Australian Good Birding Guide: Northern Queensland. Ted Wnorowski

and Superb Fruit-Dove.

      The star attraction of the site is Pale-vented Bush-hen. The first place to look for them is around the bottom dam. They also live near the creek where they breed and can regularly be found with small chicks. The bottom dam is also good for Buff-banded Rail, Lewin’s Rail (rare), White-necked Heron, Plumed Whistling-Duck and Wandering Whistling-Duck. Oriental Dollarbirds often hunt over the dam.

      The top dam is a favourite bathing and drinking place for many birds. Look for Spectacled Monarch, White-eared Monarch, Brown-capped Emerald-Dove, Grey Fantail, White-winged Triller and Little Shrike-thrush.

      Brolgas visit the wetlands occasionally. White-throated Nightjars van be observed at dusk hunting over the dams.

      Nocturnal birds are also a feature of this site. Look for Southern Boobook and Barking Owl. Bush Stone-curlews breed on the property; their favourite hangouts are the recent burnout spots. The farm management includes regular localised backburns to prevent major bushfires. During the burns, resident Barn Owls come during the day to hunt rats and mice escaping from the fire. Tawny Frogmouths often nest in the tree at the back door of the house.

      Grevilleas and bottlebrushes planted on the property are a magnet for honeyeaters such as Bar-breasted Honeyeater, Dusky Honeyeater, Yellow Honeyeater and Blue-faced Honeyeater. Three species of friarbirds (Helmeted, Little and Noisy Friarbird) can be seen feeding together.

Kinchant Dam

      This large storage dam, nestled among the hills covered with dry eucalypt forest, is located about 40km west of Mackay. To get there, from Bruce Hwy(A1) in Mackay take Peak Downs Hwy (70) and drive to Eton. Turn right into Victoria St which will soon change name to Marian-Eton Rd (5). After 4km turn sharp right to continue on Marian-Eton Rd. Next, turn west into Kinchant Dam Rd which will take you to the recreational area at the dam. Site facilities include shelters, picnic tables and toilets around the dam and a café in the caravan park.

      About 160 bird species have been recorded around Kinchant Dam. Key species are Great Crested Grebe, Cotton Pygmy-goose, Green Pygmy-goose, Brolga and Squatter Pigeon. Other birds of interest include Magpie Goose, Nankeen Night-Heron, Radjah Shelduck, White-winged Triller, Yellow-throated Miner and Forest Kingfisher. Rarities include White-backed Swallow, King Quail, Black-tailed Native-hen, Australian Bustard, Black Falcon and Square-tailed Kite.

      Green Pygmy-goose

      On the hilly access road to the lake, we came across three Squatter Pigeons squatting on the roadside. Forest Kingfisher, Yellow-faced Honeyeater and Little Friarbird were in the bush. In trees at the picnic area near the dam wall, we saw a small flock of Yellow-throated Miners as well as Scaly-breasted Lorikeets, White-breasted Woodswallows, Sacred Kingfisher and Olive-backed Oriole.

      The best birding spot proved to be for us the area of shallow water covered with water lilies and bulrushes opposite the Kinchant Waters Caravan Park. Aquatic vegetation was teeming with waterbirds, many with babies in tow. Proud Comb-crested Jacana fathers were carrying their chicks under the wings, with their long-toed feet dangling out. Ducklings of Wandering Whistling-Ducks and Cotton Pygmy-geese were paddling in rows behind their parents. A Great Crested Grebe was dozing on the water with two chicks on its back. Strangely enough, a Muscovy Duck was taking care of two own chicks and four Whistling-Duck ducklings, apparently adopted.

      There were also plenty of Magpie Geese, Plumed Egrets, Great Egrets, Hardheads and a couple White-necked Herons. Pied Stilts were nesting on small elevated patches of land surrounded by shallow water. Other waders in the area included Marsh Sandpiper, Latham’s Snipe and Black-fronted Dotterel. A family of Brolgas foraged on the other side of the bay.

      One of the small trees in the caravan park is a regular roost of Nankeen Night-Herons. We observed Torresian Imperial-Pigeon feeding in a palm tree. An Olive-backed Oriole’s nest was hanging nearby. A resident pair of Bush Stone-curlews is easy to find on the grounds.

      We investigated a farm road leading south away from the carpark. A King Quail crossed the road and Pheasant Coucals roosted low in the roadside bushes. In the grass, we found Tawny Grassbird, Brown Quail, Australasian Pipit, Golden-headed Cisticola and Chestnut-breasted Mannikin.

      This area is good for raptors. Large groups of Black Kites were flying over the dam wall. We also saw Wedge-tailed Eagle, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Nankeen Kestrel, Brown Falcon and Australian Hobby.

Eungella Plateau

      The plateau sits on top of an isolated mountain range and is towering 800m over the Pioneer Valley. It is covered by lush rainforest and surrounded by the sea of dry eucalypt forest. This is the place where subtropical and tropical rainforest meet so several species occur here at their northernmost or southernmost range limits. The majority of the plateau lies within the Eungella National Park. You will also find here the charming Eungella township, Eungella Dam and several state forests.

      Eungella National Park protects many unusual plants and animals. Notably, Eungella Honeyeater is not found anywhere else in the world.

      The site is located 80km west of Mackay. To get there, from Bruce Hwy (A1) in Mackay turn west into Peak Downs Hwy (70) and later take Mackay-Eungella Rd (64) which will lead you to the Eungella township. If you are approaching from the north, from Bruce Hwy (A1) 90km south of Proserpine take Marian-Hampden Rd (5) and in Marian take a right turn into Mackay-Eungella Rd.

      The last 5km before Eungella is hair-raising although the road is sealed all way up. You’ll have to take viciously steep hairpin bends head-on. The most famous one was named by the locals the Devil’s Elbow. We happened to be driving on that road one morning in dense fog which strongly amplified our experience. On the Devil’s Elbow we saw a non-articulated truck with a long tray which did not make the bend and was backing down all the way over the sharp bends. If you think you had enough emotions for the day driving uphill, wait until you are descending back to Finch Hatton on the same road.

      A range of accommodation is available in Eungella, Finch Hatton and Broken River. There is only one camping area in the National Park, called Fern Flat, located on the banks of Broken River. A good picnic area with toilets, picnic tables and barbecues, is located nearby. Several short tracks start from there. You may also camp on the banks of Eungella Dam, 24km from Eungella. There is also a 20km walking track, many lookouts and waterfalls on the plateau. A map of short walking tracks can be downloaded here: https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0030/167538/mackaygw-shortwalks-map.pdf.

      Over 180 species are on the Eungella Plateau’s birdlist. Key species are Eungella Honeyeater, Squatter Pigeon, Australian Swiftlet, Barred Cuckoo-shrike and Red-backed Button-quail. Other birds of interest include Regent Bowerbird, Superb Fruit-Dove, Torresian Imperial-Pigeon, Wompoo Fruit-Dove, Topknot Pigeon, Noisy Pitta, White-eared Monarch, Azure Kingfisher and Grey Goshawk. Rarities include Sooty Owl, Barking Owl, Pale-vented Bush-hen, Buff-breasted Paradise-Kingfisher, Satin Flycatcher, Peregrine Falcon and Little Eagle. There is also a good chance to find the platypus.

      The site is all about the locally endemic Eungella Honeyeater. This bird is a close relative of Bridled Honeyeater and was only recognised as a separate species in 1983. It is only found Eungella Plateau and birdwatchers from all over the world flock here to see it. It can be found in a dense rainforest with plenty of climbers. Look for them in the flowering pandanus vine, this is their favourite food. When the vines stop flowering, honeyeaters are forced to source food over a wider area (mostly looking for lerp) and then it is much more difficult to find them. There are a few good spots to find them, all in the rainforest on the western border of the National Park. These include Chelmans Rd, Snake Rd, the first few kilometres of Diggings Rd and the Broken River picnic area and surrounds.

Chelmans Road