The "Big Bird Trip" report.                


All better now. Just a glitch in the system. These things are sent to test travellers. Nothing too strenuous today. Townsville Common. What a great spot. Blue Winged Kookaburras, Sunbirds, Ospreys and Jacunas cheered the patient up no end. I had a very close encounter with a Barking Owl having a scrap with a Drongo at the bird hide the previous day. Very little water in the system, but the potential for great birding there and at the adjacent quarantine station.

Just up the road Paluma calls. Of course we visit the famed Ivy Cottage Tea Rooms for morning tea. It's not open when we arrive and in the 30 minutes we have to fill in, quickly spot in a rush of excitement – Bowers Shrike Thrush, Bridled and Macleays Honeyeater, Spotted Cat Bird and of course the Victorias Riflebird. We needed the cuppa after that and got to see most of those birds again close up. Back down the hill we proceeded to Jourama Falls camping area, part of Paluma Range NP. A small but well set out ground with toilets and free gas BBQ. White Rumped Swiftlets, Emerald Doves, Little Shrike Thrush, White Browed Robins, Pacific Bazza and great views of the impressive Boatbills made this an excellent stop. That night a full moon created a bit of a frenzy in birdland with Large Tailed Nightjars, Barking Owls & Bush Curlews going off all night and excitingly the call of a Lesser Sooty Owl.

Next stop was Murray Falls State Forest, a much larger campsite, but very pleasant. With flushing toilets and firewood supplied the site attracted campervan backpackers and grey nomads in waves, but it seemed to swallow every one up and we had a great night.. Big Bird alert. The next morning we spent hours tramping around the steep walking track looking for the Orange Footed Scrub Fowl, to no avail. But the hunt was fun, turning up Noisy Pitta, Superb and Woompoo Fruit Doves instead.

We try our luck for Cassowaries at Mission Beach but all we found was a huge plop.

Lynda didn't believe it was real, feeling the rangers must leave one out each morning to encourage the Big Bird seekers. We leave after trying both Licuala and Lacey Creek, but know we have another chance coming back. Yikes, I realise suddenly we are heading into week three. I ring Ron at Kingfisher Park and we are on our way up to Julatten.

Driving into Kingfisher Park we narrowly avoid running over a Big prehistoric looking orange footed bird that we had spent hours trying to find a few days before and quickly made ourselves at home. I even went big time and paid an extra dollar to get power run into the tent. Hit the laptop and backed up and burnt off copies of all our digital photos so far and planned our days to come. Andrew the resident guide was running a mammal, spotlight walk that night so we decided to join in and meet some of the other guests and see what was around. There wasn't a lot. He was getting very interested in some very small things, but we did have good but fleeting views of the resident Platypus, Barn owl and Bush Curlew.

A lazy morning around the park catching up on paperwork and discovering the nooks and crannies of the property and it's great wildlife. Highlights included - Grey Headed Robin, Northern Fantail, Paid Monarch, Buff Banded Rail, Grey Goshawk, Grey Whistler & Papuan Fromouth.

The Marrebra Wetlands doesn't turn up the expected Black Necked Stork, but great views of the two Pygmy Geese, Green & Cotton side by side makes up for it. What a marvellous sight and something we've lusted after. Lynda gets a Squatter Pigeon on the drive out, I just get a flash.

Mount Lewis beckons. We get a mud-map from Ron, and make the drive up the mountain one morning. Did I mention it rained? The further up the mountain we went the windier, cloudier and eventually wetter it got. Hmm. A slight pause in the wet and we head off up the track. Wow, Atherton Scrubwren, Fern Wren, Mountain Thornbill & Chowchilla in the first 20 minutes!! By the time we've made it to the Golden Bower Bird's bower the wind has really picked up again. Branches are dropping around us and several trees look like they could join us for a close encounter. The bower is amazing, but we are not hanging round to meet the locals.

On our last morning we decide to join Andrew on his morning walk and return exhausted several hours later after notching up around 70 birds for the morning. Everything they say about Kingfisher Park is true and we look forward to returning in the wet season.

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