and Evening Guided Walks:- </span></b></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Morning
walks were very productive with numbers of species seen ranging from
51-55 apart from one day where the rain cut it short and only 43
species were seen. We had some good sightings including three Little
Bronze-Cuckoo, Papuan Frogmouth, Double-eyed Fig-Parrot – one
female was digging out a nest hollow in a tree, Noisy Pitta, Spotted
Catbird, 11 species of honeyeater, Yellow-breasted Boatbill, male
Cicadabird, Pied Monarch, Victoria's Riflebird and Lemon-bellied
Flycatcher.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Night
walks were also very good up to 11 Barn Owl seen as there are at
least 3 nests around the Lodge area with juveniles. Other good bird
sightings were a Brown Falcon flying over and calling, Barking Owl,
Papuan Frogmouth and a pair of Blue-winged Kookaburra – one was
calling. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_R2rfEFsumw/U-XOZU1Fg2I/AAAAAAAAEqE/65VoM1IWAkY/s1600/Papuan%2BFrogmouth%2B-%2Bfemale-7089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_R2rfEFsumw/U-XOZU1Fg2I/AAAAAAAAEqE/65VoM1IWAkY/s1600/Papuan%2BFrogmouth%2B-%2Bfemale-7089.jpg" height="640" width="458" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Papuan Frogmouth - <span style="font-size: x-small;">female</span></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Mammals seen were Giant White-tailed Rat which is a native tree rat,</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y0hiTp_MCIE/U-XOqrpq3YI/AAAAAAAAEqs/FmdEZpv1BL8/s1600/White-tailed%2BRat-7105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y0hiTp_MCIE/U-XOqrpq3YI/AAAAAAAAEqs/FmdEZpv1BL8/s1600/White-tailed%2BRat-7105.jpg" height="640" width="608" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Giant White-tailed Rat - male</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Fawn-footed
Melomys and Tree Mouse (prehensile-tailed Rat) both of whom were feeding in oranges as these
two images show – quite amazing! </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"> </span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ai5OO7jJZS8/U-XONr3V-3I/AAAAAAAAEpk/CEyAOy10EYI/s1600/Fawn-footed%2BMelomy%27s%2Btail-7095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ai5OO7jJZS8/U-XONr3V-3I/AAAAAAAAEpk/CEyAOy10EYI/s1600/Fawn-footed%2BMelomy%27s%2Btail-7095.jpg" height="516" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Fawn-footed Melomys - <span style="font-size: x-small;">tail</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gl1n3nwtHjk/U-XOUF1t1SI/AAAAAAAAEp0/2n48ukwrTeo/s1600/Fawn-footed%2BMelomy%27s%2Btail-7096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gl1n3nwtHjk/U-XOUF1t1SI/AAAAAAAAEp0/2n48ukwrTeo/s1600/Fawn-footed%2BMelomy%27s%2Btail-7096.jpg" height="640" width="484" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Tree Mouse</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Others
seen were Red-legged Pademelon, Striped and Green Ringtail Possum,
Long-nosed and Northern Brown Bandicoot, plus Spectacled Flying-fox. This one was getting nectar from the blossom of a South American Sapote fruit tree.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FdUKE5wPPqs/U-XOfr26G2I/AAAAAAAAEqU/SD0ZWcAtOJs/s1600/Spectacled%2BFlying%2BFox-7098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FdUKE5wPPqs/U-XOfr26G2I/AAAAAAAAEqU/SD0ZWcAtOJs/s1600/Spectacled%2BFlying%2BFox-7098.jpg" height="512" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Spectacled Flying-fox</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Frogs seen were Jungguy Frog, White-lipped Tree Frog, Red Tree Frog,
Roth's Tree Frog, Dainty Green Tree Frog, Cogger's Frog and Cane
Toad, plus Platypus. Reptiles seen were Northern Leaf-tailed Gecko,
Asian House Gecko and Australian Scrub Python high up in a tree.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">Other
Birding Highlights:-</span></span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">A
pair of Green Pygmy-goose were along McDougall Road along with
White-faced and White-necked Heron. At least two juvenile
Black-shouldered Kite were perched near Geraghty Park and a Swamp
Harrier was over a paddock behind the nursing home. A Brown Goshawk
came swooping into the reception area feeder scattering the
Bar-shouldered Dove and Red-browed Finch, but it left empty handed
after failing to catch anything. Black and Whistling Kite are mopping
up road kills along the Rex Highway and a pair of White-bellied
Sea-Eagle have been seen heading for the local fish farm. Red-necked
Crake was heard, but not seen; they have not been easy lately. Up to
21 Topknot Pigeon have been seen flying over and landing in the Blue
Quandong trees looking for the fruit which is still green and not the
bright blue ripe fruit. Lesser Sooty Owl was heard once and
Australian Owlet-nightjar was also heard, but neither species were
seen. Rainbow and Scaly-breasted Lorikeet were both seen nesting in
tree hollows. The male Yellow-throated Scrubwren previously reported
in still being seen around the Lodge grounds and a brown Black
Butcherbird has also been around. A couple of Bower's Shrike-thrush
are still in the Lodge grounds along with a male Golden Whistler.
Olive-backed Oriole have returned and are calling, not sure where
they disappear to. A White-eared Monarch has been calling over the
last two week, but was only seen on the 9</span><sup><span style="font-weight: normal;">th</span></sup><span style="font-weight: normal;">
August high in a tree beside Bushy Creek at the Platypus viewing
area. Pied Monarch and Yellow-breasted Boatbill have both been
calling well and being seen. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nPVrVrbLlYA/U-XeU_ahwSI/AAAAAAAAEq8/_yuBXzmLOpo/s1600/Yellow-breasted%2BBoatbill-7243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nPVrVrbLlYA/U-XeU_ahwSI/AAAAAAAAEq8/_yuBXzmLOpo/s1600/Yellow-breasted%2BBoatbill-7243.jpg" height="640" width="584" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Yellow-breasted Boatbill - <span style="font-size: x-small;">female</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The female and immature male Victoria's
Riflebird previously reported are still with us and being seen in
various parts of the grounds. A Golden-headed Cisticola was reported
by our neighbours and bird guides <a href="mailto:carol.iles@hotmail.com.au">Carol and Andrew Iles</a> along Bushy Creek, this is a first sighting for
many months. Up to five Blue-faced Parrot-Finch have been found near Abattoir Swamp.</span></span></span></div>
<h3 class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</h3>
<div lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Further
Afield:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<h3 class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Banded Honeyeater was
reported by Del Richards from <a href="http://www.finefeathertours.com.au/">Fine
Feather Tours</a> on 30<sup>th</sup> July
just north of Mt. Carbine, which is about two months earlier than
previous years. A Wedge-tailed Eagle was soaring over Euluma Creek
Road in Julatten, not common in our area. Just outside our 1.5km
Lodge reporting area on the way to Mt. Molloy a Crested Pigeon was
perched on a power line across the Rex Highway, this is the closest to
the Lodge that we have seen this species. Mt. Lewis has been
performing as usual with all 13 “Wet Tropic” endemics seen
including male and female Golden Bowerbird. A trip to the Atherton Tableland allowed us to catch up with a few birds including these two, an Eastern Whipbird and a male Victoria's Riflebird.</span></span></h3>
<h3 class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wuJSQuP1taQ/U-XOMk25RQI/AAAAAAAAEpc/gj6jIzA7-3k/s1600/Eastern%2BWhipbird-7221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wuJSQuP1taQ/U-XOMk25RQI/AAAAAAAAEpc/gj6jIzA7-3k/s1600/Eastern%2BWhipbird-7221.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Eastern Whipbird</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I6LSjVjK99w/U-XOmm2v7PI/AAAAAAAAEqk/aT14HPEpNfc/s1600/Victoria%27s%2BRiflebird%2B-%2Bmale-7232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I6LSjVjK99w/U-XOmm2v7PI/AAAAAAAAEqk/aT14HPEpNfc/s1600/Victoria%27s%2BRiflebird%2B-%2Bmale-7232.jpg" height="598" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Victoria's Riflebird - <span style="font-size: x-small;">male</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3 class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>
</span></h3>
<div lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Reptiles
and Mammals:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<h3 class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Apart from the mammals
reported on the night walks we have recorded Agile Wallaby, Eastern
Horseshoe Bat, Large-footed Myotis (fish eating bat), Northern
Broad-nosed Bat and Little Bent-wing Bat. Other reptiles seen were
Boyd's Forest Dragon after a month long absence, Eastern Water Dragon
and Green Tree Snake. </span></span></h3>
<h3 class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thanks to <a href="mailto:carol.iles@hotmail.com.au">Carol and Andrew Iles</a> for helping to compile the weekly bird lists, contact them if you need any bird guiding. </span></span>
</h3>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 align="CENTER" class="western" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Kingfisher
Park Birdwatchers Lodge Business and Property For Sale</b></span></span><br /><a href="http://www.birdwatchers.com.au/For_Sale.htm">Click
here for more sale details </a></span></span></span>
</h3>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">All photos © Keith & Lindsay Fisher 2015 Have a good day - last blog post 2015 - follow https://tropicaltails.blogspot.com/ for local information</div>Keith and Lindsay Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09458044489867275514noreply@blogger.com0Julatten QLD 4871, Australia-16.6074211 145.34264210000003-16.7291696 145.18128060000004 -16.4856726 145.50400360000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4757246035198638023.post-30172464148599975882014-07-27T17:55:00.000+10:002014-07-27T18:47:56.646+10:0027th July 2014 Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge <h3 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
</h3>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Weather
Report</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">The
first week was mainly dry </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">and sunny' but 3.5mm of rain fell over two night</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">s,
the second week began dry </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">before we had 4mm of rain which fell over two days</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">. Temperatures ranged from a cool
low of 11.5ºC up to 23ºC, very pleasant and great birding weather.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Last
Two Weeks Bird Sightings:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">These
can be found on the Eremaea eBird site. </span></span></span></span><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=19229614">13th
- 19th July</a><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S16945112">
</a><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">and
</span></span></span></span><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=19229661">20th
- 26th July</a><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span></span></span></span>
</div>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The first week has 98
sightings and the second week 109. Rainfall was 6.5mm over four days,
much of this fell at night or was fine mist during the day. Overall
it was great birding over the two weeks.</span></span></h3>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Birding
Highlights:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A few waterbirds were
around in the local lagoons and Barramundi Farm; these included A
couple of Green Pygmy-goose, Pacific Black Duck, Australasian Grebe,
Little Black and Little Pied Cormorant, a single Australian Pelican,
Great, Intermediate and Cattle Egret, White-faced Heron, Australian
White and Straw-necked Ibis plus three Royal Spoonbill. Orange-footed Scrubfowl (they should be called orange-legged) have been very noisy calling day and night and chasing each other, they are quite comical to watch as they strut around.</span></span></h3>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3pt_8HQPGcc/U9SnwEykgGI/AAAAAAAAEo4/XWPQZCK8Wfg/s1600/Orange-footed+Scrubfowl-3117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3pt_8HQPGcc/U9SnwEykgGI/AAAAAAAAEo4/XWPQZCK8Wfg/s1600/Orange-footed+Scrubfowl-3117.jpg" height="580" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td class="tr-caption"><h3 class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Orange-footed Scrubfowl</b></span></span></span></span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></h3>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Raptors were
quite good with Black-shouldered Kite, Swamp and Spotted Harrier,
Grey Goshawk, Collared Sparrowhawk, Black and Whistling Kite along
with White-bellied Sea-Eagle. A Red-necked Crake was calling one
evening but not seen. Brown Cuckoo-Dove have been taking advantage of
several fruiting trees including Celerywood and a Strangler Fig with
up to five seen at one time. Bar-shouldered Dove have been around the Lodge grounds and at the Barramundi Farm, they are a very attractive dove.</span></span></h3>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-etT-WsFhf7k/U9SntwiMR9I/AAAAAAAAEow/W_q2--VrlDI/s1600/Bar-shouldered+Dove-8656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-etT-WsFhf7k/U9SntwiMR9I/AAAAAAAAEow/W_q2--VrlDI/s1600/Bar-shouldered+Dove-8656.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td class="tr-caption"><h3 class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Bar-shouldered Dove</b></span></span></span></span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></h3>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A single Wompoo Fruit-Dove has been
around the Lodge grounds and calling. Not much cuckoo action with
only a Fan-tailed Cuckoo heard and a Little Bronze-Cuckoo seen. Barn
Owl have been noisy with one pair having three juveniles to
feed and another pair with at least two chicks still in a nest. The
two Barking Owl which have been around on and off for the last two
years continue to be around, but not every night. Australian
Owlet-nightjar has been heard on several nights, but not seen. Papuan
Frogmouth numbers have increased to five in the immediate area with a male and female taking up residence in our orchard, so
hopefully they will stay and breed here, welcome back! This picture shows three Papuan Frogmouth roosting during the day and pretending not to look like birds.</span></span></h3>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></h3>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NeV_KeMrES0/U9SchNE1lOI/AAAAAAAAEog/Z67vgI2_Fpo/s1600/Papuan+Frogmouth-7007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NeV_KeMrES0/U9SchNE1lOI/AAAAAAAAEog/Z67vgI2_Fpo/s1600/Papuan+Frogmouth-7007.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Papuan Frogmouth</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></h3>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></h3>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rainbow
Bee-eater are still with us, but only about 12 have been recorded
which is a decrease in numbers over the last few weeks. Up to six
Double-eyed Fig-Parrot have been coming to a fruiting Cluster Fig to
feed on the green fruits. At least two pairs of Spotted Catbird are in the Lodge grounds and our neighbours Carol and Andrew's garden. This one was queuing up for a free feed at their bird feeder.</span></span></h3>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Chc3XFO3ynE/U9ScgdN1s_I/AAAAAAAAEoc/Jwo4zjIbqVE/s1600/Spotted+Catbird-7056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Chc3XFO3ynE/U9ScgdN1s_I/AAAAAAAAEoc/Jwo4zjIbqVE/s1600/Spotted+Catbird-7056.jpg" height="640" width="536" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Spotted Catbird</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our single Noisy Pitta continues to make
appearances in our orchard to the delight of our guests. 15 species
of honeyeater were recorded including at least two Black-chinned
(Golden-backed Form) were are still around. A single male
Yellow-throated Scrubwren is still with us after first being sighted a month
ago, an altitudinal migrant from the mountains behind us.
Yellow-breasted Boatbill have been showing well and coming down to
lower levels in the rainforest for good views as have the Pied
Monarch. A male Common Cicadabird was seen on a couple of morning walks, which was the first sightings for this year.</span></span><br />
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_4LN4IjZd2Q/U9Snxp_BYBI/AAAAAAAAEpA/sGyCpN-iVR0/s1600/Common+Cicadabird-2062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_4LN4IjZd2Q/U9Snxp_BYBI/AAAAAAAAEpA/sGyCpN-iVR0/s1600/Common+Cicadabird-2062.jpg" height="616" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td class="tr-caption"><h3 class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Common Cicadabird - <span style="font-size: x-small;">male</span></b></span></span></span></span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></h3>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A couple of Bower's Shrike-thrush are still around and
showing well. Australasian Figbird have been scarce over the last few weeks, but towards the end of the second week they re-appeared in flocks of 30-40. These males are eating the fruits of an Umbrella Tree in front of our units.</span></span></h3>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ywG6iStt91A/U9ScaanW81I/AAAAAAAAEoQ/hJwItjtHbmE/s1600/Australasian+Figbird-5547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ywG6iStt91A/U9ScaanW81I/AAAAAAAAEoQ/hJwItjtHbmE/s1600/Australasian+Figbird-5547.jpg" height="454" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Australasian Figbird - <span style="font-size: x-small;">male</span></span></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></h3>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></h3>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A female Shining Flycatcher flew through our neighbours
garden whilst it was cutting a corner on a bend in Bushy Creek; we
only see this species occasionally throughout the year. Another
occasional visitor was a Tawny Grassbird foraging near the entrance
to the Lodge and darting into the adjacent cane paddock. A few
Chestnut-breasted Mannikin were also foraging alongside the cane
paddock.</span></span></h3>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Further
Afield:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Numbers of Blue-faced
Parrot-Finch near Abattoir Swamp have increased from the two reported
last blog to at least five, but they are very difficult to locate. At
Abattoir Swamp our neighbour <a href="mailto:carol.iles@hotmail.com.au">Andrew
Iles</a> (bird guide) had Varied Sitella, which is uncommon at that
location. Mt. Lewis is still the place to find the 13 “Wet Tropic”
endemics with all being seen in the last two weeks – not on the
same day though! At least three Lesser Sooty Owl were seen one
evening. Just outside our 1.5km Lodge reporting area were five Purple
Swamphen foraging alongside the Rex Highway which is not a good idea!
Hopefully they will learn the error of their ways and relocate to the
nearest wetland. Square-tailed Kite has been reported in Mt. Molloy
and further north at Maryfarms. Hasties Swamp, near Atherton, has been
turning up some good waterbirds including Freckled Duck and Glossy
Ibis. A Brown Goshawk was around Euluma Creek road in Julatten one
afternoon, always nice to see this species.</span></span></h3>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Reptiles
and Mammals:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
last few weeks have been extremely good for our night walks with
plenty to see. One of the highlights was a Short-beaked Echidna which
was the first we have seen this year. Other species seen were Striped
and Green Ringtail Possum, Northern Brown and Long-nosed Bandicoot,
Fawn-footed Melomys feeding on the fruit of an orange tree in our
orchard, a brief glimpse of a Platypus in Bushy Creek and Several
Northern Leaf-tailed Gecko. A few frogs were also spotlighted –
Jungguy Frog, White-lipped Tree Frog, Roth's (Laughing) Frog, Desert
Tree Frog, Dainty Green Tree Frog, Cogger's Frog and one small Cane
Toad. Apart from those seen on the night walks we also had Bush Rat,
Giant White-tailed Rat, Eastern Horseshoe and Northern Broad-nosed
Bat, Spectacled Flying Fox a couple of Australian Scrub Python. A
large Carpet Python was over the road in the Geraghty Park hall
during a residence meeting.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thanks
to our guests for reporting sightings and to <a href="mailto:carol.iles@hotmail.com.au">Carol
and Andrew Iles</a> our roving bird guides for their input into this
weeks blog.If you need bird guiding click on their link and send an email.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<h3 align="CENTER" class="western" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Kingfisher
Park Birdwatchers Lodge Business and Property For Sale</b></span></span><br /><a href="http://www.birdwatchers.com.au/For_Sale.htm">Click
here for more sale details </a></span></span></span>
</h3>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br /><br />
</h3>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">All photos © Keith & Lindsay Fisher 2015 Have a good day - last blog post 2015 - follow https://tropicaltails.blogspot.com/ for local information</div>Keith and Lindsay Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09458044489867275514noreply@blogger.com1Julatten QLD 4871, Australia-16.6074211 145.34264210000003-16.7291696 145.18128060000004 -16.4856726 145.50400360000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4757246035198638023.post-90758047339947624242014-07-13T12:19:00.000+10:002014-07-13T12:19:05.297+10:0013th July 2014 Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<h3 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
</h3>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Weather
Report</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">The
first week was dry apart from 5mm of rain which fell over two days,
the second week was dry and sunny. Temperatures ranged from a cold
low of 9ºC up to 22ºC, very pleasant and great birding weather.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Last
Two Weeks Bird Sightings:-</span></b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">These
can be found on the Eremaea eBird site. <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=19073673">29th
June - 5th July</a><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S16945112">
</a>and <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=19073772">6th
- 12th July</a> </span></span></span></span></span>
</div>
<h3 class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The first week has 95
sightings and the second week 104.</span></span></h3>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">Birding
Highlights:-</span></span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">McDougall
Road lagoons produced a few waterbirds; Wandering Whistling-Duck,
Pacific Black Duck, Grey Teal, Hardhead, A</span><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">ustralasian
Grebe, Little Black and Little-Pied Cormorant plus Intermediate and
Great Egret plus Royal Spoonbill. Waterbirds flying over included
White-necked and White-faced Heron along with Australian Pelican. One
of the best sightings for the week was a Great-billed Heron along
Bushy Creek at the Platypus viewing area seen mid-morning whilst a
group was on a morning walk. There are some Great-billed Heron
nesting along Rifle Creek which is where Bushy Creek flows into. We
usually get a few sightings from this time of year through to
October/November. Two immature Black-shouldered Kite were in the area
and must have nested nearby. A Wedge-tailed Eagle was seen both weeks
and must have been drawn in by the large number of road kills we are
experiencing at the moment. Our two regular White-bellied Sea-Eagles
have been getting excited and are calling a lot and flying around as
well as being seen perched together in a dead tree. A Red-necked
Crake was heard once but again not seen unlike a Buff-banded Rail
which was seen near the Mt. Kooyong Nursing Home. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D6imu6-9qzs/U8HhtIW25PI/AAAAAAAAEjs/kApSWs-Y7Po/s1600/Buff-banded+Rail-0154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D6imu6-9qzs/U8HhtIW25PI/AAAAAAAAEjs/kApSWs-Y7Po/s1600/Buff-banded+Rail-0154.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Buff-banded Rail</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">The only sighting
of Topknot Pigeon was made by our neighbouring bird guide <a href="mailto:carol.iles@hotmail.com.au">Carol
Iles</a> when she saw ten flying over Mt. Kooyong Road and the Lodge.
There has been a shortage of this species so far this year.
Fan-tailed Cuckoo was around for the first week calling but not heard
or seen during the second week. Nightbirds seen have been two Barn
Owl who have at least two young in a nest, two Barking Owl who were
being chased off by a Spangled Drongo one evening and three Papuan
Frogmouth plus a Lesser Sooty Owl called about one o'clock but has
not been seen. Little Kingfisher was another highlight over the two
weeks when it made at least two visits to the Crake Pool on the edge
of the orchard. Since we have managed to get into the orchard to mow
the grass, now that it has dried out, a Noisy Pitta has said thank
you very much! It has been out everyday hopping around the orchard
foraging for everyone to see and photograph. One morning we stood in
the orchard and watched the pitta foraging with a Grey-headed Robin
on the ground whilst a Spotted Catbird and adult female Victoria's
Riflebird were foraging on the fruit of a Spondias. How good was
that? </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ceOcFTN5VFg/U8HZdAv8UpI/AAAAAAAAEjc/EPqkjFdXrsA/s1600/Spotted+Catbird-6985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ceOcFTN5VFg/U8HZdAv8UpI/AAAAAAAAEjc/EPqkjFdXrsA/s1600/Spotted+Catbird-6985.jpg" height="640" width="458" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Spotted Catbird</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Fourteen species of honeyeater were seen with three
Black-chinned Honeyeater (Golden-backed form) seen on the 8</span></span></span><sup><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">th</span></span></span></sup><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
during a morning walk being the highlight. Macleay's Honeyeater have
not been coming to the feeder so often since a South American Sapote
tree in our orchard has started to flower and attract them. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NScfVRfZZjc/U8BTY9hMvFI/AAAAAAAAEi4/VqgzWP_uPpg/s1600/Macleay%2527s+HE-6977.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NScfVRfZZjc/U8BTY9hMvFI/AAAAAAAAEi4/VqgzWP_uPpg/s1600/Macleay%2527s+HE-6977.jpg" height="400" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Macleay's Honeyeater</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Large-billed Scrubwren have been involved in a few feeding party's in
the rainforest which have also included Little (Rufous)
Shrike-thrush, Grey Whistler, Rufous Fantail and Spectacled Monarch. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"> </span></span></span></span></span>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x8DfbxDBXOw/U8BTJ56i-II/AAAAAAAAEiY/KrHQP4BM1SU/s1600/Large-billed+Scrubwren-6963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x8DfbxDBXOw/U8BTJ56i-II/AAAAAAAAEiY/KrHQP4BM1SU/s1600/Large-billed+Scrubwren-6963.jpg" height="448" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Large-billed Scrubwren</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">At
least two Bower's Shrike-thrush were foraging high in the rainforest
on the edge of the orchard one morning. This one is a female, note
bi-colour bill as mentioned in our blog of a few weeks ago. Not a
particularly good image but the bird would not come down, however it
does show the bill.</span></span></span></span><br />
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;"> </span></span></span></span></h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vtNKov4dqtk/U8BTDuGk1kI/AAAAAAAAEiI/28ktvoICH80/s1600/Bower%2527s+Shrike-thrush-6998.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vtNKov4dqtk/U8BTDuGk1kI/AAAAAAAAEiI/28ktvoICH80/s1600/Bower%2527s+Shrike-thrush-6998.jpg" height="640" width="534" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Bower's Shrike-thrush</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">Their are still a few Spangled Drongo around, one who we think always comes back to our feeder each year, hard to be sure as they all look the same!</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R54Sxy3v-D4/U2cvMo6_U_I/AAAAAAAAEUo/IkJJYJzVF8Q/s1600/Spangled+Drongo-6776.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R54Sxy3v-D4/U2cvMo6_U_I/AAAAAAAAEUo/IkJJYJzVF8Q/s1600/Spangled+Drongo-6776.jpg" height="640" width="502" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Spangled Drongo</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">Lemon-bellied
Flycatcher are still around Geraghty Park adjacent to the Lodge with
at least four seen and heard. A surprise whilst on a morning walk was
to see two Chestnut-breasted Mannikin perched on the rail around the
Geraghty Park oval with five Rainbow Bee-eater.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background: transparent;">
</span><br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Further
Afield:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Blue-faced Parrot-finch
have been seen irregularly near Abattoir Swamp with only one or two
birds. Black-throated Finch have been further north along the
Kondaparinga Road towards Hurricane Station. Mt. Lewis has been
running hot and cold but is still turning up most of the Wet Tropic
endemics including Tooth-billed Bowerbird, female Golden Bowerbird,
Fernwren, Atherton Scrubwren, Mountain Thornbill, Bridled Honeyeater,
Chowchilla, Bower's Shrike-thrush, Victoria;s Riflebird and
Grey-headed Robin. Lower down the mountain Pied Monarch and
Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo were seen. A Green-eyed Frog <i>Litoria
serrata </i><span style="font-style: normal;">was also seen by one of
our guests, this is one species we don't get on the Lodge grounds.</span></span></span></h3>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Reptiles
and Mammals:-</span></span></span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fawn-footed
Melomy's, Yellow-footed Antichinus and Bush Rat have been around the
Lodge and at the feeder near reception along with two Northern Brown
Bandicoot. Two Agile Wallaby were in the orchard one night in place
of the Red-legged Pdemelon which had retreated to the rainforest. A
Giant White-tailed Rat was seen on a night walk climbing up and down
some vines beside Bushy Creek. A few more Northern Brown Bandicoot
are being seen with at least four whilst we were on a nightwalk. A
Striped Possum was feeding in the orchard along with a second one on
the edge of the orchard chewing into a dead tree. The second photo (a male!) shows the elongated 4th finger they use to extract wood boring grubs out of dead wood after they have chewed a hole with their lower incisors; the only other animal species is known to find food like this is the Aye-aye from Madagascar. </span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zPtnxGSdIuw/U8BTPE-89dI/AAAAAAAAEio/Cbd96gMJurw/s1600/Striped+Possum-0512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zPtnxGSdIuw/U8BTPE-89dI/AAAAAAAAEio/Cbd96gMJurw/s1600/Striped+Possum-0512.jpg" height="640" width="420" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Striped Possu<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">m</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VF-GZKa09os/U8BTSAvJvaI/AAAAAAAAEiw/5XlSTDCO0AI/s1600/Striped+Possum-9976.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VF-GZKa09os/U8BTSAvJvaI/AAAAAAAAEiw/5XlSTDCO0AI/s1600/Striped+Possum-9976.jpg" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Striped Possu<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">m - <span style="font-size: x-small;">showing elongated 4th finger</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Frogs have
retreated with the dry cooler weather with only Jungguy Frog,
White-lipped Tree Frog, Desert (Red/Naked) Tree Frog, Dainty Green
Tree Frog and Cane Toad. Northern Leaf-tailed Gecko have been found
on our nightwalks in several places and our neighbours Carol and
Andrew Iles had a large Carpet Python at their place which was one of
the few snakes we have seen in a while.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Insects:-</span></span></span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> This </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Australian House Centipede <i>Allothereua maculata</i> was found on the rainforest floor and although they are supposed to be common this is the first we have seen in the Lodge grounds. They have 15 pairs of legs and run extremely quickly, this one was put into a container to get a photo before being released.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PBiklGSLxwA/U8BTGjOOx3I/AAAAAAAAEiQ/saaYP6Q93A8/s1600/Australian+House+Centipede-6874.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PBiklGSLxwA/U8BTGjOOx3I/AAAAAAAAEiQ/saaYP6Q93A8/s1600/Australian+House+Centipede-6874.jpg" height="640" width="388" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span></span></span></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Australian House Centipede</span></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thanks
to our guests for reporting sightings and to <a href="mailto:carol.iles@hotmail.com.au">Carol
and Andrew Iles</a> our roving bird guides.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>For
Sale</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">:-</span></b></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Canon
EOS 7D body + EF 100-400mm Lens. All in excellent condition with
original boxes, Instruction manual. Great bird photography outfit -
have upgraded. Only $1600.00 plus P & P. <a href="mailto:sootyowl@bigpond.com">Email</a>
interest </span></b></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<h3 align="CENTER" class="western" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;"><span style="color: red;"><b>Kingfisher
Park Birdwatchers Lodge Business and Property For Sale</b></span><br /><a href="http://www.birdwatchers.com.au/For_Sale.htm">Click
here for more sale details </a></span></span>
</h3>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.21cm;">
<br /><br />
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">All photos © Keith & Lindsay Fisher 2015 Have a good day - last blog post 2015 - follow https://tropicaltails.blogspot.com/ for local information</div>Keith and Lindsay Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09458044489867275514noreply@blogger.com0Julatten QLD 4871, Australia-16.6074211 145.34264210000003-16.7291696 145.18128060000004 -16.4856726 145.50400360000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4757246035198638023.post-68752227587526889982014-06-29T07:43:00.001+10:002014-07-08T10:51:35.067+10:0029th June 2014 Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge<h3 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.21cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
</h3>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Weather
Report</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">The
first week was rainy and overcast with 16.5mm of rain over 4 days,
but by the end of the week it had improved with the second week being
dry and sunny, fantastic weather! At last the Lodge was starting to dry out.
Temperatures ranged from a low of 14.8ºC up to 23ºC, very pleasant, perfect birding weather.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Last
Two Weeks Bird Sightings:-</span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">The first week we recorded 98 species and the second week 101, t</span><span style="background: transparent;">hese
can be found on the Eremaea eBird site. <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=18858824">15th - 21st June</a><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S16945112">
</a>and <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=18931305">22nd - 28th June</a> </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Birding
Highlights:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Wandering Whistling-Duck, Green
Pygmy-goose, Pacific Black Duck, Australasian Grebe, Little Black and
Little-Pied Cormorant and Great Egret were reported along McDougall
Road in the lagoons. An Australian Pelican was flying over the Lodge
one afternoon and a White-necked Heron was in a swampy patch of the
adjacent cane paddock, this is an occasional visitor.
Black-shouldered Kite, Swamp Harrier, Grey and Brown Goshawk, Black
and Whistling Kite, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Nankeen Kestrel and
Brown Falcon were the raptors seen. Red-necked Crake were heard, but
not seen. Brown Cuckoo-Dove have been calling and feeding on fruiting
trees in the rainforest. Fan-tailed Cuckoo have been calling every
day along with the Little (Gould's) Bronze-Cuckoo and our bird guide neighbours <a href="mailto:carol.iles@hotmail.com.au">Carol and Andrew</a> had a Shining </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Bronze-Cuckoo</span></span></span> in their garden, this is a winter visitor. Barn Owl are
calling, but not always seen as they have changed their normal routine
due to the start of the breeding season. The pair of Barking Owls
have been around most nights calling incessantly and waking everyone
up! A Lesser Sooty Owl was heard giving a single call on one night and that was all for the two weeks. Again four Papuan Frogmouth have been seen, one was perched over
the road to reception whilst on a night walk. Rainbow Bee-eater are
still with us, but their numbers appear to be decreasing so they may
be moving off. Sulphur-crested Cockatoo have whinging youngsters with
them and must be driving the parents crazy as the go all day.
Double-eyed Fig-Parrot have only been seen as fly overs and Red-wing
Parrot were seen near the Julatten School, just in our 1.5km radius
Lodge bird list area. Noisy Pitta is still being seen, usually in the
orchard or adjacent rainforest, but are not easy. Spotted Catbird are
still coming to the feeder and also seen feeding with Victoria's
Riflebird on the fallen fruit of a Spondias tree in the orchard.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iJs1tl4lZLo/U65m3q0PLUI/AAAAAAAAEcg/6bDwxOJUJ24/s1600/Victoria%27s+Riflebird-6939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iJs1tl4lZLo/U65m3q0PLUI/AAAAAAAAEcg/6bDwxOJUJ24/s1600/Victoria's+Riflebird-6939.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Victoria's Riflebird - immature male</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">14
species of honeyeater were seen over the two weeks, the highlight was
a Helmeted Friarbird which normally are common along the coast and up
onto the great divide so to see one this far inland was very unusual.
Graceful Honeyeater have also been calling and feeding on rainforest
flowers as the one below is doing. This bird is stretching itself to
get to the nectar and in doing so it is distorting the yellow ear
patch so it does not look like the field guides show. The shape of
the ear patch is naturally variable in Yellow-spotted and Graceful
and the Lewin's Honeyeater this area have an ear patch which is not quite
the defined crescent shape of the southern birds, which leads to more
confusion in identification. Best bet is to learn the calls before
you visit this region. </span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OUSrKbp1vvg/U65jaGvG7FI/AAAAAAAAEb4/o5A4xPvM6F4/s1600/Graceful+Honeyeater-6948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OUSrKbp1vvg/U65jaGvG7FI/AAAAAAAAEb4/o5A4xPvM6F4/s1600/Graceful+Honeyeater-6948.jpg" height="640" width="474" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Graceful Honeyeater</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WrL8DOnWZZQ/U65jVLj1aaI/AAAAAAAAEbw/7JoSTHzZDSQ/s1600/Graceful+Honeyeater+Head-6948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WrL8DOnWZZQ/U65jVLj1aaI/AAAAAAAAEbw/7JoSTHzZDSQ/s1600/Graceful+Honeyeater+Head-6948.jpg" height="640" width="460" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Graceful Honeyeater - <span style="font-size: x-small;">close up of head and ear patch</span></span></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">We
had the first sighting for the year of a Yellow-throated Scrubwren
(male) in the Lodge grounds on the 27<sup>th</sup> June. We usually
get one or two birds coming off the higher mountains to visit us in
the winter months which is good as they can cross the broken corridor
between us and the mountain rainforest unlike some other species like
Chowchilla. Yellow-breasted Boatbill have again been calling and
showing well as have Pied Monarch.</span></span></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LB10NZuGLfg/U65jjdyJuiI/AAAAAAAAEcI/7kurT2Tb7zE/s1600/Pied+Monarch-6929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LB10NZuGLfg/U65jjdyJuiI/AAAAAAAAEcI/7kurT2Tb7zE/s1600/Pied+Monarch-6929.jpg" height="442" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Pied Monarch</span></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">A
female Bower's Shrike-thrush has been around the Lodge grounds late
in the second week, again this is a winter visitor from higher
grounds. Female Bower's have a bone bi-colour bill unlike the adult
male who have an all dark bill. At least one male Golden Whistler
(another winter visitor) is still around the grounds and has been
calling well. A Yellow Oriole has been lurking around in the Lodge
grounds, whilst they are common on the coast they have only started
to appear here in the last 3-4 years.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sxvNOMvcMmQ/U65pus9cmKI/AAAAAAAAEcw/dkLF1ZFBkYg/s1600/Yellow+Oriole-6946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sxvNOMvcMmQ/U65pus9cmKI/AAAAAAAAEcw/dkLF1ZFBkYg/s1600/Yellow+Oriole-6946.jpg" height="554" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Yellow Oriole</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Willie
Wagtail are interesting and a common bird, but not at the Lodge all year around.
Whilst they are reported to be resident in many areas of Australia they also migrate out of some parts of Australia. Amazing how little we know
about the movements of such a common bird. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aOvJBQXtmvA/U65jq9quPjI/AAAAAAAAEcY/x16J0pk-gpM/s1600/Willie+Wagtail-6934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aOvJBQXtmvA/U65jq9quPjI/AAAAAAAAEcY/x16J0pk-gpM/s1600/Willie+Wagtail-6934.jpg" height="640" width="636" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Willie Wagtail</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">A Tawny Grassbird was
around the nearby cane paddock, a species we have not seen since
September 2013. Chestnut-breasted Mannikin were foraging around the
edge of the adjacent cane paddock one morning along with the regular
Red-browed Finch.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Further
Afield:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Black-breasted
Buzzard was seen at the Mt. Carbine Cemetery, Collared Sparrowhawk
and Satin Flycatcher were at McLeod River north of Mt. Carbine.
Pacific Baza was at the Mowbray National Park in Julatten, thanks to
Jan England for these sightings. Little Kingfisher are being seen on the Daintree River and Australian Praticole were found on the Atherton Tableland behind the Shalee Strawberry Farm on the Gillies Highway (Yungaburra to Atherton Road) at the junction of Marks Lane. A female Double-eyed Fig-Parrot
stunned itself on a window of our house in Julatten and after it was
calmed down it was put on a tree branch in the shade where it sat
until it recovered and flew away. It was looking rather sad when this photo was taken.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"></span></span></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zSt7ua4ukbI/U65jHwEJ1sI/AAAAAAAAEbQ/u0QtH7aa-Uc/s1600/D-E+Fig-Parrot+%2528F%2529-6930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zSt7ua4ukbI/U65jHwEJ1sI/AAAAAAAAEbQ/u0QtH7aa-Uc/s1600/D-E+Fig-Parrot+%2528F%2529-6930.jpg" height="570" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Double-eyed Fig-Parrot - <span style="font-size: x-small;">female</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thanks to Carol and Andrew Iles for their sightings contributions. If you need any bird guiding contact <a href="mailto:carol.iles@hotmail.com.au">Carol and Andrew</a>.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Reptiles
and Mammals:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Top
of the list this week goes to the Tree Mouse <i>Pogonomys
sp.</i>(previously known as Prehensile-tailed Rat) which was running
around on the edge of the rainforest near the reception area one
evening. Two other <i>Pogonomys</i> species occur in New Guinea but
the Australian one is thought to be an unnamed species as no
taxonomic study has shown a definite link with the other two species.
The Australian species was first recorded in 1974 at Lake Eacham on
the Atherton Tableland when a cat bought one into the Lake Eacham
Teahouse. This one stopped in the same position for over 10 minutes
whilst it was photographed contrary to published reports that it runs
around in a confused manner back and forth along tree branches when
spotlighted. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jo1-CKUXhnE/U65jm_uBBqI/AAAAAAAAEcQ/YUL4iCRGIPY/s1600/Tree+Mouse-6887.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jo1-CKUXhnE/U65jm_uBBqI/AAAAAAAAEcQ/YUL4iCRGIPY/s1600/Tree+Mouse-6887.jpg" height="596" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Tree Mouse</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Other mammals seen were Fawn-footed Melomys,
Yellow-footed Antichinus, Red-legged Pademelon, Agile Wallaby,
Eastern Horseshoe Bat, Northern Tube-nosed Bat, Bush Rat, Giant
White-tailed Rat, Striped Possum, Long-nosed and Northern Brown
Bandicoot plus Spectacled Flying Fox. Once
again we found several Northern Leaf-tailed Gecko, several of which were
showing different colour variations depending on the tree bark colour
they were on, great camouflage</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QaXWB4NXpZo/U65jhM8fyXI/AAAAAAAAEcA/_c9QPG4-_D0/s1600/Leaf-tail+Gecko-6892.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QaXWB4NXpZo/U65jhM8fyXI/AAAAAAAAEcA/_c9QPG4-_D0/s1600/Leaf-tail+Gecko-6892.jpg" height="640" width="366" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Northern Leaf-tailed Gecko</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Frogs
were good for the first week when it was wet but only a couple of
species ventured out in the second week, we recorded seven species
including Striped Marsh Frog, Jungguy Frog, Dainty Green Tree Frog
and Cogger's Frog. No Boyd's Forest Dragon and only one snake, an Australian Scrub Python, over the two
weeks which probably means they have gone into hibernation or are
less active in the cooler weather.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"><b>Fungi:-</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This Bridal Veil fungi</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b> </b>Phallus indusiatus</i> popped up along the rainforest track to the orchard. It is pollinated by flies which are attracted to it by the smell, which is like rotting meat. The cap has a brown spore containing slime which is eaten by the flies who then disperse the spores.</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> It is an edible fungus and is used in Chinese cooking as well as in medicines. If you want to find out more about this fungi follow this <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phallus_indusiatus">link.</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BTsHD4_L0f0/U65jMaym3FI/AAAAAAAAEbg/zvAcJEv_qmQ/s1600/Bridal+Veil+Fungi-6893.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BTsHD4_L0f0/U65jMaym3FI/AAAAAAAAEbg/zvAcJEv_qmQ/s1600/Bridal+Veil+Fungi-6893.jpg" height="640" width="448" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Bridal Veil Fungi</span></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"><b>New
Books:-</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Two
new books were added to our shop this week, </span></span></span></span>Finding
Australian birds: a field guide to birding locations by Tim Dolby and
Rohan Clarke. Had a quick browse through this book and it looks like
the definitive guide to get you onto great birding locations and the
birds you want to see. It is over 600 pages with plenty of maps. A
bargain at $49.95.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XP7K1Pik3Ds/U65jRuASpYI/AAAAAAAAEbo/LJN_ku0rbjE/s1600/Finding+Australian+Birds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XP7K1Pik3Ds/U65jRuASpYI/AAAAAAAAEbo/LJN_ku0rbjE/s1600/Finding+Australian+Birds.jpg" height="400" width="285" /></a></div>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The
other book is A Guide To The Cockroaches of Australia by David Rentz
who is well known to us as he lives nearby at Kuranda. This book
describes comprehensively most of the 550 described species found in
Australia, excellent descriptions, photos and maps. It is only when
you see this field guide that you can appreciate the diversity of
cockroaches in Australia, $49.95. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QdqHG-7D32Q/U65jIxbTtCI/AAAAAAAAEbY/RkGUtaUd__Y/s1600/Cockroaches+David+Rentz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QdqHG-7D32Q/U65jIxbTtCI/AAAAAAAAEbY/RkGUtaUd__Y/s1600/Cockroaches+David+Rentz.jpg" height="400" width="277" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Well
done to Tim, Rohan and David for the work and dedication needed to
bring such great books to us.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"><b>Finally:-</b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">After months of roadworks along the Mt. Molloy to Mossman road near the Bushy Creek Bridge where we were delayed by traffic lights which took for ever to change, it has been finished. This is what it looks like now. Not sure about the speed limit!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"><b> </b></span></span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M7z3-xaNYb8/U66sVGk6AEI/AAAAAAAAEdA/782CIDlByvY/s1600/Bushy+Creek+Bridge-6958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M7z3-xaNYb8/U66sVGk6AEI/AAAAAAAAEdA/782CIDlByvY/s1600/Bushy+Creek+Bridge-6958.jpg" height="356" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Mt. Molloy to Mossman Road.</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>For
Sale</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Canon
EOS 7D body + EF 100-400mm Lens. All in excellent condition with
original boxes, Instruction manual. Great bird photography outfit -
have upgraded. Only $1600.00 plus P & P. Email interest. </span></b></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<h3 align="CENTER" class="western" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Kingfisher
Park Birdwatchers Lodge Business and Property For Sale</b></span></span><br /><a href="http://www.birdwatchers.com.au/For_Sale.htm">Click
here for more sale details </a></span></span></span>
</h3>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">All photos © Keith & Lindsay Fisher 2015 Have a good day - last blog post 2015 - follow https://tropicaltails.blogspot.com/ for local information</div>Keith and Lindsay Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09458044489867275514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4757246035198638023.post-32078206704536297972014-06-15T08:19:00.000+10:002014-07-08T10:51:53.797+10:0015th June 2014 Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Weather
Report</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">The
first week was drizzle and overcast with 8.5mm of rain over 4 days,
the other three days were overcast with misty rain which did not even
register in the rain gauge. The second week was raining every day
with a total of 107.5mm making it very wet and boggy underfoot. Not
the sort of weather we expect at this time of year, luckily the sun
did appear for a few hours at the end of the second week. So after
five weeks of this drizzle and rain we have had enough!</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Last
Two Weeks Bird Sightings:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">These
can be found on the Eremaea eBird site. <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=18788187">1st - 7th June</a><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S16945112">
</a>and <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=17955626">8th - 14th June</a><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S18788282"><b></b></a></span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Birding
Highlights:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">Waterfowl
have been scarce around the Lodge with only the usual Pacific Black
Duck and a few Wandering Whistling-Duck plus a couple of Australasian
Grebe. <a href="mailto:carol.iles@hotmail.com.au">Carol Iles</a> our
resident neighbouring bird guide reported two Australian Pelican
flying over McDougall Road, which is quite unusual. Other waterbirds
included Great, Intermediate and Cattle Egret, White-faced Heron,
Australian White and Straw-necked Ibis and Royal Spoonbill. A few raptors have been around in small numbers, those seen were
Black-shouldered Kite, Brown Goshawk, Black and Whistling Kite,
White-bellied Sea-Eagle and Brown Falcon. </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sNrY9C4VCUU/U5w2f2hb0yI/AAAAAAAAEag/2pDiftj6QfU/s1600/Black+Kite-6875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sNrY9C4VCUU/U5w2f2hb0yI/AAAAAAAAEag/2pDiftj6QfU/s1600/Black+Kite-6875.jpg" height="404" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Black Kite</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">Cuckoos seen were
Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Shining Bronze-Cuckoo which was the first around
here for the year and Little (Gould's) Bronze-Cuckoo. Night birds
seen were Barn Owl, Barking Owl and Papuan Frogmouth. Scaly-breasted
Lorikeet numbers increased as the Queensland Blue Gum started to
flower and a pair of Double-eyed Fig-Parrot were seen at a nest site,
the female doing all the excavations in the tree branch. Spotted
Catbird has been a regular at the banana feeder along with Lewin's,
Yellow-spotted and Macleay's Honeyeater who have all been finding it
hard to find food in the rainy conditions. Other interesting
honeyeaters seen in the 14 species recorded were Bridled,
Black-chinned and Noisy Friarbird. Large-billed Scrubwren are
resident at the Lodge and can be found in small family groups
foraging in the rainforests, often hopping up vines. This one was
taking advantage of a fallen tree, which had a hollow filled with
water in it, to have a bath. </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c4CH9Q9m6EM/U5w0Up4-mLI/AAAAAAAAEZ0/bCpVHlKelIg/s1600/Large-billed+Scrubwren-6874.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c4CH9Q9m6EM/U5w0Up4-mLI/AAAAAAAAEZ0/bCpVHlKelIg/s1600/Large-billed+Scrubwren-6874.jpg" height="582" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Large-billed Scrubwren</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">Yellow-breasted
Boatbill have been calling and seen usually high up in the rainforest
canopy with occasional sightings lower down. The only Black
Butcherbird we saw was a brown immature bird in Geraghty Park
foraging on the ground. A few Barred Cuckoo-shrike were around the
first week but disappeared in the second, they are very nomadic.
Australasian Figbird have been finding plenty to eat around the Lodge
grounds with over 100 in the orchard one morning. Northern Fantail
have joined the Rufous and Grey Fantails flitting around the Lodge in
search of insects. Both Spectacled and Pied Monarch have been active,
calling and foraging. A male Leaden Flycatcher seen in Geraghty Park
was the only one seen over the two weeks, no sign of any females. The
pair of female Victoria's Riflebird reported in the last blog are
still getting around the Lodge together and also calling.
Lemon-bellied Flycatcher have been foraging in Geraghty Park with
three seen on one morning walk, they come and go quite regularly from
our area. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rFbJwBI8ug4/U5w1Stay4pI/AAAAAAAAEaA/0y7ypGjTmu0/s1600/Lemon-bellied+Flycatcher-6882.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rFbJwBI8ug4/U5w1Stay4pI/AAAAAAAAEaA/0y7ypGjTmu0/s1600/Lemon-bellied+Flycatcher-6882.jpg" height="540" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Lemon<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">-bellied Flycatcher</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">Mistletoebird have been very active especially the males,
we saw one consuming a mistletoe fruit in Geraghty Park, another
foraging near the Lodge entrance and two in our neighbours garden.
Australasian Pipit have been foraging around the very wet and soggy
cane paddocks.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Further
Afield:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">Several
Lesser Sootyowl have been seen on Mt. Lewis over the past two weeks.
Golden Bowerbird has also been seen here but only juveniles of
females, no males sighted. Lake Mitchell between Mt. Molloy and
Mareeba has been good for Cotton Pygmy-goose with a few sightings in
amongst the Green Pygmy-goose. Squatter Pigeon have been seen in the
township of Mt. Molloy, not far from the main street.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Reptiles
and Mammals:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">We
did manage a night walk on the only dry night of the past week which
was well worth the effort. We saw Two Barn Owl, two Red-legged
Pademelon, two Bush Rat, three Leaf-tailed Gecko, all in new
locations, two Striped Possum – both heard, but only one seen,
several Spectacled Flying-fox, Giant White-tailed Rat, five species
of frog – Jungguy Frog, White-lipped Tree Frog, Desert (Red) Tree
Frog, Dainty Green Tree Frog and Cogger's Frog. They liked the wet
weather. </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n1Q0-burWxY/U5zIwKV4zaI/AAAAAAAAEa8/Mqn89PQGoj4/s1600/Dainty+Green+Tree+Frog-2812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n1Q0-burWxY/U5zIwKV4zaI/AAAAAAAAEa8/Mqn89PQGoj4/s1600/Dainty+Green+Tree+Frog-2812.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Dainty Green Tree Frog</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">Other mammals seen included Fawn-footed Melomys and Agile
Wallaby, other reptiles recorded included Boyd's Forest Dragon and
Eastern Water Dragon. </span></span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">One
of our guests photographed this bat which we think is a Little
Bentwing Bat but cannot be sure. The other common microbat around
here is a Northern Broad-nosed Bat. Maybe there is someone more
experience with bats has a better idea? If so please leave a comment.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-16AKm9UZyqs/U5w5QTnow8I/AAAAAAAAEao/OX0qLNbtbaM/s1600/Microbat-4050243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-16AKm9UZyqs/U5w5QTnow8I/AAAAAAAAEao/OX0qLNbtbaM/s1600/Microbat-4050243.jpg" height="540" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> Unknown Bat</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thanks to Carol and Andrew Iles</span> for their sightings contributions. If you need any bird guiding contact <a href="mailto:carol.iles@hotmail.com.au">Carol and Andrew</a>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>For Sale</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">:-</span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Canon EOS 7D body + EF 100-400mm Lens. All in excellent condition with original boxes, Instruction manual. Great bird photography outfit - have upgraded. Only $1600.00 plus P & P. <a href="mailto:sootyowl@bigpond.com">Email</a> interest </span></b></span></span><br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: red;">Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge Business
and Property For Sale</span></b><br />
<a href="http://www.birdwatchers.com.au/For_Sale.htm">Click here for more sale details </a></span></h3>
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">All photos © Keith & Lindsay Fisher 2015 Have a good day - last blog post 2015 - follow https://tropicaltails.blogspot.com/ for local information</div>Keith and Lindsay Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09458044489867275514noreply@blogger.com0Julatten QLD 4871, Australia-16.6074211 145.34264210000003-16.7291696 145.18128060000004 -16.4856726 145.50400360000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4757246035198638023.post-74348120996705245922014-06-01T11:09:00.000+10:002014-06-01T15:29:25.377+10:001st June 2014 Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Weather
Report</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Mixed
weather over the last two weeks, mainly drizzle with a few sunny days
but temperatures were kept low only getting up to 24ºC. The first
week we had 29mm of rain and the second week some rain fell with 10mm
on four rainy days, again as in the previous two weeks just enough to
be annoying.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Last
Two Weeks Bird Sightings:-</span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">The first week had 84 species and second week 94 species. </span><b><span style="background: transparent;"><br /></span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Species lists can be found on the Eremaea eBird site. <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S18640211">18th - 24th May </a><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S18580533"></a>and <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=1840211">25th - 31st May</a><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S16945112">
</a></span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Birding
Highlights:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">A
single Australasian Grebe was along McDougall Road, a first for two
months. Also along here were over 300 Cattle Egret who roost in the
trees around the lagoon. A Black-breasted Buzzard was seen by one of
our guests over Geraghty Park, this was the second time in a few
weeks one has been seen in the area. Red-necked Crake have only been
heard and not seen, the area they were frequenting has now dried up
and they have gone further into the rainforest. Fan-tailed Cuckoo
arrived back from southern parts of Australia on 27</span></span></span><sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">th</span></span></span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">
May with at least three birds calling around the Lodge. Lesser Sooty
Owl was heard but not seen, probably due to the pair of Barking Owl
who were around the Lodge grounds every night keeping it away. One
Barn Owl was seen in a nest tree which may mean they are getting
ready to breed again as it is the right time of year. At least four
Papuan Frogmouth have been seen in the area and an Australian
Owlet-nightjar heard calling one night. Double-eyed Fig-Parrot were
seen digging out a nest hole in a tree but the branch it was in broke
off and they have not been back since. A pair of Red-winged Parrot
were seen near the Julatten school (just in our 1.5km Lodge area) by
</span></span></span><a href="mailto:carol.iles@hotmail.com.au">Carol
Iles</a><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">
our neighbouring bird guide. This is about the closest they come to
the Lodge apart from a couple of sightings in Geraghty Park. Spotted
Catbird are still coming to the feeder in the morning and also
feeding on the fruit of a Soursop tree in our orchard. Red-backed
Fairy-wren have been seen along McDougall Road, usually sitting on
the fences. 12 species of honeyeater over the two weeks, including
Scarlet, White-cheeked and Macleay's. The Macleay's Honeyeater have
been hogging the bird feeder and chasing off the Lewin,
Yellow-spotted and Graceful Honeyeater. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--bzjuhY-FVk/U4mr7xA_81I/AAAAAAAAEYE/oy0PFVVqk2s/s1600/Macleay%2527s+HE-6860.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--bzjuhY-FVk/U4mr7xA_81I/AAAAAAAAEYE/oy0PFVVqk2s/s1600/Macleay%2527s+HE-6860.jpg" height="546" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Macleay's Honeyeater</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">Yellow-breasted Boatbill
continue to call and be very active so they are being seen regularly.
Barred Cuckoo-shrike have been calling and around in small numbers as
have Varied Triller. </span></span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">Little
(Rufous) Shrike-thrush have been very active and calling a lot, they are common residents around the Lodge and are
not to be confused with the Bower's Shrike-thrush. The Bower's are
normally resident up on the mountains behind us and can be seen
usually above 600m on Mt. Lewis, we are only 430m which is within the
range of the Little who can be found up to 600m. Bower's do come down
in the winter months but we only see one or two. Bower's has more obvious striations on throat and
breast, also their bill is black (adult male and older immature
males) or grey/black (adult and immature females as well as immature
males) whereas Little have a pinkish-brown/grey bill and a light coloured eye-ring. Bower's have
dark grey back and head, the little have olive-brown, although we
have seen a few little with quite grey back and rumps. There are seven
sub-species of Little Shrike-thrush in Australia, the one found here
is </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><i><span style="background: transparent;">giseata.
</span></i></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">All
these sub-species have plumage variation with the sexes being
similar. </span></span></span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BNLJz4ruXu8/U4mr2EpMOMI/AAAAAAAAEX0/DjbAdCsPjXU/s1600/Little+Shrike-thrush-6866.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BNLJz4ruXu8/U4mr2EpMOMI/AAAAAAAAEX0/DjbAdCsPjXU/s1600/Little+Shrike-thrush-6866.jpg" height="462" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Little (Rufous) Shrike-thrush</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I2B1kpqZ11Q/U4pYYBccj4I/AAAAAAAAEYs/SEv0fxzyOpo/s1600/Bower%27s+Shrike-thrush-2007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I2B1kpqZ11Q/U4pYYBccj4I/AAAAAAAAEYs/SEv0fxzyOpo/s1600/Bower's+Shrike-thrush-2007.jpg" height="404" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Bower's Shrike-thrush</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">At
least one male Golden Whistler is still around the Lodge and has been
joined by a Yellow Oriole which is more a species of the coast in our
region but has been creeping into our area over the last few years. A
few Spangled Drongo are still around but the majority of them have
gone further north. Pied Monarch have become more active and are
calling as have at least two female Victoria's Riflebird who have
been getting around the Lodge together. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Further
Afield:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/null" name="AllReportsList"></a>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">A
Spotted Harrier was seen over the adjacent cane paddock by our
neighbour Carol Iles and was probably the same one we saw a few weeks
earlier at the same location. A (Common) Cicadabird was calling along
Euluma Creek Road in Julatten, unusual for this time of year. On 28</span></span></span></span></span><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">th</span></span></span></span></span></sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
May Del Richards from<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.finefeathertours.com.au/">Fine
Feather Tours</a><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
reported a Brown Songlark (f</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">emale)
at Maryfarms, north of Mt. Molloy. It w</span>as perched on a fence with a
female White-winged Triller and Black-faced Woodswallow. This
was a first sighting for him since the 2002 drought. Both Brown
Songlark and Black-faced Woodswallow are uncommon at this location. </span></span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Reptiles
and Mammals:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">At
least three Red-legged Pademelon are still around the Lodge grounds
after one was taken by an Australian Scrub Python. Two species of bat
recorded for this period, they were Large-footed Myotis (fish eating
bat) and Northern Broad-nosed Bat. Striped Possum were seen, one was
in our neighbours garden, another was seen late in the second week jumping around the trees near the Lodge reception. The persistent drizzle was to the frogs
liking with Jungguy Frog, White-lipped Tree Frog, Roth's Tree Frog,
Desert (Red) Tree Frog, Cogger's Frog, Dainty Green Tree Frog and Cane Toad.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-48wIyiWRj7A/U4mrryx4-YI/AAAAAAAAEXk/dCN74cam2Ds/s1600/Coggers+Frog-6832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-48wIyiWRj7A/U4mrryx4-YI/AAAAAAAAEXk/dCN74cam2Ds/s1600/Coggers+Frog-6832.jpg" height="436" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Cogger's Frog</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">An
adult Northern Leaf-tailed Gecko was spotlighted on a tree in the
rainforest and an immature one, only 60mm in length, was rescued from the amenities block
and released back into the rainforest. This is the first time we had
seen an immature Leaf-tailed Gecko, which as you can see from the
photos is very cute and very well camouflaged.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wevz0UXZfpY/U4mrzjw3mzI/AAAAAAAAEXs/Xo_xYJjZbSM/s1600/Leaf-tailed+Gecko+-+immature-6835.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wevz0UXZfpY/U4mrzjw3mzI/AAAAAAAAEXs/Xo_xYJjZbSM/s1600/Leaf-tailed+Gecko+-+immature-6835.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Northern Leaf-tailed Gecko - <span style="font-size: x-small;">immature</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">This</span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">tree-dwelling nocturnal
species relies on its camouflaged appearance to avoid discovery by
predators. They are found in rainforests, wet sclerophyll forests,
rocks and on the forest floor at night. We have found them on the
floor where they run with their tail up in the air. During the day
they are hiding behind loose bark or tree crevices. At night they
come out and perch head down on large trees in the rainforest or on
our orchard trees, we usually find them between 1-3m from the ground.
They mainly eat large invertebrates such as Katydid, Cricket,
Cockroach and Spider. Breeding season is usually just before the "Wet
Season" in October or November when the females lay one or two
soft-shelled eggs in moist soil or leaf litter. After about three
months the young hatch and have to start catching insects straight
away. They don't reach adulthood until two years and go on to live
for about nine years. </span></span>
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Australian
Scrub Python were seen in our neighbours garden, this one had just
had a meal and was looking to rest up somewhere. Judging by the bulge
in it's body it must have eaten something at least as big as a
White-tailed Rat. This close up of it's head has a mosquito on it,
they are not fussy who they get their blood from!</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4i5zIOOzDl4/U4mrmVBDMmI/AAAAAAAAEXU/bHVDFB7ZDxQ/s1600/Australian+Scrub+Python-6870.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4i5zIOOzDl4/U4mrmVBDMmI/AAAAAAAAEXU/bHVDFB7ZDxQ/s1600/Australian+Scrub+Python-6870.jpg" height="550" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Australian Scrub Python</span></span></span></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Finally
whilst our neighbour Carol was guiding one of our guests on Mt. Lewis
recently they came across this Queensland Blue Earthworm
</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Terriswalkeris
terraereginae </i></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">an invertebrate </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">which
can grow up to 2 meters. We've only seen one which is not surprising
as they only come to the surface after heavy rains when they are disturbed from their burrows. This image was taken by Ross Monks -thanks Ross.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"> </span></span></span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kpc3jyX32Ck/U4pU_5cUnaI/AAAAAAAAEYg/kKIvxPNXkHo/s1600/Queensland+Blue+Earthworm-4259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kpc3jyX32Ck/U4pU_5cUnaI/AAAAAAAAEYg/kKIvxPNXkHo/s1600/Queensland+Blue+Earthworm-4259.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Queensland Blue Earthworm</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thanks to <a href="mailto:carol.iles@hotmail.com.au">Carol and Andrew Iles</a> our neighbouring bird guides for helping compile the weekly species list</span></span>.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Abattoir Swamp:-</span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Abattoir Swamp is about 6km from the Lodge and is a good birding area but unfortunately the boardwalk to the bird hide has collapsed and the local Mareeba Shire Council have told us that they have no money to repair it at the moment. We had sent them a summary of birds and the importance of this facility to birdwatchers and local businesses but this did not make any difference to their decision to close the boardwalk apart from making them aware. They did say they would look at it in the future. The car park is a good birding spot so it is still worth stopping here.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yr1SjyTtMHY/U4pzSG9FTSI/AAAAAAAAEY8/YZx91VcU9YY/s1600/Abattoir+Swamp-0166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yr1SjyTtMHY/U4pzSG9FTSI/AAAAAAAAEY8/YZx91VcU9YY/s1600/Abattoir+Swamp-0166.jpg" height="566" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Abattoir Swamp Boardwalk</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JhXaE650OGs/U4pzYdPOnVI/AAAAAAAAEZE/k_QJc__mAvA/s1600/Abattoir+Swamp-0167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JhXaE650OGs/U4pzYdPOnVI/AAAAAAAAEZE/k_QJc__mAvA/s1600/Abattoir+Swamp-0167.jpg" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Abattoir Swamp Boardwalk - damage</b></span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: red;">Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge Business
and Property For Sale</span></b><br />
<a href="http://www.birdwatchers.com.au/For_Sale.htm">Click here for more sale details </a></span></h3>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">All photos © Keith & Lindsay Fisher 2015 Have a good day - last blog post 2015 - follow https://tropicaltails.blogspot.com/ for local information</div>Keith and Lindsay Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09458044489867275514noreply@blogger.com0Julatten QLD 4871, Australia-16.6074211 145.34264210000003-16.7291696 145.18128060000004 -16.4856726 145.50400360000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4757246035198638023.post-17879034247799687652014-05-18T16:33:00.000+10:002014-05-27T18:49:33.319+10:0018th May 2014 Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Weather
Report</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Mixed
weather over the last two weeks, we have have some fantastic sunny
days with temperatures only getting up to 24ºC. The first week was
dry, but the second week some rain fell with 18mm on six rainy days,
just enough to be annoying.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Birding
Highlights:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">A
pair of Cotton Pygmy-goose have been coming and going from one of the
lagoons along McDougall Road, not a common species in our area.
Bar-shouldered Dove have been displaying and calling, always nice to
see this attractive dove even though it is very common.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0rEryYCeXdw/U3g5atFAAuI/AAAAAAAAEVc/l6G_YYSHVp4/s1600/Bar-shouldered+Dove-6828.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0rEryYCeXdw/U3g5atFAAuI/AAAAAAAAEVc/l6G_YYSHVp4/s1600/Bar-shouldered+Dove-6828.jpg" height="640" width="502" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Bar-shouldered Dove</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">A
small flock of 8 Topknot Pigeon flew over the Lodge whilst we were on
a morning walk; this is the first sighting for 13 weeks. A lone
female Papuan Frogmouth showed up in the orchard for a day which was
something for the Pale-yellow Robin to harass for most of the day,
presumably the same bird was seen perching in front of the
accommodation units on 17<sup>th</sup> May. This bird was not one of
the family of three which are still in the area and seen roosting
away from the Lodge. A Great Cormorant turned up along McDougall
Road, another uncommon bird in the area. A Black-breasted Buzzard was
along Euluma Creek Road near the Julatten School and a Square-tailed
Kite was seen to fly over the Lodge. White-bellied Sea-Eagle have
been displaying and calling a lot and maybe going to nest nearby.
Great to see a Spotted Harrier over a cane paddock whilst we were on
a morning walk late in the second week as this is an uncommon visitor.
A single Purple Swamphen was along McDougall Road, another uncommon
visitor. Red-necked Crake have been seen both weeks, on one occasion
an adult was seen with an immature, good to know at least one of the
three chicks is surviving. A pair of Scaly-breasted Lorikeet appeared at the feeder one afternoon much to our surprise as we have only seen them here once in nine years.</span></span></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4-odGyiMrWE/U3hDmJRogfI/AAAAAAAAEWo/wfAJbwzzMq0/s1600/Scaly-breasted+Lorikeet-0635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4-odGyiMrWE/U3hDmJRogfI/AAAAAAAAEWo/wfAJbwzzMq0/s1600/Scaly-breasted+Lorikeet-0635.jpg" height="570" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Scaly-breasted Lorikeet</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Double-eyed Fig-Parrot have been taking
advantage of a couple of fruiting fig trees, up to four have been
regularly seen. On the same morning walk when the Spotted Harrier was
seen a single male Australian King-Parrot flew across the Lodge
grounds calling, this was a first sighting for the year at the Lodge.
Barking Owl are still around and calling close to the reception area,
one was seen perched in a Queensland Blue Gum near the entrance to
the Lodge. Lesser Sooty Owl was seen in the Lodge grounds by Klaus
Uhlenhut from <a href="http://www.kirrama.com.au/">Kirrama
WildlifeTours</a> and his guests late in the second week. Barn Owl,
who are probably thinking of nesting by now, have been calling and
seen. Azure Kingfisher have been along Bushy Creek and both Laughing
and Blue-winged Kookaburra have been regularly seen. Noisy Pitta are
around the Lodge grounds, but more often heard rather than seen; there
was one sighting of two birds. Two Spotted Catbird have started to
come to the feeder in the mornings to eat banana, better than eating
baby birds! The same 12 species of honeyeater have been seen over the
two weeks, these included Bridled and Scarlet Honeyeater who are not
regulars. Barred Cuckoo-shrike have been lured back by the same fig
trees that the Double-eyed Fig-Parrot have been in and have been
joined by a couple of White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike. Of course there
have also been 100's of Australasian Figbird fighting over the figs
as well. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2xrVWNLcabQ/U3g5ZRK1VLI/AAAAAAAAEVY/-yILfLvOaQk/s1600/Australasian+Figbird+%2528M%2529-6824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2xrVWNLcabQ/U3g5ZRK1VLI/AAAAAAAAEVY/-yILfLvOaQk/s1600/Australasian+Figbird+%2528M%2529-6824.jpg" height="640" width="536" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Australasian Figbird - <span style="font-size: x-small;">male</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">A
single male Golden Whistler was seen on the 6<sup>th</sup> May, this
was the first for two years as none came down off the mountains last
year to visit the Lodge. Grey and Rufous Whistler have also been seen and are very
vocal. A Yellow Oriole has been seen and heard over the past two
weeks, they are not resident and presumably come up from the coast
where they are very common. A Pied Currawong flew over the Lodge one
morning and was seen by <a href="mailto:carol.iles@hotmail.com.au">Carol
Iles</a>, bird guide. Rufous and Grey Fantail numbers continue to
increase as southern migrants arrive. Pied Monarch and
Yellow-breasted Boatbill have been calling and seen regularly,
especially the boatbill. At least two female Victoria's Riflebird
have been foraging in the Lodge grounds and coming to the bird baths
in the afternoon. Silvereye have been around in small to large groups
(50+), very busy birds as they move through the forest. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lfCwVLulHy8/U3g5hMARbHI/AAAAAAAAEV8/_poFOyoNzUA/s1600/Silvereye-6830.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lfCwVLulHy8/U3g5hMARbHI/AAAAAAAAEV8/_poFOyoNzUA/s1600/Silvereye-6830.jpg" height="640" width="624" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Silvereye</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Immature
Metallic Starling are still around, which is very late for them, our
birds have usually gone north by now. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Further
Afield:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">A
flock of 8 Topknot Pigeon were seen flying over Euluma Creek Road,
Julatten at the beginning of May. Also along Euluma Creek Road was
Eastern Yellow Robin (uncommon) and a Buff-banded Rail which appear
to be becoming scarce in our area. A Sacred Kingfisher was seen in
Mount Molloy (uncommon) and Maryfarms north of Mount Molloy had some
Black-faced Woodswallow and White-winged Triller. Mt. Lewis continues
to be good for birds with Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo heard on the lower
slopes along with one Blue-faced Parrot-Finch. Higher up the mountain
a male Golden Bowerbird was seen in company with a brown
immature/female bird. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">One of our herpetologist friends in Julatten</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">, Grant, </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">sent
us this photo of a Large-tailed Nightjar perching in a tree along his
driveway at the end of April. This record is interesting as there are
very few records around here in April and this species is not often seen
perching in trees. We have never seen one in a tree and local
ornithologist <a href="http://www.birdingaustralia.com.au/">Lloyd Nielsen</a> said he had only seen it once although he
had seen them on fence posts. They are normally ground dwellers.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kbtki8poca4/U3g-FVMzkNI/AAAAAAAAEWU/9IyDna2d2Xk/s1600/Large-tailed+Nightjar-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kbtki8poca4/U3g-FVMzkNI/AAAAAAAAEWU/9IyDna2d2Xk/s1600/Large-tailed+Nightjar-1.jpg" height="640" width="562" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Large-tailed Nightjar</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Thanks
to <a href="mailto:carol.iles@hotmail.com.au">Carol and Andrew Iles</a>
our local bird guiding neighbours for contributing to the bird lists.
Please email <a href="mailto:carol.iles@hotmail.com.au">Carol</a> if you need any local guiding.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Reptiles
and Mammals:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Fawn-footed
Melomys have been visiting our neighbours, Carol and Andrew, whilst
a Yellow-footed Antichinus was visiting us in our office. Red-legged
Pademelon have established themselves in the Lodge grounds and can
usually be seen early morning or at night foraging in the orchard
area. One of our guests, Adrian, put out a camera overnight at the
feeder to see what came in. Most action occurred in the early hours
of the morning when Bush Rat and White-tailed Rat showed at the
feeder. Northern Brown Bandicoot have started to re-appear and a
juvenile Striped Possum was seen on a night walk. Several Northern
Leaf-tailed Gecko have been seen around the rainforest and only one
snake seen when our neighbours disturbed a Small-eyed Snake. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"> </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zbgzP9kGUwQ/U3g5b6e206I/AAAAAAAAEVk/mxLPRQwf-3Y/s1600/Leaf-tailed+Gecko-6683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zbgzP9kGUwQ/U3g5b6e206I/AAAAAAAAEVk/mxLPRQwf-3Y/s1600/Leaf-tailed+Gecko-6683.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Northern Leaf-tailed Gecko</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Boyd's
Forest Dragon returned to the reception area after being away for
about 10 days and got straight into the banana on the feeder. Frogs
have been a bit scarce with the drier weather but we have seen
Jungguy Frog, White-lipped Tree Frog, Dainty Green Tree Frog as well
as these Desert (Red) Tree Frog who were trying to get into a hole
in the amenities wall. This species is also known as Naked Frog for obvious reasons!</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FvIuUJWX32k/U3g5fcdNvQI/AAAAAAAAEV0/KtSHu4IdL84/s1600/Litoria+Rubella+-+Red+Tree+Frog-6688.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FvIuUJWX32k/U3g5fcdNvQI/AAAAAAAAEV0/KtSHu4IdL84/s1600/Litoria+Rubella+-+Red+Tree+Frog-6688.jpg" height="572" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Desert Tree Frog</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Also
seen was this Roth's (Laughing) Tree Frog, which was found in the
reception area covered in fluff and cleaned off before being released
outside.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PHr-_dVxf8k/U3g5dYWGtjI/AAAAAAAAEVs/Ka6Gh9mWlkE/s1600/Litoria+Rothi+-++Laughing+Frog-6697.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PHr-_dVxf8k/U3g5dYWGtjI/AAAAAAAAEVs/Ka6Gh9mWlkE/s1600/Litoria+Rothi+-++Laughing+Frog-6697.jpg" height="414" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Roth's Tree Frog</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Bats:-</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Two
of our guests Paul and David spent a few hours during the night chasing
bats on Mt. Lewis, these are the ones they identified.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Eastern Long-eared Bat <i>Nyctophilus bifax</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Eastern Forest Bat<i> Vespadelus pumilus</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Little Bent-winged Bat <i>Miniopterus australis</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Eastern Horseshoe Bat <i>Rhinolophus megaphyllus</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Eastern Blossom Bat <i>Syconicteris australis</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Flute-nosed Bat<i> Murina florium</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Go Gunners! Sat up and watched Arsenal win the FA Cup - about time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: red;">Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge Business
and Property For Sale</span></b><br />
<a href="http://www.birdwatchers.com.au/For_Sale.htm">Click here for more sale details </a></h3>
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">All photos © Keith & Lindsay Fisher 2015 Have a good day - last blog post 2015 - follow https://tropicaltails.blogspot.com/ for local information</div>Keith and Lindsay Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09458044489867275514noreply@blogger.com0Julatten QLD 4871, Australia-16.6074211 145.34264210000003-16.7291696 145.18128060000004 -16.4856726 145.50400360000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4757246035198638023.post-564826417404789542014-05-05T21:59:00.000+10:002014-05-05T21:59:39.303+10:003rd May 2014 Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Weather
Report</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">The
first week was quite wet with 71.5mm of rain falling, just to keep
the ground sodden. However the second week was absolutely glorious,
no rain, cooler temperatures down to18ºC and up to 27ºC. The
humidity also dropped from the mid 90% to 62%</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Last
Two Weeks Bird Sightings:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">These
can be found on the Eremaea eBird site for <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S18209892"> 20th - 26th April</a> and <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S18209917">27th - 3rd May</a><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S16945112">
</a></span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Birding
Highlights:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">An
uncommon visitor was a Pied Currawong seen by our neighbour and local
bird guide <a href="mailto:carol.iles@hotmail.com.au">Carol Iles</a> flying past her house and heading for the Mt.
Lewis Range. We only get one or two sightings, but not every year.
Looks like most of the summer migratory species have left as we have
not seen Buff-breasted Paradise-Kingfisher since the 21<sup>st</sup>
April or Black-faced Monarch since 27<sup>th</sup> April. Dollarbird
have also not been seen for a week, but flocks of up to 80+ immature
Metallic Starling are still with us. Waterbirds have been scarce with
the highlight a Nankeen Night Heron along McDougall Road. Australian
White Ibis have been hanging around the Barramundi Farm along with a
pair of White-bellied Sea-Eagle. Other raptors seen were Whistling
and Black Kite, Brown Goshawk and Collared Sparrowhawk. Red-necked
Crake have not been so obvious over the last week with no sightings,
only heard, also Pale-vented Bush-hen have gone quiet and not been
seen for nearly a week. This one is about 3 months old.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SIcUmJ4wVyY/U2cu9fThX2I/AAAAAAAAEUg/lUjdJIwSpgM/s1600/Pale-vented+Bush-hen+-+immature-6726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SIcUmJ4wVyY/U2cu9fThX2I/AAAAAAAAEUg/lUjdJIwSpgM/s1600/Pale-vented+Bush-hen+-+immature-6726.jpg" height="444" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Pale-vented Bush-hen</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Bush
Stone-curlew are around the area which has some good bush but these
three choose to roost during the day in amongst junk at the rear of
the local nursing home. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"> </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZDMJMUrqD0Y/U2cu1ROHbkI/AAAAAAAAEUA/R5_tiWBfUXk/s1600/Bush+Stone-curlew-6648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZDMJMUrqD0Y/U2cu1ROHbkI/AAAAAAAAEUA/R5_tiWBfUXk/s1600/Bush+Stone-curlew-6648.jpg" height="392" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Bush Stone-curlew</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ocassionally they do go to more pleasant surrounds</span> as below.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4XoBKkba_p4/U2cu3LSUjvI/AAAAAAAAEUI/69FNd6MKO40/s1600/Bush+Stone-curlew-6770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4XoBKkba_p4/U2cu3LSUjvI/AAAAAAAAEUI/69FNd6MKO40/s1600/Bush+Stone-curlew-6770.jpg" height="418" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Bush Stone-curlew</b></span></span></div>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Double-eyed
Fig-Parrot have been feeding in a couple of fruiting fig trees,
mainly female and juveniles. Barking Owl have been around for most of
the last two weeks, calling and seen a few times. Azure Kingfisher
have been zipping up and down Bushy Creek or fishing in the Crake
Pool. Rainbow Bee-eater have been around in groups and roosting in
nearby trees. Spotted Catbird have started to come back to the feeder
for banana as have the honeyeaters, mainly Yellow-spotted, Graceful,
Blue-faced and Macleay's. Grey Fantail arrived back at the beginning
of May with at least two calling. Pied Monarch have been around, but
not calling much whereas Yellow-breasted Boatbill have been very
vocal. Victoria's Riflebird (female) has been seen in the Lodge
grounds and in Geraghty Park picking off bark looking for insects.
Pale-yellow Robin are always favorites with our guests as they are so confiding and cute (and easy to photograph!)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"><br /></span></span></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Eb_i73hH5U0/U2cvOC5OrCI/AAAAAAAAEUw/if13Egv5FXw/s1600/Pale-yellow+Robin-6762.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Eb_i73hH5U0/U2cvOC5OrCI/AAAAAAAAEUw/if13Egv5FXw/s1600/Pale-yellow+Robin-6762.jpg" height="640" width="504" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Pale-yellow Robin</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Olive-backed Sunbird have been busy feeding on some of the flowering gingers.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2sESp1JUPGA/U2cu7l8mCKI/AAAAAAAAEUY/mcz94I17uNQ/s1600/Olive-backed+Sunbird-6800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2sESp1JUPGA/U2cu7l8mCKI/AAAAAAAAEUY/mcz94I17uNQ/s1600/Olive-backed+Sunbird-6800.jpg" height="400" width="372" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Olive-backed Sunbird</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Chestnut-breasted Mannikin where seen collecting nesting material
along Mt. Kooyong Road.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Further
Afield:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Mt.
Lewis still had a few Blue-faced Parrot-Finch in the 10km clearing at
the beginning of May, but more were seen further down the mountain
about 1-2 km from the bottom of the road. Other birds reported from
the lower slopes of Mt. Lewis included Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo,
White-eared Monarch and a male Victoria's Riflebird. <a href="mailto:carol.iles@hotmail.com.au">Carol and Andrew Iles</a> reported some good birds along Quaid's Road opposite Lake
Mitchell (between Mareeba and Mt. Molloy), they included Banded
Honeyeater, Noisy Miner who only occur in a few isolated areas in Far
North Queensland, and flocks of Striated Pardalote. They also heard Grey
Butcherbird, Pied Currawong and Northern Fantail. Euluma Creek Road
in Julatten had an Australian Hobby and Brown Falcon plus
White-headed Pigeon and Wompoo Fruit-Dove. Ferrero Road, near Port
Douglas, had 28 adult Magpie Goose plus one juvenile with them. A
55 minute visit to Cattana Wetlands in Cairns turned up 32 species
including an adult Wandering Whistling-Duck with five ducklings,
three Australian Pelican soaring overhead, good views of at least 10
Double-eyed Fig-Parrot and a rather scruffy Little Pied Cormorant. Yorkey's Knob Lagoon at the golf course has been progressively modified over the
years with the island being joined to the mainland and trees removed and this has caused a drop in species using it. We did see an
Australasian Darter carrying nesting material into one of the
remaining trees, and a Buff-banded Rail heading into mangroves. The
area along the back of the Yorkey's Knob Beach has some good
vegetation with many species using it including Rose-crowned
Fruit-Dove (thanks to Tony Neilson for supplying the photo below), </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"> </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oDlFc8Fki7s/U2cyYlEOquI/AAAAAAAAEU4/0rznDpbUyJk/s1600/Rose-crowned+fruit+dove%C2%A9TN.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oDlFc8Fki7s/U2cyYlEOquI/AAAAAAAAEU4/0rznDpbUyJk/s1600/Rose-crowned+fruit+dove%C2%A9TN.jpeg" height="640" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Rose-crowned
Fruit-Dove</span></span></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Lovely
Fairy-wren, Black Butcherbird and several pairs of Olive-backed
Sunbird. This immature Helmeted Friarbird was interesting for the
amount of bare skin around the eye which extended to the bill,
unfortunately the sun cast a shadow from the branch over the birds face.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GAL-e9AEkqk/U2cu50WDrNI/AAAAAAAAEUQ/4pJobmBl_zA/s1600/Helmeted+Friarbird+-+immature-6777.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GAL-e9AEkqk/U2cu50WDrNI/AAAAAAAAEUQ/4pJobmBl_zA/s1600/Helmeted+Friarbird+-+immature-6777.jpg" height="640" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"><b>Helmeted Friarbird</b></span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Reptiles
and Mammals:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">A
Bush Rat appeared at our feeder after an absence of about 2 months,
hopefully more have survived the two Barking Owl which have been
hanging around the area. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Frogs
have been around in small numbers with Jungguy Frog, White-lipped
Green Tree Frog, Roth's (Laughing) Frog, Desert (Red) Tree Frog,
Dainty Green Tree Frog and Cane Toad being seen plus Striped Marsh
frog only heard. Boyd's Forest Dragon have been hiding with only one
or two appearances, Eastern Water Dragon have been regularly along
Bushy Creek and Major Skink have also been showing.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Bats have been roosting under our neighbours
Carol and Andrew's house, we have seen Northern Broad-nosed Bat,
Little Bent-winged Bat and Large-footed Myotis here. We think these
ones are Northern Broad-nosed Bat.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8kIozf_F9Tk/U2cu0Q-DPdI/AAAAAAAAET4/MIYBEh-f0Vc/s1600/Bats-6731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8kIozf_F9Tk/U2cu0Q-DPdI/AAAAAAAAET4/MIYBEh-f0Vc/s1600/Bats-6731.jpg" height="396" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Northern Broad-nosed Bat?</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">All photos © Keith & Lindsay Fisher 2015 Have a good day - last blog post 2015 - follow https://tropicaltails.blogspot.com/ for local information</div>Keith and Lindsay Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09458044489867275514noreply@blogger.com0Julatten QLD 4871, Australia-16.6074211 145.34264210000003-16.7291696 145.18128060000004 -16.4856726 145.50400360000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4757246035198638023.post-91956040305562060382014-04-20T12:17:00.000+10:002014-04-21T11:31:23.672+10:0020th April 2014 Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Weather
Report</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">Cyclone
Ita was the big news, the effects of it arriving at the Lodge on Friday night (11</span></span></span><sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">th</span></span></span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">
April) with wind and dumping 296mm of rain over two days. </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">Ita
came via the Solomon Islands where it had wreaked havoc, but as it moved
on passing Papua New Guinea it increased in strength until it hit
landfall on the Queensland coast north of Cooktown as a
Category 5 cyclone, the highest rating for cyclones. Once it was on the
mainland it lost strength quickly and changed direction to go south
slowly causing a lot of damage to banana and sugar cane crops and both
the human and natural environment. By the time it passed over us it was a
category 1 cyclone, but this still bought winds of 110 -130kmh which was
more than enough to topple at least 10 of our trees and take the tops
out of at least another 15. It was mainly the effects of the big
rainfall which caused damage bringing floods which swept through our
orchard and reach at least 2m in depth. Our camp ground was underwater
and is still drying out. Access to the Lodge was cut for nearly two days
with power and phones/internet going down. </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">Power
came back on Monday afternoon after two days off but phones
and internet not until the next day. Anyway it could have been a
lot worse, the water quickly receded leaving us to clean up. The birds
did not seem to be affected much by the cyclone and have been more
obvious and call a lot since the event.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zO2Ujkw8l3A/U1IhXeum3GI/AAAAAAAAERQ/WPwKKjJue00/s1600/Cyclone+Ita+Camp+Ground-0583.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zO2Ujkw8l3A/U1IhXeum3GI/AAAAAAAAERQ/WPwKKjJue00/s1600/Cyclone+Ita+Camp+Ground-0583.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Camp Ground Flooding</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;"><br />
</span></span></span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hIPg_Aw7msw/U1IhiCsZx2I/AAAAAAAAERo/tVSOiL8UgkY/s1600/Cyclone+Ita+Unitd+Veranda-0585.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hIPg_Aw7msw/U1IhiCsZx2I/AAAAAAAAERo/tVSOiL8UgkY/s1600/Cyclone+Ita+Unitd+Veranda-0585.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>View from units with large tree limb on roof</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;"><br />
</span></span></span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8y6ygQd6Xh0/U1IheRw0QwI/AAAAAAAAERg/b_sTTQFdjgY/s1600/Cyclone+Ita+Mt+Kooyong+Rd-0577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8y6ygQd6Xh0/U1IheRw0QwI/AAAAAAAAERg/b_sTTQFdjgY/s1600/Cyclone+Ita+Mt+Kooyong+Rd-0577.jpg" height="520" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Water flowing from our orchard across Mt. Kooyong Road, looking towards nursing home</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;"><br />
</span></span></span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YSTeDeKRMd0/U1Ihag8DW_I/AAAAAAAAERY/8gpetkWkD9U/s1600/Cyclone+Ita+Cattle+in+Paddock-0579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YSTeDeKRMd0/U1Ihag8DW_I/AAAAAAAAERY/8gpetkWkD9U/s1600/Cyclone+Ita+Cattle+in+Paddock-0579.jpg" height="456" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Cattle sheltering in flooded paddock along Mt. Kooyong Road</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DJw4GXSdA48/U1IhTH5vm9I/AAAAAAAAERI/4nhhhHSJHks/s1600/Cyclone+Ita+Bushy+Creek-0587.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DJw4GXSdA48/U1IhTH5vm9I/AAAAAAAAERI/4nhhhHSJHks/s1600/Cyclone+Ita+Bushy+Creek-0587.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Bushy Creek debris at Platypus viewing area where our water pump is normally (removed before the cyclone)</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;"></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">We ended up with a total
rainfall over the three weeks of 328mm. Temperatures were between 19</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">ºC</span></span></span></span>
to 26.6ºC. </span></span></span></span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Last
Three Weeks Bird Sightings:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Sightings are on the Eremaea eBird site. <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=17955385">30th
March - 5th April</a>, <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=17955444">6th
- 12th April</a><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S16945112">
</a>and <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=17955626">13th
- 19th April</a><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S16945112">
</a></span></span></span>
</div>
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Birding
Highlights:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">A
Black-breasted Buzzard flew over the Lodge grounds heading towards
the coast on the 10</span></span></span><sup><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">th</span></span></span></sup><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
April. As it flew over the orchard it put up a flock of over 100
Metallic Starling who were noisily feeding in the adjacent
rainforest. This is the first sighting of a buzzard over the Lodge in
the nine years we have been here (one was seen in nearby McDougall
Road back in 2012). The other exciting bird to be seen also on the
same day was a roosting Southern Boobook Owl (sub species <i>lurida</i></span></span></span></span></span> Little Red Boobook, thanks to <a href="http://www.birdingaustralia.com.au/">Lloyd Nielsen</a> for identifying this one) in our neighbours <a href="mailto:carol.iles@hotmail.com.au">Carol and Andrew IIles</a> (Local Bird guides)
garden. This was the first seen since <span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">19/11/2006
in and around the Lodge. A rather poor shot was taken of the bird
roosting high up in the dark of the rainforest.</span></span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WUfjS5T2L54/U1IiCDCbCeI/AAAAAAAAESw/QZ_9h309l3w/s1600/Southern+Boobook-6718.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WUfjS5T2L54/U1IiCDCbCeI/AAAAAAAAESw/QZ_9h309l3w/s1600/Southern+Boobook-6718.jpg" height="500" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Southern Boobook- sub species <i>lurida</i> Little Red Boobook</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"></span></span></span></span></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Both
Red-necked Crake and Noisy Pitta have been seen with chicks over the
past three weeks, the crakes have three while the pitta has two. Both
these species had already bred late last year in December. Migrants
that are still with us include Channel-billed Cuckoo (seen on the
17<sup>th</sup> April), Buff-breasted Paradise-Kingfisher (seen on
the 17<sup>th</sup> April), Adult and juvenile Dollarbird (seen on
the 18<sup>th</sup> April) and Black-faced Monarch. Waterbird species
have been spread out over the district with not many in our immediate
area, the usual Pacific Black Duck, one Australasian Grebe, one
Australasian Darter, one Little Black Cormorant and one White-necked
Heron along McDougall Road. The local Barramundi Farm had a Purple
Swamphen, several Eurasian Coot and a couple of Dusky Moorhen on their
overflow pond. Raptor sightings were light on as well with one Black
Kite, one Whistling Kite plus a pair of White-bellied Sea-Eagle
heard. The Pale-vented Bush-hen chicks from our neighbours garden are
now down to four from six, they seem to be dispersing away from their
breeding area. A female Common Koel has been hanging around a fruiting
palm tree, also in our neighbours</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"> <a href="mailto:carol.iles@hotmail.com.au">Carol and Andrew IIles</a> (Local Bird guides)
garden</span></span></span></span></span>, for the last two weeks.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-53yh9AhZae8/U1Ihmb40frI/AAAAAAAAERw/ZSkDVr6mZAI/s1600/Eastern+Koel-6724.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-53yh9AhZae8/U1Ihmb40frI/AAAAAAAAERw/ZSkDVr6mZAI/s1600/Eastern+Koel-6724.jpg" height="640" width="488" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Common Koel - <span style="font-size: x-small;">female</span></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Barking
Owl have been heard a couple of times, so they
are still hanging around the area. Laughing Kookaburra have been around
our orchard with up to five at any one time, this one was perched on a
vine along the edge of the rainforest.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"><br /></span></span></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BazR35NGUhA/U1IhzYIeI4I/AAAAAAAAESQ/YbQO-SG2OnM/s1600/Laughing+Kookaburra-6684.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BazR35NGUhA/U1IhzYIeI4I/AAAAAAAAESQ/YbQO-SG2OnM/s1600/Laughing+Kookaburra-6684.jpg" height="528" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Laughing Kookaburra</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Small flocks of Rainbow Bee-eater
(6-18) have been around over the two weeks. Lewin's and Bridled
Honeyeater have been in and around the Lodge after
returning from higher altitudes up in the mountains behind us. Cicadabird have been calling and were still with us on the 20<sup>th</sup>
April. Black Butcherbird have been heard calling but only a brown immature
bird has been seen. A Northern Fantail was foraging in Geraghty Park
one morning, this was a first for several months. Pied Monarch have
been around along with Yellow-breasted Boatbill who have started
calling a lot, four were seen on a morning walk. A female Victoria's
Riflebird has been coming to our neighbours bird feeder and seen once
in the Lodge grounds. Grey-headed Robin numbers continue to increase
as more come down from the mountains to spend the winter in the Lodge
grounds. Olive-backed Sunbird have been seen nesting again in a nest
which has been previously used. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Further
Afield:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"> A
White Tern found exhausted at Hasties Swamp after Cyclone Ita was the
most unusual bird for our region, also many reports of both Lesser and
Greater Frigatebird along and just inland for the coast between Cairns
and Port Douglas, all a result of the cyclone. Six
Grey Teal were at the Ferraro Road wetland Craglie, near Port Douglas, an
uncommon species in this area. Our roaming neighbours Carol and Andrew had a
few interesting birds in the third week along </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Euluma Creek Road, Julatten</span></span></span>, Spotted Harrier, two Brown
Falcon, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Pale-headed Rosella, Australian
King-Parrot, Tawny Grassbird and Eastern Whipbird. Blue-faced
Parrot-Finch have been seen on Mt. Lewis between 1-2km along the road
from the Bushy Creek bridge along with White-eared Monarch. At least
3 Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo were also heard calling in the same area and another along Euluma Creek Road.
Female Golden Bowerbird have also been seen on Mt. Lewis several
times. Eastern
Yellow Robin</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b>sub-species <i>Eopsaltria australis chrysorrhoa</i></span> were seen near Abattoir Swamp, not a common species near
the Lodge. Eastern Yellow Robin do not occur in the rainforest here unlike the ones around the Border Ranges of Queensland and New South Wales who co-exist with the Pale-yellow Robin. In our region the </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Eastern Yellow Robin occur in more open sclerophyllous forests and not rainforests. They are excluded by the </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Grey-headed Robin who occupy this same niche in the "Wet Tropic" rainforests. ["Directory of Australian Birds" (Passerines) - Schodde and Mason - 1999].</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lxRSR_MBosA/U1LsKgfj9PI/AAAAAAAAETY/Wnd9auDIUao/s1600/Eastern+Yellow+Robin-.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lxRSR_MBosA/U1LsKgfj9PI/AAAAAAAAETY/Wnd9auDIUao/s1600/Eastern+Yellow+Robin-.jpg" height="534" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Eastern Yellow Robin - sub-species <i>Eopsaltria australis chrysorrhoa</i></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">The Birdlife Australia monthly meeting was held at the
Lodge Saturday 5th </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">April </span></span></span> where we gave a PowerPoint presentation on the birds and
wildlife of Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge, this was followed on
the next day by a visit to a private property in Mt. Molloy. The
Birdlife Australia group had visited here on the Australia Day long
weekend at the end of January and plan to make this venue a regular
atlas site visited at three monthly intervals. Interesting birds here
were a pair of Wedge-tailed Eagle, which are not common in the area,
a pair of Double-eyed Fig-Parrot which flew over and a male and
female Lovely Fairy-wren. We ended up with a species list of 35
birds. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Birding highlights from around the gulf country, Normanton and Karumba area can be found on the <a href="http://www.eremaea.com/BirdlineRecentSightings.aspx?Birdline=5">Eremaea Birds</a> site posted by </span></span></span><span id="AllReportsList"><span class="reported">Roger
Jaensch. Some of the highlights include a possible hybrid between a
Pied Heron and Little Egret (photo), Zitting Cisticola possibly nesting
(photo) and Great Crested Grebe, north of normal range.</span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Reptiles
and Mammals:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">The
highlight over the two weeks was finding an Australian Scrub Python
eating a Red-legged Pademelon, which is a small rainforest kangaroo, (not a highlight for the poor
unfortunate pademelon!). When we found it on the edge of our orchard
it only had the leg sticking out to identify the prey item. The
python was probably 3-3.5m. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lFasB9KL0O8/U1Ih_mfDpyI/AAAAAAAAESo/FROVqPc5Vvo/s1600/Scrub+Python-6686.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lFasB9KL0O8/U1Ih_mfDpyI/AAAAAAAAESo/FROVqPc5Vvo/s1600/Scrub+Python-6686.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Australian Scrub Python - <span style="font-size: x-small;">with pademelon inside</span></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"> </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KCAhDho65FU/U1IhLmXcbXI/AAAAAAAAEQ4/vZY9580QhtU/s1600/Australian+Scrub+Python-6690.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KCAhDho65FU/U1IhLmXcbXI/AAAAAAAAEQ4/vZY9580QhtU/s1600/Australian+Scrub+Python-6690.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Australian Scrub Python - just finished swallowing the pademelon</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Whilst
clearing leaves off the roof we came across another slightly smaller
Australian Scrub Python curled up trying to have an undisturbed
daytime sleep. Another good sighting made by one of our guests was a
Green Ringtail Possum hanging by its tail in a tree along Mt. Kooyong
Road in our rainforest, then seen again in our neighbours garden.
Green Ringtail Possum are becoming increasingly hard to find around
the Lodge so it was good to know at least one is still here. A pair
of Striped Possum were heard early one evening grunting to each
other, possibly a territorial dispute, and then we heard a thump as
one fell to the ground. We then located it at eye level clinging to a
bunch of vines which were hanging from a tree. A few frogs have been
around, mainly Cogger's and Jungguy Frog but when the rain bought on
by Cyclone Ita arrived the Dainty Green Tree Frog started calling in
unison. A Platypus was seen, whilst on a morning walk, sitting on an
overhanging tree trunk at the side of Bushy Creek having a scratch. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Insects:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">When
we were doing our bird survey in Mount Molloy we came across this
moth larva of <i>Syntherata janetta, </i>a moth which is found across
northern Australia and as far south as Sydney.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jTWhCZns70s/U1IhweOB5MI/AAAAAAAAESI/j5_8MqlE5X8/s1600/Larva+of+Syntherata+janetta-6702.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jTWhCZns70s/U1IhweOB5MI/AAAAAAAAESI/j5_8MqlE5X8/s1600/Larva+of+Syntherata+janetta-6702.jpg" height="640" width="388" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;"><i>Syntherata janetta - </i>lava<i><br /></i></span></span></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Also
here we had a few Painted Grasshawk <i>Neurothemis stigmatizans </i></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"><i>stigmatizans</i> </span></span></span>dragonfly.</span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DbpG8eWwV5c/U1Ih7B81YsI/AAAAAAAAESg/kkhxESwRPRg/s1600/Painted+Grasshawk-0365.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DbpG8eWwV5c/U1Ih7B81YsI/AAAAAAAAESg/kkhxESwRPRg/s1600/Painted+Grasshawk-0365.jpg" height="640" width="474" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Painted Grasshawk</span></span></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Around
the Lodge we had these two interesting Katydid species. Thanks to <a href="http://bunyipco.blogspot.com.au/">David Rentz</a> for confirming the identifications.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lYRf0JI_i0s/U1IhsFwrqJI/AAAAAAAAESA/0Ldwfzn4ohg/s1600/Giant+Spiny+Forest+Katydid.-6664.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lYRf0JI_i0s/U1IhsFwrqJI/AAAAAAAAESA/0Ldwfzn4ohg/s1600/Giant+Spiny+Forest+Katydid.-6664.jpg" height="300" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><pre wrap=""><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Spiny Katydid, <i>Phricta spinosa</i></b></span></span></pre>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ofRPSDEfbnE/U1IiIYX38vI/AAAAAAAAETA/Jo5MbVoOXhQ/s1600/Yellow+Katydid-0595.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ofRPSDEfbnE/U1IiIYX38vI/AAAAAAAAETA/Jo5MbVoOXhQ/s1600/Yellow+Katydid-0595.jpg" height="508" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><pre wrap=""><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Serrated Bush Katydid <i>Paracaedicia serrata</i></b></span></span><i><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> - </span></span></b></i><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Yellow morph</span></span></span></b></pre>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">This
Ulysses Swallowtail was sunning in the orchard one morning with its
wings outstretched, something they don't do very often.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wVmUtRCpRfE/U1IiFNBw_LI/AAAAAAAAES4/APmutmlDcfk/s1600/Ullysses+Butterfly-6756.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wVmUtRCpRfE/U1IiFNBw_LI/AAAAAAAAES4/APmutmlDcfk/s1600/Ullysses+Butterfly-6756.jpg" height="498" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Ulysses Swallowtail <i>Papillio ulysses</i></span></span></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Fungi:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">This
fungi was also seen on the Birdlife bird survey in Mount Molloy.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z3f3wKayUAI/U1IhqafBYNI/AAAAAAAAER4/xEmSoJj3X4Y/s1600/Fungi+Sp.-6700.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z3f3wKayUAI/U1IhqafBYNI/AAAAAAAAER4/xEmSoJj3X4Y/s1600/Fungi+Sp.-6700.jpg" height="640" width="574" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Fungi sp.</span></span></span></b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Thanks to Carol and Andrew Iles for their bird sighting input to this weeks blog<b>, </b>they can be contacted for bird guiding <a href="mailto:carol.iles@hotmail.com.au">here</a></span></span></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"> .</span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"><br /></span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"><br /></span></span></span></b></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">
</span></span></span>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">All photos © Keith & Lindsay Fisher 2015 Have a good day - last blog post 2015 - follow https://tropicaltails.blogspot.com/ for local information</div>Keith and Lindsay Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09458044489867275514noreply@blogger.com2Julatten QLD 4871, Australia-16.6074211 145.34264210000003-16.7291696 145.18128060000004 -16.4856726 145.50400360000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4757246035198638023.post-80347141638112656062014-04-10T22:16:00.002+10:002014-04-10T22:16:58.586+10:0010th April Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers LodgeThis weeks blog is going to be delayed as we are awaiting a category 5 cyclone (Ita) with winds expected to be around 200kph! Hopefully not too much damage but its predicted track puts it very close to us.<div class="blogger-post-footer">All photos © Keith & Lindsay Fisher 2015 Have a good day - last blog post 2015 - follow https://tropicaltails.blogspot.com/ for local information</div>Keith and Lindsay Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09458044489867275514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4757246035198638023.post-19346315535356364772014-03-30T08:58:00.001+10:002014-03-30T09:00:47.311+10:0030th March 2014 Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge <h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">We
are back online after being away since the beginning of the month,
our friends Kath and Dave looked after the Lodge for us and kept the
bird records for the three weeks while we were on holiday, thanks to them for doing such a great job. Their records plus the last weeks are summarised below.</span></span></span></h3>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br />
</h3>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Weather
Report</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Rainfall
over the period we were away amounted to 172mm which we know from our
travels to SE Queensland, Northern New South Wales and Lord Howe
Island would be most welcome there as it was very dry when we were
visiting. Hopefully this last week has put some useful rainfalls in
those areas. In addition the last weeks rainfall was 59.5mm on six rainy days. For the year so far we have recorded almost 1100mm. Temperatures ranged from 19ºC to 29ºC.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Bird
Sightings:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">The
past four weeks sighting were around 100 species per week.</span></span></span></div>
<h3 align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br />
</h3>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Birding
Highlights:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Three
Cotton Pygmy-goose in one of the McDougall Road wetlands in the first
week of March. Wompoo and Superb Fruit-Dove were both seen and heard, in addition a pair of Superb Fruit-Dove were spotlighted roosting on 29/3 in the rainforest. No sightings of Papuan
Frogmouth in the Lodge grounds, but three were roosting nearby in the
last week of March. Two Black-necked Stork have been around most
weeks. Pacific Baza showed up in the first week and both Brown
Goshawk and Collared Sparrowhawk have been in the area. Red-necked
Crake have been seen over the last three weeks, including three
recently fledged juveniles with two adults, pottering around in the
rainforest. This sighting means that this pair have bred a second
time this season. Pale-vented Bush-hen have been showing each week
with at least nine seen in the last week of March. This juvenile bird
is about two months old and is one of five survivors from a clutch
of six. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uzygEe0yHqI/UzZ74NEQpXI/AAAAAAAAEOw/rH4PQvOeKw4/s1600/Pale-vented+Bush-hen-6641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uzygEe0yHqI/UzZ74NEQpXI/AAAAAAAAEOw/rH4PQvOeKw4/s1600/Pale-vented+Bush-hen-6641.jpg" height="398" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Pale-vented Bush-hen</b></span></span> - <b>juvenile</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Both
Buff-banded Rail and White-browed Crake were seen along McDougall
Road. Red-tailed Black Cockatoo were around for the first two weeks
of March, but have not been seen or heard since. Cuckoos have been
quite obvious with the highlight a flock of 30+ Channel-billed
Cuckoo, which usually gather in groups of immatures at this time of
year to fly north. Other cuckoos seen or heard were Pheasant Coucal,
Eastern Koel and Little (Gould's) Bronze-Cuckoo. A pair of Barking
Owl returned for a couple of weeks, but moved off when they realised
they had cleaned the area out of food when they were here before for
18 months! </span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GBd8i-Svq5I/UzawONBZIxI/AAAAAAAAEPY/Aoy_AM6ydhE/s1600/Barking+Owl-36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GBd8i-Svq5I/UzawONBZIxI/AAAAAAAAEPY/Aoy_AM6ydhE/s1600/Barking+Owl-36.jpg" height="640" width="516" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Barking Owl</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Lesser Sooty Owl has been heard most weeks, but not seen.
Buff-breasted Paradise-Kingfisher numbers appear to have decreased
since we were away as we have not seen or heard many, but we have seen
a few adults and a few juvenile birds so they are still around to be
observed. </span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zFCHp7iOXQE/UzawNX5C6dI/AAAAAAAAEPc/LnXyH8jRP70/s1600/Buff-br.+Paradise-Kingfisher+-+juvenile-42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zFCHp7iOXQE/UzawNX5C6dI/AAAAAAAAEPc/LnXyH8jRP70/s1600/Buff-br.+Paradise-Kingfisher+-+juvenile-42.jpg" height="628" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> Buff-breasted Paradise-Kingfisher - <span style="font-size: x-small;">juvenile</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">13 species of honeyeater were seen including Lewin's
Honeyeater who have returned from higher altitudes where they breed.
A White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike was seen feeding a juvenile and both
Barred Cuckoo-shrike and Cicadabird have been seen. A Grey Whistler
was seen feeding a recently fledged young; would like to know where
they nest as we have never found one in nearly nine years. </span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0lmCMDXtlSc/UzawQA-U5oI/AAAAAAAAEPk/dfMbv97zBeA/s1600/Grey+Whistler-68.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0lmCMDXtlSc/UzawQA-U5oI/AAAAAAAAEPk/dfMbv97zBeA/s1600/Grey+Whistler-68.jpg" height="500" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Grey Whistler</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Little
(Rufous) Shrike-thrush, Leaden Flycatcher, Black-faced Monarch and
Lemon-bellied Flycatcher were also seen feeding juveniles.
Grey-headed Robin have returned from the mountains behind the Lodge
and both Fairy and Tree Martin were seen along McDougall Road.
Metallic Starling are still with us, but will be leaving soon to head
north or maybe just go down to the coast where they are all year now.
Red-browed Finch were seen breeding which seems to be an all year
event! Australian Pipit have also returned to the area.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Further
Afield:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/null" name="AllReportsList"></a>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Australian
King-Parrot and White-eared Monarch were both seen along Pinnacle
Road, Julatten. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yvSwbCuXMFI/UzawJtApXzI/AAAAAAAAEPM/tJsoI7e3J44/s1600/Australian+King+Parrot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yvSwbCuXMFI/UzawJtApXzI/AAAAAAAAEPM/tJsoI7e3J44/s1600/Australian+King+Parrot.jpg" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Australian King-Parrot - <span style="font-size: x-small;">male</span> </b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">There were up to four Yellow-billed Spoonbill at Lake
Evan (Brady Road Swamp), 4km north of Mareeba in the last week of March, not a common bird in
our region. Two Latham's Snipe were seen at Ferraro Road, Port
Douglas. </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">Eastern
Yellow Wagtail were being seen at Tinaburra Boat Ramp, Lake Tinaroo
(Atherton Tableland) </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">and
adjacent areas until about mid-March with up to 14 bird present.
Little Kingfisher were reported from Centenary Lakes and Kewarra
Beach, both sites in Cairns.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Reptiles
and Mammals:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Sightings
have been a little patchy with occasional Fawn-footed Melomys,
Yellow-footed Antichinus, Red-legged Pademelon and Striped Possum.
Regulars include Boyd's Forest Dragon, Eastern Water Dragon,
Spectacled Flying Fox, Jungguy Frog and White-lipped Tree Frog.
Eastern Tube-nosed Bat has also been seen regularly. A Platypus was
spotlighted in Bushy Creek on 29/3 and was the first seen for about
five weeks. Our neighbours reported a Macleay's Water Snake on Mt. Kooyong Road also on the 29th; it was having difficulty moving on dry land.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Bird
Trails Tropical Queensland Brochure:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.birdwatchers.com.au/PDF/Bird%20Trails%20Brochure%202014.pdf"><img alt="http://www.birdwatchers.com.au/PDF/Bird%20Trails%20Brochure%202014.pdf" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3J1a0_8J0uA/UzZ11aY76JI/AAAAAAAAEOI/8rY7hGn9hkI/s1600/BT+Brochure+2014+Front+Cover-1.jpg" height="640" width="296" /></a></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">A
new brochure for 2014-2015 has just been released with updated
information on the best birding sites, birding guides and places to
stay in the Daintree, Cairns Highlands (Tablelands), Julatten and
Mission Beach areas. It can be downloaded from </span></span></span></span><a href="http://www.birdwatchers.com.au/PDF/Bird%20Trails%20Brochure%202014.pdf">here</a><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">We hope to have the camp ground and bunk house opened again by next weekend, 5-6th April, weather permitting! </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">All photos © Keith & Lindsay Fisher 2015 Have a good day - last blog post 2015 - follow https://tropicaltails.blogspot.com/ for local information</div>Keith and Lindsay Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09458044489867275514noreply@blogger.com0Julatten QLD 4871, Australia-16.6074211 145.34264210000003-16.7291696 145.18128060000004 -16.4856726 145.50400360000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4757246035198638023.post-40652960947542852712014-03-02T07:20:00.000+10:002014-03-29T17:22:56.102+10:002nd March 2014 Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Weather
Report</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Not
quite as much rain over the last two weeks as the previous two weeks
but still a healthy 249.5mm (10 inches). This was enough to flood the
road from Mt. Molloy for a few days.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E968JzHJPdo/UwxNhanyRdI/AAAAAAAAEMU/rAUEU38dOV8/s1600/Bushy+Creek+in+Flood-0182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E968JzHJPdo/UwxNhanyRdI/AAAAAAAAEMU/rAUEU38dOV8/s1600/Bushy+Creek+in+Flood-0182.jpg" height="454" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> Bushy Creek -<span style="font-size: x-small;"> about 600mm over the main road</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">The
wet weather softened up the ground and a few trees fell down
including this one along the path from the orchard to Bushy Creek,
which took down three other trees. Quite a mess and a lot of clearing
required to open the path again.</span></span></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q_Zrx7Ewjqs/UwxO8gwn8sI/AAAAAAAAEM0/r-KAIGFJdnQ/s1600/Path+to+Bushy+Creek-0077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q_Zrx7Ewjqs/UwxO8gwn8sI/AAAAAAAAEM0/r-KAIGFJdnQ/s1600/Path+to+Bushy+Creek-0077.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Path from Orchard to Bushy Creek</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">The
overcast and rainy weather kept the temperatures down highs around
28</span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">ºC
and down to 22ºC. The second week saw most of the rain clear away
and sunny days re-appear to help dry out the soggy grounds. </span></span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Past
Two Weeks Bird Sightings:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">The first week was quite wet and restricted birding with only 86 species heard and seen but the second week was much better with 102 seen and heard.The complete lists
can be found on the Eremaea eBird site. <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S17242197">16th - 22nd February </a>and <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S17242217">23rdFebruary - 1st March</a><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S16945112">
</a></span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Birding
Highlights:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">The
pair of Pacific Baza nesting on the edge of the Lodge grounds have
successfully fledged two youngsters who have been around begging for
food but have now left the Lodge after being harassed by a gang of
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo. The family of Pale-vented Bush-hen
previously reported still have five surviving juveniles who are
growing rapidly, this image shows one about 22 days old.</span></span></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U9cCcXeKeCU/UwxObedZ3QI/AAAAAAAAEMs/7gfx8ld9POQ/s1600/Pale-vented+Bush-hen+-+Juvenile+22+days+5526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U9cCcXeKeCU/UwxObedZ3QI/AAAAAAAAEMs/7gfx8ld9POQ/s1600/Pale-vented+Bush-hen+-+Juvenile+22+days+5526.jpg" height="548" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Pale-vented Bush-hen - <span style="font-size: x-small;">22 days old</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">This
image shows one of the adults.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"> </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p1q7J_QoCqQ/UwxOCu6QQ8I/AAAAAAAAEMk/0McD3Z5uPo8/s1600/Pale-vented+Bush-hen+-+Adult-5533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p1q7J_QoCqQ/UwxOCu6QQ8I/AAAAAAAAEMk/0McD3Z5uPo8/s1600/Pale-vented+Bush-hen+-+Adult-5533.jpg" height="456" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Pale-vented Bush-hen - <span style="font-size: x-small;">Adult</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Waterbirds
have been few and far between with all the rain providing plenty of
alternative habitats, there was one White-faced Heron seen flying
over the Lodge which was a first sighting for this year. Late in the
second week a few more waterbirds showed up including two Black
Bittern, Great, Intermediate and Little Egret, Spotless Crake, White-browed Crake, plus a single
Comb-crested Jacana. All these sightings were along McDougall Road in
and around the wetlands. Black-shouldered Kite also nested along
McDougall Road. Other raptors around were White-bellied Sea-Eagle
(2), Whistling and Black Kite, plus Brown Falcon. Red-tailed Black
Cockatoo continue to fly over the Lodge every few days as do
Double-eyed Fig-Parrot. Cuckoo's are calling well with Pheasant
Coucal, Eastern Koel (male & female), Channel-billed Cuckoo, both
Little and Gould's Bronze-Cuckoo plus Brush Cuckoo. Barn Owl are
around and calling as was a Lesser Sooty Owl on one occasion. The
adult Buff-breasted Paradise-Kingfisher are still flying around and
perching for photos. The juveniles are becoming more obvious and are
coming down to lower levels from high in the canopy. Three juveniles
were seen in the same area together but it was not known if they were
all from the same nest. Other juveniles seen have mainly been on their own apart from two perched on the clothes line!
This Juvenile Forest Kingfisher took advantage of an old chair in
Geraghty Park for where it pounced onto the ground for worms. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"> </span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mysvshsFYKs/UwxNygWhu0I/AAAAAAAAEMc/whhynIPKYD8/s1600/Forest+Kingfisher-juvenile-5487.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mysvshsFYKs/UwxNygWhu0I/AAAAAAAAEMc/whhynIPKYD8/s1600/Forest+Kingfisher-juvenile-5487.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Forest Kingfisher - <span style="font-size: x-small;">juvenile</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Dollarbird
are still around with adults and juveniles seen. Noisy Pitta have
been difficult to see as they are keeping to the rainforest and quite
often high in the trees. A pair of Great Bowerbird were in a
neighbours garden one morning polishing off some palm tree fruits.
Thirteen species of honeyeater over the two weeks with Scarlet
Honeyeater returning after being away for at least two months. Black
Butcherbird have two well grown brown juveniles hunting around the
grounds, Australasian Figbird are feeding young as are Leaden
Flycatcher. A female Victoria's Riflebird has been coming to our
neighbours feeder and was seen in the Lodge grounds on the edge of the orchard. Red-browed Finch are constantly building nests for most of the year but we have never seen one like this, a hanging one. Normally they are supported by tree branches and quite well hidden in the foliage.</span></span></span><br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"></span></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8ZN8elRYTP8/UwxUxIX7w3I/AAAAAAAAENU/Svz7VLli1iM/s1600/Red-browed+Finch+nest-5488.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8ZN8elRYTP8/UwxUxIX7w3I/AAAAAAAAENU/Svz7VLli1iM/s1600/Red-browed+Finch+nest-5488.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Red-browed Finch Nest</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Further
Afield:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">An
estimated 300 Black Kite were circling over the Mulligan Highway
north of Mareeba on the 26<sup>th</sup> February, which is very
unusual to have such a high number at this time of year. A Spotted Harrier was along Wetherby Road, Julatten as was a Black Bittern and a Horsfield's Bushlark. Mt. Lewis is still performing with most of the
endemic species seen apart from Golden Bowerbird and Lesser Sooty
Owl. Blue-faced Parrot-Finch are still up on the mountain but two
were lower down at the end of McDougall Road late in the second week.
The road has been closed on several occasions by falling trees but
the local Mareeba Shire Council have been quick in responding to our
reports and have cleared the road, thanks to them. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Carol
Iles our out and about bird guide reported a Grey Shrike-thrush at
Abattoir Swamp, which is not common. They are regularly at nearby Wessel
Road but don't come across to the swamp very often. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"><a href="http://www.birdingaustralia.com.au/">Lloyd Nielsen</a>
reported a Shining Flycatcher on a nest along Bushy Creek between
Julatten and Mt. Molloy which is one of a very few recorded in this
area.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"> A Torresian
Crow was flying eastward towards the coast, over the Great Diving
Range in Julatten late one afternoon, unusual as not many have been
seen this year.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"> </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Reptiles
and Mammals:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">24 reptiles and mammals were seen over the past two weeks. A
yellow-footed Antichinus was hiding under one of our chair covers
along the veranda one morning, luckily nobody sat on it! Red-legged
Pademelon have been out the front of our units as well as in the
orchard area rainforest. Striped Possum have been seen a few times
but no sign of any Green Ringtail Possum. Platypus was seen, when
Bushy Creek was in flood, swimming along the rock wall by the viewing
area. Seven species of frog were seen and Roth's (Laughing) Tree Frog
heard. An Australian Scrub Python was on our neighbours veranda one
night and this Brown Tree Snake decided to curl up in the peg basket
in the camp laundry. It was removed and put outside where it climbed
a tree which was much more like its natural habitat! </span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"> </span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rbTy-Xmk6Fo/UwxNUSSKxCI/AAAAAAAAEMM/SgRG-v-34pE/s1600/Brown+Tree+Snake-0138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rbTy-Xmk6Fo/UwxNUSSKxCI/AAAAAAAAEMM/SgRG-v-34pE/s1600/Brown+Tree+Snake-0138.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Brown Tree Snake</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Insects:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">A
few moths have been around including this unusual one which we have
never seen here before.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zJgOb6iL1co/UwxRPQkPINI/AAAAAAAAENA/ixUxXStCmgI/s1600/Moth+sp.-5474.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zJgOb6iL1co/UwxRPQkPINI/AAAAAAAAENA/ixUxXStCmgI/s1600/Moth+sp.-5474.jpg" height="482" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Moth sp.</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Butterflies
have also been around, this Blue-Triangle found something of interest
on the yard broom.</span></span></span></div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wVyusVjYy3E/UwxNHqX8_5I/AAAAAAAAEME/TafWeI2n81A/s1600/Blue+Triangle+Butterfly-0160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wVyusVjYy3E/UwxNHqX8_5I/AAAAAAAAEME/TafWeI2n81A/s1600/Blue+Triangle+Butterfly-0160.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> Blue Triangle Butterfly</b></span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Fungi:- </span></b> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The wet weather has also triggered off lots of different species of fungi like this one growing at the foot of a Queensland Blue Gum (</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="st">Forest Red Gum)</span> <i>Eucalyptus tereticornis</i>.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LmgnNYU-yTA/UwxUQTxdABI/AAAAAAAAENM/KMosUSlcetE/s1600/Fungi+sp.-5491.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LmgnNYU-yTA/UwxUQTxdABI/AAAAAAAAENM/KMosUSlcetE/s1600/Fungi+sp.-5491.jpg" height="640" width="486" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Fungi sp.</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Could be <i>Panellus ligulatus</i> ?<b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We will be having a break from the blog until the end of March, we might be posting a few snippets so keep looking!<b><br /></b></span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">All photos © Keith & Lindsay Fisher 2015 Have a good day - last blog post 2015 - follow https://tropicaltails.blogspot.com/ for local information</div>Keith and Lindsay Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09458044489867275514noreply@blogger.com0Julatten QLD 4871, Australia-16.6074211 145.34264210000003-16.7291696 145.18128060000004 -16.4856726 145.50400360000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4757246035198638023.post-33851679388182667372014-02-16T10:17:00.000+10:002014-02-16T10:39:42.740+10:0015th February 2014 Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Weather
Report</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">The
first week from 2</span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">nd</span></span></sup></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">
to 8</span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">th</span></span></sup></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">
February saw the monsoonal trough come down and deposit 303.5mm of
rain, which saw some minor flooding lasting a couple of days. One day
we had 143mm. The second week from 9</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">th</span></span></sup></span><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">
to15</span></span></span><sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span>
</span></span></span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">
was not quite as wet, it started off with a day of 142mm then slowed
down over the week ending up with two sunny days and a total of 162mm
of rain. So the two weeks produced 467mm (approx 18.5 inches).
Temperatures we quite cool with the overcast rainy days getting up to
25ºC but climbing up to 30ºC on the two sunny days. Minimum
temperatures were around 21ºC. The monsoonal trough is forecast to
return next week so we can look forward to some more rain. Further
north on the west side of Cape York Peninsula the town of Kowanyama
has had over 1200mm for the week! Serious rain.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Past
Two Weeks Bird Sightings:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">These
can be found on the Eremaea eBird site. <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S16944990">2nd
- 8th February </a>and <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S16945112">9</a><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S16945112"><sup>th</sup></a><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S16945112">
- 15</a><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S16945112"><sup>th</sup></a><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S16945112">
February</a>.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Birding
Highlights:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">An
adult Pacific Black Duck was seen whizzing down the swollen Bushy Creek with
eight ducklings in tow, they were in one big blob hanging on to each
other until they managed to get out of the main current and pull off
into calmer water at the rear of our neighbours property.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"> The
nesting Pacific Baza also reported in the last blog have now fledged
two chicks as of five days ago. The juveniles are now in the Lodge
grounds constantly begging food from the adults. A pair of
White-bellied Sea-Eagle have started to call and fly over the Lodge
after keeping a low profile for the last few months, maybe they are
looking at nesting. Our pair of Red-necked Crake have been seen
several times walking through the rainforest but no sign of the three
chicks they had. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1p57dvyeFuU/Uv_z0xC02PI/AAAAAAAAELU/QyM0aDw0Upw/s1600/Red-necked+Crake-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1p57dvyeFuU/Uv_z0xC02PI/AAAAAAAAELU/QyM0aDw0Upw/s1600/Red-necked+Crake-.jpg" height="390" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Red-necked Crake</span></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">The two Pale-vented Bush-hen adults reported in the
last blog with six chicks now have five chicks who survived the rain
and flooding. Lets hope they all survive. Two Australian Bustard were
found near the Julatten school just inside our 1.5km radius for the
Lodge list which is quite unusual. We have had three records in the
past, one in 2011 and two in 2012. This image is a male displaying at Maryfarms north of Mt. Molloy.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1oH_GZXzE_o/Uv_zjuCmWrI/AAAAAAAAEKk/bp-vOxkFRd8/s1600/Australian+Bustard-4954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1oH_GZXzE_o/Uv_zjuCmWrI/AAAAAAAAEKk/bp-vOxkFRd8/s1600/Australian+Bustard-4954.jpg" height="640" width="584" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Australian Bustard</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Channel-billed Cuckoo have been
flying over heading north in small groups of up to six birds. An
Eastern Koel is still with us and has just started to call again.
A Lesser Sooty Owl was heard one night but not seen. Noisy Pitta have also fired up with at least four calling around the
orchard one day and another couple calling from across Bushy Creek
near the nursing home, who reported one presumably feeding on
mangoes, it may also have been feeding on insects attracted to the
fruit. A pair of Great Bowerbird were foraging in Geraghty Park,
where they are not common but they are to be found nearby, usually
along McDougall Road. Honeyeater numbers were down but that could be
due to the lesser effort put in over the two weeks due to the rain but we did still manage nine species.
Spangled Drongo appear to be heading north with an increase in
numbers for at least two days, now there are just one or two hanging
around. Black-faced Monarch are still with us but should be heading
north soon. A pair of Spectacled Monarch are sitting on a nest in
front of our accommodation units in a tree they used a few years ago
but in October. A Brown Victoria's Riflebird (immature male or female) turned up in our neighbours garden to investigate their Paw Paw tree but left disappointing as there was no fruit on it. A pair of nesting Olive-backed Sunbird seem to have
lost the nestlings, Black Butcherbird are the main suspects. After the rain the clouds cleared and the mountain ranges at the back of the Lodge once more came into view.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TKWSCDk_J8U/Uv_zzNcTaqI/AAAAAAAAELM/a-fX1D35aO4/s1600/Mt.Lewis+Range-0109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TKWSCDk_J8U/Uv_zzNcTaqI/AAAAAAAAELM/a-fX1D35aO4/s1600/Mt.Lewis+Range-0109.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Mountain Ranges looking towards Mt. Lewis </b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Further
Afield:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Four Spotted Whistling-Duck turned up at </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span id="AllReportsList"><span class="site">Barrett's Lagoon</span></span> near Cooktown on 2nd February making this </span></span></span></span>the <span id="AllReportsList">first record of this species in the Cooktown area. Thanks to Kath and Dave for this record.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> Their
were at least 35 Great-crested Grebe at Lake Barrine on the Atherton
Tableland on 4</span><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">th</span></sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
February. This location often has 100+ Great-crested Grebe present,
full list for visit is on <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S16789967">Eremaea
eBird</a>. </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0st2ae3vlg0/Uv_zrbQty_I/AAAAAAAAEK0/catfaD1NeGw/s1600/Lake+Evan-0028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0st2ae3vlg0/Uv_zrbQty_I/AAAAAAAAEK0/catfaD1NeGw/s1600/Lake+Evan-0028.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Lake Evan (Brady Road
Swamp)</span></span></span></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Two Yellow-billed Spoonbill, a Pale-headed Rosella and two
Red-winged Parrot were among birds seen at Lake Evan (Brady Road
Swamp) 4km north of Mareeba. Full list can be found on <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/view/checklist?subID=S16789826">Eremaea
eBird</a>. </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d2wRFLDGzEc/Uv_z3M1Bz-I/AAAAAAAAELc/K0YrlAVWyv0/s1600/Red-winged+Parrot-1213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d2wRFLDGzEc/Uv_z3M1Bz-I/AAAAAAAAELc/K0YrlAVWyv0/s1600/Red-winged+Parrot-1213.jpg" height="640" width="582" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Red-winged Parrot</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Little Lorikeet were along McLean Bridge Road in Julatten,
this is about the furthermost east their distribution occurs. Also
along here and at Abattoir Swamp were Black-chinned Honeyeater,
Golden-backed form. Bridled Honeyeater were also in Julatten along
Perseverance Road, the main population are still on Mt. Lewis. </span></span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Reptiles
and Mammals:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">As
you can imagine with all the rain the frogs were out in force and
extremely vocal. Those seen were Striped Marsh Frog, Jungguy Frog,
White-lipped Tree Frog, Northern Dwarf tree Frog, Dessert Tree Frog,
Dainty Green Tree Frog, Cogger's Frog and Cane Toad, plus Green Tree
Frog, Peron's Tree Frog and Roth's Tree Frog were heard. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PscKxKe0JsI/Uv_z5XrqYNI/AAAAAAAAELk/FxiUzELe5Qo/s1600/Striped+Marsh+Frog-8516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PscKxKe0JsI/Uv_z5XrqYNI/AAAAAAAAELk/FxiUzELe5Qo/s1600/Striped+Marsh+Frog-8516.jpg" height="408" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td class="tr-caption"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Striped Marsh Frog </span></span></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Boyd's
Forest Dragon, Eastern Water Dragon and Major Skink were around as
they have been for the last few months. This male Boyd's Forest Dragon was coming to the feeder for banana during the rain.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QRxk1-yPKFA/Uv_zgna6MLI/AAAAAAAAEKU/E8gLMbZMCQ4/s1600/Boyd%2527s+Forest+Dragon-0108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QRxk1-yPKFA/Uv_zgna6MLI/AAAAAAAAEKU/E8gLMbZMCQ4/s1600/Boyd%2527s+Forest+Dragon-0108.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Boyd's forest Dragon</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">A Brown Tree Snake was curled
up on a tree branch in the camping area much to the annoyance of the
birds who were scalding it but the snake took no notice and kept
sleeping. Mammals were not very active during the rain along with the
spotters so not much was seen in the first week but the dryer weather
in the second week was more productive. Those seen were Fawn-footed
Melomys, Yellow-footed Antichinus, Red-legged Pademelon (adult and
youngster), Agile Wallaby, Eastern Horseshoe Bat, Large-footed
Myotis, Northern Broad-nosed Bat, Giant White-tailed Rat, several
Striped Possum, both Long-nosed and Northern Brown Bandicoot plus
Spectacled Flying Fox making 12 species.</span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Insects:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A selection of insects which have appeared since the rain has started, prior to the rain insects were pretty much non existent.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m61OlBJDRrE/Uv_zh1izVaI/AAAAAAAAEKc/TtoVIi1plbE/s1600/Cairns+Birdwing-4264.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m61OlBJDRrE/Uv_zh1izVaI/AAAAAAAAEKc/TtoVIi1plbE/s1600/Cairns+Birdwing-4264.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Cairns Birdwing</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mXP28pyewoA/Uv_zo4S9oQI/AAAAAAAAEKs/LJobfxPoFzo/s1600/Grasshopper+sp.-5083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mXP28pyewoA/Uv_zo4S9oQI/AAAAAAAAEKs/LJobfxPoFzo/s1600/Grasshopper+sp.-5083.jpg" height="640" width="502" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Grasshopper Sp.</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7_Qq6Ie5ZZE/Uv_zu6Vzo1I/AAAAAAAAEK8/FpZSfya-ScQ/s1600/Longicorn+Beetle-5455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7_Qq6Ie5ZZE/Uv_zu6Vzo1I/AAAAAAAAEK8/FpZSfya-ScQ/s1600/Longicorn+Beetle-5455.jpg" height="640" width="542" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Longicorn Beetle</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: red;">Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge Business
and Property For Sale</span></b><br />
<a href="http://www.birdwatchers.com.au/For_Sale.htm">Click here for more sale details </a></h3>
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">All photos © Keith & Lindsay Fisher 2015 Have a good day - last blog post 2015 - follow https://tropicaltails.blogspot.com/ for local information</div>Keith and Lindsay Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09458044489867275514noreply@blogger.com0Julatten QLD 4871, Australia-16.6074211 145.34264210000003-16.7291696 145.18128060000004 -16.4856726 145.50400360000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4757246035198638023.post-41778427251333392652014-02-02T14:38:00.000+10:002014-02-05T14:49:33.440+10:002nd February 2014 Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Weather
Report</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">The
past few weeks has seen variable weather with a Cyclone threat which
luckily for us went further south and caused very little damage. We
did not get much rain, our January total rainfall was 217mm on 16 rain days, which was at least 50% less than our normal rains for this time of year. Temperatures had
been around 21ºC -28ºC but after the cyclone passed by at the end
of January we got west to northerly winds and an increase in
temperatures up to 34ºC which is abnormally hot.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Past
Three Weeks Bird Sightings:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Sightings
have now been transferred from Eremaea Birds to Eremaea ebird. The
link to the Australian portal is <a href="http://ebird.org/content/australia/">Here</a> . Here you can find all the information to allow you to input or
retrieve data. It is early days with the new system so it will take a
while to become familiar with it and work out how to retrieve data
for Kingfisher Park BL.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Trip Report:-</span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Finally finished putting together our last years trip report for our visit to South Australia. You can find it at this link on our<a href="http://www.birdwatchers.com.au/Trip_%20Reports.htm"> website</a>. </span><b><span style="background: transparent;"><br /></span></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Birding
Highlights:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">We
can't top the Yellow-billed Kingfisher reported in the last blog
seen along Bushy Creek. We heard the kingfisher calling in the rainforest adjacent to Bushy Creek the
morning after it was seen but were unable to see it. Since then there has been no other reports of Yellow-billed Kingfisher in the area. Another new bird for our 1.5km area Lodge bird list was Plumed
Whistling-Duck, 22 were seen standing beside a dam behind Geraghty
Park on our Birdlife Australia Day weekend, this puts our list up to 225 species. Two groups of Papuan
Frogmouth have been seen in the Lodge and along the nearby Bushy
Creek, the three along Bushy Creek are two adults and a juvenile from
last years nest in the local nursing home. The two in the Lodge
grounds are a male and female which did not nest last year, they have
been moving around each day and have been difficult to find. A Superb
Fruit-Dove was actually seen in a fruiting tree on the edge of the
Lodge one morning, this represented the third sighting in six months
during which they have been heard most days. Should be called Superb
Hiding-Dove! Pied Imperial Pigeon have been increasing in numbers
with at least 200 seen feasting on fruiting trees in the Lodge
grounds and surrounds. These birds are probably coming from Low Isles
off the coast of Port Douglas. It was only four years ago that the
first Pied Imperial Pigeon arrived at the Lodge. Nesting Pacific Baza
has two very large chicks standing up in their nest waiting to be fed
by the busy adults. Red-necked Crake also have three chicks in tow
and have been seen several times. The adult birds have been coming
regularly to the Crake Pool in the morning and evening for a bathe.
Our neighbours saw a pair of Pale-vented Bush-hen come to their bird
bath with six chicks several times, how lucky are they. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8MIT1_qC34o/Uu2JB-XhoOI/AAAAAAAAEJA/7fWvFtseVBA/s1600/Pale-vented+Bushen+-+chick-4230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8MIT1_qC34o/Uu2JB-XhoOI/AAAAAAAAEJA/7fWvFtseVBA/s1600/Pale-vented+Bushen+-+chick-4230.jpg" height="416" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Pale-vented Bushen - chick in birdbath</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9gTX5JF80rQ/Uu2I_RO0ZPI/AAAAAAAAEIw/BLTrADoS5Tg/s1600/Pale-vented+Bushen-4245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9gTX5JF80rQ/Uu2I_RO0ZPI/AAAAAAAAEIw/BLTrADoS5Tg/s1600/Pale-vented+Bushen-4245.jpg" height="406" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pale-vented Bushen - adult with three chicks</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Other pairs
of bushen have been glimpsed in the grassy edges of the roads around
the Lodge and also along Bushy Creek but they are very secretive. All
the nesting Buff-breasted Paradise-Kingfisher are now feeding young
in their nests, there are at least seven nests with another possible
one within the Lodge grounds. Several pairs of Noisy Pitta have been
around the Lodge and adjacent area with at least four juvenile birds
seen foraging and being fed by adults. At least 12 species of
honeyeater have been seen including White-throated Honeyeater and Black-chinned Honeyeater heard. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CAb4DRQwuNU/Uu2JIP9sVdI/AAAAAAAAEJY/fWDUkfGCvf4/s1600/White-throated+Honeyeater-5428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CAb4DRQwuNU/Uu2JIP9sVdI/AAAAAAAAEJY/fWDUkfGCvf4/s1600/White-throated+Honeyeater-5428.jpg" height="502" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>White-throated Honeyeater</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">An
Olive-backed Oriole nest successfully fledged one bird from a nest
only about 2m off the ground in a neighbours Raintree. Pied Monarch
are calling and being seen and Yellow-breasted Boatbill have just
started to call after being quiet for a few months. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Further
Afield:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">At
least 50Fork-tailed (Pacific) Swift were over Cattana Wetlands,
Cairns on the 20</span><sup><span style="background: transparent;">th</span></sup><span style="background: transparent;">
January at 8.30am. Two Yellow Wagtail were reported from Lake Evan
(Brady Road Swamp) 4km north of Mareeba on 24</span><sup><span style="background: transparent;">th</span></sup><span style="background: transparent;">
January. Two Pink-eared Duck were also at this location a week
earlier. On 31</span><sup><span style="background: transparent;">st</span></sup><span style="background: transparent;">
January one of our guests reported a Freckled Duck at Daves Dam 25km
north of Mt. Carbine, believed to be the first record from here. Four birders from Townsville sighted a Nankeen Night Heron roosting on Mt. Lewis at 950m on 21st January, very unusual, record can be found on <a href="http://www.eremaea.com/BirdlineRecentSightings.aspx?Birdline=5">Eremaea Birdline</a>. Del Richards from <a href="http://www.finefeathertours.com.au/">Fine Feather Tours</a> had a Dusky Honeyeater from the same location, this was a first for him so it must be very unusual.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">Reptiles
and Mammals:-</span></span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">A
few snakes have been around the grounds, a Green Tree Snake was in
the orchard and a small Australian Scrub Python was curled up on a
tree at the end of the units veranda, giving the birds something to
shout at. A Yellow-footed Antichinus is living in a tree hollow
beside our camp kitchen and often seen running along the rafters.
Red-legged Pademelon are around in the rainforest during the day and
come out into the grassy orchard at night. At least 50 Red-legged
Pademelon were seen in a 10km stretch of the Mt. Lewis one night
which is an extraordinary number. Striped Possum was seen on a couple
of occasions but are proving very elusive at the moment. No sign of
Green Ringtail Possum since last September which is a worry. Frogs
seen were Jungguy Frog, White-lipped Tree Frog, Desert Tree Frog,
Dainty Green Tree Frog, Coggers Frog and Cane Toad plus Northern
Dwarf tree Frog was heard. Boyd's Forest Dragon, Eastern Water Dragon
and Major Skink have all been regulars.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: transparent;">Spider:-</span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">This
Giant Silverback spider (Genus Idiommata, family Barychelidae) was
found at the rear of our units, it was a first for us. It was
relocated to the rainforest after we took a few images of it. It was
quite aggressive rearing up and showing its fangs. These spiders are
venomous but not deadly. They</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: transparent;">
build a burrow in the ground which is s</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background: transparent;">hort,
open, often with a collar of leaves; a short horizontal flask down
the burrow is sealed by a thick door.</span></span><span style="background: transparent;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background: transparent;">Thanks
to Graham Anderson and Dr. Robert Raven (Queensland Museum) for
identifying the spider.</span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NIyk7boq--M/Uu2JBOJwo0I/AAAAAAAAEI4/D7r02MzJX9o/s1600/Giant+Silverback+Spider-5346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NIyk7boq--M/Uu2JBOJwo0I/AAAAAAAAEI4/D7r02MzJX9o/s1600/Giant+Silverback+Spider-5346.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Giant Silverback</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>2014
Australia Day Weekend at Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge, Julatten:-</b></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">BirdLife
Northern Queensland held its 14</span><sup><span style="font-weight: normal;">th</span></sup><span style="font-weight: normal;">
annual Australia Day long weekend get-together at Kingfisher Park
Birdwatchers Lodge, Julatten, hosted by Keith & Lindsay. It was
well attended with over 30 people coming to enjoy, field trips,
guided walks, talks and a movie night. As usual these weekends are
very social with lots of interesting food and a relaxed atmosphere. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Saturday
morning saw the group going up onto Mt. Lewis to look for some of the
Wet Tropic endemics, all 13 occur on the mountain. The main
attraction here was Blue-faced Parrot-Finch, which occur here from
November to April. We were not disappointed as there were at least
eight feeding alongside the road. Other good sightings were white
phase Grey Goshawk, male Golden Bowerbird, two families of Chowchilla
having a territorial dispute, Victoria's Riflebird and a Barred
Cuckoo-shrike feeding young in a nest, in all we saw 27 species. Late
afternoon we went to Wessel Road in Julatten to look at open woodland
and Melaleuca swamp country, here we found 29 species including
Buff-banded Rail plus Lovely and Red-backed Fairy-wren. The evening
was spent eating a communal dinner followed by a talk from Lloyd
Nielsen. Lloyd is a well known ornithologist who lives in the area
and has been studying local bird fauna for many years. His talk was
about the status of Fuscous and Yellow-tinted Honeyeater in our
region. His preliminary studies suggest that there is the possibility
that there are no Fuscous Honeyeater in our region but several forms
of Yellow-tinted Honeyeater or even a new species. Several populations on the Atherton Tableland and Lakefield National Park occur in distinctly different habitats and have different calls to each other. Two distinct populations occur either side of a 700m woodland barrier in one area of the Atherton Tableland. It would appear
that it is a very complicated identification problem that needs
further investigation requiring DNA testing to sort it out – sounds
like a good project for a Ph.D. Student. This is an image from one of the populations on the Atherton Tableland of what maybe another form of the Yellow-tinted Honeyeater. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6NVEnYlCzW0/Uu2QL8ic7RI/AAAAAAAAEJ0/LiT7bteLOBA/s1600/Yellow-tinted+Honeyeater-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6NVEnYlCzW0/Uu2QL8ic7RI/AAAAAAAAEJ0/LiT7bteLOBA/s1600/Yellow-tinted+Honeyeater-1.jpg" height="640" width="620" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Yellow-tinted Honeyeater?</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Sunday
morning was spent at a private property along Rifle Creek in Mt.
Molloy where we saw 35 species including Black Bittern, Pacific
Baza, Double-eyed Fig-Parrot, Shining Flycatcher and Eastern
Yellow-Robin. Also seen here were hundreds of Sapphire Flutterer
dragonflies. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y65Zz8Ow-R4/Uu2JD2sVjQI/AAAAAAAAEJI/Fx78I-DjFvA/s1600/Sapphire+Flutterer-9995.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y65Zz8Ow-R4/Uu2JD2sVjQI/AAAAAAAAEJI/Fx78I-DjFvA/s1600/Sapphire+Flutterer-9995.jpg" height="634" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Sapphire Flutterer</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Early
afternoon we had a talk by Kath Shurcliff, Birdlife North Queensland
Convener, about the list and atlas entry of the Eremaea Birds online
database for birds, which has now moved to a new site called Eremaea
ebird which is a</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> real-time, online checklist program.</span></span> </span>eBird has revolutionized the way
that the birding community reports and accesses information about birds</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">. Kath introduced us to the differences between the two
databases and how to use ebird for entering and retrieving data. The aim is to get everyone using ebird and making their records, many of which are hidden away in notebooks, available for everyone to access.The
evening was spent watching a DVD, filmed at the Lodge, about the
breeding cycle of the Buff-breasted Paradise-Kingfisher which migrate
from Papua New Guinea to breed in North Queensland rainforest each
year during the “Wet Season. They nest in low terrestrial termite
mounds before heading back to PNG in April. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Monday
morning was spent in and around the Lodge for two hours during which
time we recorded 52 species including Plumed Whistling-Duck,
White-bellied Sea-Eagle, 30+ <span lang="en-AU"><span style="background: transparent;">Red-tailed
Black Cockatoo were the first for this season,(they usually are
present in January - February) </span></span>and a White-bellied
Cuckoo-shrike nest with two very large chicks in it. </span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SW-wXLlGTMc/Uu2JGCYDmsI/AAAAAAAAEJQ/kFY6E5mVv04/s1600/White-bellied+Cuckoo-shrike-4201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SW-wXLlGTMc/Uu2JGCYDmsI/AAAAAAAAEJQ/kFY6E5mVv04/s1600/White-bellied+Cuckoo-shrike-4201.jpg" height="520" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We experienced a
few showers of rain but luckily they did not interfere with a very
successful weekend in which we saw 113 species and heard a further 11
species. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="en-AU" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: transparent;">Thanks
to all those that made the weekend a success especially Del Richards,
Lloyd Nielsen, Kath Shurcliff and Doug Herrington Birdlife North
Queensland Activities Officer.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: red;">Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge Business
and Property For Sale</span></b><br />
<a href="http://www.birdwatchers.com.au/For_Sale.htm">Click here for more sale details </a></h3>
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">All photos © Keith & Lindsay Fisher 2015 Have a good day - last blog post 2015 - follow https://tropicaltails.blogspot.com/ for local information</div>Keith and Lindsay Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09458044489867275514noreply@blogger.com0Julatten QLD 4871, Australia-16.6074211 145.34264210000003-16.7291696 145.18128060000004 -16.4856726 145.50400360000003