Savannah Birding Blitz

We set off from Kuranda early, coming over Red Hill to a setting full moon hanging among hot air balloons against a crisp blue sky. It was already clear this was going to be a beautiful day.

Our guest was focused on bird photography and had already captured many of the area's endemics, so with time constraints on us, a Birding Blitz out to the dry country looked like the best plan. The only species we had been asked to target was Australian Bustard, and with great luck it was our first bird of the day. It paced nervously back and forth between the car and the fence line while we watched from the vehicle, then took to the sky in an almost unbelievable manner and flew off into the misty field beyond.

This seemed as good a place as any to get out into the morning mist at Biboohra and see who was about. The dawn chorus was dominated by the loud song of Brown Honeyeater, punctuated with the high peeps of Yellow Honeyeater, along with Olive-backed Oriole, White-bellied Cuckooshrike, and the far off maniacal laughter of both Blue-winged and Laughing Kookaburra. Down in the grass, Red-backed Fairywren, Double-barred Finch and Peaceful Dove showed well in the morning light, flying back and forth across the narrow track.

Our next stop at the turf farm brought even better opportunities, with Australian Bustard interacting alongside Magpie-lark and Masked Lapwing. Pale-headed Rosella and Rufous Whistler fed in the surrounding trees as Tree Martin, Blue-faced Honeyeater and Red-winged Parrot flew back and forth above the fields. Scanning a pile of soil, we watched a tiny Striated Pardalote fly in to its miniature burrow and disappear, a pair of them nesting right there in the bank. Finally a gathering of Black Kite came down around a puddle, giving us excellent shots of them overhead and interacting on the ground. Thirty-four species seen or heard at that short stop alone.

A quick look at the Barron bridge on the way through added White-breasted Woodswallow overhead, Australasian Figbird in the fruiting trees, and a Yellow-spotted Honeyeater calling from the riverside scrub.

With time pressing we drove on towards Mt Carbine, stopping for morning tea at historic Mt Molloy along the way. At Mt Carbine the air filled with the clicking of Galah, fifty of them crowding the nearest trees. Exploring the area, we found a Great Bowerbird pacing diligently around his bower, making sure everything was in order while delivering that unmistakable complex song. Birds were everywhere and at times it was hard to keep track of the commotion. Australian Magpie, Pied Butcherbird and Torresian Crow were there to remind us we were a long way from the rainforest, together with Grey-crowned Babbler, Apostlebird and both Noisy and Little Friarbird foraging busily in the trees.

Our luck held when we came upon a Tawny Frogmouth, so confident in its camouflage that it let us get very close, and it gave up some of the best photographs of the day. It was hard to leave. Every time we tried, a flock of Pale-headed Rosella would drop to the ground or a Red-browed Pardalote would call off in the bush, tempting us to explore a little further. Eventually it was time to turn for home. Five hours and more than three thousand photographs later, we were back in Kuranda after an outstanding day.