Following a visit to Julatten (next post) it was time to head for Cairns and the journey home. The coastal drive from Port Douglas to Palm Cove was magnificent as usual; I’ve done this drive many times and it never disappoints.
We overnighted in Palm Cove. Buchan’s Point Beach nearby (above) is another favourite spot. We had three pleasant nights at Lake Placid (below) on the northern outskirts of Cairns and two more with relatives. on the city’s southern outskirts.
We checked out Les Davies Park in Cairns where a Rufous Owl (first image and below) had been roosting. The bird is not always there so we were pleased to find it perched high up in a strangler fig.
Nearby around Centenary Lakes we had nice views of Double-eyed Fig-Parrot and Black Butcherbird.
Yellow Oriole and Olive-backed Sunbird were common about Cairns.
As was Orange-footed Scrubfowl.
A couple of nights were enjoyed at Mission Beach, where good numbers of early returning migratory Shining Starlings and Torresian Imperial-Pigeons were spotted.
We had two nights at Jourama Falls, near Ingham. I tried in vain to find a Mahogany Glider here, a known site. The falls were an impressive sight.
Plenty of good birds were about the campground including an absurdly tame Noisy Pitta and a showy male Yellow-breasted Boatbill.
Other birds included Brown-backed Honeyeater, Grey Whistler and White-browed Robin.
Large-billed Gerygone was vocal and an Australian Owlet-Nightjar was seen at night.
Non-avian critters to catch the eye included Black-throated Rainbow Skink and Northern Stony Creek Frog.
Moving further south we spent a couple of nights in Townsville. Best bird during a quick visit to the Common was a flock of Crimson Finches.
Then it was on to Bowen, where no fewer than 30 Radjah Shelducks were present on Mullers Lagoon.
A couple of days in Rockhampton were next on the agenda. A morning visit to the usual Yellow Chat sites along the Port Alma Road and near Marmor failed to turn up any chats though a Zitting Cisticola performed well near the Port Alma Road saltworks. After that it was an overnight stay in Gin Gin and then home.
