30 OCTOBER – 16 NOVEMBER 2023
By Andrew Walker
Overview
This Eastern Australia birding tour started in Melbourne, Victoria on the 30th of October 2023 and ended in Cairns, Queensland on the 16th of November 2023. This Australian bird tour focused on Australian endemic birds and Australian endemic bird families found in Victoria (including a brief foray into New South Wales) and southern and northern Queensland.
Plains-wanderer was a big target on our Eastern Australia birding tour and proved a massive highlight, with three birds seen well. They formed part of an incredible evening birding session early in the tour, which was a tour highlight in its own right.
We recorded 379 bird species on this Australian birdwatching tour (three of these were heard only). The list of highlight birds seen is very long and included some of the best birds in Australia, including Southern Cassowary, Emu, Magpie Goose, Malleefowl, Spotted Nightjar, Tawny Frogmouth, Sarus Crane, Brolga, Red-chested Buttonquail, Banded Stilt, Plains-wanderer, Black-necked Stork, Great-billed Heron, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Grey Goshawk, Greater Sooty Owl, Lesser Sooty Owl, Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Red-backed Kingfisher, Laughing Kookaburra, Blue-winged Kookaburra, Cockatiel, Glossy Black Cockatoo, Gang-gang Cockatoo, Pink Cockatoo, Superb Parrot, Budgerigar, Noisy Pitta, Albert’s Lyrebird, Superb Lyrebird, Green Catbird, Golden Bowerbird, Regent Bowerbird, Lovely Fairywren, Mallee Emu-wren, Painted Honeyeater, Macleay’s Honeyeater, Rufous Bristlebird, Australian Logrunner, Pied Monarch, Apostlebird, Paradise Riflebird, Victoria’s Riflebird, Flame Robin, Red-capped Robin, Bassian Thrush, and Diamond Firetail.
In addition to the great birds seen, we also found a nice selection of other animals, including 40 species of mammals, featuring highly sought species such as Koala, Platypus, Red Kangaroo, and Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroo, 23 species of reptiles including Saltwater Crocodile and Boyd’s Forest Dragon, and numerous gorgeous butterflies, moths, dragonflies, and plants. Lists of birds and other plants and wildlife recorded during this Australian bird tour follow the report.
Regent Bowerbird showed well while we were birding at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat.
Detailed Report
Day 1, 30th October 2023. Arrival in Melbourne
We arrived in Melbourne, Victoria in the late afternoon after completing our successful Tasmania bird tour, (trip report here). We had a delicious group welcome meal in the evening, discussing the plans for the coming few weeks of birding in Victoria, New South Wales, and southern and northern Queensland, Australia. The excitement was building.
Day 2, 31st October 2023. Birding Melbourne to Healesville
We headed through the northern suburbs of Melbourne, making a brief stop at a parkland, where we got some of the common Australian birds under our belt, with species such as Rainbow Lorikeet, Eastern Rosella, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Grey Currawong, Noisy Miner, Red Wattlebird, Little Raven, and Magpie-lark all seen well, it was a great introduction.
A pair of Rainbow Lorikeets were busy allopreening and allowed great views. A common but attractive bird in eastern areas of Australia and always a popular bird at the beginning of a tour.
Commencing our journey away from Melbourne city, we visited the beautiful Dandenong Ranges National Park, where we found our main target, the vocally magical Superb Lyrebird. While we were walking around the impressive and huge forest, we picked up many birds, including Crimson Rosella, Australian King Parrot, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Long-billed Corella, Australian Golden Whistler, Eastern Yellow Robin, Large-billed Scrubwren, White-browed Scrubwren, Grey Fantail, Eastern Spinebill, and White-throated Treecreeper.
After a wonderful lunch, we visited a wetland site, where we found Australasian Darter, Little Pied Cormorant, Little Black Cormorant, Australasian Grebe, Dusky Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Australasian Swamphen, Pacific Black Duck, Chestnut Teal, Grey Teal, Maned Duck, Masked Lapwing, Galah, Little Corella, Shining Bronze Cuckoo, Little Wattlebird, and a pair of White-winged Trillers. We then moved across to a sandy hillside, where we found six beautiful orchid species, including Large Flying Duck Orchid, Eastern Mantis Orchid, and Purple Beard Orchid. After enjoying these great plants (and a few White-winged Choughs), we continued our drive to our accommodation for the night in Healesville, picking up Black-shouldered Kite, Yellow-billed Spoonbill, and White-necked Heron along the way.
After a wonderful dinner at our lodge, featuring minor distractions from White-naped Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, and Eastern Spinebill, we went out for a rather enjoyable night walk. Top highlights from the walk included excellent looks at a Greater Sooty Owl, along with very good sightings of both Greater Glider and Yellow-bellied Glider. It had been some start to this Australian birding tour!
We enjoyed some excellent views of Greater Sooty Owl while out on a night walk.
Day 3, 1st November 2023. Healesville to Chiltern
After breakfast we birded around our accommodation at Healesville, enjoying sightings of Gang-gang Cockatoo, Australian King Parrot, Crimson Rosella, and Spotted Pardalote. We then drove up into Toolangi State Forest, where we found Flame Robin, Rose Robin, Red-browed Treecreeper, Satin Flycatcher, and more Gang-gang Cockatoos.
Several Gang-gang Cockatoos were present in a small woodland.
After warming ourselves up with a hot drink, we visited the wetlands near Yea, where we added plenty of new birds to our growing list. Some of the top highlights included Bell Miner, Striated Pardalote, Leaden Flycatcher, White-throated Gerygone, and Little Eagle. Driving north, we made our way to the Warby-Ovens National Park, a beautiful region. Here we had brief sightings of Turquoise Parrot, but also had great looks at Red-capped Robin, Hooded Robin, Leaden Flycatcher, Western Gerygone, Varied Sittella, Rufous Songlark, and Rufous Whistler.
Red-capped Robin was also added to our rapidly growing Australasian Robins family list.
As we explored the area further, we found Crested Pigeon, Galah, Eastern Rosella, Sacred Kingfisher, Laughing Kookaburra, White-winged Triller, nesting Restless Flycatchers, Willie Wagtail, Grey Fantail, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Whistling Kite, Brown Falcon, Nankeen Kestrel, Dusky Woodswallow, and Diamond Firetail.
Day 4, 2nd November 2023. Chiltern to Deniliquin
A very long day, but one of the most enjoyable of the whole tour. We spent the morning birding around Chiltern-Mt. Pilot National Park and Warby-Ovens National Park, and the birding was great. We had excellent views of Painted Buttonquail, Pallid Cuckoo, Sacred Kingfisher, Red-rumped Parrot, Olive-backed Oriole, White-throated Treecreeper, Brown Treecreeper, White-winged Chough, Yellow-tufted Honeyeater, Fuscous Honeyeater, Black-chinned Honeyeater, Speckled Warbler, Jacky Winter, and Rufous Songlark. We also spotted Eastern Grey Kangaroo and Swamp Wallaby.
An attractive Yellow-tufted Honeyeater from Chiltern-Mt. Pilot National Park.
After lunch we took a look at the mighty Murray River, here we found Nankeen Night Heron, Whistling Kite, Crimson (Yellow) Rosella, Noisy Friarbird, and Little Friarbird. We then completed our drive from Victoria to Deniliquin, New South Wales.
Our late afternoon and evening birding was simply sensational. We stopped at some bushland that was featuring lots of flowering plants, just north of Deniliquin, where we found Australian Owlet-nightjar, Horsfield’s Bronze Cuckoo, Black-shouldered Kite, Black Kite, Rainbow Bee-eater, Greater Bluebonnet, Black Honeyeater, Singing Honeyeater, Striped Honeyeater, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Raven, and Mistletoebird. Driving north we picked up our first family group of Emus and shortly after had close perched views of a pair of Wedge-tailed Eagles, with other species seen including Black-tailed Nativehen, Australian Crake, Red-kneed Dotterel, White-winged Fairywren, Singing (Horsfield’s) Bush Lark, Fairy Martin, Brown Songlark, and Australian Pipit.
After our picnic dinner it was time for the main event, our night birding around a section of the Hay Plains, and it was amazingly successful. During almost three hours of spotlighting, we found 17 species of birds and ten species of mammals. The highlight birds were three Plains-wanderers (one female and two males), the main target of our night trip which showed very well (see the trip report cover image). The supporting cast was rather special too, and featured Red-chested Buttonquail, Little Buttonquail, Stubble Quail, Banded Lapwing, Tawny Frogmouth, Australian Owlet-nightjar, Eastern Barn Owl, Australian Boobook, Brown Songlark, and Singing (Horsfield’s) Bush Lark. Mammal highlights included Red Kangaroo, Western Grey Kangaroo, Fat-tailed Dunnart, and Common Brushtail Possum.
A massive bonus bird during our spotlighting session was this gorgeous adult female Red-chested Buttonquail.
Day 5, 3rd November 2023. Deniliquin to Ouyen
After our late-night birding session the previous day, we made a later start today. After a relaxed breakfast in Deniliquin we birded near town, finding a number of parrots, including our main target for the morning, Superb Parrot. We also enjoyed sightings of Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Little Corella, Long-billed Corella, Galah, Crimson (Yellow) Rosella, Eastern Rosella, Red-rumped Parrot, and Rainbow Lorikeet. Other birds here included Noisy Friarbird, Little Friarbird, White-plumed Honeyeater, Brown Treecreeper, and Sacred Kingfisher.
A wetland near the town of Kerang was absolutely heaving with birds and was a special sight to see. We added loads of new birds to our list, including some good ones. Highlights here were Australian Pelican, Black Swan, Australian Shelduck, Pink-eared Duck, Hardhead, Hoary-headed Grebe, Great Cormorant, Glossy Ibis, White-necked Heron, Great Egret, Royal Spoonbill, Banded Stilt, Pied Stilt, Red-necked Avocet, Black-tailed Nativehen, and Whiskered Tern (along with lots more). A few small passerines were noted along the edge of the wetland, such as White-winged Fairywren and White-fronted Chat.
We continued our journey to Ouyen, where we arrived in the evening. Along the way we spotted Cockatiel, Budgerigar, Greater Bluebonnet, Spotted Harrier, White-browed Woodswallow, Masked Woodswallow, Black-faced Woodswallow, Southern Whiteface, Rufous Fieldwren, Chestnut-rumped Thornbill, and Australian Raven.
Day 6, 4th November 2023. Birding Hattah-Kulkyne National Park
We had an early morning birding session near Ouyen, where we found a beautiful pair of Rainbow Bee-eaters looking glorious in the morning light. We also found our first Purple-backed Fairywrens and White-browed Babblers of the tour here. Brown Goshawk, Fairy Martin, White-browed Woodswallow, and Masked Woodswallow were overhead. Nearby, a Peregrine Falcon was perched up on a building and showed well.
A pair of Rainbow Bee-eaters showed well in the glorious early morning sunlight.
After breakfast we spent the rest of the day birding in the mallee habitats of Hattah-Kulkyne National Park and connected with a range of specialized and localized species with the highlights including Malleefowl and Mallee Emu-wren. There were plenty of other good birds picked up across the day, such as Emu, Regent Parrot, Mulga Parrot, Australian Ringneck, Budgerigar, Splendid Fairywren, White-eared Honeyeater, Yellow-plumed Honeyeater, Shy Heathwren, Inland Thornbill, Crested Bellbird, Gilbert’s Whistler, Australian Raven, Apostlebird, Southern Scrub Robin, and Chestnut-crowned Babbler.
After an early dinner we took a short drive from our accommodation and had the most incredible views of a pair of Pink Cockatoos, (formerly and until recently known as Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo). They dropped out of a tree and drank from a puddle at the side of the road a mere few meters in front of us, displaying their fantastic colorful crests! After the excitement of the cockatoo, we moved to a waterhole where, after a beautiful sunset, we found our main target, a Spotted Nightjar and then a Marble-faced Delma (an uncommon legless lizard). It had been another great day of birding in Australia.
The views of Pink Cockatoo were simply incredible. What a stunning bird.
Day 7, 5th November 2023. Ouyen to Inglewood
We left Ouyen in the early morning but didn’t get far from our accommodation before we made a stop to enjoy a pair of Fairy Martins sat on a phone wire. A couple of minutes later we found ourselves watching a pair of Pink Cockatoos, possibly the same pair we saw the previous evening. Further prolonged views of this most attractive of cockatoos were enjoyed by everyone. As we left Ouyen we found two more of our regional targets, firstly Red-backed Kingfisher and secondly White-backed Swallow. Both showed well, but the kingfisher was extra showy, perching close to us.
We moved down to the Sea Lake area, where, after breakfast, we visited an attractive pink lake. Here we enjoyed sightings of Rufous Fieldwren, White-winged Fairywren, Brown Falcon, Little Eagle, and Orange Chat.
In the late morning we made the majority of our drive to Inglewood, our base for the night. We stopped at Mount Korong where we saw Spotted Harrier, Peregrine Falcon, Painted Honeyeater, and several Diamond Firetails and many other birds. Closer to Inglewood we found a waterhole that was, for a while, heaving with honeyeaters. We found White-fronted Honeyeater, White-eared Honeyeater, Yellow-plumed Honeyeater, Yellow-tufted Honeyeater, and Brown-headed Honeyeater. However, the activity was suddenly curtailed by an unseen raptor that flew through the area. We moved on to a different patch of bush, where we saw Western Whistler, Gilbert’s Whistler, Purple-backed Fairywren, Inland Thornbill, and Collared Sparrowhawk.
Diamond Firetail is an attractive finch and we had good views of several birds coming to drink at a waterhole.
Day 8, 6th November 2023. Inglewood to Aireys Inlet
We left Inglewood in the early morning and made our way to a nearby seasonally flooded swamp. We spent a couple of hours scanning the area, finding several new birds and improving views of several others, including Red-kneed Dotterel, Black-fronted Dotterel, Masked Lapwing, Black-tailed Nativehen, Royal Spoonbill, Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Australian Shelduck, Australasian Grebe, White-necked Heron, White-bellied Sea Eagle, White-breasted Woodswallow, and Rufous Songlark. We even had a great view of a Yellow-footed Antechinus out in the open.
After the wetland birding and breakfast we visited a couple of different blocks of forest, finding Brown Goshawk, Crimson Rosella, Eastern Rosella, Eastern Spinebill, Yellow-tufted Honeyeater, Fuscous Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, White-browed Babbler, Black-faced Cuckooshrike, Grey Shrikethrush, Olive-backed Oriole, Masked Woodswallow, White-browed Woodswallow, White-winged Chough, Spotted Pardalote, Weebill, Striated Thornbill, Buff-rumped Thornbill, Varied Sittella, Mistletoebird, and Scarlet Robin.
Scarlet Robin gave us some good views.
After lunch we made the journey down to Aireys Inlet. We stopped at the town of Lara along the way, where we had a great birding session. Top sightings here included Cape Barren Goose, Latham’s Snipe, Australian Crake, Australasian Swamphen, Royal Spoonbill, Musk Lorikeet, Purple-crowned Lorikeet, Little Grassbird, Australian Reed Warbler, Golden-headed Cisticola, European Goldfinch, European Greenfinch, and Eurasian Tree Sparrow.
Day 9, 7th November 2023. Aireys Inlet to Melbourne
The final day of our Victoria birding circuit (which included a brief foray into New South Wales), saw us start the day with some birding at Aireys Inlet. We found our target Rufous Bristlebird, with several birds seen briefly at first, with lots of song, but then a pair of birds showed well in the scrub. A few Australian Gannets were noted offshore here. Because everyone on this tour had taken part in our Tasmania bird tour immediately prior to this tour, we opted to skip our usual other birding sites and target birds in the area as several of the usual target birds had already been seen well on the Tasmania tour. This decision allowed us to spend some extra time in the wonderful and bird-filled Werribee Western Treatment Plant (WTP).
Birding at Werribee WTP was excellent and we recorded over 85 species across a few hours at the site. The list of highlights is long (see the eBird list here), and included Brolga, Cape Barren Goose, Musk Duck, Blue-billed Duck, Pink-eared Duck, Australasian Shoveler, Australian Crake, Baillon’s Crake, Buff-banded Rail, Banded Stilt, Red-capped Plover, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Red-necked Stint, Common Greenshank, Marsh Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Pied Cormorant, Royal Spoonbill, Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Glossy Ibis, Australian Pelican, Great Crested Grebe, Hoary-headed Grebe, Australasian Grebe, Whiskered Tern, Swamp Harrier, White-fronted Chat, Golden-headed Cisticola, Australian Reed Warbler, Little Grassbird, Brown Songlark, and Fairy Martin. Wildfowl and shorebirds were present in the thousands, and it was a seriously impressive sight. We could have easily spent a week going around the site!
After our birding at Werribee WTP, we said farewell to our local guide, Simon, who had once again given us some once-in-a-lifetime birding memories and a fun trip.
Rufous Bristlebird was skulking in the undergrowth but came out a couple of times for some quick photos.
Day 10, 8th November 2023. Melbourne to Brisbane, Brisbane birding and travel to O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat
We departed Melbourne for our flight to Brisbane in southern Queensland. Everything went smoothly and we arrived in the late morning. After collecting our vehicle, we took a short drive to the beach, where we had a picnic lunch and found the localized duo of Mangrove Honeyeater and Mangrove Gerygone. Our next stop was just to the south of Brisbane, where we found one of the top mammalian targets of the tour, Koala. We found two of them, a male and a female and got some nice views of these very special animals. To add to the exciting experience here, we also found a pair of Tawny Frogmouths at their nest, complete with two young nestlings. Around Brisbane we picked up several other birds, such as Channel-billed Cuckoo, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Brown Cuckoo Dove, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Brahminy Kite, Torresian Crow, Grey Butcherbird, and more.
We left the city behind to commence our drive up into the mountains for our stay at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat. Along the way, we made a brief stop to look at a roost of Grey-headed Flying Foxes and Little Black Flying Foxes. As we made the final ascent up the mountain we spotted a pair of Glossy Black Cockatoos, Wonga Pigeon, Red-necked Wallaby and Whiptail Wallaby. As we checked in to our accommodation, we were distracted by the magical sight of four Regent Bowerbirds (see photo in the trip report summary) sitting right in front of us. Add in the Australian King Parrots and Crimson Rosellas all around us and it was a pretty impressive welcoming committee!
Day 11, 9th November 2023. Birding at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat
We had a sensational day of birding at O’Reilly’s in Lamington National Park. We had an early start to maximize our time here and were handsomely rewarded. The first bird we saw in the morning was the highly localized Albert’s Lyrebird. It was a brief sighting of a shy bird, so we were left wanting a bit more. We moved to our next spot, where we had some really good views of several White-headed Pigeons, along with Eastern Yellow Robin and Australian Brushturkey. Both Regent Bowerbird and Satin Bowerbird were seen very well, as were Australian King Parrot and Crimson Rosella.
Satin Bowerbird is easily found at O’Reilly’s Rainforest retreat and looks gorgeous in the correct light.
Entering the forest, we focused on the lyrebird and enjoyed a remarkable sighting of a pair of Albert’s Lyrebirds. The female gave some prolonged views as she foraged on the ground, then the male of the pair walked in, before it bounced up and flew high into a tree, where it continued to forage in a bird’s-nest fern, a remarkable and rarely seen behavior. After the lyrebird, which we watched for quite a while, we then also saw a pair of Noisy Pittas. As we walked to the restaurant for breakfast, we noted Wedge-tailed Eagle, Topknot Pigeon, Pied Currawong, Scarlet Myzomela, Eastern Spinebill, and Red-browed Finch.
After breakfast we took a forest walk where we concentrated on good views of the local birds, and these included common birds like Grey Shrikethrush, White-browed Scrubwren, Yellow-throated Scrubwren, Large-billed Scrubwren, Brown Gerygone, Brown Thornbill, Australian Golden Whistler, and Eastern Yellow Robin. Highlights during this birding session included excellent sightings of Paradise Riflebird (a male giving prolonged views), Eastern Whipbird, Rufous Fantail, Black-faced Monarch, Australian Logrunner, Green Catbird, and Bassian Thrush, not to mention the parrots and bowerbirds also enjoyed all morning! We found a giant Land Mullet (a very large skink) and just before lunch we saw our first Bush Stone-curlew of the tour.
With patience, it is possible to get great views of the interesting Australian Logrunner in the forest at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat.
After a bit of a break in the early afternoon we headed back out onto the trails at O’Reilly’s for a brief walk. Again, we enjoyed many of the common birds of the area, but also spent time watching a female Paradise Riflebird and several Green Catbirds foraging in the tall rainforest trees. A Wonga Pigeon was walking around on a lawn, and we again had sightings of Albert’s Lyrebird. After another wonderful dinner at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, we took a walk back to our accommodation, finding Short-eared Brushtail Possum, Common Ringtail Possum, Red-legged Pademelon, and a roosting Russet-tailed Thrush!
Day 12, 10th November 2023. Birding at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, travel to Brisbane then flight to Cairns.
We woke to a damp morning and were instantly grateful for the beautiful day we’d had yesterday, along with all of those great birds. As usual at O’Reilly’s, the great birds are never too far away, and right outside our rooms this morning we found several male Regent Bowerbirds, Satin Bowerbird, Australian King Parrot, Crimson Rosella, and best of all, a very showy male Paradise Riflebird. After a short walk, where we improved our views of Bassian Thrush, we had breakfast and reluctantly departed to Brisbane.
Paradise Riflebird gave some very close views at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat.
Once back in Brisbane we caught our flight to Cairns in Far North Queensland. A whole new set of birds was awaiting us and after checking into our beachside hotel we had a brief birding session on the famous Cairns Esplanade where we found Australian Swiftlet, Torresian Imperial Pigeon, Australasian Figbird, Hornbill Friarbird, and Varied Honeyeater. The tidal state was not conducive for shorebirds, but there were three Black-fronted Dotterels and a pair of Masked Lapwings near our dinner restaurant.
Day 13, 11th November 2023. Great Barrier Reef trip and travel to Mission Beach
A walk along the Cairns Esplanade prior to our Great Barrier Reef boat trip gave us a few good birds, such as Pacific Golden Plover, Great Knot, Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew Sandpiper, and Australian Pelican along the beach, with Torresian Imperial Pigeon, Nankeen Night Heron, Peaceful Dove, Australasian Figbird, and Brown Goshawk all also recorded. There was also a gathering of several Bush Stone-curlews in a car park!
The reef trip was, as always, an enjoyable day with lots of interesting birds seen well, such as Bridled Tern, Sooty Tern, Greater Crested Tern, Lesser Crested Tern, Brown Booby, Brown Noddy, and more (many of these birds breeding on Michaelmas Cay). In addition to the great views of the seabirds, we also enjoyed sightings of Leatherback Turtle, and some spectacular reef fish. After getting back to Cairns in the mid-afternoon, we drove south to Mission Beach for the night and enjoyed a celebratory dinner together.
Day 14, 12th November 2023. Birding Mission Beach and Atherton Tablelands
Another enjoyable day seeing some of the top birds and wildlife found in Australia. We started the day in Mission Beach, where we quickly found a Southern Cassowary. It was a brief view of a male slowly crossing a road right in front of us before it just melted away into the forest. Incredible, and a sighting that won’t be forgotten anytime soon. After enjoying the Southern Cassowary sighting in Mission Beach, we picked up several other birds, such as White-throated Needletail, Bar-shouldered Dove, Pheasant Coucal, Brush Cuckoo, Bush Stone-curlew, Osprey, Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, Azure Kingfisher, Forest Kingfisher, Yellow-spotted Honeyeater, Brown-backed Honeyeater, Dusky Myzomela, Varied Triller, Fairy Gerygone, Olive-backed Sunbird, and an impressive nesting colony of the vociferous Metallic Starlings.
Yellow-spotted Honeyeater was heard and seen plenty of times during the day.
After leaving the coast in the middle of the morning, we stopped in at some rainforest, where we had sightings of Grey Goshawk, Spectacled Monarch, Pied Monarch, Victoria’s Riflebird (very briefly), Rufous Shrikethrush, Barred Cuckooshrike, Cryptic Honeyeater, and Pale-yellow Robin.
We enjoyed some lunch at Lake Eacham, and afterwards took a short walk through some more rainforest, where we saw Tooth-billed Bowerbird, Spotted Catbird (briefly), White-throated Treecreeper, Oriental Dollarbird, Grey-headed Robin, and Macleay’s Honeyeater.
The range-restricted Tooth-billed Bowerbird gave some good views at his bower.
After checking into our rainforest accommodation, we visited a quiet river, where we found another of the most-wanted animals in Australia, the Platypus. We enjoyed prolonged views as one foraged right in front of us. We saw quite a few interesting mammals here and back at our accommodation in the late-afternoon and evening, including Agile Wallaby, Red-necked Pademelon, Musky Rat Kangaroo, Yellow-footed Antechinus, Bush Rat, Long-nosed Bandicoot, Spectacled Flying Fox, and Sugar Glider.
Day 15, 13th November 2023. Birding the Atherton Tablelands
We spent the day birding in the Atherton Tablelands, visiting a few different sites and habitats. In the morning, around our accommodation, we found Victoria’s Riflebird, Spotted Catbird, Tooth-billed Bowerbird, Barred Cuckooshrike, White-bellied Cuckooshrike, Wompoo Fruit Dove, Brown Cuckoo Dove, Grey-headed Robin, Rufous Shrikethrush, and more.
After breakfast we moved across to the Curtain Fig Tree National Park where we marveled at the giant and impressive fig tree, complete with an attractive Boyd’s Forest Dragon and showy male Australian Golden Whistler. Nearby we found Brolga, Sarus Crane, Spotted Harrier, Black Kite, Whistling Kite, Black-shouldered Kite, and Brown Falcon. A real treat was a Feral Dog (Dingo) which came purposefully through our view before disappearing into some tall vegetation.
Our next stop was the wonderful Hasties Swamp where we were greeted by thousands of Plumed Whistling Ducks and the highly anticipated Magpie Goose. Seeing and hearing vast numbers of these birds is always a thrill. At the swamp, we also found Wandering Whistling Duck, Hardhead, Grey Teal, Great Egret, Intermediate Egret, Nankeen Night Heron, Sarus Crane, Brolga, Australian Pelican, Royal Spoonbill, Australasian Darter, Red-kneed Dotterel, Black-fronted Dotterel, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, and Forest Kingfisher.
Forest Kingfisher was glowing!
After lunch and a short break, we visited a small patch of rainforest, where, with a lot of searching, we found a family group of the tough-to-see, Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroos. Another mammalian Australian tour highlight, for sure. After our dinner we went on a night safari, looking for birds, reptiles, and mammals, and it was highly successful. During a visit to some rainforest, we saw Lesser Sooty Owl, Bush Stone-curlew, Striped Possum, Green Ringtail Possum, Common (Coppery) Brushtail Possum, Long-nosed Bandicoot, Giant White-tailed Rat, Red-legged Pademelon, Northern Leaf-tail Gecko, Boyd’s Forest Dragon, and Amethystine Python.
Day 16, 14th November 2023. Birding the Atherton Tablelands and Mareeba area
We started our day birding at Lake Eacham, getting the morning started with great views of Victoria’s Riflebird, Spotted Catbird, Superb Fruit Dove, Pacific Emerald Dove, Double-eyed Fig Parrot, Barred Cuckooshrike, and many more top-quality birds.
After breakfast we left Lake Eacham for Mount Hypipamee. A stop along the way gave us Tawny Grassbird, Golden-headed Cisticola, Chestnut-breasted Mannikin, three huge Channel-billed Cuckoos, and the goliath Wedge-tailed Eagle at close range. On arrival at our next rainforest birding patch, we headed into the forest and staked out a Golden Bowerbird bower. We got brief views of an adult male, followed by a female, and then an immature male that gave brilliant prolonged and close views. Further exploration of the forest resulted in sightings of Amethystine Python, Bridled Honeyeater, Bower’s Shrikethrush, Mountain Thornbill, Atherton Scrubwren, Pied Monarch, Pale-yellow Robin, Pacific Baza, and Peregrine Falcon.
Victoria’s Riflebird was the second bird-of-paradise enjoyed on this Australian bird tour.
After lunch we came off the fertile Atherton Tablelands and down into the drier zone around the small town of Mareeba. We visited Granite Gorge, where we had excellent close looks at the rather cute Mareeba Rock Wallaby, but also found some good birds, with the highlights (of which there were many), including Great Bowerbird (meticulously attending to his bower), Squatter Pigeon, Pale-headed Rosella, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Green Oriole, Olive-backed Oriole, Yellow Honeyeater, Leaden Flycatcher, and more.
After checking into our accommodation on the edge of town, we birded at a site just outside Mareeba, where we added a few new species to our list, such as displaying Australian Bustards, Australian Hobby, Red-backed Fairywren, and Blue-winged Kookaburra.
Day 17, 15th November 2023. Birding from Mareeba to the Mount Lewis area, Daintree River dusk boat trip, and travel to Cairns
We spent the morning birding in the dry habitats near Mareeba, where we saw Red-winged Parrot, Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, Lemon-bellied Flyrobin, White-throated Honeyeater, Yellow Honeyeater, Brown Honeyeater, Brush Cuckoo, Sacred Kingfisher, and Blue-winged Kookaburra. An area of swamp was full of birds, including the giant Black-necked Stork and Brolga, along with Radjah Shelduck, Red-kneed Dotterel, and lots more, including numerous Black Kites and Whistling Kites.
We followed up the dry country birding with some time in mixed eucalyptus and rainforest (which was also actually quite dry this year), where we found Lovely Fairywren, Northern Fantail, Rufous Fantail, Superb Fruit Dove, Pale-yellow Robin, and Yellow-breasted Boatbill.
A pair of Lovely Fairywrens were enjoyed on our final full day of birding on this Australian bird tour, this male showed very well.
In the afternoon, we had a final couple of rainforest patches to check, and we were successful in finding a pair of Papuan Frogmouths and then the spectacular Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, the latter a fresh arrival from New Guinea and staking a claim to his summer breeding territory.
The final birding of the day was on the Daintree River, where we enjoyed a dusk boat cruise, adding several new species for the tour, and improving views and photos of others, including Spotted Whistling Duck, Radjah Shelduck, Papuan Frogmouth, Great-billed Heron, Black Bittern, Azure Kingfisher, Brahminy Kite, Pacific Koel, Green Oriole, Shining Flycatcher, Wompoo Fruit Dove (on a nest), and plenty more. Additional highlights included Green Tree Snake and Saltwater Crocodile sightings.
After enjoying our Daintree River boat trip, we drove back to Cairns for the final night of the tour. During our drive back to Cairns we discussed possible “bird of the trip” candidates, and it was very hard to pick a top bird given all the high-quality birds we’d seen over the previous weeks. Some of the favorites included (in no particular order!); Pink Cockatoo, Red-backed Fairywren, Southern Cassowary, Plains-wanderer, Golden Bowerbird, and Red-chested Buttonquail.
Day 18, 16th November 2023. Birding Cairns Esplanade and tour concluded with departure from Cairns
We had a final breakfast in Cairns and said goodbye to Steve, who had been an excellent and incredibly knowledgeable local guide during our time in Queensland. We had a final, short birding session along Cairns Esplanade as the tidal situation was perfect. Numbers of shorebirds were lower than is often the case at this time of year, but we added several new species for the tour, including Pacific Reef Heron, Australian Tern, Caspian Tern, Far Eastern Curlew, Eurasian Whimbrel, and Grey-tailed Tattler. We also gained some very close views of other species seen previously, such as Bar-tailed Godwit, Common Greenshank, Curlew Sandpiper, Pied Stilt, Black-fronted Dotterel, Silver Gull, and Little Tern.
With our final birding session complete it was time for saying goodbye. It had been an incredibly fun tour, with lots of laughs along the way, as well as been packed full of some of the best birds of Australia and some of the most wanted mammals on the continent. A huge thank you to everyone for making this such a fantastic tour, I look forward to traveling with you all again soon. Trip lists for birds, other wildlife, and interesting plants follow.
Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher was a final highlight of the rainforest element of this Australian birding tour.
Bird List – Following IOC (13.2)
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: 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 arcuate |
| Cape Barren Goose | Cereopsis novaehollandiae |
| Black Swan | Cygnus atratus |
| Radjah Shelduck | Radjah radjah |
| Australian Shelduck | Tadorna tadornoides |
| Pink-eared Duck | Malacorhynchus membranaceus |
| Maned Duck | Chenonetta jubata |
| Australasian Shoveler | Spatula rhynchotis |
| Pacific Black Duck | Anas superciliosa |
| Grey Teal | Anas gracilis |
| Chestnut Teal | Anas castanea |
| Hardhead | Aythya australis |
| Blue-billed Duck | Oxyura australis |
| Musk Duck | Biziura lobata |
| 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 (H) | Synoicus ypsilophorus |
| Stubble Quail | Coturnix pectoralis |
| Nightjars (Caprimulgidae) | |
| Spotted Nightjar | Eurostopodus argus |
| Frogmouths (Podargidae) | |
| Papuan Frogmouth | Podargus papuensis |
| Tawny Frogmouth | Podargus strigoides |
| Owlet-nightjars (Aegothelidae) | |
| Australian Owlet-nightjar | Aegotheles cristatus |
| Swifts (Apodidae) | |
| Australian Swiftlet | Aerodramus terraereginae |
| White-throated Needletail | Hirundapus caudacutus |
| 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 |
| Brush Bronzewing | Phaps elegans |
| 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 (H) | Ptilinopus regina |
| Torresian Imperial Pigeon | Ducula spilorrhoa |
| Topknot Pigeon | Lopholaimus antarcticus |
| Rails, Crakes & Coots (Rallidae) | |
| Buff-banded Rail | Hypotaenidia philippensis |
| Australian Crake | Porzana fluminea |
| Black-tailed Nativehen | Tribonyx ventralis |
| Dusky Moorhen | Gallinula tenebrosa |
| Eurasian Coot | Fulica atra |
| Australasian Swamphen | Porphyrio melanotus |
| Baillon’s Crake | Zapornia pusilla |
| Spotless Crake | Zapornia tabuensis |
| 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 |
| Red-chested Buttonquail | Turnix pyrrhothorax |
| Little Buttonquail | Turnix velox |
| Stone-curlews, Thick-knees (Burhinidae) | |
| Bush Stone-curlew | Burhinus grallarius |
| Oystercatchers (Haematopodidae) | |
| Pied Oystercatcher | Haematopus longirostris |
| Stilts, Avocets (Recurvirostridae) | |
| Pied Stilt | Himantopus leucocephalus |
| Banded Stilt | Cladorhynchus leucocephalus |
| Red-necked Avocet | Recurvirostra novaehollandiae |
| Plovers (Charadriidae) | |
| Banded Lapwing | Vanellus tricolor |
| Masked Lapwing | Vanellus miles |
| Red-kneed Dotterel | Erythrogonys cinctus |
| Pacific Golden Plover | Pluvialis fulva |
| Red-capped Plover | Charadrius ruficapillus |
| Black-fronted Dotterel | Elseyornis melanops |
| Jacanas (Jacanidae) | |
| Comb-crested Jacana | Irediparra gallinacea |
| Plains-wanderer (Pedionomidae) | |
| Plains-wanderer – EN | Pedionomus torquatus |
| Sandpipers, Snipes (Scolopacidae) | |
| Eurasian Whimbrel | Numenius phaeopus |
| Far Eastern Curlew – EN | Numenius madagascariensis |
| Bar-tailed Godwit | Limosa lapponica |
| Black-tailed Godwit | Limosa limosa |
| Ruddy Turnstone | Arenaria interpres |
| Great Knot – EN | Calidris tenuirostris |
| Sharp-tailed Sandpiper – VU | Calidris acuminata |
| Curlew Sandpiper | Calidris ferruginea |
| Red-necked Stint | Calidris ruficollis |
| Latham’s Snipe | Gallinago hardwickii |
| Grey-tailed Tattler | Tringa brevipes |
| Marsh Sandpiper | Tringa stagnatilis |
| Common Greenshank | Tringa nebularia |
| Gulls, Terns, Skimmers (Laridae) | |
| Brown Noddy | Anous stolidus |
| Silver Gull | Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae |
| Australian Tern | Gelochelidon macrotarsa |
| Caspian Tern | Hydroprogne caspia |
| Greater Crested Tern | Thalasseus bergii |
| Lesser Crested Tern | Thalasseus bengalensis |
| Little Tern | Sternula albifrons |
| Common Tern | Sterna hirundo |
| Bridled Tern | Onychoprion anaethetus |
| Sooty Tern | Onychoprion fuscatus |
| Whiskered Tern | Chlidonias hybrida |
| Storks (Ciconiidae) | |
| Black-necked Stork | Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Glossy Ibis | Plegadis falcinellus |
| Royal Spoonbill | Platalea regia |
| Yellow-billed Spoonbill | Platalea flavipes |
| Herons, Bitterns (Ardeidae) | |
| Black Bittern | Ixobrychus flavicollis |
| Nankeen Night Heron | Nycticorax caledonicus |
| Eastern Cattle Egret | Bubulcus coromandus |
| White-necked Heron | Ardea pacifica |
| Great-billed Heron | Ardea sumatrana |
| Great Egret | Ardea alba |
| Intermediate (Plumed) 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 haliaetus |
| Kites, Hawks, Eagles (Accipitridae) | |
| Black-shouldered Kite | Elanus axillaris |
| Pacific Baza | Aviceda subcristata |
| Little Eagle | Hieraaetus morphnoides |
| Wedge-tailed Eagle | Aquila audax |
| Grey Goshawk | Accipiter novaehollandiae |
| Brown Goshawk | Accipiter fasciatus |
| Collared Sparrowhawk | Accipiter cirrocephalus |
| Swamp Harrier | Circus approximans |
| Spotted Harrier | Circus assimilis |
| Black Kite | Milvus migrans |
| Whistling Kite | Haliastur sphenurus |
| Brahminy Kite | Haliastur indus |
| White-bellied Sea Eagle | Icthyophaga leucogaster |
| Barn Owls (Tytonidae) | |
| Greater Sooty Owl | Tyto tenebricosa |
| Lesser Sooty Owl | Tyto multipunctata |
| Eastern Barn Owl | Tyto javanica |
| Owls (Strigidae) | |
| Australian Boobook | Ninox boobook |
| 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 |
| Sacred Kingfisher | Todiramphus sanctus |
| Red-backed Kingfisher | Todiramphus pyrrhopygius |
| Azure Kingfisher | 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 |
| Glossy Black Cockatoo – VU | Calyptorhynchus lathami |
| Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo | Zanda funerea |
| Gang-gang Cockatoo – VU | Callocephalon fimbriatum |
| Galah | Eolophus roseicapilla |
| Pink Cockatoo | Cacatua 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 |
| Pale-headed Rosella | Platycercus adscitus |
| Eastern Rosella | Platycercus eximius |
| Australian Ringneck | Barnardius zonarius |
| 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 | 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) | |
| Lovely Fairywren | Malurus amabilis |
| Purple-backed Fairywren | Malurus assimilis |
| Superb Fairywren | Malurus cyaneus |
| Splendid Fairywren | Malurus splendens |
| Red-backed Fairywren | Malurus melanocephalus |
| White-winged Fairywren | Malurus leucopterus |
| Mallee Emu-wren – EN | Stipiturus mallee |
| Honeyeaters (Meliphagidae) | |
| Eastern Spinebill | Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris |
| Orange Chat | Epthianura aurifrons |
| White-fronted Chat | Epthianura albifrons |
| Brown-backed Honeyeater | Ramsayornis modestus |
| Black Honeyeater | Sugomel nigrum |
| 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 | 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 |
| Black-chinned Honeyeater | Melithreptus gularis |
| 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) | |
| Weebill | Smicrornis brevirostris |
| Striated Fieldwren | Calamanthus fuliginosus |
| Rufous Fieldwren | Calamanthus campestris |
| Shy Heathwren | Hylacola cauta |
| Speckled Warbler | Pyrrholaemus sagittatus |
| Yellow-throated Scrubwren | Neosericornis citreogularis |
| Large-billed Scrubwren | Sericornis magnirostra |
| Atherton Scrubwren – VU | 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 – VU | 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 – VU | 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 |
| Whipbirds (Psophodidae) | |
| Eastern Whipbird | Psophodes olivaceus |
| Boatbills (Machaerirhynchidae) | |
| Yellow-breasted Boatbill | Machaerirhynchus flaviventer |
| Woodswallows, Butcherbirds & Allies (Artamidae) | |
| White-breasted Woodswallow | Artamus leucorynchus |
| Masked Woodswallow | Artamus personatus |
| White-browed Woodswallow | Artamus superciliosus |
| 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 |
| White-winged Triller | Lalage tricolor |
| Varied Triller | Lalage leucomela |
| Sittellas (Neosittidae) | |
| Varied Sittella | Daphoenositta chrysoptera |
| Australo-Papuan Bellbirds (Oreoicidae) | |
| Crested Bellbird (H) | Oreoica gutturalis |
| Whistlers & Allies (Pachycephalidae) | |
| Gilbert’s Whistler | Pachycephala inornata |
| Grey Whistler | Pachycephala simplex |
| Australian Golden Whistler | Pachycephala pectoralis |
| Western Whistler | Pachycephala fuliginosa |
| Rufous Whistler | Pachycephala rufiventris |
| Bower’s Shrikethrush – VU | Colluricincla boweri |
| Rufous Shrikethrush | Colluricincla rufogaster |
| Grey Shrikethrush | Colluricincla harmonica |
| Figbirds, Old World Orioles, Piopios (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 |
| Pied Monarch | 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 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 – VU | Ptiloris victoriae |
| Australasian Robins (Petroicidae) | |
| Pale-yellow Robin | Tregellasia capito |
| Eastern Yellow Robin | Eopsaltria australis |
| Hooded Robin | Melanodryas cucullata |
| Grey-headed Robin | Heteromyias cinereifrons |
| Southern Scrub Robin | Drymodes brunneopygia |
| Lemon-bellied Flyrobin | Microeca flavigaster |
| Jacky Winter | Microeca fascinans |
| Rose Robin | Petroica rosea |
| Flame Robin | Petroica phoenicea |
| Scarlet Robin | Petroica boodang |
| Red-capped Robin | Petroica goodenovii |
| Larks (Alaudidae) | |
| Singing (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 |
| 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, Rhabdornises (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 (Sahul) Sunbird | Cinnyris jugularis |
| Old World Sparrows, Snowfinches (Passeridae) | |
| Eurasian Tree Sparrow | Passer montanus |
| House Sparrow | Passer domesticus |
| Waxbills, Munias & Allies (Estrildidae) | |
| Diamond Firetail – VU | Stagonopleura guttata |
| Red-browed Finch | Neochmia temporalis |
| 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 | 376 |
| Total heard only | 3 |
| Total recorded | 379 |
Mammal List
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
| Felids (Felidae) | |
| Domestic (Feral) Cat | Felis catus |
| Canids (Canidae) | |
| Feral Dog (Dingo) | Canis familiaris dingo |
| Red Fox | Vulpes vulpes |
| Deer (Cervidae) | |
| Sambar (H) | 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 |
| 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 |
| Whiptail Wallaby | Notamacropus parryi |
| Agile Wallaby | Notamacropus agilis |
| Red-necked Wallaby | Notamacropus rufogriseus |
| Western Grey Kangaroo | Macropus fuliginosus |
| Eastern Grey Kangaroo | Macropus giganteus |
| Red Kangaroo | Osphranter 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 (Common) Brushtail Possum | Trichosurus vulpecula vulpecula |
| Common (Coppery) Brushtail Possum | Trichosurus vulpecula johnstonii |
| Short-eared Brushtail Possum | Trichosurus caninus |
| Gliders, Trioks, and Allies (Petauridae) | |
| Striped Possum | Dactylopsila trivirgata |
| Sugar Glider | Petaurus breviceps |
| Yellow-bellied Glider | Petaurus australis |
| Ringtail Possums (Pseudocheiridae) | |
| Greater Glider | Petauroides volans |
| Common Ringtail Possum | Pseudocheirus peregrinus |
| Green Ringtail Possum | Pseudochirops archeri |
| Koalas (Phascolarctidae) | |
| Koala | Phascolarctos cinereus |
| Hares and Rabbits (Leporidae) | |
| European Hare | Lepus europaeus |
| European Rabbit | Oryctolagus cuniculus |
| Platypuses (Ornithorhynchidae) | |
| Platypus | Ornithorhynchus anatinus |
| Bandicoots (Peramelidae) | |
| Long-nosed Bandicoot | Perameles nasuta |
| Old World Mice and Rats (Muridae) | |
| White-tailed Giant Rat | Uromys caudimaculatus |
| Australian Swamp Rat | Rattus letreolus |
| Bush Rat | Rattus fuscipes |
| House (Black) Rat | Rattus rattus |
| House Mouse | Mus musculus |
| Suids (Suidae) | |
| Wild Boar (Feral Pig) | Sus scrofa |
| Total | 40 |
Reptile List
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
| Crocodiles (Crocodylidae) | |
| Saltwater Crocodile | Crocodylus porosus |
| Monitor Lizards (Varanidae) | |
| (Gould’s) Sand Goanna | Varanus gouldii |
| Australian Leaf-tailed, Thick-tailed, and Knob-tailed Geckos (Carphodactylidae) | |
| Northern Leaf-tail Gecko | Saltuarius cornutus |
| Geckos (Gekkonidae) | |
| Common House Gecko | Hemidactylus frenatus |
| Dragons (Agamidae) | |
| Boyd’s Forest Dragon | Lophosaurus boydii |
| Mallee Dragon | Ctenophorus fordi |
| Eastern Bearded Dragon | Pogona barbata |
| Lined Earless Dragon | Tympanocryptis lineata |
| Skinks (Scincidae) | |
| Pale-rumped Ctenotus | Ctenotus regius |
| Robust Ctenotus | Ctenotus robustus |
| (Eastern)Tree Skink | Egernia striolata |
| Shingleback Lizard | Tiliqua rugosa |
| Red-throated Rainbow-skink | Carlia rubrigularis |
| Land Mullet | Bellatorias major |
| Legless Geckos (Pygopodidae) | |
| Marble-faced Delma | Delma australis |
| Colubrid Snakes (Colubridae) | |
| Green Tree Snake | Dendrelaphis punctulatus |
| Elapid Snakes (Elapidae) | |
| Eastern Brown Snake | Pseudonaja textilis |
| Mainland Island Snake (Tiger Snake) | Notechis scutatus |
| Pythons (Pythonidae) | |
| Amethystine (Australian Scrub) Python | Morelia amethistina |
| Freshwater Turtles (Cheluidae) | |
| Macquarie (Murray) Turtle | Emydura macquarii macquarii |
| Austro-American Side-necked Turtles (Chelidae) | |
| Eastern Saw-shelled Turtle | Myuchelys latisternum |
| Northern Snake-necked Turtle | Chelodina oblonga |
| Typical Sea Turtles (Cheloniidae) | |
| Loggerhead Turtle | Caretta caretta |
| Total | 23 |
Notable Other Taxa List
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
| Australasian Tree Frogs (Pelodryadidae) | |
| Brown Tree Frog | Litoria ewingii |
| Green and Gold Frog | Litoria raniformis |
| True Toads (Bufonidae) | |
| Cane Toad | Rhinella marina |
| Swallowtails and Parnassians (Papilionidae) | |
| Cairns Birdwing | Ornithoptera euphorion |
| Orchard Swallowtail | Papilio Aegeus |
| Lime Swallowtail | Papilio demoleus |
| Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae) | |
| Monarch | Danaus plexippus |
| Australian Painted Lady | Vanessa kershawi |
| Common Brown | Heteronympha merope |
| Great Eggfly | Hypolimnas bolina |
| Yellow-eyed Plane | Neptis praslini |
| Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs (Pieridae) | |
| Caper White | Belonis java |
| Small White | Pieris rapae |
| Imperial Jezebel | Delias harpalyce |
| Spotted Jezebel | Delias aganippe |
| Common Grass Yellow | Eurema hecabe |
| Gossamer-winged Butterflies (Lycaenidae) | |
| Saltbush Blue | Theclinesthes serpentata |
| Common Imperial Blue | Jalmenus evagoras |
| Skimmers (Libellulidae) | |
| Blue Skimmer | Orthetrum caledonicum |
| Common Glider | Tramea loewii |
| Painted Grasshawk | Neurothemis stigmatizans |
| Graphic Flutterer | Rhyothemis graphiptera |
| Darners (Aeshnidae) | |
| Australian Emperor | Anax papuensis |
| Spreadwings and Allies (Lestidae) | |
| Wandering Ringtail | Austrolestes leda |
| Emerald Dragonflies (Corduliidae) | |
| Tau Emerald | Hemicordulia tau |
| Bluestreaks and Rockmasters (Lestoideidae) | |
| Tropical Rockmaster | Diphlebia euphoeoides |
| Ants (Formicidae) | |
| Asian Weaver (Green) Ant | Oecophylla smaragdina |
| Cockles (Cardiidae) | |
| Small Giant Clam | Tridacna maxima |
| Orchids (Orchidaceae) | |
| Large Flying Duck Orchid | Caleana major |
| Hornet (Tiger) Orchid | Diuris sulphurea |
| Eastern Mantis Orchid | Caladenia tentaculate |
| Spotted Sun-Orchid | Thelymitra ixioides |
| Red Beard Orchid | Calochilus paludosus |
| Purple Beard Orchid | Calochilus robertsonii |
| Thin Pencil Orchid | Dendrobium teretifolium |
| Bladderworts (Lentibulariaceae) | |
| Fairy Aprons | Utricularia dichotoma |
| Total | 36 |
This is a sample trip report. Please email us ([email protected]) for more trip reports from this destination.
