Sunday 15 January 2012
CAIRNS DAY 5
I wake up early in the morning. I brush my teeth, get dressed and have breakfast. We all get ready. Out the window, I see a pied imperial-pigeon. We leave the motel, head for the airport. We leave our rented car where it is meant to be, pay, eat a burger,then go on our flight. As the plane takes off, I recall all the trip. I feel how privileged I was to see the cassowary, how privileged I was to have stayed in this place. I think about how we must visit again. And as the plane takes off, a Pacific black duck flies along the creek beside the airport, as if saying goodbye.
CAIRNS DAY 4
This is Day 4 of our Cairns Trip. Today we went on the Kuranda Scenic Train and Skyrail. While doing this, we see a special surprise.
We woke up at 3:30 and drove back to Cairns. We went back to the Motel, stopping briefly at a wetland and seeing orange-footed scrubfowl but not much else. Then, reunited with mum and my sister, we head for Freshwater Station to go on the Kuranda Scenic Train. The train soon arrives at the station. While waiting, I look at brown-backed honeyeaters, metallic starlings, peaceful doves, white-breasted woodswallows and chestnut-breasted mannikins that are in the trees around the station.
A chestnut-breasted mannikin in a tree
On the train, I fall asleep until we reach Kuranda. There, we go to Birdworld Aviary. I feed a sun conure parrot, while another one watches me. An eclectus parrot flies on me while I try to feed the conure. One conure attacks my dad's bag. I try to tempt it off with some food, but it bites me on my finger! Then we go on the skyrail. During the skyrail, I see a woodswallow perched up on the skyrail wire. At our first stop (I can't remember the name), I see someone taking photos of something. At first I think it might be a Boyd's forest dragon lizard or something like that. After looking closely, I see that it is a WILD CASSOWARY!
This is the most dangerous bird in the world
The cassowary is the most dangerous bird in the world. If you annoy it or threaten it, it will defend itself, slashing at people with its talons and kicking at them. DON'T ANNOY A CASSOWARY. If you do get in a confrontation with one, don't run. Back away slowly, getting a solid object like a tree between you and the bird, or, if there are no trees, holding up something like a pack and continuing to back away. People have been killed. However, we are their main threat, running over them with our cars.
When we return to Cairns, dad takes an early flight back. As soon as he has gone, my lifer scaly-breasted lorikeet flies in to the motel balcony. After going on a short walk and eating an ice cream, I go to sleep.
A few scaly-breasted lorikeets perching in a tree
We woke up at 3:30 and drove back to Cairns. We went back to the Motel, stopping briefly at a wetland and seeing orange-footed scrubfowl but not much else. Then, reunited with mum and my sister, we head for Freshwater Station to go on the Kuranda Scenic Train. The train soon arrives at the station. While waiting, I look at brown-backed honeyeaters, metallic starlings, peaceful doves, white-breasted woodswallows and chestnut-breasted mannikins that are in the trees around the station.
On the train, I fall asleep until we reach Kuranda. There, we go to Birdworld Aviary. I feed a sun conure parrot, while another one watches me. An eclectus parrot flies on me while I try to feed the conure. One conure attacks my dad's bag. I try to tempt it off with some food, but it bites me on my finger! Then we go on the skyrail. During the skyrail, I see a woodswallow perched up on the skyrail wire. At our first stop (I can't remember the name), I see someone taking photos of something. At first I think it might be a Boyd's forest dragon lizard or something like that. After looking closely, I see that it is a WILD CASSOWARY!
The cassowary is the most dangerous bird in the world. If you annoy it or threaten it, it will defend itself, slashing at people with its talons and kicking at them. DON'T ANNOY A CASSOWARY. If you do get in a confrontation with one, don't run. Back away slowly, getting a solid object like a tree between you and the bird, or, if there are no trees, holding up something like a pack and continuing to back away. People have been killed. However, we are their main threat, running over them with our cars.
When we return to Cairns, dad takes an early flight back. As soon as he has gone, my lifer scaly-breasted lorikeet flies in to the motel balcony. After going on a short walk and eating an ice cream, I go to sleep.
CAIRNS DAY 3 PART 2
This is Part 2 of Day 3 in Cairns. It starts on Stewart Creek Road after seeing the wompoo fruit dove
In trees alongside the road, I spot metallic starlings (a lifer for me) and a figbird, as well as a woodswallow perched on a gate. In a tree, a forest kingfisher is perched. Not a paradise kingfisher, but still a good-looking bird.We turn back at the end of the road and head for Mossman, going out of Daintree Village and taking the Cape Tribulation exit. We take the ferry, which is quite interesting. My sister would have loved it, but she is staying in Cairns with mum, while me and dad look for birds. We drive to Jindabla Boardwalk. Apart from a golden orb weaver spider, we don't see any birds, just hear them, mostly because of the crowd. At the discovery center, there are heaps of ulysess butterflies flying around the carpark. In the center, we look at a metallic starling nest colony.
Metallic starlings at their nests.
At the swimming pool of Red Mill House, I spot a yellow-bellied sunbird drinking nectar, as well as a yellow-spotted honeyeater. Both are lifers for me.
A female yellow-bellied sunbird, Australia's only sunbird species
Then, at 5:30, we head to the public wharf on the road to Mossman, to catch our night cruise on the boat 'Nightwatchman', with Dan Irby. Heaps of birds are seen. At the start, various egrets, a black bittern, pied imperial-pigeons, metallic starlings, large-billed gerygones (lifer), brown-backed honeyeaters (lifer), white-breasted woodswallows and other birds fly around the river. As night falls, we get out a big torch and look for nocturnal animals. Lots of baby estuarine crocodiles and a spectacled flying-fox are all we see. When we get back to our car, my dad spots a bush stone-curlew. On the road home, we see lots of cane toads.
A brown-backed honeyeater perches in a tree
An orange-clawed fiddler crab, a small inhabitant of the mangroves
A spectacled flying-fox feeding
A baby estuarine crocodile
Back at Red Mill House, some nocturnal animals are about. I photograph a cane toad, white-lipped tree frog and northern brown bandicoot. The bandicoot was feeding in the garden.
A cane toad out the front
A white-lipped tree frog- The largest tree frog in the world
A northern brown bandicoot
Then we go to sleep.
In trees alongside the road, I spot metallic starlings (a lifer for me) and a figbird, as well as a woodswallow perched on a gate. In a tree, a forest kingfisher is perched. Not a paradise kingfisher, but still a good-looking bird.We turn back at the end of the road and head for Mossman, going out of Daintree Village and taking the Cape Tribulation exit. We take the ferry, which is quite interesting. My sister would have loved it, but she is staying in Cairns with mum, while me and dad look for birds. We drive to Jindabla Boardwalk. Apart from a golden orb weaver spider, we don't see any birds, just hear them, mostly because of the crowd. At the discovery center, there are heaps of ulysess butterflies flying around the carpark. In the center, we look at a metallic starling nest colony.
At the swimming pool of Red Mill House, I spot a yellow-bellied sunbird drinking nectar, as well as a yellow-spotted honeyeater. Both are lifers for me.
Then, at 5:30, we head to the public wharf on the road to Mossman, to catch our night cruise on the boat 'Nightwatchman', with Dan Irby. Heaps of birds are seen. At the start, various egrets, a black bittern, pied imperial-pigeons, metallic starlings, large-billed gerygones (lifer), brown-backed honeyeaters (lifer), white-breasted woodswallows and other birds fly around the river. As night falls, we get out a big torch and look for nocturnal animals. Lots of baby estuarine crocodiles and a spectacled flying-fox are all we see. When we get back to our car, my dad spots a bush stone-curlew. On the road home, we see lots of cane toads.
Back at Red Mill House, some nocturnal animals are about. I photograph a cane toad, white-lipped tree frog and northern brown bandicoot. The bandicoot was feeding in the garden.
Then we go to sleep.
Saturday 14 January 2012
CAIRNS TRIP- DAY 3 PART 1
This is Day 3 of our Cairns Trip, when we went to the Daintree Forest
We woke up at 4:00 to drive to the Daintree. Getting the wrong road once or twice, we eventually made it to the Daintree at around 6:00. We headed down to the public jetty to go on a morning birdwatching cruise with Mr. Ian 'Sauce' Worcester. At first, we didn't see many birds- just a few masked lapwings. Then, everything went wild as my lifer, a black bittern flew over the river. I tried to photograph it, but couldn't get it. A nankeen night heron was also present on the side of the river. In a tree I saw a male shining flycatcher calling. Then we headed back, observing a whistling kite in flight, to observe birds on the other side of the river. While heading back, we stopped to photograph a juvenile great-billed heron, one of the top birds on the Daintree River and another lifer for me. This, Australia's largest heron, has a massive bill and is a shy, elusive bird that can be found in mangroves, mudflats and lowland rivers in tropical Australia.
A male shining flycatcher
A juvenile great-billed heron
Down the other side of the river were more birds. Egrets, ibises, spoonbills and a black-necked stork or jabiru fed on the side of the river. A beautiful azure kingfisher perched on a mangrove branch, while a male darter and a brahminy kite perched on a bare tree.
An azure kingfisher hunts for its breakfast
A male darter over the Daintree River
A Jabiru or black-necked stork is also looking for breakfast
Then we headed to Red Mill House, a birder-friendly bed and breakfast where we were staying. Andrew and Trish Forsyth, the owners of Red Mill House, gave us a great breakfast. We looked around the garden, saw an orange-footed scrubfowl and headed off birding. First, we went to Stephens Creek Road to try and find the beautiful buff-breasted paradise kingfisher. We didn't spot the kingfisher, but my lifer wompoo fruit dove made up for the loss.
A wompoo fruit dove
The call is just not described nicely enough in the field guides. Since I am afraid I have overloaded this post with photos, I think I'll have to publish this day in two parts.
We woke up at 4:00 to drive to the Daintree. Getting the wrong road once or twice, we eventually made it to the Daintree at around 6:00. We headed down to the public jetty to go on a morning birdwatching cruise with Mr. Ian 'Sauce' Worcester. At first, we didn't see many birds- just a few masked lapwings. Then, everything went wild as my lifer, a black bittern flew over the river. I tried to photograph it, but couldn't get it. A nankeen night heron was also present on the side of the river. In a tree I saw a male shining flycatcher calling. Then we headed back, observing a whistling kite in flight, to observe birds on the other side of the river. While heading back, we stopped to photograph a juvenile great-billed heron, one of the top birds on the Daintree River and another lifer for me. This, Australia's largest heron, has a massive bill and is a shy, elusive bird that can be found in mangroves, mudflats and lowland rivers in tropical Australia.
A male shining flycatcher
Down the other side of the river were more birds. Egrets, ibises, spoonbills and a black-necked stork or jabiru fed on the side of the river. A beautiful azure kingfisher perched on a mangrove branch, while a male darter and a brahminy kite perched on a bare tree.
Then we headed to Red Mill House, a birder-friendly bed and breakfast where we were staying. Andrew and Trish Forsyth, the owners of Red Mill House, gave us a great breakfast. We looked around the garden, saw an orange-footed scrubfowl and headed off birding. First, we went to Stephens Creek Road to try and find the beautiful buff-breasted paradise kingfisher. We didn't spot the kingfisher, but my lifer wompoo fruit dove made up for the loss.
The call is just not described nicely enough in the field guides. Since I am afraid I have overloaded this post with photos, I think I'll have to publish this day in two parts.
CAIRNS TRIP-DAY 2
This is Day Two of our Cairns Trip. Today we went out to the Great Barrier Reef.
We woke up early and went to the Marlin Marina to catch our boat. We were heading to Michaelmas Cay and the outer Great Barrier Reef. We would look at some seabirds, snorkel, have lunch, then head back to Cairns. It would be fun.
While waiting for the boat, I spied a brown honeyeater feeding and took a picture of it.
A brown honeyeater
The boat ride to Michaelmas Cay was quite long. We travelled with Passions of Paradise. On the boat ride, we learnt some snorkelling tips and I saw a crested tern flying. Our first stop was Michaelmas Cay. At the cay, we immediately saw millions of birds. Common noddies, sooty terns, great crested terns and brown booby birds flew around us, squawking. At the back of the boat, I observed some large giant trevally swimming around. We took a small, glass-bottom boat to the isle. On the isle, I photographed seabirds until it was time to go snorkelling.
Common noddies perching on a protective rope
A sooty tern feeds its baby
A brown booby bird perches on the rope
Then we went snorkelling. We saw heaps of fish, sea stars, two giant clams and beautiful coral. I saw a parrotfish that I couldn't identify, please help!
The mystery parrotfish
A giant clam
Then we moved on to our next dive site, Paradise Reef, a reef that is only accessed by this tour company. At Paradise Reef it was amazing. Fish of all colours were everywhere. On the bottom, I spotted a black sea cucumber. My favourite fish that I saw was a giant wrasse.
The giant wrasse, swimming over Paradise Reef
A Barrier Reef anemonefish, a relative of the clown fish. In other words, Nemo's cousin.
Then we headed back. It was getting late. At the Marina, I spotted a seven-spotted archerfish.Then we headed to the Motel, had a swim in the Esplanade's lagoon pool, ate some dinner and went to sleep.
A seven-spotted archerfish swimming in the waters of the Marlin Marina.
We woke up early and went to the Marlin Marina to catch our boat. We were heading to Michaelmas Cay and the outer Great Barrier Reef. We would look at some seabirds, snorkel, have lunch, then head back to Cairns. It would be fun.
While waiting for the boat, I spied a brown honeyeater feeding and took a picture of it.
The boat ride to Michaelmas Cay was quite long. We travelled with Passions of Paradise. On the boat ride, we learnt some snorkelling tips and I saw a crested tern flying. Our first stop was Michaelmas Cay. At the cay, we immediately saw millions of birds. Common noddies, sooty terns, great crested terns and brown booby birds flew around us, squawking. At the back of the boat, I observed some large giant trevally swimming around. We took a small, glass-bottom boat to the isle. On the isle, I photographed seabirds until it was time to go snorkelling.
Then we went snorkelling. We saw heaps of fish, sea stars, two giant clams and beautiful coral. I saw a parrotfish that I couldn't identify, please help!
Then we moved on to our next dive site, Paradise Reef, a reef that is only accessed by this tour company. At Paradise Reef it was amazing. Fish of all colours were everywhere. On the bottom, I spotted a black sea cucumber. My favourite fish that I saw was a giant wrasse.
Then we headed back. It was getting late. At the Marina, I spotted a seven-spotted archerfish.Then we headed to the Motel, had a swim in the Esplanade's lagoon pool, ate some dinner and went to sleep.
CAIRNS TRIP- DAY 1
I have just returned from a trip to Cairns. I will blog about our trip. I saw 14 new species of bird, from the pied imperial pigeon to the cassowary. This is Day 1
We arrived from the airport tired, having woken up at 5:30 to get our flight. We hired a car from Thrifty, then drove around Cairns, birding. Our first stop was the Esplanade. We didn't explore the mudflats. In the trees, I spotted a few Australian figbirds, common mynas and (flying overhead) my lifer pied imperial pigeon. Then we went to Cementary Lakes, where we saw some magpie geese, four Pacific black ducks and my lifer black butcherbird in a tree.
An adult black butcherbird
From there, we headed to the Mangrove Boardwalk. Because it was so sunny, the birdlife wasn't very active. Near the carpark, I spotted a peaceful dove, two Willie wagtails and this mystery bird which I can't identify- please help!
The mystery bird from the mangroves
On the walk, I saw what I think might have been a mangrove golden whistler. The muddy waters were alive with mudskippers, whelks and crabs. Mudskippers are fish that can venture on land (just a little). I managed to get a photo of one.
This is a mudskipper
Then we went to the airport to pick up my dad, who had taken a different flight. We headed to the Mantra motel, where we would stay. We checked in and got our rooms. We walked to the Esplanade. This time, we did explore the mudflats. I saw heaps of waders, including two grey-tailed tattlers (lifer), a few eastern curlews (lifer), lots of bar-tailed godwits and a common sandpiper. In the trees I saw heaps of pied imperial-pigeons and a few brown honeyeaters (lifer). There were probably more birds that we couldn't recognize or spot, but as it was getting dark, we headed home.
A pied imperial-pigeon sitting on its nest
A grey-tailed tattler feeding
An eastern curlew
The spectacled flying-foxes were beginning to fly over us. We did some light shopping, then headed for our motel and slept.
We arrived from the airport tired, having woken up at 5:30 to get our flight. We hired a car from Thrifty, then drove around Cairns, birding. Our first stop was the Esplanade. We didn't explore the mudflats. In the trees, I spotted a few Australian figbirds, common mynas and (flying overhead) my lifer pied imperial pigeon. Then we went to Cementary Lakes, where we saw some magpie geese, four Pacific black ducks and my lifer black butcherbird in a tree.
From there, we headed to the Mangrove Boardwalk. Because it was so sunny, the birdlife wasn't very active. Near the carpark, I spotted a peaceful dove, two Willie wagtails and this mystery bird which I can't identify- please help!
On the walk, I saw what I think might have been a mangrove golden whistler. The muddy waters were alive with mudskippers, whelks and crabs. Mudskippers are fish that can venture on land (just a little). I managed to get a photo of one.
Then we went to the airport to pick up my dad, who had taken a different flight. We headed to the Mantra motel, where we would stay. We checked in and got our rooms. We walked to the Esplanade. This time, we did explore the mudflats. I saw heaps of waders, including two grey-tailed tattlers (lifer), a few eastern curlews (lifer), lots of bar-tailed godwits and a common sandpiper. In the trees I saw heaps of pied imperial-pigeons and a few brown honeyeaters (lifer). There were probably more birds that we couldn't recognize or spot, but as it was getting dark, we headed home.
The spectacled flying-foxes were beginning to fly over us. We did some light shopping, then headed for our motel and slept.
Thursday 5 January 2012
BIRDING JAWBONE RESERVE
Last weekend my dad and I went to Jawbone Reserve in Williamstown. To get there, go to Hoffmans Terrace and take the path west. You will eventually arrive at Altona Beach (see August 2011 post for more information). There is a good variety of waterbirds there.
We accessed the reserve from Crofton Drive. The first birds we saw were welcome swallows, which were perching on a roof. We started our journey by looking at a large lake. In the lake we saw a black-winged stilt, lots of silver gulls and some Eurasian coots. On the land near the lake, purple swamphens and black-tailed native hens were feeding. I managed to get some good photos of the native hens.
A black-tailed native hen
We walked onwards. The other lakes were full of waterbirds, like black swans, chestnut teals, hoary-headed and australasian grebes, Pacific black ducks, little pied cormorants, Eurasian coots and even more purple swamphens. We walked onwards to see a few royal spoonbills, until we reached Maddox Road. In the distance, we could see Australian pelicans, silver gulls, great crested terns, Pacific gulls and millions of black swans swimming in what was either a gigantic lake or the ocean. At Maddox Road, we looked for the bird hide that was apparently at the end of Maddox Road, but as we couldn't find it, we headed back. On Maddox Road, we saw heaps of house sparrows, white-plumed honeyeaters and a little wattlebird. As we headed back, we went past Crofton Drive to look at the ibis rookeries.
The ibis rookery was full of both australian white ibises and great cormorants. A few nice birds were present near the rookery, like a pair of red-kneed dotterels. At the bird hide we observed a few black swans, two black-winged stilts, some chestnut teals and a ibis that flew right in front of my face. We headed back, took a few more photos of the native-hens and headed home. We had a great day at Jawbone Reserve.
A black-winged stilt that was wading right in front of the bird hide.
We accessed the reserve from Crofton Drive. The first birds we saw were welcome swallows, which were perching on a roof. We started our journey by looking at a large lake. In the lake we saw a black-winged stilt, lots of silver gulls and some Eurasian coots. On the land near the lake, purple swamphens and black-tailed native hens were feeding. I managed to get some good photos of the native hens.
We walked onwards. The other lakes were full of waterbirds, like black swans, chestnut teals, hoary-headed and australasian grebes, Pacific black ducks, little pied cormorants, Eurasian coots and even more purple swamphens. We walked onwards to see a few royal spoonbills, until we reached Maddox Road. In the distance, we could see Australian pelicans, silver gulls, great crested terns, Pacific gulls and millions of black swans swimming in what was either a gigantic lake or the ocean. At Maddox Road, we looked for the bird hide that was apparently at the end of Maddox Road, but as we couldn't find it, we headed back. On Maddox Road, we saw heaps of house sparrows, white-plumed honeyeaters and a little wattlebird. As we headed back, we went past Crofton Drive to look at the ibis rookeries.
The ibis rookery was full of both australian white ibises and great cormorants. A few nice birds were present near the rookery, like a pair of red-kneed dotterels. At the bird hide we observed a few black swans, two black-winged stilts, some chestnut teals and a ibis that flew right in front of my face. We headed back, took a few more photos of the native-hens and headed home. We had a great day at Jawbone Reserve.
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