This short recording was made at the Kingfisher Park Birdwatcher lodge near Julatten, in Northern Queensland. The Lodge has as it's backyard a small patch of remnant rainforest which is an oasis in the midst of the surrounding cattle and sugar cane. About a minute in a small flock of Channel-billed Cuckoo's fly overhead. The other bird which features here is the Spotted Cat Bird, the origin of the rather unusual name will be immediately apparent!

Recorded using Tascam HDP2 and a stereo pair of AT3032 omni mics.

Abattoir Swamp

Abattoir Swamp is located on the Mossman - Mt Molloy Rd a few Kms north of Mt Molloy. There is a boardwalk which leads through a swamp, surrounded by Melaleucas, to a birdhide.

We arrived at Abattoir Swamp and took a walk to the birdhide, there were few birds visible. We could hear a Leaden Flycatcher calling outside of the hide and went to investigate. Once outside other birds became visible, a Red-backed Fairywren in tall grass in the distance, Red-browed Finch and Chestnut-breasted Mannikins flew across the path. There was a number of honeyeaters and a Spotted Pardalote was calling. Some Red-winged Parrots flew in for a close inspection and a Little-Bronze Cuckoo was perched high in a tree. Back in the carpark was a Lemon Bellied Flycatcher.

This made a nice change from birding in the forest.

Abattoir Swamp Trip List

We decided to make the most of a rainy day and went for a drive to Cape Tribulation. No Cassowaries were seen unfortunately, but we took a walk along the Jindalba Boardwalk in the afternoon during a gap in the rain.

The Jindalba Boardwalk is a short circuit through an area of lowland rainforest. The walk is located on the Daintree/Cape Tribulation Road, midway between the Cape Kimberley and Cow Bay Roads. There were many tourists and tour groups in the area when we arrived mid afternoon however by the time we got back to the car park most of these had cleared out, so it might be possible to have a very quiet walk if you go early or late in the afternoon, and it might be possible to see one of the Cassowaries I have read may be in the area.

Jindalba BoardwalkFew birds were seen along the boardwalk which was not surprising as it was raining lightly and there were quite a few people, although we could hear birds in the canopy and saw a Musky Rat Kangaroo foraging on the floor of the forest. We took a small pathway that lead off from the side of the start of the walk where it was much quieter and spotted a Pied Monarch and a Pale-Yellow Robin. The pathway became vague, we were afraid of getting lost so we returned to the car park. In the car park the rain had stopped and the sun came out briefly, almost immediately birds became active and we spotted a Wompoo Fruit Dove and Brown-cuckoo Dove in the canopy, there was also a Yellow-spotted Honeyeater and Spangled Drongo.

We only managed a short but nice bird list, as with most of the short walks in the area it would be better to visit early or later in the afternoon.

We went to Yorkey's Knob specifically to see a Green Pygmy Goose which is said to be often seen in the lagoon located in the Half Moon Bay Golf Club.

Yorkey's Knob is 15 minutes drive north of Cairns, the Golf Club is situated on Wattle Street. The lagoon can easily be seen from the side of the road just past the golf club entrance.

As it was the wet season and few water birds were around we didn't hold out much hope. We approached the lagoon and could see a couple birds on the water, as we got closer we could see three Green Pygmy Geese. The only other birds on the water were a few Pacific Black Duck and a Darter. Other birds were seen in the trees bordering the road, Rainbow Beeeaters and honeyeaters and a Dollarbird on the power line. Across the road in a small patch of trees was a Yellow Oriole.

Trip List

The Mangrove Boardwalk can be accessed from the road to Cairns Airport. There are two boardwalks through the mangroves both with viewing towers. During our visit only the Northern Boardwalk was open and the viewing tower on the walk was closed for repairs, however we were grateful for the boardwalk which enabled us to see this otherwise inaccessible area. The muddy ground was alive with mud skippers, whelks and crabs but the birdlife was very quiet. We could hear birds calling from above the canopy and wished the tower was open to give us a chance at seeing them.

Mangrove Boardwalk

The boardwalk took us out to Saltwater Creek where we stopped a while. A flash of blue whizzed past while we were peering down the creek and perched on a tree on the edge of water, it was a Little Kingfisher, as we watched it some Helmeted Friarbirds flew through. We also heard a gerygone calling and on our way back to the car we saw a Sunbird. They were the only birds for the walk, however it was worth it for the Little Kingfisher alone.