Steve Happ Photography Ramblings and dissertations

Western Downs Queensland

Redbank Reserve is somewhere in the central west of Queensland. I have forgotten exactly where it was now. It was so long ago. After that I kept going south. It had been raining for days and this morning was the first chance that I had got to take the camera for a walk. So here I am at Wandoan, wandering around the Waterloo Plain Environmental Park.

Diamond Dove (Geopelia cuneata)

Striped Honeyeater (Plectorhyncha lanceolata)

Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater (Acanthagenys rufogularis)

Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos)

Mistletoebird (Dicaeum hiruninaceum)

Central Queensland bird list

Diamond Dove (Geopelia cuneata)
Peaceful Dove
Bar-shouldered Dove
Grey Shrike-thrush (Colluricincla harmonica)
Noisy Friarbird
Little Friarbird
White-plumed Honeyeater
Brown Honeyeater
Striped Honeyeater (Plectorhyncha lanceolata)
Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater (Acanthagenys rufogularis)
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
Pied Butcherbird
Spotted Bowerbird
Galah
Magpie-lark
Australian Magpie
Mistletoebird
Weebill
Yellow Thornbill (Acanthiza nana modesta)
Little Pied Cormorant
Australian Pelican
Australian White Ibis
Australasian Grebe
Hardhead (Aythya australis)
Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa)
Grey Teal (Anas gracilis)
Dusky Moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa)

qld190710

Central Western Queensland.

I left Muttaburra in the afternoon and drove to Aramac, about eighty kilometers east of Muttaburra. It is a small village with a shop and a camping area. I found a nice camp site near Aramac Creek at the 5 Emus Camp Site. I wandered around in the afternoon and saw a few birds and in the morning walked along the creek and back again. The Aramac Creek Rail Bridge was first built in 1913 by the Aramac Shire Council. The bridge is all that remains of the original rail line between Aramac and Barcaldine. Here are my bird photos.

Plum-headed Finch (Neochmia modesta)

Red-tailed Black-cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii )

Pale-headed Rosella (Platycercus adscitus )

Diamond Dove (Geopelia cuneata)

Black Kite (Milvus migrans)

White-breasted Woodswallow (Artamus leucorhynchus)

Fairy Martin (Petrochelidon ariel)

Aramac bird list

Plum-headed Finch (Neochmia modesta)
Zebra Finch
Red-backed Fairy-wren
White-winged Triller (Lalage tricolor)
Fairy Martin (Petrochelidon ariel)
Red-tailed Black-cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii )
Red-winged Parrot (Aprosmictus erythropterus)
Pale-headed Rosella (Platycercus adscitus )
Crested Pigeon
Peaceful Dove
Diamond Dove (Geopelia cuneata)
White-faced Heron
Yellow-billed Spoonbill (Platalea flavipes)
Australian White Ibis (Threskiornis molucca)
Straw-necked Ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis)
Black-fronted Dotterel
Mistletoebird
Apostlebird
White-breasted Woodswallow (Artamus leucorhynchus)
White-plumed Honeyeater
Little Friarbird
Black Kite (Milvus migrans)

qld190702

Winton to Muttaburra Bird Watching

After Hughenden, I headed south to Winton where I spent the night at Mistake Creek, just out of town. There was a film festival at Winton so I went and saw Outlaws, starring Tom Hardy. After doing some internet stuff, I headed east towards Longreach and then went north again along a dirt road to Muttaburra.

Hardhead ( Aythya australis) and Grey Teal

In the morning I had a look at the Winton Sewerage Works. There were a few ducks around but not much.

Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus)

I camped the night at Union Hole where striking shearers carted their water from Union Hole with a horse and dray in 1891. At Union Camp approximately 400 striking shearers camped here in March 1891. The remains of the main camp oven can still be seen along with other relics.

Spotted Bowerbird (Chlamydera maculata)

Diamond Dove (Geopelia cuneata)

Rufous-throated Honeyeater (Conopophila rufogularis)

Fairy Martin (Petrochelidon ariel)

adult corvid

Not sure which one. Too hard to tell maybe.

Central West Queensland bird list

Australian Magpie
White-plumed Honeyeater (Ptilotula pencillata)
Zebra Finch
Australian Reed-Warbler
Australasian Grebe
Australian Swamphen
Grey Teal
Pacific Black Duck
Hardhead
Eurasian Coot
Black Kite
White-headed Stilt
Singing Honeyeater
Pied Butcherbird
White-necked Heron (Ardea pacifica)
Crested Pigeon
Peaceful Dove
Diamond Dove
Black-fronted Dotterel
Willie Wagtail
Restless Flycatcher
Sacred Kingfisher
Galah
Spotted Bowerbird
Fairy Martin
Rufous-throated Honeyeater

qld190701

Central Northern Queensland 1.

I headed south from the Atherton Tablelands. Just past Mount Garnet, I turned left onto the Kennedy Development Road. The first night I camped at the turnoff to the Valley of Lagoons. A lovely name but I had no idea what that was all about. The next day I found Moonstone Hill, where I dried out all my bed stuff. In the afternoon I walked down to some wetlands/swamp. There were a few herons and ibis hanging out but nothing special. So I carried on and found a camp near a water-hole at Lake Louisa. The next day I stopped off at Porcupine Gorge National Park and was rewarded with some photos of a Squatter Pigeon.

Squatter Pigeon (Geophaps scripta scripta)

White-necked Heron

Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala)

Having a bath in a dam.

Red-winged Parrot (Aprosmictus erythropterus)

Pale-headed Rosella ( Platycercus adscitus palliceps )

Sunset pouring through the dust

After a road train came past.

Kennedy Development Road bird list

Squatter Pigeon (Geophaps scripta scripta)
White-necked Heron
White-faced Heron
Yellow-billed Spoonbill
Straw-necked Ibis
Pied Butcherbird
Rainbow Lorikeet
Red-winged Parrot (Aprosmictus erythropterus)
Pale-headed Rosella ( Platycercus adscitus palliceps )
Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala)
Yellow-throated Miner (Manorina flavigula)
Noisy Friarbird (Philemon corniculatus)

qld190627

Mount Molloy 2

In the afternoon, I headed back south to Lake Mitchell to have a look for some finches. I did not find any other than Double-barred Finches. Hmm , as a matter of fact I did not see much at all. Once more and big DOH!! After that I went up the road to the Big Mitchell River but saw absolutely nothing. There was plenty of grass but no finches. In the morning I went once again to the Rifle Creek Rest Area just north of Mount Molloy. More rainforest birds and a severe lack of light.

Double-barred Finch ( Taeniopygia bechinovii )

Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis)

Scarlet Honeyeater (Myzomela sanguinolenta)

It probably should be called Scarlet Myzomela.

Magpie Goose (Anseranas semipalmata)

Little Shrike-thrush (Colluricincla megarhyncha)

Spectacled Monarch (Symposiachrus trivirgatus)

Mount Molloy Bird List

Red-backed Fairy-wren (Malurus melanocephalus)
Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis)
Magpie Goose (Anseranas semipalmata)
Blue-faced Honeyeater
Brown Honeyeater
Scarlet Honeyeater (Myzomela sanguinolenta)
Forest Kingfisher
Double-barred Finch ( Taeniopygia bechinovii )
Willie Wagtail
White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike
Laughing Kookaburra
Little Shrike-thrush (Colluricincla megarhyncha)
Spectacled Monarch (Symposiachrus trivirgatus)
Australian Brush-turkey

qld190624

Mount Molloy

After Mareeba, I headed north to Mount Molloy. In the morning I went along the track towards town at Rifle Creek Rest Area. There were a few birds but not many. Inside the rainforest sections, it was a nightmare trying to get decent photos as the light was abysmal. You really need specialized gear for rainforest photography. arghhh!!! Later in the morning I headed towards Julatten and stopped off at Abattoir Swamp for a while.

Wompoo Fruit-dove (Ptilinopus magnificus)

Lovely Fairy-wren (Malurus amabilis)

A really terrible photo but it is all I got. doh!

Little Shrike-thrush (Colluricincla megarhyncha)

Spotted Catbird (Ailuroedus melanotis)

Spectacled Monarch (Symposiachrus trivirgatus) – adult

The adult Spectacled Monarch has a black mask extending past the eyes and a black bib under the bill.

Spectacled Monarch (Symposiachrus trivirgatus) – juvenile

The juvenile Spectacled Monarch has no black on the face, only a white stripe.

Rainbow Lorikeet (Triglossus moluccanus)

A rare shot of a Rainbow Lorikeet showing the underneath feathers and the colours.

Northern Fantail ( Rhipidura rufiventris )

Dusky Honeyeater (Myzomela obscura harterti)

Mount Molloy bird list

Lovely Fairy-wren (Malurus amabilis)
Wompoo Fruit-dove (Ptilinopus magnificus)
Little Shrike-thrush (Colluricincla megarhyncha)
Northern Fantail ( Rhipidura rufiventris )
Spotted Catbird (Ailuroedus melanotis)
4494 Bowers ST ?
Olive-backed Sunbird
Dusky Honeyeater (Myzomela obscura harterti)
Spectacled Monarch (Symposiachrus trivirgatus)
Brown Goshawk
Laughing Kookaburra
Rainbow Lorikeet
Scaly-breasted Lorikeet
Spangled Drongo
Lewins Honeyeater
Brown Honeyeater
Dusky Honeyeater
Bar-shouldered Dove
Peaceful Dove

qld190623

Atherton Tablelands

From Normanton, I kept headed east past the 40 Mile Scrub, Mount Surprise and Archers Creek where I stopped for a few nights rest by a relaxing babbling brook. Heading off again I stopped for a few days at Ravenshoe at the Railway Caraven Park right in the middle of town, which was a big change for me. I could even walk to the supermarket. When I got to Atherton, I had a look at Hasties Swamp National Park – Nyleta Wetland. There must have been more than five thousand Plumed Whistling-ducks there. Not much else though. Then off to the Bonadia RV Park just out of Atherton Town. There is an amazing scrap of rainforest on the edge of the park that is truly amazing. In the morning I got heaps of birds. Just look.

Pale-yellow Robin (Tregellasia capito nana)

Bower’s Shrikethrush (Colluricincla boweri)

Brown Gerygone (Gerygone mouki mouki)

Spectacled Monarch (Symposiachrus trivirgatus)

Spotted Catbird (Ailuroedus melanotis)

Freckled Duck (Stictonetta naevosa)

Wake up!

Chestnut-breasted Mannikin (Lonchura castaneothorax)

White-throated Treecreeper (Cormobates leucophaea)

Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris)

Lewin’s Honeyeater (Meliphaga lewinii )

Doh! I was hoping for a Graceful Honeyeater. 🙁

Atherton Tablelands bird list

Freckled Duck (Stictonetta naevosa)
Pale-yellow Robin (Tregellasia capito nana)
Spectacled Monarch (Symposiachrus trivirgatus)
Spotted Catbird (Ailuroedus melanotis)
Brown Gerygone (Gerygone mouki mouki)
Chestnut-breasted Mannikin (Lonchura castaneothorax)
Bower’s Shrikethrush (Colluricincla boweri)
Olive-backed Oriole
Willie Wagtail
House Sparrow
Muscovy Duck
Australian Brushturkey
Comb-crested Jacana
Pacific Black Duck
Rainbow Lorikeet
Scaly-breasted Lorikeet
Australasian Swamphen
Plumed Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna eytoni)
Eastern Whipbird
Helmeted Guineafowl
Scarlet Honeyeater (Myzomela sanguinolenta)
White-throated Treecreeper (Cormobates leucophaea)
Red-browed Finch (Neochmia temporalis)
Mistletoebird
Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis vegetus)
Bar-shouldered Dove
Golden-Headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis)
Lewin’s Honeyeater (Meliphaga lewinii )

qld190621

Croydon Birding

I left Normanton and drove more than one hundred kilometers until I found Green Creek. I decided to camp there for the night. There were not many birds about. In the morning I carried on towards Croydon and stopped at Belmore Creek, where there was a bit more activity, plus the remains of an old gold mine. I climbed up the tailings heap. Full of cyanide. doh!

White-throated Gerygone (Gerygone olivacea)

Pale-headed Rosella (Platycercus adscitus)

Pale-headed Rosella (Platycercus adscitus)

Yellow Honeyeater (Stomiopera flava)

White-throated Honeyeater (Melithreptus albugularis)

Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus)

A Rainbow Bee-eater eating an actual bee. Amazing.

Croydon bird list

White-throated Gerygone (Gerygone olivacea)
Pale-headed Rosella (Platycercus adscitus)
Brown Honeyeater
Little Friarbird
White-throated Honeyeater (Melithreptus albugularis)
Yellow Honeyeater (Stomiopera flava)
Weebill
Double-barred Finch
White-faced Heron
Great Egret
Magpie-lark
Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus)

qld190615

Normanton Birding

After I got to Normanton, I went straight to Bottom Dam where there were a heap of Magpie Goose, Brolga and many other water-birds. In the afternoon I headed north to Corduroy Creek and the Mutton Hole Wetlands. There were so many Brolga about. Hundreds all over the place.

Yellow Honeyeater (Stomiopera flava)

This honeyeater sure is yellow.

Australian Pipit

I could swear this was a proper wagtail by the way that it was bobbing its tail up and down vertically. Definitely not like the face Willie “Wagtail”. Edit: Sucked in, it was not a wagtail but a pipit. doh!

Sarus Crane (Grus antigone)

I did not realize I had any photos of the Sarus Crane, but I saw that they were in this region, so luckily I paid attention when sorting my photos and sure enough I had a few photos. doh! I have last seen these in Bharatpur, India.

Sarus Crane (Grus antigone) in flight

Brolga (Grus rubicunda)

There are so many of these around in the lagoons and dams around Normanton. This is the place to come and see them very easily.

Magpie Goose and Plumed Whistling-Ducks

Plumed Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna eytoni) and Magpie Goose (Anseranas semipalmata) .

Gull-billed Tern

I am not sure if this is macrotarsus sub-species or a full species. Edit
Australian Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon macrotarsa)

Great Bowerbird (Chlamydera nuchalis)

Normanton bird list

Yellow Honeyeater (Stomiopera flava)
Australian Pipit
Sarus Crane (Grus antigone)
Brolga (Grus rubicunda)
Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa) ???
Straw-necked Ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis)
Brown Falcon (Falco berigora)
Apostlebird
Magpie Goose (Anseranas semipalmata)
Bar-shouldered Dove
Peaceful Dove
Blue-faced Honeyeater
Magpie-lark
Black-fronted Dotterel
White-headed Stilt (Himantopus leucocephalus)
Pacific Black Duck
Plumed Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna eytoni)
Double-barred Finch
Zebra Finch
Black-fronted Dotterel
Black-faced Woodswallow
Weebill
Paperbark Flycatcher
Great Bowerbird
Little Corella
Australasian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae)
Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus)

qld190614

Far North Queensland

I took off for Normanton from Cloncurry late in the afternoon. I found a camp for the night and then in the morning went searching along some fence lines for birds. That was before the Burke and Wills Roadhouse. After the roadhouse I stopped at the Flinders River. There was plenty of water in the river but very few birds. I was very disappointed in this spot. I made it to Normanton after a few days and set off for the Botton Dam where there was a bunch of waterbirds, mainly Magpie Goose.

Red-backed Fairywren (Malurus melanocephalus)

Purple-backed Fairywren (Malurus assimilis)

Really bad photo but best one i got.

Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata)

Jacky Winter ( Microeca fascinans)

Behind a wall of grass. Very artistic. ha ha.

Black-faced Woodswallow (Artamus cinereus)

Rufous Whistler (Pachycephala rufiventris pallida)

Magpie Goose (Anseranas semipalmata)

Big mob of Magpie Goose at the Bottom Dam, Normanton.

Far North Queensland bird list

Red-backed Fairywren (Malurus melanocephalus)
Purple-backed Fairywren (Malurus assimilis)
Yellow-tinted Honeyeater (Ptilotula flavescens)
Black-faced Woodswallow (Artamus cinereus)
Pied Butcherbird
Red-backed Kingfisher (Todiramphus pyrrhopygius)
Budgerigar
Paperbark Flycatcher
Pheasant Coucal
Jacky Winter
Whistling Kite
Black Kite
Striated Pardalote
Rufous Whistler (Pachycephala rufiventris pallida)
Bar-shouldered Dove
Peaceful Dove
Blue-faced Honeyeater
Magpie-lark
Black-fronted Dotterel
Radjah Shelduck (Tadornus rajah)
White-headed Stilt (Himantopus leucocephalus)
Brolga
Magpie Goose
Yellow-billed Spoonbill
Royal Spoonbill
Australian Pelican
Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus)
Straw-necked Ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis)
Australian Darter
Little Black Cormorant
Little Pied Cormorant
Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata)

qld190613