Birding Updates

The sugar cane harvesting season (The Crush) runs from mid June until completion, which can be as late as December. Much of the coastal lowlands is under sugar cane, so it is a significantly busy time for the farmers, the Sugar Mill at Mossman and everyone else involved. This year the conditions have been favourable and the season has got off to a good start.
Interestingly for birdwatchers, the 'Crush' means an increase in birds of prey locally as they follow the harvesters searching for any rodents, snakes and other creatures that have been disturbed. Black Kite, Whistling Kite, Brahminy Kite and even Wedge-tailed Eagle (not a usual resident of the wet lowlands) descend on the cane fields, and you can see quite large flocks of Kites feeding on the ground after the harvester has been through.

Some other great winter birds include the Victoria's Riflebird ( an endemic to the Wet Tropics and one of the Birds of Paradise) and the Spotted Catbird. The Catbird's name is derived from it's call - not meow, but like someone is strangling a cat! A beautiful bird which is difficult to see because of it's colourings, but is more visible in winter as it comes out of the forest a little more to find fruit. They are happy with pawpaw and fallen citrus if there are no rainforest fruits about.

Over the last month, Mason's Tours have been using our spare time designing a new 1/2 Day Walk. A small hill at the back of our property looked like it might yield a view, and we actually found two of them!

We have now found a workable track down off the ridge, and the next step is to plan the rest of the walk!

Birding Updates

Glorious weather in Daintree as 'winter' sets in - sunny, warm days and clear, cool nights.
'Winter' birds dominate with increased numbers of fantails, flycatchers and monarchs at this time of year.
The Daintree River is excellent for early morning birdwatching all year, and presently some of the special birds include Great-billed Heron, Little Kingfisher and Papuan Frogmouth can be seen from the river.
The Papuan Frogmouth feeds at night, usually on insects, frogs, small rodents and lizards, and roosts during the day - often close to the river. They have the soft, patterned plumage that allows them to be well hidden when sitting near the trunk of a tree. They are often very difficult to find and can easily be mistaken for a branch.

Birding updates

Dryer weather and less humidity since the Easter deluge and the Daintree comes into it's own for visitors - it's a fabulous time of year.
A little quieter for birds, but some some great sightings nevertheless.
This is the season for flycatchers, monarchs,fantails and honeyeaters. In the colder months the Lewin's Honeyeater comes down from the cooler Atherton Tableands region to spend time in the lowlands. The rattling 'machine gun' call is distinctive and always a good sign that winter is on it's way.
A common large honeyeater in Daintree is the Helmeted Friarbird - noisy, gregarious and bossy, they are very versatile - eating fruit or insects. They are one of the easiest birds to attract to garden feeders.

Spotted at Jindalba boardwalk this week was the Noisy Pitta - a fabulously bright ground feeder which is often difficult to find, and also Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove - another favourite with birders.
Also seen along the Mossman Daintree road was Barking Owl, one of the few owls seen in the Daintree. Barking Owl, named for it's call, can often be heard in the wee hours of the morning in Daintree Village.

Birding updates

As the weather dries out, there have been some great rainforest birds seen north of the Daintree River in recent days.
Regular sightings of a male Cassowary with three chicks picking up fallen fruit in the Daintree Icecream Company orchard, delighting visitors. Female Victoria's Riflebird has been seen along Dubuji Boardwalk and Wompoo Fruit-Dove at Jindalba Boardwalk.

On the Daintree River and on Stewart Creek there have been good sightings of the Great-billed Heron, Australia's largest Heron and one of the most elusive. This is one of the target species for birdwatchers visiting the Daintree.

Another target species for visiting birdwatchers is the Little Kingfisher, which has been seen regularly on the pond in the garden at Red Mill House in Daintree Village. A shy, elusive Kingfisher, it is Australia's smallest at only 11cm. An aquatic Kingfisher, it prefers dark, narrow places with overhanging vegetation. Everyone's favourite!

Birding Updates

An excellent week for birds in the Daintree, with the weather markedly improved. No rain to speak of and the hum of lawnmowers dominates as everyone tries to catch up with the ever-growing grass. Temperatures are still up to 30 degrees by day, despite it being mid-April.

The numbers of the summer migrants have reduced greatly - Pied Imperial Pigeons, Metallic Starlings and Black Bittern are all more difficult to see, and there seems to be just one or two young Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfishers remaining. The adults have all gone back to New Guinea where they will stay until the migration south begins again in October for breeding.

Some birds that have become easier to see though, over the past week or so include the Topknot Pigeon, Wompoo Fruit-Dove and Spotted Catbird. The Wompoo Fruit-Dove has the remarkable ability to disguise itself despite it's bright purples, greens and golds.

Another common, and colourful, bird at this time of the year is the Rainbow Bee-Eater, Australia's only bee-eater. They often sit on fences, fly out hawking for insects, and returning to the same spot to eat them. A pleasure to watch!

Birding Updates

A very, very wet Easter  and beyond with over 1 metre of rain falling in the past 12 days.
Birdwatching has been difficult due to the conditions, and it's difficult conditions for the birds as well with food supplies being harder to get.
Some good raptors have been seen lately with juvenile White-bellied Sea- Eagle in Daintree Village and Brahminy Kite, Black Kite, Whistling Kite and Nankeen Kestrel all seen in the valley.

A common bird seen beside the road is the Pheasant Coucal, a member of the Cuckoo family. The poor things fly really clumsily, particularly when wet, and can be seen crash-landing in trees and in cane fields. The breeding plumage is particularly beautiful.