Australian Good Birding Guide: Northern Queensland. Ted Wnorowski

Village

      On the sandflats, look for Lesser Sand Plover, Greater Sand Plover, Great Knot and Grey-tailed Tattler among the common waders.

      Besides Bush Stone-curlews, common birds in the village include Radjah Shelduck, Plumed Whistling-Duck, Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Helmeted Friarbird, Rainbow Bee-eater and Channel-billed Cuckoo. Be on the lookout for Greater Bowerbirds in local gardens. A small flock of Long-billed Corellas can be spotted with Little Corellas in the parkland areas. Three friarbird species are common in the village: Helmeted, Noisy and Little Friarbird. Other birds in Seaforth include Yellow Honeyeater, Dusky Honeyeater, Metallic Starling, Oriental Dollarbird, Forest Kingfisher and Olive-backed Sunbird.

Ball Bay Camping Area

      This is a flat, large, grassy camp located behind the beach, with the Ball Hill as a background. It is a good place to stay when exploring the Cape Hillsborough National Park and surrounds. To get there, from Cape Hillsborough Rd turn left into Ball Bay Rd and drive straight to the waterline. Turn left at the T-junction to get to the camping area, located at the corner of Ward Esp and Coconut Grove.

      We stayed in the Ball Bay Camping Area for nearly a week while exploring the area. Every evening, 2-3 Large-tailed Nightjars were calling each other. One was always perched on the powerline, the other two in the trees. When they finished, groups of Bush Stone-curlews were calling out from every corner of the village. Some were landing in the middle of our campsite and, with their necked outstretched, vocalising in something that looked like a regular meeting. We were often woken up in the middle of the night by the screeching of a pair of Barn Owls. Tawny Frogmouth was stealthily hunting moths through the night around the village street lamps.

      Every morning, a large group of raptors, mostly Brahminy Kites, Black Kites, Whistling Kites and Wedge-tailed Eagles, were riding the thermals over the Ball Hill to get high in the sky. At dusk, as we got back from a day of birdwatching, Radjah Shelducks and Plumed Whistling-Ducks were raiding our camp and the village in search of supper titbits.

      We located a Great Bowerbird’s bower along Ward Esp. Bush birds around the camp also included Dusky Honeyeater, Bar-breasted Honeyeater, Yellow Honeyeater, Rainbow Bee-eater (plentiful), Pale-headed Rosella, Orange-footed Scrubfowl, Fairy Gerygone and Olive-backed Sunbird. Among waders on the sandflats we spotted two Terek Sandpipers.

St Helens Beach

      St Helens Beach is a small coastal town located 70km north of Mackay and 13 km northeast of Bruce Hwy. A long, pristine beach stretches in front of the village while a large wetland with patches of coastal scrub and rainforest is situated behind it. Mangroves can be found near the estuary.

      To get there, from Bruce Hwy (A1) at Calen turn east onto the route signposted to St Helens (Pratts Rd, left to Old Bowen Rd, right to Wewak Rd and finally left to St Helens Beach Rd). A campsite is provided near the beach at the end of Murray Rd.

      Over 120 species are on the St Helens Beach’s birdlist. Key species are the waders, Great Bowerbird, Orange-footed Scrubfowl, Metallic Starling, Cotton Pygmy-goose and Satin Flycatcher. Other birds of interest include White-necked Heron, Magpie Goose, Comb-crested Jacana, Azure Kingfisher, Torresian Imperial-Pigeon, Olive-backed Sunbird, White-browed Robin, Varied Triller and Helmeted Friarbird. Rarities include Superb Fruit-Dove, Brolga and Black-necked Stork.

      White-browed Robin

      As you approach the village, about 1-2km before it, the road runs through a wide area of wetlands and paperbark swamps. GPS coordinates are 20^o50’32’’S and 148^o48’28’’E. Brolgas and Black-necked Storks are often found here. Magpie Geese like roosting in the paperbarks in large flocks. Other birds here include Cotton Pygmy-goose, Comb-crested Jacana, Royal Spoonbill and Plumed Egret.

      There is a small loop in the paperbark forest before the village. This is a night roost of Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos. Bush birds here include Azure Kingfisher, Blue-winged Kookaburra, Dusky Honeyeater, Scarlet Honeyeater, Spectacled Monarch and Tree Martin.

      This area is a good wader site. Waders can be found on the sandflats in front of the village. In particular, large flocks of Australian Pied Oystercatchers gather here. Other waders include Bar-tailed Godwit, Far Eastern Curlew, Whimbrel and Red-necked Stint.

      Check the mangroves near the boat ramp for the presence of Mangrove Gerygone, Collared Kingfisher, Helmeted Friarbird, Black Butcherbird and Varied Triller.

      Birds around the village include Metallic Starling, Torresian Imperial-Pigeon, Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove, Radjah Shelduck, Great Bowerbird, Oriental Dollarbird, Olive-backed Sunbird, Orange-footed Scrubfowl and White-browed Robin.

Travellers Rest Caravan Park

      This caravan park is located in the Midge Point village between Mackay and Airlie Beach. This a special place, an ideal stop on your way to Airlie Beach. Travellers Rest is a good place for birdwatchers. You’ll be enjoying waterbirds, shorebirds and rainforest species. The site is set in 70ha of nearly untouched semi-tropical forest with a shady track running through it. A pristine beach with the waders is only a short walk away. At low tide you can cross the creek and walk for miles on the beach.

      The address is 29 Jackson St, Midge Point. To get there, about 100km north of Mackay turn east into Midge Point Rd and drive to the coast. The street name changes to Bundesen Ave in the village. Turn right into Peters Ave, right again at the T-junction into Park Dr and then left into Jackson St. For bookings call 07 49476120. Accommodation options include cabins, caravan sites and grassy tent sites.

      Over 120 bird species have been recorded at Travellers Rest. Key species are Orange-footed Scrubfowl, Bush Stone-curlew, Radjah Shelduck and the waders. Other birds of interest include Yellow Honeyeater, Helmeted Friarbird, Spectacled Monarch, Brown-capped Emerald-Dove, Great Bowerbird and Blue-winged Kookaburra. Rarities include Squatter Pigeon, White-eared Monarch and Australian Swiftlet.

      We had a great time in this charming place. Bush Stone-curlews walked among the caravans. We spotted Pacific Baza nesting in a tree near the site. You can easily find here six kingfisher species: Azure, Forest, Collared and Sacred Kingfisher as well as Laughing and Blue-winged Kookaburra. The latter two held a singing competition in the morning. In our opinion, Laughing Kookaburras won hands down. Orange-footed Scrubfowl, normally shy and retiring birds, here they run across open spaces, engaging into cock fights and screeching loudly. Together with Australian Brush-turkeys, they kept a sharp eye on our breakfast table, hoping to snatch a morsel. This was also a habit of several Radjah Shelducks that waddled from cabin to cabin, conducting inspections under the tables. Torresian Imperial-Pigeons arrived in a large flock, because palms were fruiting. Fairy Gerygones sang their hearts out in the morning.

      Other birds readily noticeable in the caravan park included Great Bowerbird, Olive-backed Sunbird, Spangled Drongo, Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Tawny Frogmouth and Southern Boobook that was calling at night. Irregularly, flocks of Australian Swiftlets may appear from nowhere.

      Feeding on the mudflats were Radjah Shelducks, Striated Herons, Little Egrets, Eastern Reef Egrets and Australian Gull-billed Terns. Waders included Red-capped Plover, Red-necked Stint, Whimbrel, Far Eastern Curlew and Bar-tailed Godwit. Occasionally, Ruddy Turnstone had been recorded.

      A walk through the bush produced Spectacled Monarch, Oriental Dollarbird, Restless Flycatcher, Helmeted Friarbird, Dusky Honeyeater, Yellow Honeyeater and White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike.

      Turkey mound at Travellers Rest – appropriated garden mulch

Cathu State Forest

      Cathu State Forest is adjacent to the Eungella National Park. It is located