Black-shouldered Kite, near Mareeba, 6 July 2026. Photo: Kingfisher Birding.
Half-Day Savannah Explorer
Monday 6 July 2026
Clayton Smith, Lead Guide with David Lyons
Monday 6 July 2026
Kuranda → Mareeba → Biboohra → Barron River → Pickford Road → Speewah → Kuranda
Heavy morning mist clearing to blue sky, calm
Clayton Smith · David Lyons
55 bird species recorded
1 mammal · 0 reptiles
- •A lone Australian Bustard walking through the morning fog near Mareeba
- •Chestnut-breasted Mannikin posing at Biboohra as a pair of Bustards watched on
- •An Azure Kingfisher flushed along the Barron River, deep marine blue vanishing into the shadows
- •Around fifty Black Kites circling the fields off Pickford Road
- •An immature Pheasant Coucal breaking cover at the causeway
We met today for our half day Savannah explorer in Kuranda at 6:30am to the dawn chorus of Australasian Figbird, Laughing Kookaburra and large flocks of both Rainbow and Scaly-breasted Lorikeet. After introductions we made our way out towards Mareeba. As we journeyed west mist hung heavy and clung to spiderwebs along the road.
Our first stop out of Mareeba gave us great views of the gorgeous Pale-headed Rosella and Noisy Friarbird in the morning light. A little further along the road we spied through the fog a lone Australian Bustard walking proudly through the field. The air was filled by this stage with the loud calls of Brown Honeyeater and Blue-faced Honeyeater as well as the gentle creaking of a flock of Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo in the tall Eucalyptus in the distance. An Olive-backed Oriole sunned itself in a small sapling while a small flock of Double-barred Finch buzzed busily between bushes.
Before long the mist burnt away leaving a beautiful blue sky and some stunning light for some early morning photography. Our next stop at Biboohra yielded more finch, this time it was Chestnut-breasted Mannikin that took turns posing for a photograph. Another pair of stately Australian Bustard watched on as a Striated Pardalote came and perched on the wire of the fence in the foreground. Amazing stuff.
We drove a little further to the Barron River where Red-browed Firetail erupted from the Guinea Grass in a large flock which flew back and forth across the road. As we made our way towards the river we flushed out an Azure Kingfisher, its iridescent deep marine blue vanishing into the shadows. Then a Forest Kingfisher perched in a dead tree below the bridge giving us an uncommon view of looking down upon it. We also had great views of Little Bronze-Cuckoo, Spangled Drongo and a lone Agile Wallaby.
Next stop was down Pickford Road. There was plenty of Black Kite about, seeing a flock of around 50 circling the fields and more at just about every stop. As we slowed to get a better look at a Pacific Heron we noticed a small flock of Red-backed Fairywren hopping about with several very vocal Golden-headed Cisticola. A little further Blue-winged Kookaburra were seen perched on the power lines. Stopping to walk at the causeway we chanced upon an immature Pheasant Coucal which took to the trees, giving us great views. High above in the trees a small flock of Little Corella called out noisily with White-throated Honeyeater as Rainbow Bee-eater showed off their acrobatic flying skills.
With midday fast approaching it was time to return to Kuranda, making a short stop off to try our luck in Speewah. Despite being quieter than usual we got to see Black Butcherbird, Dusky Myzomela and Sahul Sunbird.
A great way to spend the morning, with plenty of new lifers all round, thank you.
Clayton Smith, Lead Guide
Species Recorded
Waterbirds & Waders
- Magpie Goose. Four in the savannah wetlands, the reliable staple of this country.
- Bush Stone-curlew. A pair keeping still and hoping not to be noticed.
- Masked Lapwing. A dozen across the open paddocks, hard to miss.
- Australasian Darter. One at the Barron River, the reptilian neck unmistakable.
- Straw-necked Ibis. Six working the fields.
Herons & Egrets
- Eastern Cattle-Egret. Four among the stock.
- Pacific Heron. One along Pickford Road, the stop that turned up the fairywrens.
Pigeons & Doves
- Crested Pigeon. A pair in the open country near Mareeba, the upright crest catching the eye.
- Bar-shouldered Dove. Thirteen through the morning, calling from every stop.
Bustards
- Australian Bustard. Two for the morning, the first a lone bird walking proudly through the fog, then a stately pair at Biboohra as we watched the finches.
Cuckoos
- Pheasant Coucal. An immature bird at the Pickford Road causeway that took to the trees and gave great views.
- Little Bronze-Cuckoo. One at the Barron River.
Swifts & Swallows
- Australian Swiftlet. Two hawking overhead.
- Welcome Swallow. One, the forked tail and rufous throat.
- Tree Martin. Twenty over the open fields.
Raptors
- Black-shouldered Kite. Hovering over the open country near Mareeba, one of Australia''s most elegant small raptors.
- Black Kite. The bird of the morning by weight of numbers, a flock of around fifty circling the fields off Pickford Road.
- Whistling Kite. One among the kites.
Kingfishers & Bee-eaters
- Rainbow Bee-eater. Showing off their acrobatic flying skills above the causeway.
- Azure Kingfisher. Flushed at the Barron River, that deep marine blue vanishing into the shadows.
- Laughing Kookaburra. Part of the Kuranda dawn chorus that opened the morning.
- Blue-winged Kookaburra. Perched on the power lines along Pickford Road.
- Forest Kingfisher. Two, including one in a dead tree below the bridge, the uncommon view of looking down on it.
Parrots & Cockatoos
- Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo. A flock creaking gently in the tall Eucalyptus in the distance.
- Little Corella. A small flock calling noisily high in the trees.
- Sulphur-crested Cockatoo. Four through the morning, loud and white.
- Pale-headed Rosella. Gorgeous views in the first morning light out of Mareeba.
- Scaly-breasted Lorikeet. Thirty-six, in the dawn flocks at Kuranda and beyond.
- Rainbow Lorikeet. Forty at dawn in Kuranda, the noise before the birds.
Fairywrens
- Red-backed Fairywren. A small flock hopping about the grass along Pickford Road.
Honeyeaters
- Yellow Honeyeater. One, a bird of the tropical north.
- Dusky Myzomela. One at Speewah to help close the morning.
- Brown Honeyeater. Loud and everywhere at the first stop.
- Blue-faced Honeyeater. Fifteen, filling the air with their calls.
- White-throated Honeyeater. With the corellas high in the trees at Pickford Road.
- Noisy Friarbird. Great views in the morning light near Mareeba.
Pardalotes
- Striated Pardalote. Perched on the fence wire in the foreground as the Bustards watched on. Amazing stuff.
Scrubwrens & Gerygones
- White-throated Gerygone. One in the woodland, the sweet falling song.
Cuckooshrikes
- White-bellied Cuckooshrike. Two through the morning, leisurely wingbeats.
Orioles & Drongos
- Australasian Figbird. The opening voice of the Kuranda dawn chorus.
- Olive-backed Oriole. One sunning itself in a small sapling near Mareeba.
- Spangled Drongo. Great views at the Barron River, the fish-tail and blue spangles.
Butcherbirds
- Pied Butcherbird. That savannah flute carrying across the open country.
- Black Butcherbird. One at Speewah.
Currawongs & Corvids
- Australian Magpie. Seven across the open country, the carolling one of the great Australian sounds.
Monarchs & Fantails
- Willie Wagtail. One, never far from the cattle.
- Australian Rufous Fantail. One, the rufous rump in constant motion.
- Grey Fantail. Two, the fanned tail a nervous habit.
- Magpie-lark. One in open ground.
Cisticolas
- Golden-headed Cisticola. Several, very vocal, hopping about with the fairywrens.
Starlings
- Common Myna. Present, introduced, noted for completeness.
Sunbirds
- Sahul Sunbird. At Speewah to close the morning, the curved bill and yellow underparts.
Finches
- Red-browed Firetail. Erupting from the Guinea Grass in a large flock, back and forth across the road.
- Double-barred Finch. Buzzing busily between bushes at the first stop.
- Chestnut-breasted Mannikin. Taking turns posing for a photograph at Biboohra.
Mammals
- Agile Wallaby - A lone animal at the Barron River, the pale hip stripe the field mark.