3 – 20 NOVEMBER 2022
By Andrew Walker
Our evening watching four Plains-wanderers under a total lunar eclipse was rather special!
Overview
This exciting Australian birding tour covered the eastern portion of this vast continent country. The first leg of the tour started in Melbourne, Victoria on the 3rd of November 2022, and from there we commenced a circuit of central, western, and northern Victoria and across the border for a brief foray into south central New South Wales. The second leg of the tour saw us fly to Brisbane, southern Queensland for a long weekend of birding around the famous O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat. The third and final leg of the trip had us commencing a circuit around Far North Queensland and the Atherton Tablelands, starting and ending in Cairns, this also included Great Barrier Reef and Daintree River boat trips. The tour ended in Cairns on the 20th of November 2022.
We recorded 379 species (seven heard only) and enjoyed a long list of endemic species and families during the tour. The list of highlights is long, and there are way too many to list here, but you can’t go too far wrong with top-quality birds like Southern Cassowary, Malleefowl, Plains-wanderer, Spotted Nightjar, Papuan Frogmouth, Great-billed Heron, Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo, Superb Parrot, Cockatiel, Budgerigar, Squatter Pigeon, Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Rufous Bristlebird, Superb Lyrebird, Albert’s Lyrebird, Pilotbird, Fernwren, Chowchilla, Australian Logrunner, Noisy Pitta, Paradise Riflebird, Victoria’s Riflebird, Regent Bowerbird, Great Bowerbird, Green Catbird, Spotted Catbird, Striated Grasswren, Splendid Fairywren, Mallee Emu-wren, Painted Honeyeater, and Diamond Firetail, to name just a few. As is usual for this tour, we found some remarkable endemic wildlife beyond all the birds, with major highlights including Koala (mother and joey), Red Kangaroo, Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroo, Short-beaked Echidna, Platypus, and Saltwater Crocodile. We also enjoyed stunning butterflies and impressive wildflowers, particularly orchids. Trip lists follow the report.
Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo was one of 28 cockatoo/parrot species recorded during the tour.
Detailed Report
Day 1, 3rd November 2022. Arrival in Melbourne
The group arrived in Melbourne, and we met for a welcome dinner in the evening and discussed the plans for the next few weeks of exciting birding in the east of Australia.
Day 2, 4th November 2022. Melbourne to Airey’s Inlet
We met up with Simon our local guide and commenced our journey out of Melbourne to the west of the city, ending up along the Great Ocean Road at Airey’s Inlet. We called in at multiple sites made up of various habitats during the day and as a result ended up with a large day list of over one hundred species, featuring many Australian endemic birds and families.
Most of our day was spent around the famed Werribee Western Treatment Plant and wider area. Given the record high levels of water around, the site wasn’t as productive as usual for waterbirds (we would be looking for those throughout the rest of the tour), so we actually concentrated our efforts on some woodland and lakes in the vicinity during the morning. Our first stop gave us Little Eagle, Brown Goshawk, Long-billed Corella, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Galah, Crimson (Crimson) Rosella, Eastern Rosella, Red-rumped Parrot, Purple-crowned Lorikeet, Shining Bronze Cuckoo, Crested Pigeon, Superb Fairywren, Striated Pardalote, Black-faced Cuckooshrike, Varied Sittella, Red-browed Finch, and Diamond Firetail. The first wetland site we visited produced Little Grassbird, Australasian Grebe (on a nest), Australasian Swamphen, Grey Teal, Chestnut Teal, Maned Duck, and Australian Shelduck.
We had some excellent views of several juvenile Australian Hobbies hunting dragonflies over wet areas. They were very successful in their pursuits, catching their prey with ease.
After lunch we found Cape Barren Goose, Black-fronted Dotterel, and Australian Pelican in a residential area. Visiting some of the nearby water treatment works areas we found Royal Spoonbill, Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Australian Hobby, Brown Falcon, Swamp Harrier, Black Swan, Golden-headed Cisticola, Australian Reed Warbler, Striated Fieldwren, White-fronted Chat, and one of the stars of the afternoon, a family group of Brolgas.
Late in the afternoon, the coast presented us with a new set of birds too, Hooded Dotterel, Red-capped Plover, Red-necked Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Tern, Silver Gull, and Kelp Gull. Peregrine Falcon, Black-shouldered Kite, and White-bellied Sea Eagle were overhead. A rather pretty pair of nesting Blue-winged Parrots proved a fitting end to a great first day birding in Australia as they were illuminated by the glorious late afternoon sunlight.
Day 3, 5th November 2022. Airey’s Inlet to central Victoria
We had another fantastic day birding in Australia as we made our way from the Great Ocean Road through to central Victoria and the town of Wedderburn. We started our birding at Airey’s Inlet where we visited a small pond and the lighthouse. Here we found our main target, Rufous Bristlebird with ease, along with other targets such as Black-faced Cormorant, Australasian Gannet, Latham’s Snipe, Singing Honeyeater, and Little Wattlebird.
Rufous Bristlebird belongs to one of several Australian-endemic families seen on the tour.
After breakfast we drove up and onto Anglesea Heath. We were greeted with near-perfect mild and windless conditions. Here we found Southern Emu-wren, Striated Fieldwren, and Chestnut-rumped Heathwren with minimal effort, and also enjoyed seeing Horsfield’s Bronze Cuckoo, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, and Wedge-tailed Eagle, to name a few of the goodies.
A short drive to another spot saw us getting more top birds, and these included Brush Cuckoo, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, White-throated Treecreeper, Crested (Eastern) Shriketit, Australian Golden Whistler, Rufous Whistler, Striated Thornbill, and a host of honeyeaters, including Eastern Spinebill, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, New Holland Honeyeater, White-eared Honeyeater, and Brown-headed Honeyeater. After the success of these morning stops, which included excellent views of great birds, we decided to get the majority of our long drive north under our belts.
After lunch, our luck continued as we called into a variety of different wooded habitats. One of the big highlights of the afternoon, and the whole day, was seeing a family party of roosting Powerful Owls, they are such huge birds and very impressive to see! Our next stop was a bonanza of birds, and we found Yellow-tufted Honeyeater, Fuscous Honeyeater, White-naped Honeyeater, Olive-backed Oriole, Black-faced Cuckooshrike, Spotted Pardalote, Grey Shrikethrush, Eastern Yellow Robin, Dusky Woodswallow, Musk Lorikeet, and Common Bronzewing.
Our final stop of the day gave us even more new birds, and we really couldn’t have asked for more, with great views of Square-tailed Kite, Shy Heathwren, White-winged Chough, Tawny-crowned Honeyeater, White-fronted Honeyeater, White-eared Honeyeater, and White-backed Swallow rounding off another excellent day, with over one hundred species recorded again (and no wetland birding today to inflate the list either!).
Crested Shriketit gave excellent views. This species complex is likely to be split by the IOC very soon (it has already been split by some authorities). Birds here becoming Eastern Shriketit.
Day 4, 6th November 2022. Central Victoria to the mallee at Mildura
Our first stop of the day was at Mount Korong Nature Conservation Reserve. It was a beautiful morning, and the birding was excellent. We found our main targets, displaying Painted Honeyeater and nest-building and courtship-dancing Diamond Firetails. Several other top birds seen included Painted Buttonquail, Gilbert’s Whistler, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, White-winged Chough, Mistletoebird, and Rufous Songlark (doing well in the perfect conditions).
We called in to Lake Tyrrell Wildlife Reserve for our picnic lunch and in doing so connected with Rufous Fieldwren, White-winged Fairywren, Black-faced Woodswallow, Australian Pipit, White-fronted Chat, and Brown Songlark. It was incredible seeing the lake full of water, not the usual sight here. After this brief yet productive stop, we drove across the short distance to Wyperfeld National Park.
Birding for the majority of the afternoon at Wyperfeld was great fun. We saw our first Emu of the trip, always a highly anticipated moment, and a dad with five chicks was a great start. Raptors abounded and one of the highlights was watching a dueling Spotted Harrier and Wedge-tailed Eagle at fairly close range, we also saw plenty of Nankeen Kestrels and Brown Falcons, along with Black-shouldered Kite. Parrots were frequently seen, and we got our first Cockatiel, Regent Parrot, Australian Ringneck, Eastern Bluebonnet, and Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo of the trip. Smaller birds seen included the stunning Splendid Fairywren, Yellow-throated Miner, Striped Honeyeater, Southern Whiteface, Pied Butcherbird, and Grey Butcherbird.
It had been a long afternoon in increasing temperatures, and due to the recent heavy rains and floods, increasing numbers of mosquitoes. However, the day had one final surprise for us as we commenced our drive out of the national park towards our accommodation. As we were slowly driving along a road, the much hoped for shape of a Malleefowl was observed feeding along the side of a road in the distance. We stopped to get scope views of the bird and then gradually crept forward in the vehicle, the bird remained, and everyone got good, much closer views as it continued to feed unconcerned by our presence. A big target in the bag.
A well-camouflaged Malleefowl was a fitting end to another excellent day of birding in Victoria.
Day 5, 7th November 2022. Birding Hattah-Kulkyne National Park
We enjoyed a wonderful day birding in the mallee. During the morning we connected with our three main targets, as well as many other great birds that were new for the trip. As we drove towards Hattah-Kulkyne National Park from our accommodation we saw a small flock of Cockatiel fly over the road. We stopped to see if we could find any others and to our joy found a flock of seven birds perched up in trees and feeding along a dirt track below. We also got better perched views of Eastern Bluebonnet, Sacred Kingfisher, and Black-shouldered Kite here.
Our first target in the national park gave itself up with little effort when we found a gorgeous Chestnut Quail-thrush, one of several singing birds heard during the early morning period. While here we were teased by a Mulga Parrot that flew in and landed practically out of sight for most. Luckily, we saw some others that showed better later in the day. We also had a flyover by a small flock of Budgerigars, which was a really nice surprise. As we left the quail-thrush area we got excellent views of a pair of Mallee Emu-wrens. This Endangered (BirdLife International) species has a tiny, highly precarious global range and we were thrilled to find them, the spinifex grass they live in was looking incredible this year after all rainfall too.
Chestnut Quail-thrush gave some incredible views as it sang from a perch that was just visible through the unusually long spinifex flowers (a result of bumper rains). The whole region was looking stunning, with tons of growth and birds breeding all over the place!
After a quick cup of tea/coffee and some snacks, we dropped down to another spot in the dunes, where we found our third main target of the day, with surprising ease (again)! After getting into position out of sight (as much as possible given the sparse vegetation) we waited for our target bird to appear, suddenly we were face-to-face with a Striated Grasswren. The bird performed excellently for everyone, which was a nice surprise given how tough they can be at times.
The shy and localized Striated Grasswren showed remarkably well for us.
Covering off some different areas in the park during the middle of the day resulted in yet more top birds, including Southern Scrub Robin, Chestnut-rumped Thornbill, Inland Thornbill, Splendid Fairywren, Weebill, Regent Parrot, White-browed Babbler, and many more.
During the afternoon and early evening, we did some birding around the town of Ouyen. We had some excellent views of Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo (see photo in tour summary section), White-backed Swallow, Purple-backed Fairywren, Southern Whiteface, and Spotted Nightjar. The sunset and moonrise were spectacular too.
Day 6, 8th November 2022. Mildura to Deniliquin
We had a very long day, somewhat extended by the serious floods going on in northern Victoria and southern New South Wales, which resulted in some changed plans and flexibility in our route between our start and end points! The majority of the morning and afternoon was spent traveling, though we picked up several new birds along the way, including Apostlebird, Chestnut-crowned Babbler, Australian Owlet-nightjar, Crimson (Yellow) Rosella, and Red-capped Robin. It was quite incredible driving past hundreds of kilometers of flooded land, with many trees getting water for the first time in over 30 years in some cases, as the unprecedented (in recent times) flood waters were rising. We picked up several ducks (but only ones we had seen before), herons (our best view of White-necked Heron so far), and raptors (plenty of Nankeen Kestrels, Brown Falcons, Black Kites, Whistling Kites, and Little Eagle sightings) along these areas.
The main event for the day, however, was our evening trip out onto the Hay plains, north of Deniliquin in New South Wales. We met up with Phil, our local guide and drove north. There was lots of flooding along the road and a few stops produced Magpie Goose, Hardhead, Australasian Shoveler, Black-tailed Nativehen, Hoary-headed Grebe, Australian White Ibis, Straw-necked Ibis, and Little Pied Cormorant.
We arrived at a specific spot in the vast plains where we enjoyed watching a stunning sunset and just as impressive moonrise at the same time. As the evening progressed, we got to witness the rare sight of a total lunar eclipse while we were birding. As we commenced walking, we could hear singing Horsfield’s Bush Lark and soon were watching a couple of Stubble Quails at close range. We spent about the next hour walking circuits around a huge paddock on the plain, finding Fat-tailed Dunnart (a carnivorous marsupial), Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Western Grey Kangaroo, Red Kangaroo, and House Mouse. Suddenly however we found our main target, Plains-wanderer. The bird was a male so not as colored as the female, but we were happy to see one given how tough they can be to see. The bird showed brilliantly, but we wanted a bit more, so we continued walking and not very far away we found ourselves looking at a gorgeous female bird, she too showed wonderfully, and we all got great views (see trip report cover image).
Watching multiple Plains-wanderers under the total lunar eclipse was rather unique.
After the two great Plains-wanderer sightings we started our walk back to the car and after a short way, remarkably, picked up another pair of birds, this time the female was calling, an incredible sight and haunting sound. We enjoyed watching and listening to this bird and then continued on our way back. We even had Pink-eared Ducks calling as they flew over us here. The rest of the walk back and journey to town was fairly uneventful, though we did spot an Eastern Barn Owl along the road. After a rather long day we got back to our hotel in the early hours of the morning. Having seen Plains-wanderer so well was a real highlight of the tour, however, to get to see them in the strange red glow of the total lunar eclipse and a heavily flooded landscape was something else entirely, a unique experience and one that probably won’t be forgotten for a long time.
Day 7, 9th November 2022. Deniliquin to Chiltern
We afforded ourselves a lay in after our late finish yesterday and had a late and tasty breakfast in Deniliquin, still all rather excited about events from the previous evening. We had a relaxing day birding our way from Deniliquin in New South Wales to Chiltern, back in Victoria. A few stops near Deniliquin gave us our first Superb Parrots of the tour and we also found Little Friarbird, Jacky Winter, Western Gerygone, and a few other species. A perched Wedge-tailed Eagle at the side of the road was rather regal (and massive).
Our afternoon birding took us to the Warby-Ovens National Park. Here we got brief views of Turquoise Parrot, along with Restless Flycatcher (living up to its name), Noisy Friarbird, White-throated Gerygone, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, and Yellow-tufted Honeyeater.
Day 8, 10th November 2022. Chiltern to Healesville
An enjoyable pre-breakfast birding session in Chiltern-Mt. Pilot National Park gave us perched views of Turquoise Parrot, our main avian target. What a stunning bird and we really enjoyed the sighting of an adult male looking resplendent in the early morning sunlight. Just prior to the parrot sighting we had one of the mammal highlights of the whole tour when we saw a mother Koala and her joey (baby) up in a tree, they gave some great views for us.
As far as Koala sightings go, this one was pretty much perfect!
Our morning birding gave us several other good birds, including Square-tailed Kite, Pallid Cuckoo, Sacred Kingfisher, Fuscous Honeyeater, Yellow-tufted Honeyeater, White-bellied Cuckooshrike, Olive-backed Oriole, Noisy Friarbird, White-throated Gerygone, Western Gerygone, and Little Lorikeet.
As we drove to Healesville, we made a few strategic stops along the way. These stops gave us yet more new birds, including some absolute belters like Pilotbird, Red-browed Treecreeper, Gang-gang Cockatoo, Flame Robin, Eastern Spinebill, Bell Miner, and an excellent Victoria bird in the form of a vocal male Common Cicadabird.
It is not every day that a Pilotbird hops out into the open on the top of a tree fern!
Day 9, 11th November 2022. Healesville to Melbourne
A productive pre-breakfast walk, near to the town of Healesville, gave us lots of birds, with further looks at Red-browed Treecreeper and our first Rufous Fantail and Satin Flycatcher of the tour. Bird activity was high, with lots of parrots moving around, including Gang-gang Cockatoo, Long-billed Corella, Crimson (Crimson) Rosella, and Australian King Parrot. Small birds like thornbills, pardalotes, and scrubwrens were also in evidence.
After breakfast we visited a different area and had brief views of Superb Lyrebird. Later we would hear one singing, an impressive sound as it mimicked at least eight other species! We also had good views of Grey Currawong, several pairs of the attractive Flame Robin, along with Rose Robin, more Rufous Fantails, a pair of Olive Whistlers and pair of Australian Golden Whistlers, with Pilotbird, and many more. We also got to see some leeches, always a highlight!
Unfortunately, it was time to head back into Melbourne to complete our southern circuit of this eastern Australia birding tour. Before we said our goodbyes and thank you to Simon, we visited some hills on the outskirts of the city where we found our final new bird of this section of the tour, a stunning male Scarlet Robin which showed exceptionally well. Here we also found some beautiful and interesting orchids, including the bizarre Large Flying Duck Orchid – a highlight all on its own!
A Scarlet Robin showed well and was our final “new” bird in Victoria.
Day 10, 12th November 2022. Melbourne to Brisbane and birding Brisbane mangroves
We took our morning flight from Melbourne to Brisbane, where we arrived around noon. We moved across to the coastal area for lunch before commencing our birding in this new and very different region of Australia. After lunch we visited a few mangrove and wetland sites around Brisbane and got good views of all our main targets, these being Mangrove Honeyeater, Mangrove Gerygone, and Torresian Kingfisher. While looking for these birds we found plenty of other new birds for the trip, including Red-backed Fairywren, Tawny Grassbird, Grey-crowned Babbler, Brown Honeyeater, and Leaden Flycatcher. A few shorebirds were still hanging around a roost site and we noted Common Greenshank, Pacific Golden Plover, Far Eastern Curlew, Eurasian Whimbrel, Pied Oystercatcher, and Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. Out in the bay we found Australian Tern, Little Tern, Caspian Tern, and several species of herons and egrets.
Day 11, 13th November 2022. Birding Brisbane and travel to Lamington National Park
Our morning birding took us to the western suburbs of Brisbane. Our first stop was near our accommodation, where we saw a Pale-vented Bush-hen (thanks Rob!), not an easy task as this is usually one highly secretive species.
After arriving at our first proper birding location, some rainforest, new birds arrived thick and fast. We enjoyed our first Spangled Drongos, Topknot Pigeons, Brown Cuckoo-Doves, and Rufous Shrikethrushes, although our main targets were monarchs, and we had fabulous looks at both White-eared Monarch and Spectacled Monarch. To top off a great short birding session, we got to observe a pair of Rose-crowned Fruit Doves at close range and the male displaying to the female, those colors!
After a delightful breakfast (and the best coffee to date) we ventured into some drier eucalyptus forest, where we found Channel-billed Cuckoo, White-throated Honeyeater, Lewin’s Honeyeater, Pacific Baza (displaying), Oriental Dollarbird, and Double-barred Finch. However, the real highlight was probably the flock of over 300 White-throated Needletails that were wheeling about above us. We could hear these giant swifts screaming their heads off, and the noise they made when flying was rather loud too!
Rose-crowned Fruit Dove was a riot of color in the greens of the rainforest.
ning birding session, we headed south and into the mountains at Lamington National Park, noting our first Pheasant Coucal along the way. On our arrival in the beautiful rainforest of the national park we spend a couple of hours birding a productive trail. Here we found some great birds, including a male Paradise Riflebird and several foraging Green Catbirds, two of our main targets. Plenty of other new birds were found, such as Eastern Whipbird, Black-faced Monarch (our third monarch of the day!), Yellow-throated Scrubwren, Large-billed Scrubwren, Brown Gerygone, and the highly anticipated Australian Brushturkey! We also gained improved views of Rose Robin, Australian Golden Whistler, and Rufous Fantail. It was a fantastic introduction into the avifauna of the area. As we checked into our rooms at the famous O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, we were greeted by a riot of color from Regent Bowerbird, Satin Bowerbird, Crimson (Crimson) Rosella, and Australian King Parrot, all showing at close range.
Day 12, 14th November 2022. Birding Lamington National Park
An early start saw us hitting the trails out from O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat. Around the lodge we saw plenty of Regent Bowerbirds, Satin Bowerbirds, and the other usual suspects like Australian Brushturkey, Pied Currawong, Crimson (Crimson) Rosella, and Australian King Parrot.
Our first real highlight of the morning was a pair of Australian Logrunners that were busily moving leaves looking for grubs. They have a very interesting foraging method that involves flicking their legs out sideways to move the leaf litter as they hunt for insects. Yellow-throated Scrubwren and White-browed Scrubwren were constantly at our feet, as were several pairs of Eastern Whipbirds and a couple of very vocal Wonga Pigeons. Plenty of other species we had seen the previous afternoon gave further views, such as Paradise Riflebird and Green Catbird.
After breakfast we heard two Albert’s Lyrebirds calling, and after a bit of a wait and by repositioning ourselves we all got to view this most wanted and very localized endemic. While looking for the lyrebird, we also noted a White-headed Pigeon quietly sitting above us. Walking onto the canopy walkway gave us an interesting perspective on the forest and we saw Rose Robin (our best view of the tour), Eastern Spinebill, Lewin’s Honeyeater, Large-billed Scrubwren, Brown Thornbill, and Silvereye.
Another localized endemic, Australian Logrunner, showed well on the dark forest floor.
After exploring the canopy walkway, we heard and them glimpsed a Noisy Pitta, but not great views for most. However, a short while later (after more logrunners, whipbirds, fantails, and other small birds) we heard another Noisy Pitta calling. We got into a position where we had a better view of the forest and after a short while located the male, getting great views of this attractive species. As we made our final walk of the morning back to the lodge for lunch, we got further views of Albert’s Lyrebird, this time feeding and a little more out in the open. While watching the lyrebird we had a pair of Bassian Thrushes crossing the trail with food and then continue to show wonderfully until we had had our fill, it was hard to know which way to look!
After lunch we enjoyed more of the same wonderful birds we had seen over the past 24 hours in Lamington National Park, with the addition of a brief Russet-tailed Thrush sighting (this after seeing three Bassian Thrushes on the afternoon walk too!).
We enjoyed some excellent views of Noisy Pitta while birding at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat.
A gorgeous male Satin Bowerbird sat near his bower.
Day 13, 15th November 2022. Brisbane to Cairns and birding Cairns Esplanade
We had a final pre-breakfast morning walk at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat before it was time to depart (after another hearty breakfast!) from the mountain down to Brisbane, before catching our afternoon flight to Cairns. The expected Regent Bowerbird, Satin Bowerbird, Australian King Parrot, and Crimson (Crimson) Rosella greeted us outside the accommodation, they were also joined by a flock of rather cute Red-browed Finches. We then headed into the trails for a short walk, finding many of the now familiar species. A Russet-tailed Thrush was playing hide and seek and proving difficult to get good views, while Bassian Thrush was the total opposite, feeding their young out in the open, giving fantastic views. Australian Logrunners were very vocal and again showed well, as did a pair of Black-faced Monarchs. After breakfast it was time to leave this piece of paradise and drive back down to Brisbane for our early afternoon flight to Cairns.
Regent Bowerbird is always one of the most popular birds at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat and it is easy to see why, it is absolutely stunning.
We arrived in Cairns in the late afternoon and transferred across to our nearby hotel on the famous Cairns Esplanade. A short walk at dusk in the hour before dinner gave us more new birds, including Pacific Reef Heron, Nankeen Night Heron, Varied Honeyeater, Torresian Imperial Pigeon, Metallic Starling, Pacific Swift, and Double-eyed Fig Parrot. After a wonderful fish supper, we walked back to our hotel in dark where we saw plenty of Spectacled Flying Foxes flying around, and a single Bush Stone-curlew walking along the road! We would hear plenty of them giving their strange calls during the night here and at a few other places over the final few nights of the tour.
Day 14, 16th November 2022. Great Barrier Reef trip
As always, this was an enjoyable trip out onto the sea and over to Michaelmas Cay. However, before we joined our boat trip, our breakfast venue allowed us some shorebird viewing opportunities on the incoming tide. Here we noted Great Knot, Far Eastern Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Greater Sand Plover, Lesser Sand Plover, Grey-tailed Tattler, and Broad-billed Sandpiper.
Once we got out to Michaelmas Cay, we were greeted by thousands of birds, an impressive sight, sound, and smell! Brown Noddies, Lesser Crested Terns, and Sooty Terns appeared most numerous with a big breeding season underway. Greater Crested Terns and Brown Boobies were also present in high numbers, the boobies with some huge white chicks. A few Bridled Terns, Black-naped Terns, and Great Frigatebirds were observed, as was a single Red-footed Booby. Ruddy Turnstones were scattered about around the cay, and Silver Gulls were present and trying to make off with either tern or noddy eggs. As is the case on this trip, plenty of time was spent enjoying the marvels of the underwater reef life, which today included numerous gorgeous tropical fish and Black-tipped Reef Shark (to name a couple of highlights). Once back on land we collected our vehicle and set off south to Mission Beach for the night.
Day 15, 17th November 2022. Mission Beach and Atherton Tablelands
Our morning was spent driving around Mission Beach. It was a hot morning, but eventually we found our main target, the magnificent Southern Cassowary. It kept us waiting right up until our time in the area was almost up, but once we found one, we enjoyed fantastic views. A definite bird of the trip contender and a real privilege to see.
Southern Cassowary was a highly anticipated bird for the trip, and we got great views.
While driving around the area looking for cassowaries, we found several new species for the trip and improved views of some others too, such as Fairy Gerygone, Yellow-spotted Honeyeater, Dusky Myzomela, Black Butcherbird, Green Oriole, Australian Swiftlet, Pacific Swift, White-throated Needletail, Bush Stone-curlew, Osprey, Metallic Starling, Olive-backed Sunbird, and Spangled Drongo either side of breakfast.
By the middle of the morning the temperatures were soaring, so we drove up into the Atherton Tablelands. After lunch and sitting out the hottest part of the day, we visited Mount Hypipamee National Park. Birding here was excellent, and we found several great new birds, like Victoria’s Riflebird, Bower’s Shrikethrush, Orange-footed Scrubfowl, Grey-headed Robin, Grey Whistler, and Bridled Honeyeater. One of the major highlights of our time here however, involved the sighting of a Lumoltz’s Tree Kangaroo that was giving some great views low down.
After some time in the rainforest, we visited Hasties Swamp, where we found Comb-crested Jacana, Pied Stilt, Wandering Whistling Duck, Royal Spoonbill, Channel-billed Cuckoo, Red-backed Fairywren, Chestnut-breasted Mannikin, Scaly-breasted Munia, and Macleay’s Honeyeater. After our birding session here we called in at some arable fields where we found Sarus Crane and Horsfield’s Bush Lark. As dusk approached, we stopped at a small river where we found our main target, Platypus, and watched as hundreds of Magpie Geese flew overhead to their roost site. This ended a fantastic day’s birding in Far North Queensland.
Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroo was yet another of the mammal highlights from the tour.
Day 16, 18th November 2022. Birding the Atherton Tablelands and arid zone
We spent the morning birding at several rainforest sites on the Atherton Tablelands, before dropping down in elevation to the more arid parts of the area. Across the day we logged a massive list of species, including some restricted-range regional endemics and lots of new trip birds.
Our first birding was at our accommodation, where we enjoyed great views of Spotted Catbird, Victoria’s Riflebird, Superb Fruit Dove, Wompoo Fruit Dove, Macleay’s Honeyeater, Yellow-breasted Boatbill, Forest Kingfisher, and lots more. We would also see most of these birds at our other rainforest sites during the morning. After breakfast we called in at a different site and found Chowchilla, Pale-yellow Robin, and Tooth-billed Bowerbird (impressive views of a male calling from his bower). Our final birding site of the morning gave us Cryptic Honeyeater, Bridled Honeyeater, and Atherton Scrubwren, as well as other species we had seen before, but better views of some, such as Grey-headed Robin and Yellow-breasted Boatbill. Our mammal list grew with the addition of Musky Rat Kangaroo during one of our rainforest birding stops.
Our accommodation in the Crater Lakes area of the Atherton Tablelands was wonderful for observing Victoria’s Riflebird.
For the afternoon birding session, we visited a couple of arid zone sites that were both excellent and gave us a load of new birds, including some real goodies! At the first stop we found an Australian Bustard with young, and then followed it up with a group of localized Mareeba Rock Wallabies. A short while later we were watching a flock of around 20 Squatter Pigeons. These birds walked about oblivious to our presence, and we got some fabulous looks. Bar-shouldered Doves and Peaceful Doves were also feeding with the pigeons. A Great Bowerbird appeared too, as did Scaly-breasted Lorikeet. Our final birding session of the day was just north of Mareeba. We “twitched” a site that had recently had some Oriental Pratincoles reported. Not long after we arrived in the area, we located two birds and enjoyed lengthy views as they foraged in the company of Pacific Golden Plovers. While birding here we also found Blue-winged Kookaburra, Red-winged Parrot, Magpie Goose, Yellow Honeyeater, Double-barred Finch, Red-backed Fairywren, Horsfield’s Bush Lark, Australian Pipit, and double figures of Australian Bustards looking glorious in the late afternoon sunlight.
We had incredible looks at a flock of Squatter Pigeons. They were walking around right at our feet, totally unconcerned by our presence.
As we pulled into our accommodation for the night, several large flocks of Red-tailed Black Cockatoos flew over, Brush Cuckoo sang, Oriental Dollarbird was catching insects in the security light, and the Bush Stone-curlews were getting vocal. It had been another long, but very enjoyable, day birding in the Atherton Tablelands.
Day 17, 19th November 2022. Birding Mt Lewis area and Daintree River cruise
Our final day of birding started in the arid country around Mareeba, included a trip to Mount Lewis National Park for some high elevation birds, and ended on the Daintree River with a dusk boat cruise. It was another long but also a highly rewarding day. Our first birding was right at our accommodation where Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, Great Bowerbird, Pacific Baza, and Yellow Honeyeater were noted. A park on the edge of town and some roadside stops proved productive, with Little Bronze Cuckoo, Leaden Flycatcher, Varied Triller, Pacific Koel, Black Butcherbird, Pheasant Coucal, Blue-faced Honeyeater, and Forest Kingfisher some of the highlights.
A change in habitats gave us different birds. A patch of rainforest was very busy, and we got one our main tour targets here, with a stunning display put on by a couple of Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfishers. They had clearly just arrived from Papua New Guinea and were busy setting up breeding territories. While looking for the kingfishers, we found Northern Fantail, Pale-yellow Robin, Spectacled Monarch, Cryptic Honeyeater, Yellow-spotted Honeyeater, Lewin’s Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Brown-backed Honeyeater, and Macleay’s Honeyeater. Wetlands here held Magpie Geese, Green Pygmy Geese, Brown Quail, and White-browed Crake.
Gaining some elevation, we took a trail on Mount Lewis. A short walk here was very good, and we found our main targets quickly and had crippling views of all, these being Fernwren, Chowchilla, and Mountain Thornbill. Atherton Scrubwren, Yellow-throated Scrubwren, Paradise Riflebird, Spotted Catbird, Barred Cuckooshrike, Eastern Whipbird, Grey-headed Robin, and Bridled Honeyeater were all also recorded during this walk.
There was a bit of a territorial dispute going on with a couple of Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfishers that had just arrived from Papua New Guinea and were busy setting up breeding territories.
After our brief mountain birding trip, we dropped down to the coast for a late lunch. We stopped at a beach briefly where we saw an Osprey catch a fish and picked up Caspian Tern, Greater Crested Tern, and Little Tern, along with Bar-tailed Godwit, Pied Oystercatcher, and Far Eastern Curlew.
Our final birding of the tour had us on a small boat exploring the Daintree River. This is always a fun and educational trip and was a wonderful way to end our tour, and we found some great wildlife too! The first channel we explored gave us three of our main targets almost immediately, although two of them were a bit brief, with both Black Bittern and Spotted Whistling Duck (a recent colonist of Australia from New Guinea) vanishing without giving us good looks. However, Great-billed Heron, one of the usually secretive species, perched up for us giving excellent views. Plenty of other small birds were being enjoyed too, such as Large-billed Gerygone, Shining Flycatcher, and Green Oriole. We also saw two Saltwater Crocodiles and two Green Tree Snakes during the second half of our boat trip. Herons and egrets were busily flying around at dusk and a huge Black-necked Stork flew over too, distinctive even at long range! One final highlight, and pretty much the last new bird of the tour, was a Papuan Frogmouth sat on its nest, it gave excellent views. We left the river and drove back to Cairns where we arrived in the evening after stopping for dinner along the way. The task of selecting bird of the trip was not easy, especially after recording almost 400 species. However, the top picks included Southern Cassowary, Malleefowl, Mallee Emu-wren, and Spotted Pardalote.
One of several new birds added to our trip list during our Daintree River cruise, this huge and usually shy Great-billed Heron was a real treat.
Day 18, 20th November 2022. Departure from Cairns
The tour concluded with our departure from Cairns. Some of the group had a flock of Red-tailed Black Cockatoos feeding in trees right in the airport car park before checking in for their flights.
Tour weather conditions note
Conditions in Victoria and New South Wales were like nothing that has been seen for over 30 years, with vast areas of flooding around most rivers, particularly the major rivers, like the mighty Murray River. Luckily, we were blessed with good weather during the trip, and we had no issues getting across and around the flooded areas. The inland flooding did mean that several species of ducks and shorebirds (waders) we usually easily find while in Victoria on this tour were just not present (they had gone inland to breed in the flooded conditions, which were now perfect for them). The rains had resulted in masses of plant growth, particularly grasses and herbaceous plants, as well as giving trees a drink for the first time in a long time. As a result of this, many species were having bumper breeding seasons and were unusually conspicuous in some cases, which was great for us! Conditions in Queensland were more typical, but these areas had clearly had a good dose of water too, and birdlife was booming everywhere we went, which made for an excellent tour.
Bird List – Following IOC (12.2)
Birds ‘heard only’ are marked with (H) after the common name, all other species were seen. The following notation after species names is used to show conservation status following BirdLife International: CR = Critically Endangered, EN = Endangered, VU = Vulnerable.
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
| Cassowaries, Emu (Casuariidae) | |
| Southern Cassowary | Casuarius casuarius |
| Emu | Dromaius novaehollandiae |
| Magpie Goose (Anseranatidae) | |
| Magpie Goose | Anseranas semipalmata |
| Ducks, Geese, Swans (Anatidae) | |
| Spotted Whistling Duck | Dendrocygna guttata |
| Plumed Whistling Duck | Dendrocygna eytoni |
| Wandering Whistling Duck | Dendrocygna arcuata |
| Cape Barren Goose | Cereopsis novaehollandiae |
| Black Swan | Cygnus atratus |
| Radjah Shelduck | Radjah radjah |
| Australian Shelduck | Tadorna tadornoides |
| Pink-eared Duck (H) | Malacorhynchus membranaceus |
| Maned Duck | Chenonetta jubata |
| Green Pygmy Goose | Nettapus pulchellus |
| Australasian Shoveler | Spatula rhynchotis |
| Pacific Black Duck | Anas superciliosa |
| Grey Teal | Anas gracilis |
| Chestnut Teal | Anas castanea |
| Hardhead | Aythya australis |
| Megapodes (Megapodiidae) | |
| Australian Brushturkey | Alectura lathami |
| Malleefowl – VU | Leipoa ocellata |
| Orange-footed Scrubfowl | Megapodius reinwardt |
| Guineafowl (Numididae) | |
| Helmeted Guineafowl | Numida meleagris |
| Pheasants & Allies (Phasianidae) | |
| Brown Quail | Synoicus ypsilophorus |
| Stubble Quail | Coturnix pectoralis |
| Nightjars (Caprimulgidae) | |
| Spotted Nightjar | Eurostopodus argus |
| Frogmouths (Podargidae) | |
| Papuan Frogmouth | Podargus papuensis |
| Owlet-nightjars (Aegothelidae) | |
| Australian Owlet-nightjar | Aegotheles cristatus |
| Swifts (Apodidae) | |
| Australian Swiftlet | Aerodramus terraereginae |
| White-throated Needletail | Hirundapus caudacutus |
| Pacific Swift | Apus pacificus |
| Bustards (Otididae) | |
| Australian Bustard | Ardeotis australis |
| Cuckoos (Cuculidae) | |
| Pheasant Coucal | Centropus phasianinus |
| Pacific Koel | Eudynamys orientalis |
| Channel-billed Cuckoo | Scythrops novaehollandiae |
| Horsfield’s Bronze Cuckoo | Chrysococcyx basalis |
| Shining Bronze Cuckoo | Chrysococcyx lucidus |
| Little Bronze Cuckoo | Chrysococcyx minutillus |
| Pallid Cuckoo | Cacomantis pallidus |
| Fan-tailed Cuckoo | Cacomantis flabelliformis |
| Brush Cuckoo | Cacomantis variolosus |
| Pigeons, Doves (Columbidae) | |
| Rock Dove (Feral Pigeon) | Columba livia dom. |
| White-headed Pigeon | Columba leucomela |
| Spotted Dove | Spilopelia chinensis |
| Brown Cuckoo-Dove | Macropygia phasianella |
| Pacific Emerald Dove | Chalcophaps longirostris |
| Common Bronzewing | Phaps chalcoptera |
| Crested Pigeon | Ocyphaps lophotes |
| Squatter Pigeon | Geophaps scripta |
| Wonga Pigeon | Leucosarcia melanoleuca |
| Peaceful Dove | Geopelia placida |
| Bar-shouldered Dove | Geopelia humeralis |
| Wompoo Fruit Dove | Ptilinopus magnificus |
| Superb Fruit Dove | Ptilinopus superbus |
| Rose-crowned Fruit Dove | Ptilinopus regina |
| Torresian Imperial Pigeon | Ducula spilorrhoa |
| Topknot Pigeon | Lopholaimus antarcticus |
| Rails, Crakes & Coots (Rallidae) | |
| Buff-banded Rail (H) | Hypotaenidia philippensis |
| Black-tailed Nativehen | Tribonyx ventralis |
| Dusky Moorhen | Gallinula tenebrosa |
| Eurasian Coot | Fulica atra |
| Australasian Swamphen | Porphyrio melanotus |
| White-browed Crake (H) | Poliolimnas cinereus |
| Pale-vented Bush-hen | Amaurornis moluccana |
| Cranes (Gruidae) | |
| Sarus Crane – VU | Antigone antigone |
| Brolga | Antigone rubicunda |
| Grebes (Podicipedidae) | |
| Australasian Grebe | Tachybaptus novaehollandiae |
| Hoary-headed Grebe | Poliocephalus poliocephalus |
| Great Crested Grebe | Podiceps cristatus |
| Buttonquail (Turnicidae) | |
| Painted Buttonquail | Turnix varius |
| Stone-curlews, Thick-knees (Burhinidae) | |
| Bush Stone-curlew | Burhinus grallarius |
| Oystercatchers (Haematopodidae) | |
| Pied Oystercatcher | Haematopus longirostris |
| Stilts, Avocets (Recurvirostridae) | |
| Pied Stilt | Himantopus leucocephalus |
| Red-necked Avocet | Recurvirostra novaehollandiae |
| Plovers (Charadriidae) | |
| Masked Lapwing | Vanellus miles |
| Pacific Golden Plover | Pluvialis fulva |
| Red-capped Plover | Charadrius ruficapillus |
| Lesser Sand Plover | Charadrius mongolus |
| Greater Sand Plover | Charadrius leschenaultii |
| Hooded Dotterel – VU | Thinornis cucullatus |
| Black-fronted Dotterel | Elseyornis melanops |
| Jacanas (Jacanidae) | |
| Comb-crested Jacana | Irediparra gallinacea |
| Plains-wanderer (Pedionomidae) | |
| Plains-wanderer – CR | Pedionomus torquatus |
| Sandpipers, Snipes (Scolopacidae) | |
| Eurasian Whimbrel | Numenius phaeopus |
| Far Eastern Curlew – EN | Numenius madagascariensis |
| Bar-tailed Godwit | Limosa lapponica |
| Ruddy Turnstone | Arenaria interpres |
| Great Knot – EN | Calidris tenuirostris |
| Broad-billed Sandpiper | Calidris falcinellus |
| Sharp-tailed Sandpiper | Calidris acuminata |
| Curlew Sandpiper | Calidris ferruginea |
| Red-necked Stint | Calidris ruficollis |
| Latham’s Snipe | Gallinago hardwickii |
| Common Sandpiper | Actitis hypoleucos |
| Grey-tailed Tattler | Tringa brevipes |
| Common Greenshank | Tringa nebularia |
| Coursers, Pratincoles (Glareolidae) | |
| Oriental Pratincole | Glareola maldivarum |
| Gulls, Terns, Skimmers (Laridae) | |
| Brown Noddy | Anous stolidus |
| Silver Gull | Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae |
| Kelp Gull | Larus dominicanus |
| Australian Tern | Gelochelidon macrotarsa |
| Caspian Tern | Hydroprogne caspia |
| Greater Crested Tern | Thalasseus bergii |
| Lesser Crested Tern | Thalasseus bengalensis |
| Little Tern | Sternula albifrons |
| Bridled Tern | Onychoprion anaethetus |
| Sooty Tern | Onychoprion fuscatus |
| Black-naped Tern | Sterna sumatrana |
| Skuas (Stercorariidae) | |
| Parasitic Jaeger | Stercorarius parasiticus |
| Storks (Ciconiidae) | |
| Black-necked Stork | Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus |
| Frigatebirds (Fregatidae) | |
| Great Frigatebird | Fregata minor |
| Gannets, Boobies (Sulidae) | |
| Australasian Gannet | Morus serrator |
| Red-footed Booby | Sula sula |
| Brown Booby | Sula leucogaster |
| Anhingas, Darters (Anhingidae) | |
| Australasian Darter | Anhinga novaehollandiae |
| Cormorants, Shags (Phalacrocoracidae) | |
| Little Pied Cormorant | Microcarbo melanoleucos |
| Black-faced Cormorant | Phalacrocorax fuscescens |
| Australian Pied Cormorant | Phalacrocorax varius |
| Little Black Cormorant | Phalacrocorax sulcirostris |
| Great Cormorant | Phalacrocorax carbo |
| Ibises, Spoonbills (Threskiornithidae) | |
| Australian White Ibis | Threskiornis molucca |
| Straw-necked Ibis | Threskiornis spinicollis |
| Royal Spoonbill | Platalea regia |
| Yellow-billed Spoonbill | Platalea flavipes |
| Herons, Bitterns (Ardeidae) | |
| Black Bittern | Ixobrychus flavicollis |
| Nankeen Night Heron | Nycticorax caledonicus |
| Striated Heron | Butorides striata |
| Eastern Cattle Egret | Bubulcus coromandus |
| White-necked Heron | Ardea pacifica |
| Great-billed Heron | Ardea sumatrana |
| Great Egret | Ardea alba |
| Intermediate Egret | Ardea intermedia |
| White-faced Heron | Egretta novaehollandiae |
| Little Egret | Egretta garzetta |
| Pacific Reef Heron | Egretta sacra |
| Pelicans (Pelecanidae) | |
| Australian Pelican | Pelecanus conspicillatus |
| Ospreys (Pandionidae) | |
| Osprey | Pandion cristatus |
| Kites, Hawks, Eagles (Accipitridae) | |
| Black-shouldered Kite | Elanus axillaris |
| Square-tailed Kite | Lophoictinia isura |
| Pacific Baza | Aviceda subcristata |
| Little Eagle | Hieraaetus morphnoides |
| Wedge-tailed Eagle | Aquila audax |
| Brown Goshawk | Accipiter fasciatus |
| Swamp Harrier | Circus approximans |
| Spotted Harrier | Circus assimilis |
| Black Kite | Milvus migrans |
| Whistling Kite | Haliastur sphenurus |
| Brahminy Kite | Haliastur indus |
| White-bellied Sea Eagle | Haliaeetus leucogaster |
| Barn Owls (Tytonidae) | |
| Eastern Barn Owl | Tyto javanica |
| Owls (Strigidae) | |
| Powerful Owl | Ninox strenua |
| Rollers (Coraciidae) | |
| Oriental Dollarbird | Eurystomus orientalis |
| Kingfishers (Alcedinidae) | |
| Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher | Tanysiptera sylvia |
| Laughing Kookaburra | Dacelo novaeguineae |
| Blue-winged Kookaburra | Dacelo leachii |
| Forest Kingfisher | Todiramphus macleayii |
| Torresian Kingfisher | Todiramphus sordidus |
| Sacred Kingfisher | Todiramphus sanctus |
| Azure Kingfisher (H) | Ceyx azureus |
| Bee-eaters (Meropidae) | |
| Rainbow Bee-eater | Merops ornatus |
| Caracaras, Falcons (Falconidae) | |
| Nankeen Kestrel | Falco cenchroides |
| Australian Hobby | Falco longipennis |
| Brown Falcon | Falco berigora |
| Peregrine Falcon | Falco peregrinus |
| Cockatoos (Cacatuidae) | |
| Cockatiel | Nymphicus hollandicus |
| Red-tailed Black Cockatoo | Calyptorhynchus banksii |
| Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo | Zanda funerea |
| Gang-gang Cockatoo | Callocephalon fimbriatum |
| Galah | Eolophus roseicapilla |
| Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo | Lophochroa leadbeateri |
| Long-billed Corella | Cacatua tenuirostris |
| Little Corella | Cacatua sanguinea |
| Sulphur-crested Cockatoo | Cacatua galerita |
| Old World Parrots (Psittaculidae) | |
| Superb Parrot | Polytelis swainsonii |
| Regent Parrot | Polytelis anthopeplus |
| Australian King Parrot | Alisterus scapularis |
| Red-winged Parrot | Aprosmictus erythropterus |
| Red-rumped Parrot | Psephotus haematonotus |
| Eastern Bluebonnet | Northiella haematogaster |
| Mulga Parrot | Psephotellus varius |
| Crimson Rosella | Platycercus elegans |
| Eastern Rosella | Platycercus eximius |
| Australian Ringneck | Barnardius zonarius |
| Blue-winged Parrot | Neophema chrysostoma |
| Turquoise Parrot | Neophema pulchella |
| Purple-crowned Lorikeet | Parvipsitta porphyrocephala |
| Little Lorikeet | Parvipsitta pusilla |
| Musk Lorikeet | Glossopsitta concinna |
| Scaly-breasted Lorikeet | Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus |
| Rainbow Lorikeet | Trichoglossus moluccanus |
| Budgerigar | Melopsittacus undulatus |
| Double-eyed Fig Parrot | Cyclopsitta diophthalma |
| Pittas (Pittidae) | |
| Noisy Pitta | Pitta versicolor |
| Lyrebirds (Menuridae) | |
| Albert’s Lyrebird | Menura alberti |
| Superb Lyrebird | Menura novaehollandiae |
| Bowerbirds (Ptilonorhynchidae) | |
| Green Catbird | Ailuroedus crassirostris |
| Spotted Catbird | Ailuroedus maculosus |
| Tooth-billed Bowerbird | Scenopoeetes dentirostris |
| Golden Bowerbird (H) | Prionodura newtoniana |
| Regent Bowerbird | Sericulus chrysocephalus |
| Satin Bowerbird | Ptilonorhynchus violaceus |
| Great Bowerbird | Chlamydera nuchalis |
| Australasian Treecreepers (Climacteridae) | |
| White-throated Treecreeper | Cormobates leucophaea |
| Red-browed Treecreeper | Climacteris erythrops |
| Brown Treecreeper | Climacteris picumnus |
| Australasian Wrens (Maluridae) | |
| Purple-backed Fairywren | Malurus assimilis |
| Superb Fairywren | Malurus cyaneus |
| Splendid Fairywren | Malurus splendens |
| Red-backed Fairywren | Malurus melanocephalus |
| White-winged Fairywren | Malurus leucopterus |
| Southern Emu-wren | Stipiturus malachurus |
| Mallee Emu-wren – EN | Stipiturus mallee |
| Striated Grasswren | Amytornis striatus |
| Honeyeaters (Meliphagidae) | |
| Eastern Spinebill | Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris |
| White-fronted Chat | Epthianura albifrons |
| Brown-backed Honeyeater | Ramsayornis modestus |
| Tawny-crowned Honeyeater | Gliciphila melanops |
| Dusky Myzomela | Myzomela obscura |
| Scarlet Myzomela | Myzomela sanguinolenta |
| Little Friarbird | Philemon citreogularis |
| Hornbill Friarbird | Philemon yorki |
| Noisy Friarbird | Philemon corniculatus |
| Macleay’s Honeyeater | Xanthotis macleayanus |
| Striped Honeyeater | Plectorhyncha lanceolata |
| Painted Honeyeater – VU | Grantiella picta |
| Crescent Honeyeater | Phylidonyris pyrrhopterus |
| New Holland Honeyeater | Phylidonyris novaehollandiae |
| Brown Honeyeater | Lichmera indistincta |
| White-eared Honeyeater | Nesoptilotis leucotis |
| Blue-faced Honeyeater | Entomyzon cyanotis |
| Brown-headed Honeyeater | Melithreptus brevirostris |
| White-throated Honeyeater | Melithreptus albogularis |
| White-naped Honeyeater | Melithreptus lunatus |
| Yellow Honeyeater | Stomiopera flava |
| Yellow-spotted Honeyeater | Meliphaga notata |
| Lewin’s Honeyeater | Meliphaga lewinii |
| White-fronted Honeyeater | Purnella albifrons |
| Yellow-tufted Honeyeater | Lichenostomus melanops |
| Cryptic Honeyeater | Microptilotis imitatrix |
| Varied Honeyeater | Gavicalis versicolor |
| Mangrove Honeyeater | Gavicalis fasciogularis |
| Singing Honeyeater | Gavicalis virescens |
| Fuscous Honeyeater | Ptilotula fusca |
| Yellow-plumed Honeyeater | Ptilotula ornata |
| White-plumed Honeyeater | Ptilotula penicillata |
| Yellow-faced Honeyeater | Caligavis chrysops |
| Little Wattlebird | Anthochaera chrysoptera |
| Red Wattlebird | Anthochaera carunculata |
| Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater | Acanthagenys rufogularis |
| Bridled Honeyeater | Bolemoreus frenatus |
| Bell Miner | Manorina melanophrys |
| Noisy Miner | Manorina melanocephala |
| Yellow-throated Miner | Manorina flavigula |
| Bristlebirds (Dasyornithidae) | |
| Rufous Bristlebird | Dasyornis broadbenti |
| Pardalotes (Pardalotidae) | |
| Spotted Pardalote | Pardalotus punctatus |
| Striated Pardalote | Pardalotus striatus |
| Australasian Warblers (Acanthizidae) | |
| Fernwren | Oreoscopus gutturalis |
| Weebill | Smicrornis brevirostris |
| Striated Fieldwren | Calamanthus fuliginosus |
| Rufous Fieldwren | Calamanthus campestris |
| Chestnut-rumped Heathwren | Hylacola pyrrhopygia |
| Shy Heathwren | Hylacola cauta |
| Pilotbird | Pycnoptilus floccosus |
| Speckled Warbler | Pyrrholaemus sagittatus |
| Yellow-throated Scrubwren | Neosericornis citreogularis |
| Large-billed Scrubwren | Sericornis magnirostra |
| Atherton Scrubwren | Sericornis keri |
| White-browed Scrubwren | Sericornis frontalis |
| Brown Gerygone | Gerygone mouki |
| Mangrove Gerygone | Gerygone levigaster |
| Western Gerygone | Gerygone fusca |
| Large-billed Gerygone | Gerygone magnirostris |
| White-throated Gerygone | Gerygone olivacea |
| Fairy Gerygone | Gerygone palpebrosa |
| Mountain Thornbill | Acanthiza katherina |
| Brown Thornbill | Acanthiza pusilla |
| Inland Thornbill | Acanthiza apicalis |
| Chestnut-rumped Thornbill | Acanthiza uropygialis |
| Buff-rumped Thornbill | Acanthiza reguloides |
| Yellow-rumped Thornbill | Acanthiza chrysorrhoa |
| Yellow Thornbill | Acanthiza nana |
| Striated Thornbill | Acanthiza lineata |
| Southern Whiteface | Aphelocephala leucopsis |
| Australasian Babblers (Pomatostomidae) | |
| Grey-crowned Babbler | Pomatostomus temporalis |
| White-browed Babbler | Pomatostomus superciliosus |
| Chestnut-crowned Babbler | Pomatostomus ruficeps |
| Logrunners (Orthonychidae) | |
| Australian Logrunner | Orthonyx temminckii |
| Chowchilla | Orthonyx spaldingii |
| Whipbirds (Psophodidae) | |
| Eastern Whipbird | Psophodes olivaceus |
| Jewel-babblers, Quail-thrushes (Cinclosomatidae) | |
| Chestnut Quail-thrush | Cinclosoma castanotum |
| Boatbills (Machaerirhynchidae) | |
| Yellow-breasted Boatbill | Machaerirhynchus flaviventer |
| Woodswallows, Butcherbirds & Allies (Artamidae) | |
| White-breasted Woodswallow | Artamus leucorynchus |
| Black-faced Woodswallow | Artamus cinereus |
| Dusky Woodswallow | Artamus cyanopterus |
| Black Butcherbird | Melloria quoyi |
| Australian Magpie | Gymnorhina tibicen |
| Grey Butcherbird | Cracticus torquatus |
| Pied Butcherbird | Cracticus nigrogularis |
| Pied Currawong | Strepera graculina |
| Grey Currawong | Strepera versicolor |
| Cuckooshrikes (Campephagidae) | |
| Barred Cuckooshrike | Coracina lineata |
| Black-faced Cuckooshrike | Coracina novaehollandiae |
| White-bellied Cuckooshrike | Coracina papuensis |
| Common Cicadabird | Edolisoma tenuirostre |
| Varied Triller | Lalage leucomela |
| Sittellas (Neosittidae) | |
| Varied Sittella | Daphoenositta chrysoptera |
| Shriketit (Falcunculidae) | |
| Crested Shriketit | Falcunculus frontatus |
| Whistlers & Allies (Pachycephalidae) | |
| Olive Whistler | Pachycephala olivacea |
| Gilbert’s Whistler | Pachycephala inornata |
| Grey Whistler | Pachycephala simplex |
| Australian Golden Whistler | Pachycephala pectoralis |
| Western Whistler (H) | Pachycephala fuliginosa |
| Rufous Whistler | Pachycephala rufiventris |
| Bower’s Shrikethrush | Colluricincla boweri |
| Rufous Shrikethrush | Colluricincla rufogaster |
| Grey Shrikethrush | Colluricincla harmonica |
| Figbirds, Orioles, Turnagra (Oriolidae) | |
| Australasian Figbird | Sphecotheres vieilloti |
| Olive-backed Oriole | Oriolus sagittatus |
| Green Oriole | Oriolus flavocinctus |
| Drongos (Dicruridae) | |
| Spangled Drongo | Dicrurus bracteatus |
| Fantails (Rhipiduridae) | |
| Willie Wagtail | Rhipidura leucophrys |
| Northern Fantail | Rhipidura rufiventris |
| Grey Fantail | Rhipidura albiscapa |
| Rufous Fantail | Rhipidura rufifrons |
| Monarchs (Monarchidae) | |
| Spectacled Monarch | Symposiachrus trivirgatus |
| Black-faced Monarch | Monarcha melanopsis |
| White-eared Monarch | Carterornis leucotis |
| Pied Monarch (H) | Arses kaupi |
| Magpie-lark | Grallina cyanoleuca |
| Leaden Flycatcher | Myiagra rubecula |
| Satin Flycatcher | Myiagra cyanoleuca |
| Shining Flycatcher | Myiagra alecto |
| Restless Flycatcher | Myiagra inquieta |
| Crows, Jays (Corvidae) | |
| Torresian Crow | Corvus orru |
| Little Crow | Corvus bennetti |
| Little Raven | Corvus mellori |
| Australian Raven | Corvus coronoides |
| Australian Mudnesters (Corcoracidae) | |
| White-winged Chough | Corcorax melanorhamphos |
| Apostlebird | Struthidea cinerea |
| Birds-of-paradise (Paradisaeidae) | |
| Paradise Riflebird | Ptiloris paradiseus |
| Victoria’s Riflebird | Ptiloris victoriae |
| Australasian Robins (Petroicidae) | |
| Pale-yellow Robin | Tregellasia capito |
| Eastern Yellow Robin | Eopsaltria australis |
| Grey-headed Robin | Heteromyias cinereifrons |
| Southern Scrub Robin | Drymodes brunneopygia |
| Jacky Winter | Microeca fascinans |
| Rose Robin | Petroica rosea |
| Flame Robin | Petroica phoenicea |
| Scarlet Robin | Petroica boodang |
| Red-capped Robin | Petroica goodenovii |
| Larks (Alaudidae) | |
| Horsfield’s Bush Lark | Mirafra javanica |
| Eurasian Skylark | Alauda arvensis |
| Swallows, Martins (Hirundinidae) | |
| White-backed Swallow | Cheramoeca leucosterna |
| Welcome Swallow | Hirundo neoxena |
| Fairy Martin | Petrochelidon ariel |
| Tree Martin | Petrochelidon nigricans |
| Reed Warblers & Allies (Acrocephalidae) | |
| Australian Reed Warbler | Acrocephalus australis |
| Grassbirds & Allies (Locustellidae) | |
| Little Grassbird | Poodytes gramineus |
| Brown Songlark | Cincloramphus cruralis |
| Rufous Songlark | Cincloramphus mathewsi |
| Tawny Grassbird | Cincloramphus timoriensis |
| Cisticolas & Allies (Cisticolidae) | |
| Golden-headed Cisticola | Cisticola exilis |
| White-eyes (Zosteropidae) | |
| Silvereye | Zosterops lateralis |
| Starlings, Rhabdornis (Sturnidae) | |
| Metallic Starling | Aplonis metallica |
| Common Myna | Acridotheres tristis |
| Common Starling | Sturnus vulgaris |
| Thrushes (Turdidae) | |
| Russet-tailed Thrush | Zoothera heinei |
| Bassian Thrush | Zoothera lunulata |
| Common Blackbird | Turdus merula |
| Flowerpeckers (Dicaeidae) | |
| Mistletoebird | Dicaeum hirundinaceum |
| Sunbirds (Nectariniidae) | |
| Olive-backed Sunbird | Cinnyris jugularis |
| Old World Sparrows, Snowfinches (Passeridae) | |
| House Sparrow | Passer domesticus |
| Waxbills, Munias & Allies (Estrildidae) | |
| Diamond Firetail | Stagonopleura guttata |
| Red-browed Finch | Neochmia temporalis |
| Double-barred Finch | Stizoptera bichenovii |
| Scaly-breasted Munia | Lonchura punctulata |
| Chestnut-breasted Mannikin | Lonchura castaneothorax |
| Wagtails, Pipits (Motacillidae) | |
| Australian Pipit | Anthus australis |
| Finches, Euphonias (Fringillidae) | |
| European Greenfinch | Chloris chloris |
| European Goldfinch | Carduelis carduelis |
| Total seen | 372 |
| Total heard only | 7 |
| Total recorded | 379 |
Mammal List
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
| Felids (Felidae) | |
| Domestic Cat | Felis catus |
| Deer (Cervidae) | |
| Sambar | Rusa unicolor |
| Old World Fruit Bats (Pteropodidae) | |
| Black Flying Fox | Pteropus alecto |
| Spectacled Flying Fox | Pteropus conspicillatus |
| Grey-headed Flying Fox | Pteropus poliocephalus |
| Dasyures (Dasyuridae) | |
| Yellow-footed Antechinus | Antechinus flavipes |
| Brown Antechinus | Antechinus stuartii |
| Fat-tailed Dunnart | Sminthopsis crassicaudata |
| Musky Rat Kangaroos (Hypsiprymnodontidae) | |
| Musky Rat Kangaroo | Hypsiprymnodon moschatus |
| Kangaroos, Wallabies, and Allies (Macropodidae) | |
| Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroo | Dendrolagus lumholtzi |
| Agile Wallaby | Macropus agilis |
| Western Grey Kangaroo | Macropus fuliginosus |
| Eastern Grey Kangaroo | Macropus giganteus |
| Red-necked Wallaby | Macropus rufogriseus |
| Red Kangaroo | Macropus rufus |
| Mareeba Rock Wallaby | Petrogale mareeba |
| Red-legged Pademelon | Thylogale stigmatica |
| Red-necked Pademelon | Thylogale thetis |
| Swamp Wallaby | Wallabia bicolor |
| Cuscuses and Brushtail Possums (Phalangeridae) | |
| Common Brushtail Possum | Trichosurus vulpecula |
| Koalas (Phascolarctidae) | |
| Koala | Phascolarctos cinereus |
| Hares and Rabbits (Leporidae) | |
| European Hare | Lepus europaeus |
| European Rabbit | Oryctolagus cuniculus |
| Platypuses (Ornithorhynchidae) | |
| Platypus | Ornithorhynchus anatinus |
| Echidnas (Tachyglossidae) | |
| Short-beaked Echidna | Tachyglossus aculeatus |
| Muridae | |
| Common Water Rat (Rakali) | Hydromys chrysogaster |
| House Mouse | Mus musculus |
| Total | 27 |
Reptile List
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
| Crocodiles (Crocodylidae) | |
| Saltwater Crocodile | Crocodylus porosus |
| Monitor Lizards (Varanidae) | |
| Lace Monitor | Varanus varius |
| Geckos (Gekkonidae) | |
| Common House Gecko | Hemidactylus frenatus |
| Dragons (Agamidae) | |
| Mallee Dragon | Ctenophorus fordi |
| Painted Dragon | Ctenophorus pictus |
| Eastern Water Dragon | Intellagama lesueurii |
| Eastern Bearded Dragon | Pogona barbata |
| Central Bearded Dragon | Pogona vitticeps |
| Skinks (Scincidae) | |
| Oriental Ctenotus | Ctenotus orientalis |
| Eastern Water-skink | Eulamprus quoyii |
| Shingleback Lizard | Tiliqua rugosa |
| Ragged Snake-eyed Skink | Cryptoblepharus pannosus |
| Red-throated Rainbow-skink | Carlia rubrigularis |
| Pale-lipped Shadeskink | Saproscincus basiliscus |
| Colubrid Snakes (Colubridae) | |
| Green Tree Snake | Dendrelaphis punctulatus |
| Elapid Snakes (Elapidae) | |
| Eastern Brown Snake | Pseudonaja textilis |
| Freshwater Turtles (Cheluidae) | |
| Macquarie (Murray) Turtle | Emydura macquarii macquarii |
| Austro-American Side-necked Turtles (Chelidae) | |
| Eastern Saw-shelled Turtle | Myuchelys latisternum |
| Total | 18 |
Amphibian List
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
| Foam-nesting Ground Frogs (Limnodynastidae) | |
| Giant Bullfrog (Giant Banjo Frog) | Limnodynastes interioris |
| Trilling Frog | Neobatrachus sudelli |
| True Toads (Bufonidae) | |
| Cane Toad | Rhinella marina |
| Total | 3 |
Notable Other Taxa List
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
| Orbweavers (Araneidae) | |
| Christmas Jewel Spider | Austracantha minax |
| Huntsman Spiders (Sparassidae) | |
| Grey Huntsman Spider | Holconia immanis |
| Swallowtails and Parnassians (Papilionidae) | |
| Orchard Swallowtail | Papilio aegeus |
| Small Dingy Swallowtail | Papilio anactus |
| Lime Swallowtail | Papilio demoleus |
| Ulysses Butterfly | Papilio ulysses |
| Fuscous Swallowtail | Papilio fuscus |
| Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae) | |
| Monarch | Danaus plexippus |
| Lesser Wanderer | Danaus petilia |
| Swamp Tiger Butterfly | Danaus affinis |
| Australian Painted Lady | Vanessa kershawi |
| Yellow Admiral | Vanessa itea |
| Common Brown | Heteronympha merope |
| Meadow Argus | Junonia villida |
| Great Eggfly | Hypolimnas bolina |
| (Australian) Common Crow Butterfly | Euploea core corinna |
| Common Evening Brown | Melanitis leda |
| Blue Wanderer | Tirumala hamata |
| Glasswing | Acraea andromacha |
| Orange Bushbrown | Mycalesis terminus |
| Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs (Pieridae) | |
| Caper White | Belonis java |
| Small White | Pieris rapae |
| Imperial Jezebel | Delias harpalyce |
| Black Jezebel | Delias nigrina |
| Common Grass Yellow | Eurema hecabe |
| Small Grass Yellow | Eurema smilax |
| Gossamer-winged Butterflies (Lycaenidae) | |
| Saltbush Blue | Theclinesthes serpentata |
| Common Imperial Blue | Jalmenus evagoras |
| Small Green Banded Blue | Psychonotis caelius |
| Skimmers (Libellulidae) | |
| Blue Skimmer | Orthetrum caledonicum |
| Slender Skimmer | Orthetrum sabina |
| Scarlet Percher | Diplacodes haematodes |
| Wandering Percher | Diplacodes bipunctata |
| Painted Grasshawk | Neurothemis stigmatizans |
| Zircon Flutterer | Rhyothemis princeps |
| Narrow-winged Damselflies (Coenagrionidae) | |
| Australian Bluetail | Ischnura heterosticta |
| Spreadwings and Allies (Lestidae) | |
| Wandering Ringtail | Austrolestes leda |
| Emerald Dragonflies (Corduliidae) | |
| Tau Emerald | Hemicordulia tau |
| Bluestreaks and Rockmasters (Lestoideidae) | |
| Common Bluestreak | Lestoidea conjuncta |
| Requiem Sharks (Carcharhinidae) | |
| Blacktip Reef Shark | Carcharhinidae melanopterus |
| Morays (Muraenidae) | |
| Sieve-patterned Moray | Gymnothorax cribroris |
| Cockles (Cardiidae) | |
| Small Giant Clam | Tridacna maxima |
| Orchids (Orchidaceae) | |
| Large Flying Duck Orchid | Caleana major |
| Tiger Orchid | Diuris sulphurea |
| Eastern Mantis Orchid | Caladenia tentaculate |
| Thin Pencil Orchid | Dendrobium teretifolium |
| Total | 46 |
This is a sample trip report. Please email us ([email protected]) for more trip reports from this destination.
