Buff-breasted Buttonquail: an Update

A scientific report has been amended in response to criticism by some in the birding community that researchers were dismissive of multiple sight records of the extremely rare Buff-breasted Buttonquail (illustration above by Birds of the World). The report published by the Threatened Species Recovery Hub of the National Environmental Science Program last July raised the prospect of all recorded sightings of Buff-breasted Buttonquail from south of Cooktown being misidentified Painted Buttonquail. A newly amended version of the report concedes that some records may be authentic. The Buff-breasted Buttonquail is found only in the savanna woodlands of Queensland’s Cape York Peninsula (below). The July research report by a team of University of Queensland scientists says the last confirmed records of the bird were probably in the 1920s. It argues that the buttonquail population may have crashed due to several factors including the introduction of cattle, changed fire regimes and feral predators. What follows are recent changes [in square brackets] made to the report.

(1) Version 1: “These unverified observations have influenced our perception of the species’ autecology and threats….” Version 2: “These observations have influenced our perception of the species’ autecology and threats….” [unverified is dropped] (2) Version 1: “This research has found sufficient evidence to suggest that all southern records of Buff-breasted Button-quail could involve misidentified Painted Button-quail. Our research has found the features and methods researchers and birdwatchers have used to identify Buff-breasted Button-quail from Painted Button-quail are incorrect.” Version 2: “Our research has found that many of [not all] the features and methods researchers and birdwatchers have used to separate Buff-breasted Button-quail from Painted Button-quail are incorrect. This may suggest that a significant proportion of southern records of Buff-breasted Button-quail could involve misidentified Painted Button-quail.” [The suggestion that all southern records could involve misidentification is removed.] (3) Version 1: “Due to our research there is now considerable evidence to suggest all reports from this region have in fact been misidentified Painted Button-quail.” Version 2: “Due to our research there is now evidence to suggest many, and perhaps most [not all] reports from this region may have been misidentified Painted Button-quail.” (4) Version 1: “Furthermore, this project has determined previous reports from the 1980s to the present day in the Wet Tropics and Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion are likely to be erroneous, suggesting the last confirmed record of this species was probably in the early 1920s.” Version 2: “Furthermore, this project has determined that a significant proportion of reports from the 1980s to the present day in the Wet Tropics and Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion could have been misidentifications.” [“significant proportion” is added; “likely to be erroneous” is deleted] (5) Version 1: “However no contemporary reports are accompanied by verifiable evidence despite the dramatic increase in photography by the birding community.” Version 2: “However, no contemporary reports are accompanied by verifiable evidence, such as a skin or photograph, despite the dramatic increase in photography by the birding community.” [What constitutes verifiable evidence is clarified.] The edited report is here (copy and paste URL): file:///C:/Users/Greg%20Roberts/Documents/BBBQ%20version%202.pdf

Twitching Semipalmated Plover & checking Lockyer Valley hotspots

Queensland twitchers were all a flutter when Michael Daley reported last night (October 31, 2021) that he had found a Semipalmated Plover at the Geoff Skinner Wetlands Reserve, at Wellington Point by Moreton Bay, not far from Brisbane. It is only the second record of this vagrant from Queensland and there are just a handful of sightings for Australia, mostly in Western Australia.

By the time I got there about 11am today, it was low tide. Apart from the initial sighting late yesterday, quite a few people saw it early this morning, but all sightings had been at or close to high tide, when large numbers of shorebirds roost here. So whether it would be around all day was an unknown quantity, although Red-capped Plovers and some small shorebirds often remain at high tide roosts throughout the day, providing there is sufficient feeding habitat around. I ran into a couple of local birders; we spread out and I spotted the plover through my scope about 10 minutes after arriving.

The Semipalmated Plover appeared quite settled, feeding with a couple of Red-necked Stints and Red-capped Plovers on one of a small number of shallow pools that were scattered around the large claypan. Apart from these three species, the only other shorebirds were 2 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers; just a few hours earlier, hundreds of shorebirds were present. The plover was flushed by a council mosquito inspector and settled on a nearby pool, where we watched it for about 30 minutes before the small group flew off to another pool 50 metres away. We left the birds there. Harsh light conditions in the middle of the day did not make for ideal photographic conditions. Gum boots are strong advised for this site! The species elsewhere in Australia has sometimes (but not always) hung around for long periods of time. The image below is the plover with stints.

At the end of last week I checked out some of my favourite sites in the Lockyer Valley, west of Brisbane. Bird of the day was Ground Cuckoo-shrike – a party of 4 feeding close to the road, just south of the junction between Watsons Road Boyces Road, near Atkinsons Dam. This species, a rarity in south-east Queensland, is resident in small numbers in the valley but always difficult to come across.

Also on Watsons Road, a Little Red Flying-fox was found dead after evidently striking a barbed wire fence.

At Lake Galletly near Gatton, 6 Blue-billed Ducks were present. The birds have long been attracted to this site but are absent for lengthy periods. They’ve been there for several months now and were recently reported to have young but I saw no ducklings; they may have been eaten or were hiding.

Pink-eared Duck was in good numbers on the lake, with 140 counted. This is another species that fluctuates wildly in numbers in south-east Queensland, often being absent for lengthy periods.

Plenty of Short-necked (Brisbane River) turtles (Emydura macquarii) were on the lake edges.

Australasian Shoveler was found with ducklings at Karasch’s Lagoon. Better still were the 14 Hoary-headed Grebes present here. The birds have evidently been on the lagoon since early this year. During my last few visits this lagoon has been dry so it was nice to see it full.

Other birds at Karasch’s included about 10 Red-kneed Dotterel and more Pink-eared Ducks.

Rains this year have been patchy, however, and other wetlands like Lake Clarendon and Seven Mile Lagoon remain dry. A small dam near Lake Clarendon had good numbers of Whiskered Tern in breeding plumage.

A Spotted Harrier was close to the road at Seven Mile Lagoon.

At Peach’s Lagoon, few waterbirds were in evidence but Red-rumped Parrot (above) and White-winged Triller (below) were about.

On the home front, a pair of Square-tailed Kites are nesting for the second year in a row at Koala Park in Nambour, not far from home.

North Queensland Spring 2021 – Part 3: Cassowaries & the homeward run

After visiting Iron Range (next post) we had a few days relaxing in Cairns. From our hotel balcony on the esplanade (a favourite outlook for decades) we had good numbers of Torresian Imperial-Pigeon about, as expected for this time of year.

Varied Honeyeater was plentiful along the foreshore.

We moved on for a couple of nights at Wongaling Beach, near Mission Beach. This is a well-known hotspot for Southern Cassowary but we didn’t expect three encounters in two days. An adult male and two medium-sized chicks were spotted on South Mission Beach Road on our first morning. They moved on and off the road over about 10 minutes, drinking from roadside water pools. Vehicles in both directions slowed down or stopped, flashing warning lights. While locals and visitors often try to do the right thing, too many people ignore warning signs and speed, and way too many cassowaries in the area continue to be killed by motor vehicle strike.

That afternoon, as I was taking a stroll from our Wongaling Beach caravan park, an adult female cassowary crossed the road and entered the forest. I watched her for some time as she wandered about, feeding on fallen fruit and drinking from a large pool (first image in post). The next morning, another adult female (below) was seen on the forest edge along the main Tully-Mission Beach Road, 12km north of Tully. On this open stretch of road - through the last big rainforest patch before Tully coming from Mission Beach - vehicles barely slowed down, although the bird may not have been immediately obvious to motorists.

Also near the Wongaling caravan park, a Papuan Frogmouth showed very nicely in a rainforest patch after dark.

Shining Starling was nesting in large numbers around Wongaling Beach.

It was then on to Bowen for a couple of days. Radjah Shelduck was again present in numbers at Muller’s Lagoon.

Beach Stone-Curlew (below) and Great Bowerbird were among the birds at the mouth of the Don River.

Quite a few Lesser Crested Terns (below right) were on the rocks with Greater Crested Terns (below left) at Clump Point.

Further south, another fruitless attempt was made to photograph Yellow Chat along the Port Alma Road, south of Rockhampton. Good birds included displaying Zitting Cisticola, Diamond Dove, Australian Bustard (above) and Brown Songlark (below).

North Queensland Spring 2021 – Part 2: Iron Range & Portland Roads

I had been to Iron Range twice previously but long ago: in February 1975 (for 11 days) and in November 1982 (for 8 days, a Queensland Museum trip with curator Glen Ingram), so was keen to revisit this iconic biodiversity hotspot in the far north of Cape York. We decided to take the easy option and fly in from Cairns for a week-long stay in September 2021 at Portland House in the village of Portland Roads, 22km north of the main rainforest areas of Iron Range.

We flew to Lockhart River and were met by our hosts at the airport with a 4WD hire vehicle for the week. Portland House organises the accommodation/flight/vehicle package. Whether you’re a large group or a single person, you have the whole house to yourself as part of the package. You can buy stores at Lockhart River and prepare your own meals or buy excellent meals at the restaurant next door, owned by the same people. We opted to make our own breakfasts and lunches, with a mix for evening meals. The operators can order in any alcohol supplies you need. The views from the sprawling verandahs over the sea (above) and of the beach and mangroves from the boat ramp up the road (below) are quite something.

The first morning we visited nearby Chili Beach and its busy camping ground. More fine coastal scenery here (below) but none of the Iron Range specialties were encountered.

The first of those was not far from the house when we got back: an immature male Red-cheeked Parrot (below) perched up high.

I tracked down an active Fawn-breasted Bowerbird bower found by Dominic Chaplin by mangroves about 500m from Portland House. I waited 40 minutes before the bird turned up, putting on a fine show of rearranging the bower and the large green berries in place for show.

Around Portland House, the newly split Graceful (from Cryptic) Honeyeater was common in the gardens.

Olive-backed Sunbirds were building a nest on the verandah.

Early most mornings for the rest of the week I drove 30 minutes to reach the rainforest, birded several kilometres of road or track and returned to Portland House around lunchtime. Traffic on the roads was horrendously busy compared to previous visits as indicated by this sign, although early mornings were usually okay.

The Iron Range specialties were out and about from the start. The first was a White-faced Robin making a roadside appearance soon after dawn; several were seen during the week but usually deep in the undergrowth.

Eclectus Parrots (male below) flew overhead occasionally but I only ever saw them perched briefly and distantly.

A flock of Sulphur-crested Cockatoos were unimpressed by a white phase Grey Goshawk.

We saw three Palm Cockatoos on the first morning in the forest but managed just poor views in very windy conditions. An immature Palm Cockatoo showed a little better the next day but surprisingly these were the only encounters with the species.

Quite a few more Red-cheeked Parrots (like the adult male below) were seen but both Eclectus Parrot and especially Palm Cockatoo were much less common than during earlier visits.

As the days unfolded, the target list shrunk. Green-backed Honeyeater was encountered more easily that I recalled from earlier trips and several parties were seen.

Most observations were centred on the area around the Gordon Creek, Rainforest and Cook’s Hut camping grounds in Kutini-Payamu National Park. An old hut at the latter site was my shelter during earlier visits to Iron Range. Gordon Creek and the Claudie River (below) were in full flow and the countryside was unusually green for this time of year, having had quite a bit of dry season rain.

Some differences from earlier visits that were later in the wet season were stark. Species like Northern Scrub-Robin and Yellow-billed Kingfisher were a good deal less vocal, while Magnificent Riflebird this time seemed to be everywhere. A male was regularly at its display perch at the Cook’s Hut camping ground, putting on a fine show (below and fist image in this post).

The 5km Old Coen walking track linking the Rainforest Camp to Portland Road was productive, especially the first 2km. Along here I tracked down a Black-eared Catbird, having heard one the previous day on the main road but failing to see it. These were the only two records of the species for the week.

Also along the Old Coen track I found a co-operative pair of Yellow-legged Flycatchers (below) in the rainforest canopy. White-eared Monarchs and Yellow-breasted Boatbills were about.

Around the Rainforest Camp I spotted a nice pair of Northern Scrub-Robins, although the birds were scarcely calling and getting these less than adequate images took a deal of patience.

Trumpet Manucode was another that was not as vocal as I recalled and it took a while to find a couple, again along the Old Coen track.

Frill-necked Monarch was spotted in several places, including the Rainforest and Cook’s Hut camps.

Tawny-breasted Honeyeater was one of the more plentiful specialties.

One day I left the house in the afternoon to visit the Mango Farm between Portland Road and Lockhart River. Here I saw a large Saltwater Crocodile. A flock of about 20 whistling-ducks flushed and quickly disappeared before I could get on to them, but the first couple had pale bellies and were quite likely Spotted Whistling-Ducks. Lemon-bellied Flycatcher (below) was here.

At the sewage treatment works near Lockhart River, a few Pied Herons were about but not the hoped for whistling-ducks.

Nearby at Quintell beach, the unusual rock formations on the beach are an eye-catcher.

On this day I opted for an evening excursion. As the sun set at the Rainforest Camp, the forest was lit up by countless fireflies and I remembered what a sight they were on earlier visits. A chorus of good numbers of Australian Wood-Frogs resounded from the banks of the nearby Claudie River.

It wasn’t long before I heard the characteristic call of the marmoratus race of Marbled Frogmouth and two or three were present around the camping ground, with one showing nicely.

Using my thermal monocular, I found a couple of Cape York Melomys (below) as well as a Giant White-tailed Rat and a Cape York Rat (Rattus leucops).

Spotlighting along the road back to Portland Roads was not particularly productive, with Spectacled Flying-Fox )above) in the rainforest and several Large-tailed Nightjars (below) lushed.

I had previously photographed Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo and White-streaked Honeyeater so did not spend time chasing these Cape York specialties. The only potential target that I failed to see or photoghaph was Yellow-billed Kingfisher. (It was too early in the season for two others: Black-winged Monarch and Papuan Pitta.) I frustratingly failed to see cuscus although others were reporting them, especially at Cook’s Hut Camp; I had seen both Spotted Cuscus and the Southern Common (Grey) Cuscus during previous visits.

I photographed the northern races of Fairy Gerygone (personata - above) and Tropical Scrubwren (minimus - below), both of which were common.

The distinctive race of Australian Brush-turkey (purpurceicollis) was also plentiful.

As was the ever photogenic Shining Flycatcher.

Relaxing in the beautiful tropical surroundings at Portland House was one of the highlights of the trip. Among the creatures about the house were plenty of Robust or Six-toothed Skinks (Carlia sexdentata).

White-lipped Tree-Frogs (below) were ever present. We were serenaded by constantly calling Large-tailed Nightjars and the occasional Papuan Frogmouth at night.

I didn't tire of the views from Portland Road during my frequent drives.

I was back at Chili Beach on the last morning and surprised to find a male Satin Flycatcher - a little-recorded transient migrant in far North Queensland.

We finished off our stay on the last night with an excellent seafood platter dinner at the restaurant.