Category: Queensland

Big Zigzag Birding

week 009 | Arrangements around Cairns | trip list 248 – 250

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Easy week mainly around Cairns with some personal arrangments

In an Eggshell:

  • Big Zigzag bird species count: 250 (+2 this week)
  • Big Zigzag bird families count: 73 
  • Big Zigzag Lifers: 30 
  • Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 56 (+1 this week)
  • eBird days of checklist streak: 61
  • Week’s special milestones: Trip list 250 bird

Bird(s) of the Week

Barred Cuckooshrike, not a lifer (seen in PNG) but first for my Australian list. Photographed in Babinda.

Metallic Starling nesting colony 

Non-bird image

Week's Key location(s)

Not rare but easy to access – Metallic Starling nesting colony at Crystal Cascades

Rotary Park Rest Area, Babinda. My first Aussie Barred Cuckooshrike

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 8370 km (this week 440 km)

eBird Checklists this week

1381. 14 Sep 2024 2:02 PM Cairns Crystal Cascades Holiday Park, Cairns
1380. 13 Sep 2024 5:12 PM Babinda
1379. 12 Sep 2024 4:01 PM Babinda
1378. 12 Sep 2024 11:31 AM Babinda Boulders Scenic Reserve
1377. 11 Sep 2024 1:24 PM Glenoma Park (Brinsmead)
1376. 10 Sep 2024 1:33 PM Saltwater Lake (Centenary Lakes), Cairns
1375. 10 Sep 2024 11:18 AM 54 Yarrum Street, Earlville, Queensland, AU (-16.943, 145.735)
1374. 09 Sep 2024 4:31 PM 107 Mill Street, Gordonvale
1373. 08 Sep 2024 12:51 PM Mareeba Rodeo Grounds
Big Zigzag Birding

week 008 | Cape York to Tablelands | trip list 242 – 248 

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Back from the tip to tablelands

In an Eggshell:

  • Big Zigzag bird species count: 248 (+6 this week)
  • Big Zigzag bird families count: 73 (+1 this week: Sittellas)
  • Big Zigzag Lifers: 30 (+3 this week: Red Goshawk, Yellow-tinted Honeyeater, Black-throated Finch
  • Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 55 (+3 this week)
  • eBird days of checklist streak: 54
  • Week’s special milestones: Clean-up Poephila genus with Black-throated Finch

Bird(s) of the Week

Black-throated Finch is north-east Queensland endemic which seems not easy to find. I received information about a flock seen regularly at Mareeba Rodeo showground which is perfect for me as it is a camping site as well and very birdy place. 2 weeks ago, I tried hard long afternoon and morning hours without success. This week almost the same 2 days story, but when we were packed and ready to leave, I noticed 10 little birds flying above my head to the horses water trough. Bingo! Here there are drinking quickly and disappearing after a few minutes.

Following PNG memories: Black-backed Butcherbird seen a few different locations in the peninsula. 

Common and beautiful: Blue-winged Kookaburra 

Non-bird image

Week's Key location(s)

Red Goshawk site

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 7930 km (this week 1450 km)

eBird Checklists this week

1372. 07 Sep 2024 4:13 PM Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park
1371. 07 Sep 2024 9:13 AM Mareeba Rodeo Grounds
1370. 06 Sep 2024 4:18 PM Mareeba Rodeo Grounds
1369. 06 Sep 2024 12:57 PM Barron Falls Railway Station and Walkway 
1368. 06 Sep 2024 8:30 AM Cairns Crystal Cascades Holiday Park
1367. 05 Sep 2024 10:51 AM Mowbray River Viewing Platform
1366. 05 Sep 2024 8:58 AM Rifle Creek rest area–Mount Molloy
1365. 04 Sep 2024 11:41 AM Peninsula Developmental Road, Laura (-15.498, 144.281)
1364. 03 Sep 2024 4:34 PM Peninsula Developmental Road, Laura (-15.498, 144.281)
1363. 03 Sep 2024 1:17 PM Lilyvale Road, Yarraden, Queensland, AU (-14.727, 143.639)
1362. 03 Sep 2024 6:56 AM Coen River Rest Area
1361. 02 Sep 2024 1:08 PM 25 Mile Lagoon, Peach Creek
1360. 02 Sep 2024 7:37 AM Loyalty Beach campground
1359. 01 Sep 2024 8:06 AM Loyalty Beach campground
Big Zigzag Birding

week 007 | Cape York, mainly Iron Range | trip list 215 – 242

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Taste of New Guinea at Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park and Pajinka - The Tip!

In an eggshell

  • Big Zigzag bird species count: 242 (+27 this week)
  • Big Zigzag bird families count: 72 (+2 this week: Boatbills, Frigatebirds)
  • Big Zigzag Lifers: 27 (+7 this week: Northern Scrub-Robin, Lovely Fairywren, Lesser Frigatebird, Frill-necked Monarch, Tropical Scrubwren, White-streaked Honeyeater, Graceful Honeyeater
  • Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 52 (+21 this week)
  • eBird days of checklist streak: 47
  • Week’s special milestones: Australia is now the nation with the most birds seen! (481)

Bird(s) of the week

Northern Scrub-Robin (Drymodes superciliaris) at Iron Range (Greenhoose trials). Easy to hear, not so to be photographed. Nice to cleanup all 3 Drymodes (Scrub-Robins) – Papuan in 2022, naturally at PNG and Southern seen in 2018 at Kalbbari, Western Australia.

Red-cheeked Parrot (Geoffroyus geoffroyi) seen only in flight near Cook Huts camping ground (Iron Range) – photo from PNG.

Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus) seen only in flight above Weipa shopping center. Photo from PNG

Non-bird image

Pajinka – The Tip

Jardine Ferry Crossing

Week's Key location(s)

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 6480 km (this week 1230 km)

eBird Checklists this week

1358. 31 Aug 2024 5:36 PM Loyalty Beach campground, Northern Peninsula Area
1357. 31 Aug 2024 11:37 AM The Tip of Cape York
1356. 31 Aug 2024 7:55 AM Old Telegraph Track, Jardine River, Queensland, AU (-11.446, 142.416)
1355. 30 Aug 20247:51 AM Weipa Caravan Park
1354. 29 Aug 2024 9:47 AM Weipa Caravan Park
1353. 28 Aug 2024 6:36 AM The GreenHoose, Cook
1352. 27 Aug 2024 3:31 PM The GreenHoose, Cook
1351. 27 Aug 2024 11:25 AM Portland Road, Iron Range, Queensland, AU (-12.709, 143.292)
1350. 26 Aug 2024 12:12 PM Portland Road, Iron Range, Queensland, AU (-12.709, 143.292)
1349. 25 Aug 2024 1:18 PM Archer River Roadhouse 
Big Zigzag Birding

week 006 | Tropical Wet QLD – Cape York | trip list 194 – 215

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Tablelands, Daintree, Cape York

In an eggshell

  • Big Zigzag bird species count: 215 (+21 this week)
  • Big Zigzag bird families count: 70 (+3 this week: Bustards, Stilts and Avocets and Australian endemic White-winged Chough and Apostlebird)
  • Big Zigzag Lifers: 20 (+2 this week: Little Kingfisher,Golden-shouldered Parrot )
  • Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 31 (+4 this week)
  • eBird days of checklist streak: 40
  • Week’s special milestones: Trip list is over 200 species; New personal eBird days of checklist streak record

Bird(s) of the week

Golden-shouldered Parrot (Psephotellus chrysopterygius), Endangered. At one of its last refuges – Artemis Homestay, Cape York.

Papuan Frogmouth (Podargus papuensis) at Julatten, Tablemountain land

Non-bird image

South Cape York

Week's Key location(s)

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 5250 km (this week 970 km)

eBird Checklists this week

 
Big Zigzag Birding

week 005 | Tropical Wet QLD | trip list 165 – 194 

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Mainly Atherton Tablelands, and Cairns

In an eggshell

  • Big Zigzag bird species count: 194 (+30 this week)
  • Big Zigzag bird families count: 67 (+5 this week)
  • Big Zigzag Lifers: 18 (+8 this week: Golden Bowerbird, Bridled Honeyeater, Atherton Scrubwren, Mountain Thornbill, Tooth-billed Bowerbird, Chowchilla, Fernwren, Rufous Owl)
  • Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 27 (+10 this week)
  • New “all spices seen family” – Logrunners (Orthonychidae) with Chowcilla this week (Papuan Logrunner seen in PNG 2022 & Australian Logrunner in 2013)
  • Week’s special milestone: My Australia’s list past in over 450 species

Bird(s) of the week

Rufous Owl (Ninox rufa) – just a walk in the park.. actually Les Davie Park (Cairns North).
We parked the motorhome today afternoon at McKenzi street, a short 50 meters northbound walk to the fig tree, and here it is roosting! But… yesterday we spent the whole afternoon, checking the trees without success, only after dusk we had a quick look at the female when she left the nesting hole. And this morning, nada as well. So, not a “walk in the park” 😊

Bridled Honeyeater (Bolemoreus frenatus), Mount Hypipamee National Park, Tablelands

Tooth-billed Bowerbird (Scenopoeetes dentirostris), Lake Barrine

Non-bird image

Week's Key location(s)

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 4280 km (this week 930 km)

eBird Checklists this week

Big Zigzag Birding

week 004 | Tropical Wet QLD | trip list 123 – 165

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Some fruitful traditional sites along Queensland shore

In an eggshell

  • Big Zigzag bird species count: 164 (+42 this week)
  • Big Zigzag bird families count: 62 (+11 this week)
  • Big Zigzag Lifers: 10 (+5 this week: Glossy Black-Cockatoo, Eungella Honeyeater, White-browed Crake, Little Bronze-Cuckoo, White-browed Robin)
  • Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 17 (+9 this week)
  • Week’s special milestone: My 4500 lifer!

Bird(s) of the week

Glossy Black-Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami), Vulnerable, finally ticked at Mount Archer National Park, QLD, Australia after 3 fails last weeks at Greenmount Ct, Mt Samson (roadside birding), and no success as well on 2013. Member of family #106 Cockatoos (Cacatuidae).

Eungella Honeyeater (Bolemoreus hindwoodi), seen obviously in Eungella National Park, classified as Near Threatened, with limit range on higher elevations behind Mackay in central Queensland.
7th lifer on Big Zigzag, member of Honeyeaters (Meliphagidae), #132 on Bird Families of the World.

Two white browed birds bring me to lifer #4500 and 10th lifer on the Big Zigzag: On this photo, White-browed Crake (Poliolimnas cinereus), member of Rails, Gallinules, and Coots (Rallidae), #032 on Bird Families of the World, and White-browed Robin (waiting for better photographing opportunity).
Both from Tyto Wetlands, Ingham

Little Bronze-Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx minutillus), wasn’t one of the targets in Tyto Wetlands, but I was expecting it while heading north along Queensland shore. A welcome lifer #9 of the Big Zigzag.
Member of Cuckoos (Cuculidae), #021 on Bird Families of the World.

Non-bird image

Pioneer Valley, from Sky Window Lookout, Eungulla National Park 

Week's Key location(s)

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 3350 km (this week 1480 km)

eBird Checklists this week

  • 1314. 10 Aug 2024 253 Wallaman Falls Road, Lannercost, Queensland, AU (-18.631, 146.007)
    Hinchinbrook
  • 1313. 10 Aug 2024 Tyto Wetlands (Ingham) Hinchinbrook
  • 1312. 09 Aug 2024 Tyto Wetlands (Ingham) Hinchinbrook
  • 1311. 09 Aug 2024 Bushland Beach Townsville
  • 1310. 09 Aug 2024 Bowling Green Bay National Park–Alligator Creek Campground, Townsville
  • 1309. 09 Aug 2024 Home Hill, Burdekin
  • 1308.  08 Aug 2024 Bowen Golf Club, Whitsunday
  •  1307. 08 Aug 2024 Airlie Beach, Whitsunday
  • 1306. 08 Aug 2024 60 Yakapari Seaforth Road, The Leap, Queensland, AU (-21.064, 149.011), Mackay 
  • 1305. 08 Aug 2024 The Leap, Mackay
  • 1304. 07 Aug 2024 Eungella National Park–Diggings Rd, Mackay 
  • 1303. 07 Aug 2024 Eungella National Park–Diggings Rd, Mackay
  • 1302. 07 Aug 2024 1 Dalrymple Street, Pinnacle, Queensland, AU (-21.147, 148.714) ,Mackay 
  • 1301. 06 Aug 2024 Flaggy Rock, Isaac
  • 1300. 05 Aug 2024 Milman Road, Milman, Queensland, AU (-23.138, 150.408), Rockhampton
  • 1299. 05 Aug 2024 Rockhampton
  • 1298. 05 Aug 2024 Mount Archer National Park. Rockhampton
  • 1297. 05 Aug 2024 Thangool, Banana
  • 1296. 04 Aug 2024 Cania Gorge Caravan and Tourist Park, North Burnett
     
     
Big Zigzag Birding

week 003 | SE QLD | trip list 103 – 123

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Starting actually heading north!

In an eggshell

  • Big Zigzag bird species count: 123 (+10 this week)
  • Big Zigzag bird families count: 51 (+6 this week)
  • Big Zigzag Lifers: 5 (+1 this week: Ground Parrot)
  • Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 8 (+1 this week)

Bird of the week

White-cheeked Honeyeater, was the most common bird at Great Sandy National Park — Teewah Pump Station Road. The target, Ground Parrot was achieved, but was to quick to be photographed.

Sleeping sites:

  • Cruice Park, Woodford
  • Six miles Creek 
  • Dunethin Rock
  • M.V Sarawak (Inskip)
  • Childers
  • Conia Gorge

Non-bird image

Week's Key Location

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 1870 km (this week 1025 km)

eBird Checklists this week

  • 1293. 03 Aug 2024 Cania Gorge Caravan and Tourist Park 
  • 1292. 03 Aug 2024 Cania Gorge National Park
  • 1291. 03 Aug 2024 Cedars Road, South Kolan, Queensland, AU (-24.973, 152.185)
  • 1290. 02 Aug 2024 Maryborough, Fraser Coast
  • 1289. 02 Aug 2024 Inskip Point Road, Inskip, Queensland, AU (-25.81, 153.051)
  • 1288. 01 Aug 2024 Great Sandy National Park–Teewah Pump Station Rd at -26.04694, 153.03806
  • 1287. 01 Aug 2024 Inskip Point Road, Inskip, Queensland, AU (-25.81, 153.051)
  • 1286. 01 Aug 2024 Gympie – Six Mile Rest Area
     
  • 1285. 31 Jul 2024 Noosa National Park
  • 1284. 31 Jul 2024 Coolum Experimental Farm Wetlands 
  • 1283. 31 Jul 2024 Dunethin Rock 
  • 1282. 31 Jul 2024 Dunethin Rock
  • 1281. 30 Jul 2024 Dunethin Rock 
  • 1280. 30 Jul 2024 Gerrards Lookout (Montville)
  • 1279. 29 Jul 2024 Glass House Mountains National Park–Mt Tibrogargan
  • 1278. 29 Jul 2024 Cruice Park, Woodford 
  • 1277. 28 Jul 2024 Lake Samsonvale–Golds Scrub Lane (some areas restricted access)
  • 1276. 28 Jul 2024 Greenmount Ct, Mt Samson (roadside birding)
  • 1275. 28 Jul 2024 Dayboro Showgriunds
     
Big Zigzag Birding

week 002 | SE QLD | trip list 039 – 103

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Lamington, still some setups and Dayboro

In an eggshell
  • Big Zigzag bird species count: 103 (+64 this week)
  • Big Zigzag bird families count: 44 (+11 this week)
  • Big Zigzag Lifers: 4 (+2 this week: Albert’s Lyrebird & White-throated Gerygone)
  • Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 7 (+5 this week)
  • New Bird Family for Australia: Cisticolidae (Cisticolas and Allies)
  • New “all spices seen family” – Lyrebirds (Menuridae) with Albert’s Lyrebird this week (Superb Lyrebird seen already in 2013). This is also the second “all seen Australian endemic”. The first White-winged Chough and Apostlebird (Corcoracidae) completed in 2018.
  • Week’s special milestone: Australia is now second in my nations list with 434 species passing Brazil (432)

Bird of the week

White-throated Gerygone, Nindooinbah Dam, QLD

3 Days in Lamington Park, success with Albert’s Lyrebird (seen once crossing the road at dusk, second time in the forest near the boardwalk). Other target without success – Paradise Riflebird (heard only, seen by others shortly on that time. Back to Explorer Motorhome at Clontarf for some issues to be fixed. One more day around Dayboro with Tom Tarrant (Thanks Tom!).

Sleeping sites:

  • O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat campground
  • Canungra
  • Pelican Park Redcliff
  • Dayboto Showgrounds 
 

Non-bird image

Some other birds:

Australian Logrunner at 1/60 speed, 8000 ISO. Typical Lamington trails photo at the darkness of the rainforest.

Australian Brushturkey, Typical O’Reilly gardens photo

Week's Key Location

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 845 km (this week 505 km)

eBird Checklists this week

Big Zigzag Birding

week 001 | SE QLD | trip list 000 – 039

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RV Handover, setup, first birds of new adventure

In an Eggshell

  • Big Zigzag bird species count: 39 (+39 this week)
  • Big Zigzag bird families count: 23 (+23 this week)
  • Big Zigzag Lifers: 2 (+2 this week: White-eared Monarch & Russet-tailed Thrush)
  • Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 2 (+2 this week)

Bird of the week

White-eared Monarch, Dayboro, QLD – first Big Zigzag lifer

New adventure commenced – 3 years of the planning stage done – the Big Zigzag Birding is starting! 

First days back in Australia, still tiered from the long flight and jetlag,  “Plains-wanderer”, our new home on wheels handed over to us at Explorer Motorhome factory in Redcliffe, Queensland. 

Three pre-motorhome nights at Baringa B&B, walking distance from the factory and Kippa-Ring mall.

Other sleeping sites this week:

  • Wescloude Lodge Fare Stay
  • Dayboro Showgrounds
  • Tully Memorial Park

 

 

Non-bird image

“Plains-wanderer”

Week's Key location

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 340 km (this week 340)

eBird Checklists this week