Birding Cairns - My Cassowary House Adventure (1 Viewer)

[John Cantelo]

Bird List [] = heard only

Southern Cassowary Casuarius casuarius
Australasian Grebe Tachybaptus novaehollandiae
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus
Australian Pelican Pelecanus conspicillatus
Red-footed Booby Sula sula
Brown Booby Sula leucogaster
Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
Little Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax melanoleucos
Australian Darter Anhinga novaehollandiae
Great Frigatebird Fregata minor
Great-billed Heron Ardea sumatrana
Intermediate Egret Ardea intermedia
(Eastern) Great Egret Egretta alba
White-faced Heron Egretta novaehollandiae
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Pacific Reef-Egret Egretta sacra
(Eastern) Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Striated Heron Butorides striatus
Black Bittern Ixobrychus flavicollis
Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus
Australian Ibis Threskiornis molucca
Royal Spoonbill Platelea regia
Magpie Goose Anseranas semipalmata
Wandering Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna arcuata
Black Swan Cygnus atratus
Radjah Shelduck Tadorna radjah
Green Pygmy-Goose Nettapus pulchellus
Cotton Pygmy-Goose Nettapus coromandelianus
Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa
Australian Wood Duck Chenonetta jubata
(Eastern) Osprey Pandion haliaetus
Pacific Baza Aviceda subcristata
Australian Black-shouldered Kite Elanus axillaris
Black Kite Milvus migrans
Whistling Kite Haliastur sphenurus
Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus
White-bellied Fish-Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster
Brown Goshawk Accipiter fasciatus
Grey Goshawk Accipiter novaehollandiae
Collared Sparrowhawk Accipiter cirrhocephalus
Wedge-tailed Eagle Aquila audax
Nankeen Kestrel Falco cenchroides
Orange-footed Scrubfowl Megapodius reinwardt
Australian Brush-Turkey Alectura lathami
Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris
Buff-breasted Button-Quail Turnix olivii
Red-chested Button-Quail Turnix pyrrhothorax
Red-necked Crake Rallina tricolor
[Plain Bush-hen Amaurornis olivaceus]
White-browed Crake Porzana cinerea
(Australian) Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio
Dusky Moorhen Gallinula tenebrosa
Common Coot Fulica atra
Brolga Grus rubicunda
Australian Bustard Ardeotis australis
Comb-crested Jacana Irediparra gallinacea
Pied Oystercatcher Haematopus longirostris
Black-winged (White-headed) Stilt Himantopus leucocephalus
Bush Stone-Curlew Burhinus grallarius
Beach Stone-Curlew Esacus neglectus
Masked Lapwing Vanellus miles
Red-capped Plover Charadrius ruficapillus
Lesser Sand-Plover Charadrius mongolus
Greater Sand-Plover Charadrius leschenaultii
Black-fronted Dotterel Elseyornis melanops
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
Eastern Curlew Numenius madagascariensis
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
Terek Sandpiper Tringa cinerea
Common Sandpiper Tringa hypoleucos
Grey-tailed Tattler Tringa brevipes
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris
Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea
Silver Gull Larus novaehollandiae
Sooty Tern Onychoprion fuscata
Bridled Tern Onychoprion anaethetus
Little Tern Sternula albifrons
Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia
Black-naped Tern Sterna sumatrana
Crested Tern Sterna bergii
Lesser Crested Tern Sterna bengalensis
Common Noddy Anous stolidus
Feral Pigeon Columba livia feral (introduced)
White-headed Pigeon Columba leucomela
Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis
Brown Cuckoo-Dove Macropygia phasianella
Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica
Crested Pigeon Geophaps lophotes
Squatter Pigeon Geophaps scripta
Peaceful Dove Geopelia placida
Bar-shouldered Dove Geopelia humeralis
Wompoo Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus magnificus
Superb Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus superbus
Torresian Imperial-Pigeon Ducula spilorrhoa
Topknot Pigeon Lopholaimus antarcticus
Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus haematodus
Scaly-breasted Lorikeet Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus
Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus banksii
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Cacatua galerita
Double-eyed Fig-Parrot Cyclopsitta diophthalma
Australian King-Parrot Alisterus scapularis
Pale-headed Rosella Platycercus adscitus
Channel-billed Cuckoo Scythrops novaehollandiae
Brush Cuckoo Cacomantis variolosus
Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo Chrysococcyx basalis
Little Bronze-Cuckoo Chrysococcyx minutillus
Australian Koel Eudynamys cyanocephala
Pheasant Coucal Centropus phasianinus
Lesser Sooty Owl Tyto multipunctata
Barking Owl Ninox connivens
Tawny Frogmouth Podargus strigoides
Papuan Frogmouth Podargus papuensis
White-throated Eared-Nightjar Eurostopodus mystacalis
Australian Swiftlet Aerodramus terraereginae
White-throated Needletail Hirundapus caudacutus
Pacific or Fork-tailed Swift Apus pacificus
Noisy Pitta Pitta versicolor
Buff-breasted Paradise-Kingfisher Tanysiptera sylvia
Laughing Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae
Blue-winged Kookaburra Dacelo leachii
Forest Kingfisher Todiramphus macleayii
Collared Kingfisher Todiramphus chloris
Sacred Kingfisher Todiramphus sanctus
Azure Kingfisher Alcedo azurea
Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatus
Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis
Magpie-Lark Grallina cyanoleuca
Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena
Tree Martin Petrochelidon nigricans
Fairy Martin Petrochelidon ariel
Australian Pipit Anthus australis
Varied Triller Lalage leucomela
Green Catbird Ailuroedus crassirostris
Noisy Miner Manorina melanocephala
Chowchilla Orthonyx spaldingii
Eastern Whipbird Psophodes olivaceus
Pale-yellow Robin Tregellasia capito
White-browed Robin Poecilodryas superciliosa
Eastern Yellow Robin Eopsaltria australis
Mangrove Robin Eopsaltria pulverulenta
Grey-headed Robin Heteromyias albispecularis
Bassian Thrush Zoothera lunulata
Bower's Shrike-Thrush Colluricincla boweri
Grey Shrike-Thrush Colluricincla harmonica
Little Shrike-Thrush Colluricincla megarhyncha
Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis
Rufous Whistler Pachycephala rufiventris
Grey Whistler Pachycephala simplex
Tawny Grassbird Megalurus timoriensis
Golden-headed Cisticola Cisticola exilis
Mountain Thornbill Acanthiza katherina
Brown Gerygone Gerygone mouki
Lovely Fairy-Wren Malurus amabilis
Red-backed Fairy-Wren Malurus melanocephalus
White-throated Gerygone Gerygone olivacea
Large-billed Gerygone Gerygone magnirostris
Large-billed Scrubwren Sericornis magnirostris
Weebill Smicrornis brevirostris
Atherton Scrubwren Sericornis keri
Yellow-throated Scrubwren Sericornis citreogularis
Pied Monarch Arses kaupi
Yellow-breasted Boatbill Machaerirhynchus flaviventer
Lemon-bellied Flycatcher Microeca flavigaster
Black-faced Monarch Monarcha melanopsis
Spectacled Monarch Monarcha trivirgatus
Leaden Flycatcher Myiagra rubecula
Shining Flycatcher Myiagra alecto
Grey Fantail Rhipidura albiscapa
Rufous Fantail Rhipidura rufifrons
Willie Wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys
Northern Fantail Rhipidura rufiventris
Silvereye Zosterops lateralis
Spotted Pardalote Pardalotus punctatus
Fernwren Oreoscopus gutturalis
Varied Sittella Daphoenositta chrysoptera
White-throated Treecreeper Cormobates leucophaeus
Blue-faced Honeyeater Entomyzon cyanotis
Lewin's Honeyeater Meliphaga lewinii
White-naped Honeyeater Melithreptus lunatus
White-throated Honeyeater Melithreptus albogularis
Brown Honeyeater Lichmera indistincta
Graceful Honeyeater Meliphaga gracilis
Yellow-spotted Honeyeater Meliphaga notata
White-cheeked Honeyeater Phylidonyris nigra
Dusky Honeyeater Myzomela obscura
Scarlet Honeyeater Myzomela sanguinolenta
Fuscous Honeyeater Lichenostomus fuscus
Yellow-faced Honeyeater Lichenostomus chrysops
Bridled Honeyeater Lichenostomus frenatus
Varied Honeyeater Lichenostomus versicolor
Yellow Honeyeater Lichenostomus flavus
Eastern Spinebill Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris
Brown-backed Honeyeater Ramsayornis modestus
Little Friarbird Philemon citreogularis
Macleay's Honeyeater Xanthotis macleayana
Noisy or Bald Friarbird Philemon corniculatus
Helmeted Friarbird Philemon buceroides
Spangled Drongo Dicrurus bracteatus
[Grey Butcherbird Cracticus torquatus]
Pied Butcherbird Cracticus nigrogularis
Black Butcherbird Cracticus quoyi
Grey-crowned Babbler Pomatostomus temporalis
Apostlebird Struthidea cinerea
Eastern Shrike-Tit Falcunculus frontatus
Australian Magpie Gymnorhina tibicen
Pied Currawong Strepera graculina
Torresian Crow Corvus orru
Metallic Starling Aplonis metallica
Common Myna Acridotheres tristis
Mistletoebird Dicaeum hirundinaceum
Yellow-bellied Sunbird Nectarinia jugularis
Olive-backed Oriole Oriolus sagittatus
Yellow Oriole Oriolus flavocinctus
Black-faced Cuckooshrike Coracina novaehollandiae
White-bellied Cuckooshrike Coracina papuensis
Barred Cuckooshrike Coracina lineata
Figbird Sphecotheres vieilloti
Great Bowerbird Chlamydera nuchalis
[Tooth-billed Catbird Scenopoeetes dentirostris]
Dusky Woodswallow Artamus cyanopterus
White-breasted Woodswallow Artamus leucorynchus
Victoria's Riflebird Ptiloris victoriae
Red-browed Finch Neochmia temporalis
Double-barred Finch Taeniopygia bichenovii
Crimson Finch Neochmia phaeton
Black-throated Finch Poephila cincta
Blue-faced Parrot-Finch Erythrura trichroa
House Sparrow Passer domesticus
Scaly-breasted Mannikin Lonchura punctulata
Chestnut-breasted Munia Lonchura castaneothorax

 

[chowchilla]

Hi John,

You can get to the 'Red Arrow' walking track up Mt.Whitfield from Collin's Avenue near the Botanical Gardens. This is about 3 minutes walk from my home.

There's probably nothing up there that you couldn't find elsewhere and it can be infested with joggers (though the 'Blue Arrow' track further up you often have to yourself), but good birds can be found.

I've found Noisy Pitta up there several times, BB Paradise Kingfisher, Lovely Wren, and stuff like Red-browed Firetail, Silvereye, Wompoo Fruit Dove, Brown Cuckoo and Emerald Doves, Spectacled and Black-faced Monarchs, various honeyeaters and on one occasion a Blue-winged Kookaburra (normally a dry country bird).

I mostly moved to this suburb so that I could have Centenary Lakes on my doorstep. That as you know is a very good spot for all kinds of stuff (loads of Channel-billed and Brush Cuckoos around at the moment). Brian, a birder who lives in the next street to me had a Rufous Owl being harassed by Drongos across the road from him the other day. I heard a Red-necked Crake from bed a few nights ago. So there's some very good stuff around this area.

 

[Allen S. Moore]

John,

As I have already written, I have enjoyed reading about your stay at Cassowary House, especially as I have stayed there twice myself, most recently last October. There are quite a few species that you saw but I haven't - perhaps I should change that to a lot of species! I did develop a skill in October of spotting tooth-billed catbirds along the rain forest loop track at Lake Barrine. They are fine singers but not much to look at, a bit like nightingales in southern Europe, I suppose. I had an easier job than you of finding lovely fairy-wrens, seeing 3 at one place along Black Mountain Road one day that I walked from Cassowary House to Kuranda and back.

Thanks for posting.

Allen

 

[John Cantelo]

John,

As I have already written, I have enjoyed reading about your stay at Cassowary House, especially as I have stayed there twice myself, most recently last October. There are quite a few species that you saw but I haven't - perhaps I should change that to a lot of species! I did develop a skill in October of spotting tooth-billed catbirds along the rain forest loop track at Lake Barrine. They are fine singers but not much to look at, a bit like nightingales in southern Europe, I suppose. I had an easier job than you of finding lovely fairy-wrens, seeing 3 at one place along Black Mountain Road one day that I walked from Cassowary House to Kuranda and back.

Thanks for posting.

Allen

Allen - Thanks again for your positive comments. If I saw a lot more species than you managed then it reflects the fact that I had a good guide!
Chowchilla - blimey, I was just down the road from you! Centenary lakes must make a nice little patch. Incidentally, I'm indebted to a very pleasant cycling birder (who clearly regularly watched the area) for the Lovely Fairy-wrens - he saw Phil and I looking and managed to find them just along the track. If you know who I mean, do pass on my regards and thanks,

 

[Allen S. Moore]

Allen - Thanks again for your positive comments. If I saw a lot more species than you managed then it reflects the fact that I had a good guide!
Chowchilla - blimey, I was just down the road from you! Centenary lakes must make a nice little patch. Incidentally, I'm indebted to a very pleasant cycling birder (who clearly regularly watched the area) for the Lovely Fairy-wrens - he saw Phil and I looking and managed to find them just along the track. If you know who I mean, do pass on my regards and thanks,

Very pleasant cycling birder? Sounds like Chowchilla to me!

Allen

 

[Vectis Birder]

I stayed at Cassowary House in 2009 and it was a fabulous experience, one of the highlights of my stay in Oz, despite the iffy weather. A face-to-face encounter with a female Cassowary in the garden early one morning - while I was still in me pajamas! - is a never-to-be-forgotten experience. :t:

 

[John Cantelo]

I stayed at Cassowary House in 2009 and it was a fabulous experience, one of the highlights of my stay in Oz, despite the iffy weather. A face-to-face encounter with a female Cassowary in the garden early one morning - while I was still in me pajamas! - is a never-to-be-forgotten experience. :t:

I'm not sure you'd agree, but the only thing that could better seeing those Cassowaries would be for the Saints (Southampton FC) to regain their rightful place in the Premiership. I'm sure Phil would think so too. At least they're heading in the right direction these days!

 

[chowchilla]

Hi John,

That cycling birder was almost certainly Brian who has lived in the area all his life. He's a mine of knowledge and often gets me on to good stuff that's turned up, but then he does have rather more leisure time than me and therefore time to find the good stuff...

 

[Swissboy]

.... and now the Cassowary. Check out that vicious inner claw - little wonder that in Papua New Guinea they were used to make neat little skull perforators! Anyone else think of Trotsky?

Impressive stuff indeed. And it just scares me a bit more in hindsight. I had a somewhat scary experience with an inquisitive Cassowary at Crater Park in 2007. That place is known for its Cassowaries, and there are warning signs. But I definitely was not prepared when this bird came walking out of the forest on the pathway and then continued to come against me on the parking lot. In the end, I stopped taking my video, and I jumped up into the air, kicking my legs toward the bird. That made him veer off finally. After this, we still went to Elly Beach south of Cairns for Cassowaries. When a huge female showed up while we had lunch, I kind of hunched back towards our car. Well, she just went to the pic-nic table close to us, gulping up all the french fries a family had spilled and left over on the table. Somewhat decadent, in my opinion. But Ok as long as it does not hurt the birds.

 

[stevieb]

A superb account John and a cracking trip list. Do you know if the Yellow-bellied Sunbird has been split from the Olive-backed Sunbird I saw in Singapore? If so then an armchair tick is in the offing as I also saw them in Cairns. Also Australian Swamphen?

Once again great trip report.

 

[Vectis Birder]

I'm not sure you'd agree, but the only thing that could better seeing those Cassowaries would be for the Saints (Southampton FC) to regain their rightful place in the Premiership. I'm sure Phil would think so too. At least they're heading in the right direction these days!

Phil would. When I was there he and I spent a few minutes discussing the various things - all unpleasant - that we'd like to have done to the chairman and board who presided over administration, two relegations and almost put the club out of business altogether.

But, to see such a bird beats even seeing the Saints winning.

 

[Allen S. Moore]

Hi John,

That cycling birder was almost certainly Brian who has lived in the area all his life. He's a mine of knowledge and often gets me on to good stuff that's turned up, but then he does have rather more leisure time than me and therefore time to find the good stuff...

Would that be Brian Range?

 

[Larry Sweetland]

Would that be Brian Range?

Reckon so

 

[chowchilla]

Reckon so

Yep.:t:

 

[John Cantelo]

A superb account John and a cracking trip list. Do you know if the Yellow-bellied Sunbird has been split from the Olive-backed Sunbird I saw in Singapore? If so then an armchair tick is in the offing as I also saw them in Cairns. Also Australian Swamphen?

Once again great trip report.

As I observed elsewhere, the taxonomic status of a lot of these races depends on whose armchair you prefer! Dutch ones are usually more accomodating. I don't think the Yellow-bellied/Olive-backed Sunbird has been widely split. I used the name Yellow-bellied solely because that's what my books called it, not because I had the 'inside track' on splitting. The Swamphen has been split by some authorities I gather, but I gather the taxonomy of the group is a minefield.

Chowchilla et al - yes, now you mention it I recall that the chap's name was Brian. A very pleasant and helpful sort he was too,

 

[Larry Sweetland]

Chowchilla et al - yes, now you mention it I recall that the chap's name was Brian. A very pleasant and helpful sort he was too,

Too right! Met the bloke by accident in Cairns, and he ended up giving us a lift up to Iron Range in his 4x4, and putting us up there till will cleaned up. Serious top bloke.

 

[Luke_Herts]

Nice write up John, i am super jealous. Cassowary and Platypus both of which i'd love to see!
Glad you had a good time. Let me know when you are about to do some more local trips (minus the exotic parrots) i only have Wednedays free this term but am free alot of afternoons.

Luke

 

[Selsey Birder]

Great report John and it has inspired me to finally write up my trip report to the same area in November.

I was fortunate enough to spend a number of days with Chowchilla (he is a superb birder and a top bloke) who indeed does know nearly (note that Tony) all the calls of the Rainforest and saved me hours of identification horrors.

So i shall start writing my report tomorrow night (it does start with four days in Sydney so you may have to bear with me).

Incidentally, as you will discover, I wholeheartedly agree that the best "tick" of the whole trip was Duck-billed Platypus and it took us a lot longer to find one!!

Ian

 

[chowchilla]

Great report John and it has inspired me to finally write up my trip report to the same area in November.

I was fortunate enough to spend a number of days with Chowchilla (he is a superb birder and a top bloke) who indeed does know nearly (note that Tony) all the calls of the Rainforest and saved me hours of identification horrors.

So i shall start writing my report tomorrow night (it does start with four days in Sydney so you may have to bear with me).

Incidentally, as you will discover, I wholeheartedly agree that the best "tick" of the whole trip was Duck-billed Platypus and it took us a lot longer to find one!!

Ian

Blimey Ian, that's very nice of you to say! I did mess up on the Black Mt Road as I recall as I called the twittering birds above my head as Brown Gerygone (which were twittering) but specifically the actual sound I was referring to initially was a much closer pair of Dusky Honeyeaters.|:$|

Ah well, at least we got both species there n' then...