CAIRNS TRIP: DAY ONE

My family and I recently visited northern Queensland, specifically the area around Cairns, for a 5-day long trip. I will be blogging about the birds seen, as it was a very successful birding trip, with 13 lifers seen, as well as great views of some species I hadn't seen very well (eg. little shrike-thrush).
DAY ONE

A caspian tern, greater crested tern and common tern amidst a small flock

The first day in Cairns began uneventfully, but ended spectacularly. Since our Cairns accommodation was on the Esplanade, my mother and I walked down along the mudflats. It was low tide and not much was visible at first, but we soon picked up 3 bar-tailed godwits that had decided it wasn't worth migrating back to Siberia. Silvergulls, black-fronted dotterels and masked lapwings were, as always, common. A large flock of gulls and Australian pelicans was part-way down the Esplanade, however when I looked at this flock closely I noticed a Caspian tern, 2 greater crested terns and, best of all, my lifer common tern sitting slightly behind the flock. On the way back I also spotted a rather tame peaceful dove.

This peaceful dove was living up to its name and providing great views

After our walk we checked out of the hotel we were staying in (the Rydges) and began the long drive to Mareeba, where we would be spending the next night. Most of the drive was uneventful apart from lots of black kites overhead (I counted 26!), but as we neared Mareeba the car was suddenly stopped by my father, the driver, who pointed across the road to a flock of red-tailed cockatoos. They were feeding in a eucalypt, and were happy to allow some photos.

Two red-tailed black cockatoos feeding, the male showing off how he got his name

From there the road was fairly good for birds, I spotted several double-barred finches, as well as many forest kingfishers and laughing kookaburras perched on wires looking for lunch. There was also a brown falcon sitting high in a tree.
We arrived at Mareeba Safari Lodge soon after seeing the falcon. Almost immediately we went to the Visitor Center, which looks out over Clancy's Lagoon, a wetland, and had some lunch. On the way to the centre I saw two birds I couldn't identify (see next post for pictures). At the centre I saw a variety of birds. Feeders behind the centre were being visited by double-barred finches and chestnut-breasted mannikins, with a brown honeyeater feeding in the flowering plant near the feeder. Under the feeder were 3 peaceful doves eating seeds that had fallen on the ground. Two immature magpie geese frolicked in the water right in front of the visitor center, and further out were many green pygmy-geese and black swans. I could just make out a comb-crested jacana running on lotus lilies further out. An Australasian darter was drying its wings as it perched on a tree stump out from the centre. Several fan-tailed cuckoos (lifers!) were hiding in the forest around the centre. Finally, lifer white-throated needletails and welcome swallows and two rainbow bee-eaters were snatching insects from above the water.

A group of double-barred finches getting lunch at the feeder

A lone chestnut-breasted mannikin joining the finches at the feeder

One of the two magpie-geese that were in front of the center

Two male green pygmy-geese, much more beautiful than their rarer cousin

The beautiful fan-tailed cuckoo sitting in forest behind the visitor center

After having our delicious lunch, we did a short walk while waiting for our boat ride on the lagoon, but didn't see much, only getting better views of the aforementioned darter, and picking up more fan-tailed cuckoos, as well as a single lifer northern fantail that darted away before I could photograph it. Soon our tent was opened to us, and we spent the next 30 minutes enjoying the beautiful accommodation, and eating a few snacks. Then we had to walk to the centre for our boat ride.
The boat ride was great. Our guide, Kevin, was extremely informative and showed us both the flora and fauna of the lagoon. At the start Kevin immediately showed us some red-tailed black cockatoos far off in some trees, then told us about some of the many lilies of the lagoon: the Pac-Man lily which is shaped like the character, the Snowflake lily which has white flowers, and the Lotus. Among these lilies were many green pygmy-geese and a few Australian grebes, as well as a comb-crested jacana running across them. On the open water were about 12 black swans. Leafless trees on a small island held both little pied cormorants and little black cormorants. Finally, various egrets were flying over, and a lone jabiru was feeding on the bank of the lagoon.

A comb-crested jacana walking on dead lotus lilies

A female jabiru, Australia's only species of stork

On our way back to the terminal one of the other passengers of the boat spotted a pygmy-goose that looked slightly different. After about 6 minutes trying to find the bird, it was spotted, and all agreed it had to be a cotton pygmy-goose, a species I had tried for both in Australia and in Sri Lanka. An amazing lifer, though much drabber looking than its green cousin.

It may stand out here, but that cotton pygmy-goose was pretty hard to see from the boat

As soon as we returned we all boarded a safari jeep, with Kevin as the driver. As we went along we initially didn't see much, apart from one rainbow bee-eater shining brightly in the sun.

The true beauty of the rainbow bee-eater is really brought out by the sunlight

As we reached the second lagoon, Pandanus Lagoon, it started to rain, this slowed things but we still managed to see double-barred finches in shrubs nearby, a rainbow bee-eater looking for bugs, an unidentified honeyeater calling in the treetops, many Australian pelicans, many green pygmy-geese, a few straw-necked ibis and some egrets. After the lagoon we went on through some woodland but didn't really see too much until we reached some flowering trees, there were many blue-faced honeyeaters, lifer horn-billed friarbirds, lifer silver-crowned friarbirds and rainbow lorikeets going for the nectar in these trees. Two black kites were also perched on a nearby eucalypt. We were going to continue along a dam wall, but there was a large pond stopping us that had formed in the rain. However we did see a white-necked heron perched on a post near this pond.

Black kites were extremely common in the area

Even further on we saw more double-barred finches. Finally, the passenger who had spotted the cotton pygmy-goose saw some movement in a tree. Kevin immediately identified it as a pheasant coucal, hidden behind some large leaves. It took a while for it to come out a little, but it was still extremely hard to spot and took me several minutes to get my eyes on.

Can you spot the pheasant coucal? 

We eventually headed back along the trail and to the centre. I had a great dinner, then slept in the tent. I slept well, apart from the fact I woke up at 1 am and was awake for about 5 minutes, during this time I heard a southern boobook calling.